O Udon

The sukiyaka udon was very good. The curry udon was too watery for me. The tempura was kind of expensive and the pieces were small. Tempura 5 piece was 5.50

I ordered original chicken udon with bean sprouts. And a side of deep fried California roll. Tempura batter outside. Wow!!! Definitely a go to next time!

First timer and it’s not even open Drove all the way from Irvine. I was actually excited because I got a good deal from Groupon and I came around 5:20PM and its closed. I’m pissed off. You guys stink!

I got the udon with chicken and the udon with beef. The broth was great, but they don’t give you enough for the price. I sadly left feeling hungry.

Your average Japanese semi-​fast casual joint. It’s in a mall with a Costco, so the lot is crowded. Also, the street that dumps into the lot crosses a busy street that DOES NOT STOP so we had a little pre-​meal exercise in the form of a round of real-​life Frogger.
Udon is in the name but what they use is not what comes to mind when I think udon: the thick kind with the squarish cross-​section, or the uneven hand-​pulled ones that Kotohira USED to serve before they switched to boring machine-​extruded noodles like everywhere else. Here they use the flat ones that come in dry bags at the market like spaghetti. They even look like pasta — a flatter linguine or a slightly less wide fettuccine.
It wasn’t terribly busy (3 – 4 tables and a few takeout orders the entire time we were there) but it seemed like the waitress was in the weeds. We were greeted immediately but it took a long time to order and get food. Ordered onigiri (they were out of tuna and spicy tuna, so we got beef sukiyaki), mac & cheese udon, and chicken paitan ramen. Tried to order a pudding (purin, basically a flan) but were told they were out of both kinds (purin and melty purin).
A long time went by before I was told they were out of mac and cheese udon (of course the very item I came here to try :(). I got ten zaru udon (cold udon with tempura) with a soft-​boiled egg ($ 2 add-​on).
We were there more than an hour and half before closing and they close really early (9pm), so it was unexpected that they’d already be out of almost everything we wanted.
For someone who doesn’t like fresh ramen (call me a freak but I like the instant brick kind — when it’s served in real soup with real meat), the ramen was not bad! The paitan ramen came with more stuff than the paitan udon, and we were already getting one udon dish, so this is why we got a ramen even though I’m not a big ramen fan. The broth, which is apparently cooked all day, was rich and flavorful. Surprisingly they used white meat chicken: as an Asian this was a negative for me; ymmv. Fried chicken skins _​sounded_​good but tasted burnt.
The ten zaru udon disappointed. It came with two sauces, one which was oily and too sweet, and another which was too salty for this Goldilocks. Worse, neither sauce was traditional tempura sauce, and it was missing the grated daikon on the side to mix into it. Worse, the tempura batter was strange, more of a fish and chips batter coating than tempura. It had an odd flavor like it was cooked in rancid oil.
The udon itself was al dente but like I said it wasn’t what I expected. I want the fat kind like the Sanukiya 5-​packs from the Asian market freezer case, not the stick noodle from the dry aisle. And it was drowned in a bowl of more of that oversalted zaru sauce instead of plain on a square plate and mat. It came with tempura flakes on the side instead of bonito or nori strips as expected. The green onions were not on the side but already mixed into the noodles. Maybe this is a different style I just haven’t encountered before, but it’s not for me. It’s times like this that make me really miss Yashima in Little Osaka!
My egg was forgotten. By the time I was able to get her attention to ask after it we were more than half done with the udon. It was ice cold and the yolk was too firm, like it was made in advance and fridged all day.
The onigiri we ordered first came last, long after everything else. Fresh hot onigiri always beats one from the cold case at Nijiya or Mitsuwa. It came in plastic wrap like at the store; I prefer when it’s already put together but considering how long it took to get it, this was probably a good thing. It prevented the nori from getting soggy while waiting to be served (a pet peeve of mine). The meat was not too sweet, as can be a danger with sukiyaki meat, though this was more like gyuu-​don (think Yoshinoya) than sukiyaki, seeing as it was only meat and onions with no vermicelli.
Bathroom was really far, past several other doorways and around the corner. It was dirtier than I expect from a Japanese restaurant and they were out of toilet paper AND soap. Gross! Unless the staff have their own bathrooms stocked with tp and soap…
Soundtrack varied from reggae to Jpop. Reminded me of T.O.T in Little Tokyo in the old days when they played reggae and ska.
Pluses are the ramen broth, and the fact that the girl was very apologetic about the long wait every time, and about all the mixups.
I’m on the fence about going back. I still want to try the mac and cheese udon, but am much less excited about it knowing what kind of udon they use. Maybe I’d be better off having Jin Teahouse’s delicious fusion udon where I know it’s the right kind of udon, it’s perfectly cooked, and the sauces are off the hook.
Wouldn’t mind trying the purin but if they only make 20 of each per day, part of me doesn’t want to risk the long trek here.

