Over the years, London has seen a rise in demand and appreciation for udon noodles. These noodles are delectable and versatile, making them a great base for a variety of other added ingredients. Served hot or cold, udon noodles vary depending on which region they originated from.
Because of how simple yet delicious udon is, more Japanese restaurants are popping up around the streets of London with udon in their menus. Here’s our list of the top 10 restaurants that serve the best udon in London!
Koya: Handmade Udon Everyday
Koya has become a prominent name in London’s food scene, known for its udon, which is handmade every day at Koya’s noodle workshop. It was co-founded by John Devitt and Shuko Oda with their first site on Soho’s Frith Street in 2010, bringing a traditional Japanese udon bar to the West End.
Now, there are three restaurants – Koya Soho, Koya City (Bloomberg Arcade) and Koya Ko in Broadway Market, Hackney — the latter of which launched in September 2021.
The menu spans hot and cold udon with a generous range of toppings and traditional bowls — including kake, kamatama and kitsune. Additionally, there is also an English Breakfast Udon with egg, bacon and shiitake in Soho but purists don’t need to worry! There are plenty of traditional udon dishes to choose from.
Website: https://www.koya.co.uk/
Multiple Locations
Soho: 50 Frith St, London W1D 4SQ
City: 10-12 Bloomberg Arcade, London EC4N 8AR
Broadway Market: 10 Broadway Market Mews, London E8 4TS
Kineya Mugimaru: For That Quick Udon Bite
Another great spot for a quick bite or a healthy breakfast. Nestled in the busy St Pancras station is Kineya, an establishment that started in Osaka in the late 1960s and has since expanded.
The traditional cold noodle dish – Zaru Udon served with ginger, spring onions and sesame seeds is certainly one to try. However, if you’re feeling adventurous, there are also innovative udon specialities at Kineya such as the Panko Fried Chicken Curry Udon or the Takoyaki Udon with nori, spring onions, pickled ginger, topped with a crunchy prawn and octopus tempura balls.
Website: https://www.kineya.co.uk/
Location: Unit 27B, The Circle, St Pancras Station, London N1C 4QP
Donburi: Underrated Udon Classic Found Here
Occupying the former site of Kano Udon London, Donburi may not be the first place you’d consider when you think of udon, owing to its title, but along with their rice dishes, their udon is sensational too.
There are basic udon dishes such as the Niku Beef Udon Soup Noodles, but if you’re in Ludgate and really want a hearty bowl of clean tasting udon, look out for the seasonal specials chalked on the black board of Donburi.
“SAKABA” nights
Donburi isn’t just about food—it’s also a hub for vibrant evenings with their Sake Jazz Bar “SAKABA” nights. Held every Wednesday and Thursday from 16:00 to 21:00, these nights offer a unique blend of smooth jazz tunes and a curated selection of sake to accompany your meal.
For more information check out their IG channel sakabauklondon and FB page SAKABA UK.
Location: 9 Ludgate Square, London EC4M 7AS
Marugame Udon: The Most Iconic Udon Chain
Image credit: Hot Dinners
Japanese udon noodle chain Marugame Udon opened its first London site in Liverpool Street in 2021 and now operates nine branches across the city. The restaurant is all about Sanuki Udon, famous from the Kagawa prefecture in Japan. The noodles are made in house and the flour and machine are imported from Japan.
It’s canteen-style dining with an open-plan kitchen, where you can watch the noodles being made from just three ingredients — flour, water and salt. Once you’ve chosen your noodles, there’s a selection of tempura and sides as well. There are some dishes that are exclusive to London such as the pork tonkatsu and a new vegan section which is a first for Marugame Udon.
Website: https://marugame.co.uk/
Multiple Locations
Canary Wharf: Upper Floor, The Atrium Kitchen, Cabot Square, London E14 4QT
Close to Liverpool Street Station: 114 Middlesex St, London E1 7JH
The Strand: 449 Strand, London WC2R 0QU
High Street Kensington: Kensington Arcade, Kensington High St, London W8 5SF
Waterloo: Unit 16-17 The Balcony, Waterloo Station, London SE1 7LY
Soho: 1-4 Argyll St, London W1F 7TA
Oxford Street: 1-4 Argyll St, London W1F 7TB
The O2: Unit 2.03 Entertainment Avenue, The O2, Greenwich, SE10 0DX
Brent Cross: Unit S2, Brent Cross Shopping Centre, London NW4 3FB
Chisou: Sushi, Udon, and More
Image credit: flickr
On the pricey side, you may wonder why you’d splash the cash on udon at Chisou, especially when their sushi takes centre stage.
