Hyperlocal Tokyo

I travel frequently between Japan and other countries, and I always use Haneda Airport. So, after checking in, I often have breakfast here. It's great that they open early in the morning. I've tried many different dishes here, but the spicy cod roe (mentaiko) and egg sauce is my favorite so far. The kitsune udon (udon with fried tofu) and kasu udon (udon with fermented rice bran) were also delicious, but... 🤔 There are many affordable and delicious udon chains in Japan, such as Marugame and Hanamaru. Compared to them, this restaurant has a more upscale atmosphere and menu, which makes it seem more expensive. However, aside from the popular menu items that are unique to this restaurant, I personally don't think there's much difference in the taste of the simple menu items. So, I would like to see a difference in the quality of ingredients and customer service, but honestly, it's a bit underwhelming. I've been here many times, and I know that the staff are often quite indifferent. Maybe they're exhausted from dealing with so many domestic and international customers, but the wait staff and the people who bring the udon never smile. As a popular restaurant at Japan's largest hub airport, I wish they would take more pride in their work and provide more friendly service. Also, the last time I went, the cabbage in the vegetable udon I ordered was quite rotten (I have a picture). It really brought down my mood. A little bit of browning is one thing, but almost all of the cabbage was brown on the cut side. They need to be more careful about this... I will probably continue to visit this restaurant in the future, so I hope they will make some improvements.

I'm a big fan of Tsurutontan and have been a regular at their locations in both Osaka and Tokyo. Their extensive menu keeps things interesting, and I always find myself struggling to choose what to order. There's one thing I'd like to see improved though. There are always lines, and I wish they would implement a system to address the wait times. (The last time I went, someone was waiting in line for a group of three, and then three people cut in line right before they were about to be seated. I was understandably upset.) I know the staff is busy, but I think they should consider the people who have been patiently waiting in line for a long time.

【Tavenikki's Summer Vacation 2024 - Episode 1】 ~First Time at Tsurutontan~ August 28, 2024 On this day, my 47th birthday, I embarked on a grand summer adventure. My destination was Chiba, to attend a certain event. I boarded a plane from Odate-Noshiro Airport for the first time in five years. (My final destination at that time was Fukuoka.) I arrived at Haneda Airport just after noon. First, I decided to indulge in some airport cuisine. As a country bumpkin, everything felt fresh and exciting, and there were so many places I wanted to visit. But among the airport's culinary offerings, there was one I had always wanted to try: Tsurutontan. I had been curious about it because Zakiyama often makes jokes about it. I took the shuttle bus to Terminal 3 (International) where Tsurutontan Haneda Airport branch is located. Even on a weekday afternoon, there was a long line. I waited for about 30 minutes before being seated. Orders were placed on a touch panel. When I go to a new restaurant, I always try to order something with the restaurant's name in it, so I immediately decided on the Tsurutontan Sanmai udon. Apparently, you can get up to three servings of udon for free. Three would be too much, so I decided to go with two… and what came out was… Did I come here for a food challenge? I couldn't help but think that as a mortar-sized bowl of udon arrived. I had this image of Tsurutontan as a refined udon restaurant with modest portions. (The waitresses were dressed in kimonos, and the atmosphere was as I had imagined.) So, I chose two servings with the same mindset as Marugame or Hanamaru, and this is what I got. The deep-fried tofu was also huge! The tempura came on a separate plate with salt. I managed to finish it all, but it was a food diary that was immediately baptized by the urban experience…

I visited this place for a pre-trip meal before my overseas business trip. They have a tablet ordering system and a menu on the wall. I ordered the basic kitsune udon for 900 yen. It's rare to find a meal under 1000 yen at an airport food court! Although, I also ordered a 1200 yen anago (conger eel) hand roll, so it didn't really matter (laughs). The udon arrived in a huge bowl, almost like a washbasin! The amount of noodles was typical, neither too much nor too little. The bowl made the broth seem plentiful, and it was delicious. You can choose between thick or thin noodles, and I went with thick. Maybe the thin noodles would have been better. The creative udon dishes would probably be better with thin noodles. There were no side dishes for drinking. Maybe it depends on the time of day. Oh, the anago was like what you'd find at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant (laughs).

I visited on August 29th, 2024. Coming from a local area, the atmosphere was completely different from national chain stores. It had a calm and sophisticated ambiance that you wouldn't expect from a udon shop. The staff uniforms, dishes, and the overall appearance of the store were all high-quality, and while it was on the pricier side, it offered good value for the money. The menu featured dishes that were a bit off the beaten path, so I think you can enjoy a variety of cuisine.