Purchased the Groupon and I’m so glad we did. My boyfriend and I both ordered the spicy beef udon and added egg, garlic and sprouts. The broth had great flavor. The noodles and the beef were cooked perfectly. We will definitely be back!

Place was good, but the portion was small for the price. I was still hungry leaving this place. I wouldn’t eat here again.

Haven’t been here for 5 years since i moved out of states. Here again, to try my favorite place to see if they have the same standard, better, or worst. I ordered cold udon since it’s always been my favorite since this place first open. I first notice that they don’t have the spring onion, ginger and tempura flakes for you to put on anymore. The sauce base of cold udon was different, it taste like plain soy sauce. Originally, they sauce of cold udon was a special sauce where the owner created himself, but I guess they switch owner. Next, the udon is so hard！I think they needed a bit more time to cook it since it’s cold udon. Overall, I would give a 2 star for this cold udon. Perhaps the other udon will taste better? I’ll still give a second try next time, hopefully other things taste better.

Shrimp tempura was delicious :) the waitress Chena was so sweet and attentive !! Great service :)

This place is by Costco in fountain valley. Really nice to get a quick bite before or after shopping. My roomie and I came here yesterday, and really liked it. They give a lot of food for a good price for lunch. I really liked their tempura. Udon was great of course. Mixed crowd. Even a group pic business men. Very casual.
Check this place out!

New workers again! Lol. Found out today 4÷30÷16. Food is better now. And new items on menu :)

Haven’t been here since my junior year, but recently came back since I was craving udon that’s nearby my house. It seems they have improved a lot and there were definitely more options to choose from now!
My boyfriend and I were greeted by the friendliest staff and were brought menus and water within minutes. I ordered the cold ontama udon and 2 pieces of their popular deep fried cali roll. My food and my boyfriend’s came out within 5 minutes and they all looked so good! My udon was made really fresh which I liked and the sauce was evenly mixed. Their deep fried cali roll is the best! I will most likely be coming back for it! Arigatou Gozaimasu!

Small udon restaurant! I wasn’t sure if we were suppose to pay and order at the register or sit down first. Regardless, the food here is amazing! The service is really good too. The takoyaki either comes in American or Japanese style. The sukiyaki udon is so good and flavorful. The curry udon comes in a boiling pot. The portions are big and the price is cheap!

