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Welcome back food lovers and let me share with you about part two of my dining experience in Portland, Oregon at Afuri located on 923 SE 7th Ave.
Afuri is a Japanese restaurant with origins in Japan before coming to USA. The dishes that are available to dine on at Afuri include sushi, ramen, and many others as well.
I went there for lunch and as I walk in, I notice that the interior was very massive with a really tall interior like the height of a gym while the doors were like a roll up garage door. I quickly realize based on the interior that this place might have been a former auto body shop converted into a restaurant.
The average wait time to get a table is roughly 15 minutes and afterwards after taking my seat I immediately start reviewing the menu and planning what to eat. After taking a look through I decided to order the Kani Croquette as my appetizer followed by the Afuri rolls for my main dish. While waiting for my food to be prepared I enjoy a nice warm cup of green tea.
After roughly 15 minutes my appetizer has arrived, presented on a small plate was two pieces of snow crab legs next to a small bed of more snow crab, on top was a cubed mixture of corn and squash with crispy panko on top.
I can tell just from looking that this appetizer is a cold dish, but then I was hoping for a cold dish since it was really hot outside and I needed to cool off. Using chopsticks I pick up a piece of the crab leg and take a bite. The crab leg was moist and sweet which felt nice when eaten in conjunction with the crunchy corn and squash. This leads to each bite being part moist and crunch at the same time which felt delightful. The panko on top is crispy and works well with the bed of soft crab meat underneath. At the same time to note, this dish could be shared among friends as well.
Around the same time as I finish my appetizer my main dish has arrives. The Afuri is two rolls with one being filled with big eye tuna while the other has yellowtail tuna. On top of the rolls is salmon roes with scallions, chives, and tobiko roes (flying fish egg). On the side is of course wasabi and pickled ginger.
Before I start eating, I pour into the small dipping bowl a heavy amount of soy sauce followed by putting the wasabi inside and mixing it. Afterwards I carefully try to pick up a piece of the roll trying not to knock over all the roes and tobiko and dip it into my sauce. I place the whole piece in my mouth carefully and take a bite. Immediately I was welcome to a salty and spicy explosion followed by the popping of the roes. Surprisingly the taste of the roes reminds me of the fruit flavored boba balls. It great how each piece I eat allows me to enjoy an explosion of flavor from the soy wasabi sauce which balances out with the raw tuna and a fruity roe taste to top it off. After finishing my Afuri rolls I had another cup of green tea to warm my stomach up.
Eating at Afuri was a bit different as this is probably the first time I ever ate inside an auto shop renovated into a restaurant. I would definitely come back in the future when I go to Portland for a weekend getaway.
Cheers,
AV
