Affordable luxury lunch specials at Furusato

Regular set meal of shrimp tempura with rice, coleslaw salad, miso soup, and pickles. (Bea Cabrera)

Since opening in 1996, the Furusato restaurant in Garapan has always stayed true to its Japanese roots, educating the local palate on the virtues of umami. This is its heart and soul—every meal will transport you to Japan without having to leave your table.

That journey to the culinary delights of Japan can now also be found in Furusato’s Luxury Lunch Special, a special concept that aims to provide the luxury of a full meal while also delighting the other senses.

“We know that most lunch breaks run only an hour and, in that time, we want to be able to serve customers quality Japanese food that will help them get their energy back for the second part of their work, school or any activity in the afternoon,” said Furusato administrative assistant Nancy Florentino.

Short ribs on rice with Japanese sauce, half ramen, and pickles for only $16. (Bea Cabrera)

She said the lunch specials are also intended to showcase Furusato as a good place to eat Japanese food, not only for happy hour and dinner but also for a quick lunchbreak.

Florentino said that many of Furusato’s loyal customers and even the new ones crave for authentic Japanese food at a time of their choosing. “We have meals that will satisfy this craving,” she added.

The Luxury Lunch Special is available every day at Furusato from 11:30am to 2pm for dine-in or take-out. Customers can choose from four different set meals.

For those wilting from the summer heat, cold soba or udon with tempura, two pieces of onigiri, and miso soup is the meal for you for only $15.

All-time favorite annake ramen (soy sauce ramen with vegetables and flour) comes with half fried rice and three pieces of dumplings for only $15.

For people who like meat, there is diced steak or saikoro steak, rice and pickles, and half ramen for only $16.

If you hanker for short ribs, they have kalbi udon on rice with Japanese sauce, half ramen, and pickles, for only $16.

Soy sauce with vegetables and flour with half fried chahan and gyoza for only $15. (Bea Cabrera)

For noodle lovers, there is also a Furusato Lunch Special that offers cold ramen, soba, and udon.

In all their years of operation, Furusato has never scrimped on its ingredients, Florentino said. “Whether from the Luxury Lunch Special menu, regular lunch, or dinner menu, we do not economize on our ingredients as that is considered a ‘sin’ by our boss and will totally change the flavor of the food.”

“We have quality control…and our prices remain affordable. Our many years in the business is a proof that that is what our customers like about us—our authenticity,” she added.

CNMI residents can avail of a 10-percent discount and free iced tea on any food order from the Luxury Lunch Special, Furusato Lunch Special’s regular lunch, and dinner menus.

Restaurant supervisor Julie Arellano said that Furusato’s menu is always changing. “We change our meal sets every now and then so customers have choices and not have the same meal over and over again, which tends to be boring. However, customers can be assured that their all-time favorites such as karage (Japanese fried chicken), sashimi, sushi, and shrimp tempura are staples in our menu.”

“I have been working here for 19 years and I can attest that the taste that Furusato offered when it opened is still the same delicious taste and big portions that we have going now. This is why we remain in people’s hearts,” she added.

Furusato means hometown in English and they want to be your hometown when it comes to authentic Japanese food. For reservations, call (670) 233-3333.