Fuku Ramen

Ramen as a six course tasting menu; the hardest reservation in Oost and worth every refresh.

Jakub Karczewski cooked his way from Poland through Amsterdam kitchens and then decided the city needed ramen treated like a tasting menu, so that is exactly what happens in this corner building in the Transvaalbuurt. Wednesday to Friday there is one six course menu, built around noodles made in house and a shoyu ramen layered with several soy sauces, bookended by things like tataki, karaage and gyoza that would carry a restaurant on their own. Parool's Mara Grimm handed it a 9.5, Gault&Millau gives it 15 out of 20, and the reservation system has become a city wide sport: seats drop on the first of the month at noon, two months ahead, and evaporate. Saturday is the pressure valve, an izakaya afternoon with rotating ramen specials and a handful of walk in stools. The room is dark tile and warm wood, eight seats deep at the counter, and completely serious.

Set an alarm: reservations open the 1st of each month at 12:00 noon, released two months ahead, and go instantly. Missed out? Saturday izakaya (13:00-19:30) keeps limited walk-in counter seats; come early.

Photo: Fuku Ramen