(Illustration: Photo taken at Afuri Ramen, Roppongi Crossing Point Store, Roppongi, Tokyo. Image source: Ernest.)
About
I got up early this morning and took a long walk around Yoyogi Park. In the afternoon, I took a short nap to adjust to the time difference. Coincidentally, some old friends who I hadn’t seen in a while were also in Tokyo, so we arranged to meet in Ginza later in the evening. Before meeting up, I thought of finding a convenient place to grab a quick bite and warm up before catching the train. Looking at the map, around 7:30 PM near Roppongi Subway Station, I decided to go for a bowl of ramen that could be done in fifteen minutes.
Heading to Afuri Roppongi
(Strolling on the sidewalk across the road from Afuri, I admired the bustling traffic. From a distance, it seemed there was no queue, so there was no need for a backup plan. I began to look forward to a warm bowl of yuzu salt ramen.)
(Upon arriving at the entrance of Afuri Ramen Roppongi Crossing Gate Store, there were a few steps, and a notice on the wall stating that cash is not accepted.)
(At this time, there was a brief wait in line, but in less than ten minutes, I was ready to head to the right side to start ordering from the touch screen kiosk. Before entering, I took a moment to capture the overall ambiance of the Afuri Ramen Roppongi store.)
Afuri Order Machine
(The touch screen ordering kiosk, with various payment interfaces on the left side.)
(The barcode scanner and card reader equipment on the left side of the ordering kiosk.)
(Selecting the default options is simple and quick. From left to right, there are multiple tabs: Ramen, Tsukemen, Rice, Toppings, Drinks. The larger bold numbers are the pre-tax prices, while the actual checkout amount is the smaller inclusive-of-tax number below.)
(Today’s meal costs 1,390 Japanese Yen. Supports various electronic wallets, mobile payments, and credit cards. PayPay has been running various promotional activities in Japan recently.)
(The ordering kiosk screen displays an arrow prompt, then please use the credit card reader on the left side.)
(The credit card reader on the left also displays the same amount. After confirming the amount is correct, I prepared to take out my card for payment.)
(Lately, for business trips, I’ve been carrying the HSBC Traveler Card. It’s a no-brainer for accumulating JAL miles.)
The Seat
(Counter seating, with a storage basket available under the seat. Coats can be hung on the wall behind the seat.)
(Eating hot steaming ramen, I love pairing it with chilled water.)
Paper Menu
(While the chef was busy preparing, I looked around. There’s an illustrated menu. Besides Yuzu Salt Ramen, some people prefer Yuzu Soy Sauce Ramen and Yuzu Spicy Soup Noodles. Everyone can try according to their own taste preferences.)
(On the back of the menu, there are options for rice, drinks, and take-home cooking packs. The rice dishes include Char Siu Rice (pork belly), Meat Chunk Rice, and Bonito Flake Rice, among others. The Bonito Flake Rice can be paired with ramen broth to create a tea-rice-like texture. However, that’s a carb overload, so I skipped this time :p)
Dishes
Yuzu Shio Ramen (JPY 1,264, pre-tax)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
Compared to the seaweed slices, I have a preference for the more conveniently edible seaweed strips. I’d consider adding more char siu next time. The broth, as expected, had a suitable hint of yuzu flavor, leading me to finish the entire bowl without hesitation. I concluded the meal with some chilled water.
(Within just two to three minutes of sitting down, the server brought the ramen to my table. Seeing that the seaweed was half soggy, you can probably guess how long I took letting my camera have the first bite XD)
(In less than ten minutes… the bowl was empty! Next time, I might add some char siu to boost the protein.)
Bottom line
(Before leaving, I turned back to take another picture, capturing the efficient and slightly cozy ambiance of Afuri Ramen at the Roppongi Crossing Gate branch.)
The quality control among various Afuri branches is quite commendable. If you’re suddenly in the mood for a bowl of ramen with a hint of yuzu flavor and don’t want to spend time waiting in line at a famous restaurant, you might want to try an Afuri Ramen near your location. Afuri has many branches located in convenient spots, perfect for a quick stop. If you’re worried about waiting in line, it’s a great place to quickly refuel between meals. For more information about their locations, you can refer to the Afuri official website.
Information
- Name = AFURI 六本木交差点 (Afuri Roppongi Crossing Gate)
- Address = 東京都港区六本木4-9-4 UFビル4 1F (1F UF Bld.4, 4-9-4 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
- Google Maps = https://maps.app.goo.gl/r17Muaxoy86SCTKn6