"Usually, ramen spots tend to be more utilitarian, restaurants meant to serve quickly and turn seats. Afuri in Culver City wants to buck that trend and make ramen more of a big night out, something that starts with cocktails and appetizers before settling into bowls of noodle soup. Afuri’s Westside outpost, which just opened at the beginning of this month, offers a striking modern Tokyo decor with potentially the longest single piece of neon inside an LA restaurant. The open kitchen exudes plenty of energy, with cooks assembling bowls and pork buns at break-neck speed while a long bar to the side shakes yuzu cocktails with Japanese gin. At the end of the day, you’re here for ramen, and the yuzu-tinted seafood broth is easily one of the best ones in town, tasting exactly as it would in Harajuku or Ebisu. The noodles, thin with a slight bite, complement the nearly clear broth while tender pork slices offer meaty bites in between." - Eater Staff
