AFURI is a ramen restaurant that’s not only available in Japan but also expanded overseas.
The restaurant is highly regarded abroad, with many international customers lining up at its doors.
Among those many AFURI restaurants, there is one, AFURI kara kurenai, which opened in 2019 in the Shinjuku Subnade underground shopping mall in Shinjuku. It specializes in spicy ramen.
The restaurant is located within the Shinjuku Subnade underground shopping mall
There you can enjoy a bowl of AFURI’s signature savory slowly cooked chicken broth, which is seasoned with umami-rich white soy sauce and a combination of different spices, including several kinds of chili powder, fresh chili puree, and kōmi rāyu (hot spicy oil).
We challenged the spiciest level ramen at AFURI kara kurenai
The popular bowl to order at AFURI kara kurenai is the “Yuzu Kara Kurenai Ramen”, priced at 1,290 JPY (tax included), which you can choose from a spice level of 0-8.
Spiciness levels between 0-4 are free of charge, while levels 5-8 require additional payment.
We recommend level 4, as its freshly squeezed yuzu citrus juice from Kōchi (a prefecture known for quality yuzu) balances the spice with a pleasant bitterness.
However, for those who love themselves some spicy food and can’t be satisfied with just a little kick, we recommend level 28, also known as “Chihayaburu Ōikazuchi no Kami (God of Thunder)!”
You can experience an unprecedented heat that surpasses even the spice of level 8.
The level 28 spice level Yuzu Kara Kurenai Ramen delivers a great impact, with chili peppers covering all of its ingredients such as a bounty of green onions and a huge block of chāshū pork.
“ちはやぶる 大雷神,” Chihayaburu Ōikazuchi no Kami 1,690 JPY (tax included)
Just how spicy could it be? We had Steven, a spice-loving member of the Umami bites editorial team try it out for himself.
The soup is totally red, and it seems like just looking at it would make you break out in a sweat.
Using fresh ingredients, the ramen really works up a nice healthy sweat
Well, now it’s time to eat. Let’s check in on Steven’s reaction…
Spice that leaves you at a loss for words
Looking at his expression, there’s no need to elaborate!
At first, his throat and lips felt the burn, but as he continued to eat, the heat reached his stomach. His whole body felt ablaze and drenched in sweat at the same time.
However, no matter how spicy it was, he just couldn’t stop eating due to the incredible attention to detail in the ingredients.
The soup, of course, is both spicy and delicious, and the homemade noodles are infused with Sichuan peppercorns and Japanese sanshō (Japanese pepper), allowing you to enjoy a refreshing aroma and stimulation.
A tangy sensation hits as you slurp these noodles
Other seasonings are available on the table, and you can adjust the spiciness to your liking by adding “gekikara dororāyu” (extra spicy chili oil) for extra spiciness or “sanshō rāyu” (Japanese pepper chili oil) if you want to experience a numbing sensation
If you’d like to make it super spicy, we recommend adding the extra spicy chili oil
Additionally, you can also add “Golden Spice” to give the ramen a curry flavor, allowing you to enjoy a completely different taste.
For those who are still not satisfied with the spiciness of level 28, it’s recommended to make use of the seasonings on the table.
However, after experiencing the 28th level of the Yuzu Kara Kurenai Ramen, Steven certainly did not even need to add any of the table-top seasoning.
When it was all over, Steven mumbled a single phrase.
“I feel like I’ve opened the door to a whole new level of spiciness.”
It doesn’t seem like he has the spirit to go to the extreme beyond level 28!
AFURI kara kurenai’s non-spicy ramen is also recommended
Although AFURI kara kurenai makes its name on spice, they also have a “Yuzu Shiro Shoyu Ramen” that is not spicy at all, and this is definitely a dish to try when you visit the restaurant.
“柚子白醤油らーめん,” Yuzu Shiro Shoyu Ramen 1,290 JPY (tax included)
The combination of chicken broth, white soy sauce, and freshly squeezed yuzu juice is something you can only taste here.
The white soy sauce used in the Yuzu Shiro Shoyu Ramen has a natural sweetness derived from wheat, and the soup has a light color.
The broth has a natural sweetness derived from wheat
The Stylish Interior of the Restaurant is a Highlight
From the moment it opens at 11:00 am, AFURI kara kurenai has no shortage of customers.
Orders are conveniently placed using the touch panel located in front of the restaurant, and you can choose between Japanese and English for easy ordering.
The interior of the restaurant has a stylish atmosphere that reflects the kurenai (which means “crimson” or “deep red” in Japanese) in the restaurant’s name, and although there are only counter seats, the restaurant has a spacious environment.
The interior shows attention to detail
In addition, the kitchen space is located in the center of the restaurant where you can watch the cooking process from your seat. This is perhaps one of the reasons why AFURI kara kurenai is so popular, as you can enjoy both eating and watching while your ramen is being prepared.
The kitchen space in the middle of restaurant
Information
| Store name | AFURI辛紅 新宿サブナード AFURI kara kurenai Shinjuku Subnade |
|---|---|
| Address | Shinjuku Subnade 1-5, 1-2-2 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
|
| Access |
Seibu-Shinjuku-Station 1-minute walk from Seibu-Shinjuku Station Main Exit
Shinjuku Station（SJK）3-minute walk from Shinjuku Station East Exit
|
| Phone number | 03-6384-2467 |
| Reservations | Not accepted |
| Payment |
|
| Service charge/Table charge | None |
| Hours | 11:00-22:00 (last order 21:45） |
| Closed | No holidays excluding Shinjuku Subnade underground shopping mall holidays |
| Seating | 20 counter seats |
| Smoking | All seats are non-smoking |
| Official website | https://afuri.com/karakurenai/ |
| Other information |
|
※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of September 2023.