The sushi and sashimi are no doubt the stars of the menu along with an omakase experience, but their Gomoku Udon deserves a special mention as this noodle dish served with wakame, daikon oroshi, tempura prawn, tofu, nameko mushroom, spring onion is one for those who prefer their noodles over sushi.
It’s also the place you’d like to treat yourself whenever there’s a special occasion. Certainly, there’s something for everyone at Chisou.
Website: https://www.chisourestaurant.com/
Location: 22-23 Woodstock St, London W1C 2AR
Tosa: Authentic Japanese Udon Goodness
A West London spot that has earned a decent reputation is Tosa, known for its simple yet delicious yakitori. However, they have a genuine menu that serves udon noodles if yakitori isn’t quite your thing. If you like both yakitori and udon, then you’re in luck!
Of course, it’s only necessary to try their Kizami Udon – thick, springy white udon noodles served with simmered tofu in a hot bonito-based broth. Additionally, Tosa is a great spot for some udon and sake indulgence if sake is something that appeals to you!
Website: https://www.tosa.uk/
Location: 332 King St, London W6 0RR
Misato: For Your Cosy and Affordable Udon Needs
Misato is a small and humble eatery known to be a warm and cosy place to go for a hot bowl of udon. Their udon menu is worth having on your radar, with a wonderful variety of curry udon if you’re a fan.
Along with chicken and pork katsu curry udon, there’s Egg Curry Udon, Ebi Tempura Curry Udon, and Beef Curry Udon – all under £8! Certainly, this is the best place to get your fill of udon without breaking the bank.
Website: https://misato.has.restaurant/
Location: 11 Wardour St, London W1D 6PG
Asakusa London: Top-Tier Udon Quality
Image credit: Asakusa London
Asakusa London leans into the casual side of Japanese cooking — the kind of menu you’d recognise from a neighbourhood spot in Tokyo. Their menu consists of chicken teriyaki, yakisoba, and takoyaki… but let’s focus on their variety of udon bowls!
Image credit: Asakusa London
The udon section of the menu runs from tempura udon to tenzaru udon, with most bowls priced between £9.80 and £16.20.
Website: https://www.asakusalondon.co.uk/
Location: 265 Eversholt St, London NW1 1BA
Fushan: Yummy Udon On A Budget
At the heart of central London is a Japanese restaurant dedicated to providing the best dining experience for all their customers. Fushan is committed to great dining at affordable prices, serving Japanese food prepared by experienced chefs from across Asia.
Fushan boasts a variety of Japanese dishes, from sashimi and nigiri to tempura and donburi. However, when it comes to their udon bowls, their Seafood Yaki Udon takes the crown. Made with pan-fried seafood and udon noodles, it’s a strong choice for seafood lovers.
Website: https://fushanrestaurant.com/
Location: 44 New Oxford St, London WC1A 1ES
Udon Cafe: Adding Uniqueness to Udon
Image credit: DOBBERNATIONLOVES
With a restaurant name like “Udon Cafe,” there is no doubt that this establishment serves only the best udon in town. Udon Cafe boasts a menu of unique dishes that will definitely catch your attention, from Kimchi Ramen to Roast Duck Yaki Udon.
Out of their udon dishes, we highly recommend the Beef Yaki Udon. However, if you’re craving for udon that’s mostly soup, the Udon Cafe Special is our best bet. It piles udon in a homemade sauce alongside egg, prawn tempura, chicken, spring onions and spinach — comfort food at full strength.
Website: https://udoncafe.co.uk/
Location: 106C Finchley Rd, South Hampstead, London NW3 5JJ
Satisfy Your London Udon Cravings!
Udon comes into its own on cold London days, when the combination of hot broth and thick, springy noodles works particularly well — but it sits as comfortably on a summer cold-noodle menu as in a winter curry bowl.
Besides udon, did you know that there are so many other dishes to explore in Japan? Check out our Japanese Regions Food Map and discover new delicacies across the country!
