What kind of food does Fukuramen serve?

Fukuramen serves a wide range of Japanese dishes, including ramen, udon, and tempura. They also have a variety of vegetarian and vegan options.

Is Fukuramen a good spot for families?

Yes, Fukuramen is a great spot for families. They have a cozy atmosphere and a variety of options on the menu that kids will love.

Can I make a reservation at Fukuramen?

No, Fukuramen does not take reservations. However, they do offer a waitlist, so you can add your name and be notified when a table becomes available.

Does Fukuramen have outdoor seating?

No, Fukuramen does not have a lot of outdoor seating. However, there are plenty of options nearby where you can enjoy a meal al fresco.

Can I get takeout or delivery from Fukuramen?

Yes, Fukuramen offers takeout and delivery services. You can place an order online or by phone.

Is Fukuramen a good spot for vegetarians and vegans?

Yes, Fukuramen has a variety of vegetarian and vegan options on the menu. They're happy to accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences.

Can I customize my meal at Fukuramen?

Yes, Fukuramen is happy to accommodate special requests and dietary needs. Just let your server know what you're looking for, and they'll do their best to make it happen.

Does Fukuramen have a loyalty program?

Yes, Fukuramen has a loyalty program that rewards repeat customers with discounts and free meals. Just ask your server for more information.

Fukuramen in Nizhny Novgorod: A Hidden Gem for Japanese Food

Hello everyone, I'm super excited to share my experience at Fukuramen, a Japanese restaurant in Nizhny Novgorod that recently caught my attention.

I was strolling down Republic Street a week ago when I stumbled upon a massive banner advertising the upcoming opening of Fukuramen. I have to admit, I've never been to Japan and my knowledge of real ramen is limited to YouTube videos. So, I was super stoked to try it out as soon as it opened.

Fukuramen

This review will cover several main sections:

- Interior

- Menu

- Service

- Food

- Overall impressions

Fukuramen

——— Interior ———

I'll be reviewing Fukuramen located at Republic Street 22 K2 (each location has a unique interior, judging by the photos on their website).

Since we visited right after the opening, we were greeted by balloons at the entrance and on the veranda. There was a banner advertising the authentic ramen experience inside.

The restaurant is situated right next to the Premier Hotel, which used to house their own restaurant with the same name. You can still notice some remnants of the old place, like the coat rack, the public restroom, and some other parts that weren't renovated.

I was really impressed with the recent renovation at this restaurant. The interior is super minimalist, with mostly plain white walls and some colorful patterns.

The new furniture is a nice touch, with the brand logo prominently displayed. Inside, it's mostly sofas, while the outdoor area has wooden tables and metal chairs.

There are also some really cool Japanese-style posters and prints throughout the restaurant, which really add to the overall vibe.

The restrooms are conveniently located right by the entrance. Inside, they're spotless, with paper towels, toilet paper, and soap provided. Just one thing - they don't have any hand dryers.

——— Menu at Fukuramen ———

I was surprised to find the menu presented to me as soon as I sat down. It's printed on a large sheet of paper and features 10 types of ramen, along with a few salads, hot dishes, and appetizers.

Menu at Fukuramen

Given that the ramen is a bit pricey, I was hoping to get a simple bowl of rice on the side, but it turns out that's not an option – it's not even listed on the menu.

Menu at Fukuramen

The back of the menu features a wide selection of drinks, including their signature lemonade, beer, tea, and coffee, as well as a variety of international options.

From 11 am to 4 pm, they offer a business lunch deal where you can get two dishes for 630 rubles.

Menu at Fukuramen

——— Service at Fukuramen ———

We had a ton of questions for the service. At first, everything was going smoothly: we walked into the restaurant, and they asked us to choose a table. We opted for the patio. Even though the indoor area had air conditioning, we still wanted to eat outside.

The server girl never introduced herself, and they didn't have any name tags. We started asking her questions about the menu, and she just leaned in and started reading off the ingredients from the menu.

One of the drinks was a Lebin made from juice. We'd never heard of it before, so we asked her what it was like. She told us there would be jelly inside, but it ended up being just regular juice.

