We invited the creators of Fuku Ramen, Jakub and Aleksandra Karczewski, to join us for a conversation. Together, they brought to life a restaurant where the spirit of Japan and its exquisite cuisine reign supreme. This slice of Asia in the heart of Amsterdam also features a Polish touch: bar-style reimaginings of the iconic 200-190 chairs designed by Teofil Hałas.
Where did the idea for Fuku Ramen come from? Who is behind the idea of creating a Japanese restaurant in Amsterdam's Oost neighborhood?
Fuku Ramen is a project led by Jakub Karczewski - a chef with years of experience - and his wife Alexandra. Jakub was interested in Japanese cuisine for years and cooked ramen as a hobby. In 2020 he traveled to Japan and completed a course at the "Miyajima" ramen school in Osaka. The restaurant where Jakub worked - De Kas, which specializes in cuisine full of vegetables from its own farm - suggested that together they could create a ramen menu that guests could pick up and prepare at home. The project began to gain momentum and become popular. After the lockdown rules were relaxed, the next step was events done jointly with other restaurants in Amsterdam. In April 2023, after 2 years of searching and several months of renovation, Fuku Ramen welcomed its first guests at Ingogostraat 14A in Amsterdam.
What is the restaurant's interior inspired by?
When designing the interior, we wanted it to be cozy yet raw, full of natural colors and materials. Among other things, we used concrete, old wood, and reused old elements found in the previous restaurant. The style that inspired us was "Japandi" but also the Japanese philosophy of "Wabi-sabi." The concept of the restaurant is based on the concept of "Omakase" which from Japanese means "I leave it to you". Guests are served a 5-course tasting-surprise menu, which includes a main course of ramen in various forms. The heart of the interior is an 8-seat bar from which guests can watch the chef preparing dishes.
What is a true and complete culinary experience for you?
Of course, the taste of the dishes plays a major role, but also important is the story and why exactly this particular dish someone wanted to create. Service is also of great importance. In our opinion, one cannot exist without the other, so we try to provide our guests with all of these elements. A culinary journey to Japan, super flavors, but also a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
One of the elements of the interior are bar chairs, which are a re-edition of the iconic design of Teofil Hałas, Chair 200-190, why did you choose this particular model?
We wanted chairs that would be both comfortable, fit the whole interior, and made of good quality natural wood, but I also must admit that the country in which they were made was not indifferent to us. We both come from Poland so it is nice to have such a Polish accent in our restaurant.
Your interiors are thought out to the last detail, what other interesting design elements can be seen in Fuku Ramen?
In addition to the classics from 366 Concept, we definitely have some interesting details. One of them is a hand-cast concrete bar top that is more than 8 meters long and finished with more than 100-year-old beams that once served as the floor of a train.
What is most important to you when thinking about creating a space that is welcoming and inclusive for visitors?
Our main goal was for the kitchen to be open, so that guests sitting at the bar but also in other areas of the restaurant could observe what was going on in the kitchen. Of course we also wanted functionality, but also comfort and flexibility of space. Thanks to the fact that some guests sit on two long benches, we can freely change the configuration of tables for groups of 2 to even 8 people.
