Hyperlocal Tokyo

The thick, chewy udon noodles are delicious. I often go there when I want a quick meal. Personally, I prefer a lighter taste, so my go-to is the spicy miso kama-tama, but the raw soy sauce udon is also good. No-Ra-Bo provides a sense of security knowing that the quality is consistent across all locations.

Located in a prime spot in the Yaesu business district, it's no surprise that this place is always packed, even right before closing time for lunch. It's also conveniently located just a 5-minute walk from Tokyo Station and a 3-minute walk from Nihombashi Station on the Tokyo Metro. You can enjoy authentic, traditional Sanuki udon here. I ordered the cold noodles with hot broth, and added the "Today's Tempura" for lunch, which was maitake mushroom and chrysanthemum tempura. I originally wanted lotus root tempura, but it was sold out right after I ordered, so they kindly replaced it with maitake mushroom tempura at the lunch tempura price. Thank you! It took about 10 minutes for the tempura and udon to arrive. The udon had the strong chewiness that is the hallmark of Sanuki udon. It was so chewy and delicious. The udon was simply amazing. The broth was also a classic Sanuki bonito broth, light yet flavorful. It was delicious. I was also happy to see a slice of fish cake on top of the simple udon. This fish cake was packed with the flavor of fish and had a great texture. Don't underestimate this fish cake. The tempura was light and crispy, freshly fried. They don't make it ahead of time. The tempura was delicious, but be warned that each piece is quite large. Both the maitake mushroom and chrysanthemum tempura were quite big and satisfying. It's rare to find a lunch in the Yaesu area of Tokyo Station that costs less than ¥1,000 and comes with a seat. It's a great place.

Even though it was a weekday lunch, the Oyakodon (chicken and egg rice bowl) was delicious. The grilled chicken and chicken meatballs were packed into a small teacup-sized bowl, making it a hearty and flavorful dish. The sweet potato tempura was also tasty, and at 950 yen, it was great value for money. // I had to wait quite a while today. The plain warm udon was good, but I was surprised by how delicious the hamachi (yellowtail) on top of the rice was. // I visited for lunch on a weekday. I arrived a little after 12 pm and was able to get a table after waiting for about 5 minutes. I ordered the anago (conger eel) tempura donburi and kamaage udon (hot udon with a raw egg) set from the lunch menu. While it's understandable for lunch, the udon was a bit overcooked, which was a bit disappointing. However, it was definitely tasty. Also, as you can see in the photo, the large anago tempura and shungiku (chrysanthemum) tempura were piled high on top of a large teacup, not a donburi bowl. The anago was very delicious. This generous portion for 950 yen (including tax) is definitely good value for money. I also thought it was nice that you could choose between kake (simple broth) or kama tama (with raw egg) for the lunch udon.

Toriten Oroshi Udon (Chicken Tempura with Daikon Radish Grated on Udon Noodles) I had the warm version. Although I only ordered the udon for my meal and didn't order any alcohol, they brought me a cold tea and a small appetizer. The appetizer, which I think was dried bonito flakes, was incredibly delicious! It had the perfect amount of saltiness and a fantastic crispy texture. The toriten was freshly fried, and I took a big bite right away, burning my mouth! It was juicy and made with chicken thigh. There were three pieces, which made it a generous portion, but it came with a lemon wedge, so it was refreshing and easy to eat. The udon was as delicious as always ☺️ I was completely satisfied, whether using it as a restaurant or an izakaya!

【A Udon Izakaya in the Office District for a Feast of Sanuki Cuisine! Of Course, the Finale is Sanuki Udon (^ ^) Its Multifaceted Nature, Perfect for Both Izakaya and Udon Restaurant Use, Might Be a Welcome Feature for Business Professionals?!】 Located just a 2-minute walk from Yaesu Exit, this Sanuki udon izakaya is situated in the basement of an office building. The main focus is on Kagawa cuisine, offering local dishes like bone-in chicken, fried fish cakes (jako-ten), and chishamo-mi salad. Notably, you can find 'jo-ten,' a deep-fried fish cake made solely from white fish, which is rarely seen in the Kanto region. The selection of sake is extensive, offering a variety of options to enjoy, and I was surprised to find Kaisen (a brand of sake) on the menu. The udon is chewy, smooth, and firm, but compared to authentic udon specialty shops, it might be slightly less robust. However, the wheat aroma was strong, and the raw soy sauce was delicious, making it a good udon experience for an izakaya. Due to the extensive udon menu, many office workers from nearby offices seem to come here for dinner. Additionally, despite being a weekday, there were a few groups with children. The seating arrangement features tables separated by roll-down screens, creating a semi-private booth-like atmosphere, effectively mitigating the typical izakaya bustle and making it a comfortable environment for families with children. While located in an office building and not very conspicuous, it's a great place to enjoy both izakaya fare and Sanuki cuisine in a casual setting.