Dinner Date At An Udon-ya

So we decided to try this new udon joint at Mid Valley the other day. I actually suggested the one located at LG of Gardens Mall but Raimie was more interested trying out Manmaru instead.

We had high expectations for the udon served there. After all, it's not just a Japanese eatery but one that specialises in udon. With ordering system and layout much like the one you see in Japan.

My son does loves his udon, you know.
How to order udon at an udon joint?

1. Read the menu. It's right there at the entrance. Don't just be at the front of the queue not knowing what you want. 

Why do I say this? Someone cut my queue just as I was about to order and yet didn't know what to order. Then she called her hubby to come. Then her dad. Then she decided she didn't want to order after all and left. Unapologetically. Without acknowledging others who had nicely and patiently waited for her to finish her ruckus in front of the line.

2. Decide what you want and the size. There's small and there's large. 

3. Choose side dishes, if you want to.

4. Pay at cashier. 

5. Get hot water from the flask if you drink hot green tea. 

6. Tempura sauce, condiments and refills for gold green tea at the other table free for you to take. Oh! Don't forget to take your chopsticks and spoons too!

Pretty much normal style if you have eaten at an udon joint in Japan before.

We had to wait quite a bit for our udon to be ready. This I hope is not a normal occurrence. Then, our udon were served in wet bowl/serving tray. How wet? We got "puddles" on the table. This I hope, is not a normal occurrence too. I do so so hate wet utensils. Oh wait! Or is it normal practice for the tray and bowl to be wet? But then, I also cannot say much a. I dunno and cannot pretend I know much about Japanese eating etiquette.  
Anyway, the place is nice enough.

Staff were patient. Though I wonder why none (at least none when I was there) helped out customers to make their orders. Or at least "promote" their udon. They just waited and smile. Oh yes, they all smile a lot. No talking though.
What we had for dinner that day.

I had bukake udon. L size. 

Son had zaru-udon. S sized. With ebi and kabocha tempura on the side.

Don't be fooled by the size. It's pretty filling.

How did it fare? I was a tad disappointed, to tell you the truth. The chewy, springy texture of the udon that we love was missing. It was firm, that I appreciate but a tad hard. It wasn't smooth. Tak licin.

Hubby opined it was probably because it wasn't steeped in boiling water long enough.

But it's still better than those too-soft udon served at other Japanese outlets.
Happy boy. He also mentioned that the udon was hard.

We finished our dinner, got ready to bring our bowls to the counter (there's a "soiled dishes" counter, just like in Japan) ^^) but the staff quickly took over and cleared it for us. I guess staff didn't expect us to behave and clear our table, eh? 

Anyway, I hope if we go again for a second visit; our experience will be better and they will improve. 

I NEED CHEWY (not hard) UDON!

Comments

  1. Maybe, as some of the customers would just leave it like that!!! =[

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Which is a pity.

      We Malaysians do need to learn to eat and bus our own table. Then only, we cannot complain about foreign workers at food outlets.

      Delete
    2. I saw a lot, and me and my sis always like workers there, help them to clean before we sit on!!! =]

      Delete
  2. Definitely a happy boy huh? ;)

    Enjoy your weekend lina!

    ReplyDelete
  3. oh dear I dislike hard udon too! Guess it's being cooked hurriedly?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe.

      But then, we had to wait a bit for it to be served O.O

      Delete
  4. Wet bowls? No no no. The restaurant chef and staff ... not Japanese ... correct?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Correct ;)

      But I didn't want to make a fuss because it'd be... unJapanese to do so. heh heh

      Delete
  5. Doesnt sound like good experience. Hope the next one is better.

    ReplyDelete
  6. passed by this eatery a couple of times but didn't got to go in and have a try.. hmmm, from the photo and your description, it does look like the udon joint in Japan huh?? but sad to say, it just has the look and system but not the service, quality and people..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hope it'll improve. Otherwise it'd be a pity.

      Delete
  7. probably because the first time i had udon was in Malaysia, they were cooked till so soggy soft - that's always my pet peeves for any kind of noodles, hence i never like udon at all.. unlike the recent trips to Japan and i had their udon, OMG, such a big difference like the heaven and earth.. udon in Japan is so much nicer and i love them, even clear the bowl bottoms up!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yup, such a big difference. & once already makan the real deal (albeit just at a chain restaurant there) we can't help to compare with the ones we had here, right? :/

      Delete
  8. Wow... Thankx for the guide. I wont know how to order too if I am there! I need chewy and not hard udon too. I love udooooooooooon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love them but not the ones here ;-) LOL

      Delete
  9. Thanks for the guidance. I love chewy and bouncy udon!

    ReplyDelete
  10. New shop....teething problem kot...waiter /waitress still new. Hands shakey so puddles kot..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nah... they simply serve with very wet bowls

      Delete
  11. Never been to Japan so dunno how they order the udon. Patut pun read menu first. No need terhegeh-hegeh last ribut what to order.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Weird y staffs smile only. Sore throat? Advised not to waste time chatting with customers? Newbies?....hmmmm....only the staffs knows the answers la

    ReplyDelete
  13. Eh eh y moderate comments? Tu B kacau ke?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Of course la kena moderate...

      Otherwise susah for me to read and reply to comments to old posts.

      Delete

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