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!