After we ordered, they brought us our drinks and then took out the dessert. The server didn't even ask which table to bring the food to. Long story short, we ended up eating a cold dessert.

They brought out the ready ramen to the wrong guest first and then brought it to the right person 4-5 minutes later. That's just not how restaurants usually work.

As we got closer to the end of our meal, things started to get a bit messy. We asked our server to bring us the check a few minutes later, but we ended up waiting for 10 minutes without it. Eventually, another server had to come over and apologize, saying they'd lost our check and asked us to repeat our entire order. We spent a total of 15 minutes waiting for the check.

P.s. I noticed on the day I'm writing this review that we'd been overcharged by 70 rubles for the taki. Make sure to double-check your bill.

While some of these issues might be excusable given the restaurant's recent opening, I think service is a major factor in any dining experience, especially in a restaurant.

——— Food at Fukuramen ———

Each table, both inside and on the patio, comes with big, thick napkins, bamboo skewers, and toothpicks.

I ordered the Fuku citrus lemonade for 300 rubles. It comes in a glass with branding and a lot of ice. The drink is weakly carbonated, with a lemon flavor and cloying sweetness.

But after the salty ramen, it tastes different. It's not as sweet and goes down easily. Maybe that's its charm?

I have to say, the second drink I tried, Lebin, was a bit of a letdown. It's a Chinese drink that's a bit too thick for my taste, with a juice of bamboo and a natural blueberry flavor. Honestly, I wouldn't order it again.

The first dish I ordered was the curry ramen. Like all the others, it comes in a beautiful deep bowl with a plastic spoon.

Ramen

It's not as packed with ingredients as the other ramen, but it's way more aromatic and spicy. If you've ever tried Japanese curry (you can buy it on marketplaces), the flavor is similar.

I went for the miso ramen as my main course, and I was sold on the variety of vegetables and meat inside.

It's topped with onions and carrot chips.

Ramen

I was excited to see that the inside of the package contained big slices of meat - it's a slow-cooked beef brisket.

The cabbage was blanched to perfection.

Half a boiled egg and the noodles, which is what I was really looking forward to trying.

The website claims they make it by hand.

The noodles are the star of the show. They're made on a Japanese noodle machine called Yamato, imported from Tokyo, and the recipes are overseen by Kazuhiko Kidzima, the official representative of Japanese cuisine in Russia.

And it really does taste and feel different from the noodles you'd buy in a store. Not rubbery, dense, and easy to chew. You can tell it's homemade.

I was expecting a traditional miso paste flavor, but this broth-based version was a total surprise. Maybe it's just me, but it tastes quite different from the store-bought stuff.

The serving size is massive - 650 grams, with half of it being the broth. So, after finishing a whole bowl, I didn't feel stuffed, just satisfied.

For dessert, I decided to try the taiyaki with chocolate-hazelnut filling and banana. Essentially, it's just a fish-shaped pastry with a filling.

It comes without utensils, so you've got to be careful not to make a mess. I ended up with a face full of filling - talk about a mess!

Inside, I found a Nutella and banana filling. It was actually pretty tasty 🙂

——— Overall Impressions ———

I really enjoyed my time at Fukuramen. Sure, the service was a bit of a letdown, but the flavors of the dishes more than made up for it. The food is super tasty, fresh, and you can tell it's made with love. For 600-1000 rubles, you can grab a bite or a meal in a chill atmosphere with some tunes, have a foreign beer, or try some unique drinks.

Pros and Cons

➕ The interior

➕ Delicious food

➕ Cleanliness

➕ Quick service

➕ Convenient location, with a small parking spot near the hotel

➕ I want to go back, there's something about it that's got me hooked

➖ Service that's not up to par for a restaurant

Average Check per person is around 1000 rubles, depending on the dishes and the time of day (it's cheaper during the day)

Time for Ramen to arrive: 15-20 minutes

How long to budget for a visit: at least an hour

Dress code: none

Definitely coming back here and trying the skewers from the right-hand menu section – judging by the ingredients, they'll be way more flavorful. I highly recommend a visit!

Check out my other reviews:

Panorama Village – Glamping within an hour's drive from Nizhny

Gospozha loves sushi – sushi delivery

VkusMil – delivery of ready-to-eat food sets