Slurp Ramen opens in Port Jefferson

Slurping may be rude in Western cultures, but at the Japanese table, it’s good manners if you’re enjoying a dish. And based on the name, it’s expected at Slurp Ramen, the newest spot in Port Jefferson on West Broadway.

The fast-casual restaurant from Francesca Nakagawa and her husband, the co-owner and chef, Atsushi Nakagawa, has just opened, with shortened hours from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and an abbreviated menu. The modest, bright space seats 45, with the potential for sidewalk seating in the warm weather. There are no plans to serve beer or wine.

The couple say they are surprised at how busy they’ve been and how many people were trying ramen for the first time, choosing among such classics as tonkotsu pork broth, a chicken broth-based shoyu, a sweet teriyaki broth, a spicy soy and chili oil broth inspired by Sichuan cuisine and a vegetable-based option.

Pork, beef, ginger, egg, scallions and various vegetables star in each dish, with corn to nori to garlic chips or avocado for $1 or so per ingredient. Prices range from $9.95 to $11.95, with smaller kid portions for $5.95.

Francesca Nakagawa met her now-husband as students in Kyoto. The two were engaged after a year and she remained in Japan for five years before they settled in her native Long Island in 2007.

Atsushi Nakagawa, who worked in a Japanese pub in Kyoto through his years at university, worked in Japanese restaurants around Long Island when they arrived, then at Toast in Port Jefferson to learn more about American foods before the two moved forward in opening their own restaurant.

Once Slurp Ramen officially opens toward the end of the month, the shop will extend hours and roll out the full menu of rice bowls, pork buns, salads and sweet treats such as mochi ice cream.

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Slurp Ramen is at 109 W. Broadway in Port Jefferson; 631-509-1166; slurpusa.com