If you're a big fan of South Yarra's premium Japanese restaurants Yakikami or Wagyu Ya, then you'll be stoked that a delightful new specialty udon shop from the same hospo crew has recently opened in the CBD – and it's slinging satisfying lunch eats at a much wallet-friendlier price. Some folks are even already crowning these noods the best udon in Melbourne, and they start at just $19 a bowl.
You've got two types of udon noodle to choose from at Yamamoto Udon: the delicate ribbon-like himokawa udon or the bouncy sanuki style. Both are available in 18 traditional and new-school flavours, from simple dipping-style udon (we likes ours cold!) to steamy dashi soup udon – perfect as the temps drop into the autumn and winter months. You can even add crispy tempura or juicy chicken karaage for a crunchy kick, while rich flavours like creamy carbonara udon and Japanese curry are guaranteed to deliver lunchtime comfort by the bowlful.
All the noodles are freshly handmade daily from natural ingredients in a limited batch of just 70 servings, free from additives and aged for two days for maximum flavour.
Yamamoto Udon's head chef Ryosuke Yasumatsu describes his craft as “a tradition that takes skill and patience”.
“Our team at Yamamoto brings years of experience in handmaking udon, staying true to the techniques that have been passed down through generations while sharing them with Melbourne,” shared Yasumoto. “We’re all about combining high-quality ingredients with an accessible price point, making it easy for everyone, whether on a quick lunch break or simply craving something delicious, to enjoy a creative top-notch bowl of udon for just $19.”
With iPad ordering and a zippy ten-minute wait time, this cute spot is definitely worth checking out on your next lunch break!
Yamamoto Udon is open daily from 11.30am to 9.15pm at Shop 12/108 Bourke Street. Visit the website or Instagram for more details.