Back when ramen was still an obscure choice in Buenos Aires’ Asian restaurant menus, Alejandro Osuna and Matías Camozzi’s Fukuro Noodle Bar brought the secret of Japanese broth to the mainstream porteño dining scene. 

Now, Fukuro is about to celebrate twelve years putting a complex Asian dish with a solid urban identity on the map in Argentina. Fukuro’s salon resembles a traditional Japanese ramen shop, complete with open kitchen and diners perched at bars and stools.

“Twelve years ago, one of our main challenges was to introduce a dish that was unknown to the local public,” chef and owner Alejandro Osuna said in a release. 

“At first, being a Japanese restaurant, people imagined our offerings revolved around sushi, even when we talked about ramen. Some of them pictured instant ramen, or didn’t fully understand the depth and preparation that goes into a bowl,” said Osuna. Back then, the chef adds, it was also difficult to source some key ingredients for a dish that is so geographically distant. 

Argentina’s chronic instability presented yet another challenge: maintaining quality in a constantly changing economic climate. “Still, we are committed to building a team, training, and cooking consistently from day one. And to introduce this dish, unknown to many at the time, to the public,” says Osuna. 

To that end, Fukuro doesn’t just serve ramen, it also teaches people about it. Their four-hour, hands-on “Ode to Ramen” workshops introduce people to the dish’s history, along with its most common ingredients and preparation. Prospective cooks also get to try making their own ramen, and taste the results. 

Nowadays, Fukuro’s short but explosive menu features eight ramen bowls ranked from light-flavored to “very very spicy”. Most are served with pulled pork, smoked chicken, or chashu pork (braised in a mix of soy sauce, sake, sugar, and mirin), but there are vegetarian options. Kickstart the meal with dumplings or baos. 

To celebrate its 12th anniversary, Fukuro is hosting a special event on Saturday, September 27 at 7 p.m., featuring vinyl records by Groove Cargo and a large cocktail bar curated by the Ronconcon team. They will also be offering 12 special baos (one for each year), along with three exclusive ramen options.

“For us, 12 years means more than just an anniversary date,” Osuna says. “It confirms that we can grow and evolve without losing the flavor that defines us, and it also confirms that the right path is the one we’ve taken ever since the beginning: honesty, perseverance, and consistency.” 

FUKURO NOODLE BAR
Ángel Justiniano Carranza 1940, Palermo – CABA