Hotay Udon Bowl Cafe

An udon craving, not ramen, udon, is what I have had ever since being in Waikiki and Murakame where this noodle thinking and wanting has kept me searching for a fix! Vancouver has been overrun in the last few years with Ramen joints, where this place is located is truly one of the battlegrounds of ‘ramen’. I prefer udon over ramen, and after being in Hawaii, I’m looking for fresh udon, next to impossible to find in Vancouver (**business opportunity! Someone please open one!**)
Originally, looking at the address, I thought this was inside the Robson Public Market, it is actually on the outside, on Robson Street. This place is tiny, once you walk in, there are 4 tables, which fit very little people. Even the spot where you order/​they collect money is small, with the menu above your head. Not many items on there, which makes it a little easier to order. Cash only from what I saw on the doorway when I entered, and an elderly couple running this joint. The man in the front, and the woman in the back!
I ordered the tempura udon on tis day, and we sat around, the place was empty, and it came out with a tray, chopsticks and spoon on the side, and pickled ginger mixed in with the soup. I can tell you that this mixture worked, the hint of ginger was a nice touch, it took some getting used to at first but eventually it was going down naturally. The udon had a good chewy firmness, would I come back, yes, as this town is lacking in this noodle, while everyone is looking for the next ‘ramen’ fix!
Until we have a ‘fresh made udon’ joint, this will have to do for now.

A little take out joint attached to the Robson Street market.
You can order Udon noodle soups, Udon noodle salads, Donburi rice bowls and Vegetarian options too!
Owned and run by an elderly Japanese couple, peddling the chewy Udon noodles instead of the typical and more popular Ramen.
For me, I really like Udon soups and noodles because of it’s simplicity.
Many ramen shops these days trying to out do each other is trying to make thier broth richer and although it tastes good, it’s bad for you.
All that liquid fat will eventually kill you.
Not so with the dishes here.
I had a mini combo of Udon Chicken salad and a ginger pork donburi. All served in take out containers. The Udon Chicken salad was very delicious. fresh juicy portions of chicken meat, fresh green lettuce leaves and red onion slices. A slightly sweet Japanese soy based sauce and Japanese mayo on top. The Udon noodles were at the bottom and were nice and chewy. The total dish combined for a some nice textures.
The ginger pork donburi was nice and hot too. Ginger pork, panfried and topped on a bowl of hot rice.
The rice was a bit soft for my liking, but I ate pretty much all of it.
Actually the whole combo for under $ 10 was alot of food for me.
We chatted with some Japanese tourists who were in town looking for cheap eats and knowing Udon, came here to try the food out.
It’s a small place, inside seating maybe 6 or 8 people and on a warm day you can sit on the balcony, eat and watch as people walk by.
I definately recommend this place, as it’s new, it’s different and it’s Japanese. If you like those kind of things.
Try it. Maybe you’ll like it. I certainly did.
Now. search for a movie called Udon. It’s a Japanese movie about some people on the search for this Japanese soul food. Im sure, that once you see the movie, it will inspire you to try more!