Yuzu shio ramen in a golden chicken-and-dashi broth
AFURI Ebisu is the ramen counter that put yuzu shio ramen — and the AFURI name itself — on Tokyo's map. It opened here in 2003, a few minutes' walk from Ebisu Station, as AFURI's first shop in the capital (the brand's actual origin was a 2001 store at the foot of Mount Afuri in Atsugi, Kanagawa, which still lends the chain its name and its green neon signage).
The bowl that built the reputation hasn't changed much: a golden broth built from two long-simmered stocks, a clear chicken base made with domestic chicken bones and whole birds, layered with a seafood dashi of kelp, dried sardines, bonito and mackerel flakes, seasoned with Guérande salt, Setouchi sea salt and a light soy sauce, then finished with fresh yuzu juice for the citrus lift the place is known for. Noodles are thin and straight, a whole-wheat-and-rye blend, and the chashu is seared to order rather than pre-sliced, so it keeps a little char at the edges — ask for the marinated egg if it isn't already in your bowl. The room itself is small and handsome: exposed concrete, white tile, an open kitchen, and a counter that seats around 18, so you'll likely be eating shoulder to shoulder with strangers, which is half the fun.
A few practical notes: it's cashless only — cards, e-money and QR pay, no yen in hand — and there's no reservation system, so it's counter seating on a first-come basis. The kitchen runs long hours, from 11am until 5am the next morning, or until the soup runs out, open every day except New Year's. The broth itself is chicken- and seafood-based throughout, so this isn't a vegetarian or halal stop — worth knowing if that shapes your trip.
✓ Last verified Jul 2026
Hours and details can change — please confirm before you visit.
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