Tucked away in an alley off Cat Street, Menchirashi is a stylish space to savour house-made udon noodles amongst Harajuku’s fashionable crowd. But don’t let its American-diner-with-hip-Japanese-twist interior deter you: prices here are very reasonable, with most udon dishes priced below ¥1,000.
Menchirashi is known for its fried-to-order tempura and onigiri rice balls, both of which make perfect accompaniments to a bowl of udon. If the menu triggers a bout of fomo, opt for the kake udon (plain noodles in broth), add on a tempura and finish off with an onigiri stuffed with a variety of fillings including tuna and takuan (daikon) pickles. That way you’ll try a bit of everything.