I love Japanese food so much I could eat it every day. Recently, Taka and I found the best Udon in Tokyo at an Udon restaurant in Ningyocho close to our home that we just love. It is not only incredibly delicious because the Udon noodles are made fresh by hand just before you eat them, but also cheap and the flavor is super authentic.
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If you want to try real Udon in Tokyo, and not the kind offered in many of the chain restaurants, you should head to Taniya (谷や) in Ningyocho in the center of Tokyo. I am not saying that chain restaurants are necessarily bad, and if you have never tried Udon before I am sure you will still find it delicious, but for the real authentic experience I recommend a visit to Taniya.
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The restaurant has a simple front with a big window from where you can watch the cook roll out the dough and cut the Udon noodles by hand. There is a long counter from where you can watch the cooks at work and in the back, some tables for groups.
If you are not too many people in your party I recommend you take a seat at the counter and watch the hustle and bustle in the kitchen while you wait for your food to arrive.
There is an English menu with explanations which makes ordering much easier than trying to figure out the all Japanese menu (without pictures). The main item on the menu is, no surprise there … Udon. But there are different ways to enjoy the thick wheat flour noodles. Some variation are Udon in dashi soup, Udon with egg, Udon to dip in a broth.
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You can eat Udon all year around. In winter, you will enjoy the Udon with hot soup to warm up your body and in summer chilled as a refreshing dish to fight the humid heat in the Japanese capital.
You can choose between a normal sized serving (300 g), a big serving (400 g) or a small serving (200 g). I am usually fine with a normal serving and Taka likes to get a big one. The price is the same no matter the serving size.
The typical side menu for Udon is Tempura. Deep fried vegetables, meat or fish that you can choose either one by one or as a set.
In my opinion, the best item on the menu, and therefore the best Udon in Tokyo is Kamatama Olive Udon. Udon noodles topped with an egg, olive oil, an olive and some bacon. You season it with only a bit of soy sauce to your liking. Simple and delicious.
Taka’s favorite is Kamaage Udon. Hot Udon that is dipped into dashi seasoned with grated ginger and spring onion.
For roughly 1000 Yen (10$) you can eat until you are full. Which makes it one of the cheaper options of eating out in Japan. The Udon itself costs somewhere between 700 and 1000 Yen depending on what kind of variation you want to try. And the Tempura are roughly 100 Yen a piece.
As is standard in all restaurants in Japan, you will get water for free but you can, of course, order some other drinks like for example a Whole Lemon Sour which is the speciality at Kamiya.
There is no tipping culture in Japan and the prices on the menu are all including tax. So, you really only pay exactly what is written, no hidden costs.
If you want to try the best Udon in Tokyo head over to Taniya. All the information you might need can be conveniently found in the box below.
Name: Taniya (谷や)
Opening hours: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Address: Nihonbashi Ningyocho 2-15-17, Cuoku, Tokyo 103-0013
The best Udon in Tokyo can be enjoyed at a small restaurant called Taniya, which is conveniently located in the heart of Tokyo. After you enjoyed your Udon you could take a walk around the neighbourhood. I have put together a post about all the things to do and see in Ningyocho. And if you want to try one of the soft serve ice creams described in this post you should head to the Tofu shop Futaba (双葉) in Amazake Yokocho.
By the way, if you want to try other Japanese noodles, like for example different kinds of Ramen you should have a look at the best Ramen in Tokyo. You should also have a look at this 3-day Tokyo itinerary for food lovers. And if you were looking for a list of the must-try foods in Japan I can help you with that as well!
Authors Note:
None of the experiences in this post are in any way sponsored and have all been payed for by myself. The opinions stated are all my own and have not been influenced in any way.
This posts contains affiliate links. I receive a commission if a product is purchased through one of these links, at no extra cost to you. Please support me by purchasing products through my links!
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And start planning your unforgettable gap year around the world
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Lena is the creator of the Social Travel Experiment. Planning her trip around the world took a lot of effort. To make it easier for future world travelers she has made it her mission to teach others how to have an unforgettable trip around the world, through short stays with locals, without wasting valuable time or money.
Hi, I'm Lena the founder of The Social Travel Experiment. My mission is to help bussy millennials plan an unforgettable trip around the world, through stays with locals, without wasting valuable time and money.
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The Social Travel Experiment is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
Posts on The Social Travel Experiment contain affiliate links. I receive a commission if a product is purchased through one of these links, at no extra cost to you. Please support me by buying products through my links!
Hi, I'm Lena the founder of The Social Travel Experiment. My mission is to help bussy millennials plan an unforgettable trip around the world, through stays with locals, without wasting valuable time and money.
Find out more About Me and The Social Travel Experiment
If you are a business we might be able to work together so check out the Work With Me page for more details
The Social Travel Experiment is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
Posts on The Social Travel Experiment contain affiliate links. I receive a commission if a product is purchased through one of these links, at no extra cost to you. Please support me by buying products through my links!
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