CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Genuine gourmet is never pre-made.
“It’s definitely depth. When you talk about the ramen, the layer of the flavor, that’s the important thing,” said Tsuyoshi Ono, the owner and executive chef of South End’s Futo Buta.
That’s the secret to making gourmet ramen at Futo Buta.
“Everything [is] from scratch. Even the bowls that we use for the noodle is handcrafted by a local potter in North Carolina,” said Ono.
Futo Buta literally translates to fat pig. The house specialty is tonkotsu ramen -- pork bone broth, pecan smoked pork belly, organic seasonings and spices with nori seaweed on the side and an egg dropped on top. It can be paired with a craft beer fresh from the tap, sake fresh from the bottle.
“It’s the love. The effort. How much you care about it,” said Ono. It makes this Japanese export, a Charlotte favorite.
Address: 222 E Bland St, Charlotte, NC 28203