Afuri Ramen + Dumpling / Fei Xiang Gong

Fooding

Afuri Ramen + Fei Xiang Gong

Afuri Ramen + Dumpling in Culver City. Inside.

Inside.

Seasonal items.

Genmaicha tea. Nifty cup.

Yuzu shio edamame.

Winged buta gyoza (pork dumplings).

Yuzu-tsuyu (shoyu tsukumen with braised pork).

Noodles were clumpy. Braised pork not optimal either.

Yuzu shoyu, I think, is what James got.

Selfie time.

Proof of clumpy noodles.

Fei Xiang Gong. Inside.

Inside.

Menu.

Menu. So much stuff.

Appetizers. Lamb.

Lamb.

Lamb and spicy lamb.

Close-up, mostly spicy lamb in this picture.

Eggplant and garlic sauce was a bit overcooked but was very good.

Beef and beef tendon. Inside.

Inside.

Catching up with James over ramen and dumplings, then out with Doug and his cousin Alex for lamb skewers the next day.

Afuri Ramen + Dumpling is pretty much a one-trick pony with yuzu in everything, and honestly the food is at best average, at worst it's not worth the trouble. Clumpy noodles and indifferent gyoza. But was good to hang out with Dr. Kim for the first time in a few years-- since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, actually!

The next day, dinner at Fei Xiang Gong with Dr. Cheng and his cousin. Not sure if they're better or worse than Feng Mao (which is right down the street), but lamb skewers are always delicious, and the self-turning grill is always fun. The eggplant with garlic, even if overcooked, was pretty darned good, and the menu is expansive. Might have to make another trip in a few weeks, after our arteries recover...