If you're looking for new ramen place for lunch or dinner - try out Fukurow - a small, warm, well lit, and moderately priced noodle spot at 55 Bleeker Street in Newark near Rutgers University - opened just 6 weeks ago.
Inside you'll find an outlet packed ramen house decorated with many owls. Fukurow, pronounced "foo-koo-row", means "owl" in Japanese.
A small, but promising no-frills menu awaits you with a table of condiments - place your order at the counter with John, the owner, or any other of the friendly employees inside. But - you don't have to order ramen - you can snack on edamame, steamed pork buns, or takoyaki (fried pancake balls with octopus).
I opted for the spicy Supra-men for a fair $9. Each ramen includes scallions, sprouts, sweet corn kernels, bamboo shoots, black mushrooms, naruto, and a chashu - better known as a slab of brothy pork. You can add an egg, if you wish, for $1.50 or extra pork for $2. Your bowl arrives topped with a small dried seaweed. There were 5 ramens total, ranging from $9 to $12. If you don't want ramen (because you're crazy) you can opt for donburi instead (beef or pork over rice).
You'll be called to the counter when your ramen is ready - a short few minutes later. You'll have a set of new chopsticks to crack down the middle, and a ladle-like spoon - a savior to broth lovers. John, the owner, tells me the Supra-men is a Korean style ramen, redder and spicier. "That's the one I like," he says with a smile.
On your table you'll find the condiments you need. A little dressed up black pepper, an oil, and a red spice - the kind you've likely seen colorful spicy sushi rolled up in. I had no need for any - the ramen was plenty flavorful. There are many outlets near each table. I'm told the restaurant was originally slated to become a coffee shop.
Note the thread art work on the wall - created and hand-crafted by the owner's wife, Jenny. She runs an art hub just above Menya Sandaime, another ramen house in Fort Lee. Her work will be on so many Instagram and Snapchat stories - it's worth knowing the artist who made it.
Verdict? Try it. For a $10 bowl in Newark at lunch time, it can't be beat.
A cute little owl crowned by string lights to greet you.
Just down the street from Rutgers or Military Park in Newark.
