Futo Buta - A Gem and A New Favorite

 Fire and Ice Ramen. 

Futo Buta has quickly become one of my very favorite restaurants. Lucky for me it is within walking distance of my office so I am able to visit regularly. The ramen here is amazing, with several varieties including classic versions with pork belly, a salmon version, a ramen with parmesan cheese and even a vegan ramen. I can't wait to come here when it is REALLY cold to have a bowl and warm up. I also love the creative side dishes like the awesome brussels sprouts and shisito peppers and the raw items, featured on the fresh sheet daily. The pork belly buns are awesome too. And to top it off, they have homemade soft serve ice cream, usually green tea (my very favorite) and a second option. I am a huge fan of Japanese food in general, having spent a semester near Osaka in college; Charlotte finally has a real ramen house and I am so glad to be able to visit frequently!

Thank you to my cousin Jason and his fiancee Yvonne for some of the photos!

Salmon Belly - so smooth and delicious.

Rice crispy squares with spicy tuna on top. This was from the media opening but now it is served with a soy/wasabi sauce that is even better than wasabi alone!

Japanese Fried Chicken.

Pork Belly Bun.

Homemade Soft Serve. Yum!