We actually discovered O Udon over a year ago, but it hasn’t been until the recent change in owners that has caused me to write this review.
O Udon has become one of our favorite places to grab a quick, tasty and satisfying dinner. Every time we enter this modest Japanese restaurant, we are greeted with a smile and a welcoming atmosphere. The service has been nothing but excellent during each visit. Both the owners and the servers are continuously courteous and attentive.
When we go, we usually order the 4-​piece Gyoza, the 3-​piece Mixed Tempura, two hot bowls of Juicy Chicken Udon, and a side of limes. Depending on our mood, we might or might not order a couple of Japanese beers they have on tap. While the crispy Gyoza is served with a Gyoza sauce, the tempura is presented alongside two tempura sauces, American and traditional Japanese. As for the Juicy Chicken Udon, the semi-​sweet fried chicken with scallions and a bowl of tempura flakes are served on the side to make modifying the broth easier. In addition to this, there are several condiments and toppings available at each table as well. Try the red chili powder (my favorite) with a squeeze of lime!
On a previous visit, the owner gave us a couple of coupons to use for our next trip. Just recently, he gave us a sneak preview to his dessert menu by letting us try his chilled Japanese pudding with a rich, dark caramel sauce on the house! Besides his generosity, his curiosity in our opinion as customers really made us feel valued. He asked us our opinion on not just flavor, but pricing as well.
This restaurant is one to try! You’ll come for the flavor, but stay for the service. It’s delicious, fairly priced, and extremely cozy.

3.5 stars
O Udon has given me a lot of mixed reviews. Since I’ve been here, it has changed ownership 4 times. The first owner was when O Udon was in its prime. The other two were not good, and now it is probably the second best since the original owner. They have a lot more stuff of their menu now such as onigiri and specials.
My go to has always been plain Udon cold or hot, gyudon and juicy chicken as sides. Last time we ordered regular takoyaki as an appetizer. They were good but not the best around. Not enough tako and some didn’t even have any :(Everything else is good. I just wish they would have the combos for dinner too. Also another complaint is that sometimes they are randomly closed on days they say they are open… which is strange.
Nevertheless, O* Udon will satisfy your udon craving!

Delicious! I need to check the small station to add tempura flakes these other Unilocal reviews are saying next time.
Started off with the deep fried California roll a definite must try! Was delicious, of course anything deep fried is good. Deep fried sushi = amazing combo.
We ordered the juicy fried chicken udon and the vegetable and shrimp tempura udon. Udon broth was very clean and smooth. The tempura chicken, vegetables, and shrimp were fried to perfection.
When they gave us our check, they also included nice coupons for next time.
Will definitely be back!

Juicy Chicken, Juicy Chicken, Juicy Chicken. I love everything about this place, but there is one thing that will keep me coming back.
I also love the music. This place better stay open a long, long time. I think I just found my new home away from home.

I was in the area and in the mood for a light lunch. It’s in the same plaza as Costco so that’s very convenient to do some shopping before/​afterwards.
At first, I didn’t know what to order. I didn’t want to order the beef udon nor ramen because I wasn’t in the mood… so I ended up getting the original udon that the waiter recommended. It contains chicken, vegetables, and Japanese plum. It was really balanced and fresh! I really enjoyed that the broth was light. I will definitely come back if I’m back in the area and craving for some udon

My buddies at work laughed at me. Yes, laughed at me. They love this place. They could not believe I did not give it a fair shot. They dared me to try it again. OK. I tried it again.
First off, the place looks more presentable. A menu board and a cleaner, more finished look. Real menus, too. I sat at the counter and ordered the Gyoza appetizer and a bowl of udon with crispy chicken. The Gyoza was quite good, piping hot and tasty. The udon was delicious but the crispy chicken was pretty dang delicious. You take the chicken, dip it in the soup and munch away.
OK, buddies? I tried it again. It was good. I was wrong. I stand corrected. I’ll eat here again.

Ramen won my heart over other noodle soups a long time ago, but this little gem warmed me up to udon again.
It’s hidden off to the side of a large plaza overtaken by Costco. On a cold night when a hot dog isn’t going to cut it, this is a great alternative.
I had their Tempura Udon ($ 7.95) which comes with one shrimp and assorted veggies. The broth was light, and the noodles were nice and chewy, not overcooked. The tempura was battered perfectly (my fave was the mushroom) and came with two types of dipping sauce. The portion looks small in their huge bowls but it’s actually a good amount.
I randomly tried their Deep Fried California Roll appetizer. You can get 2, 4 or 6 pieces ($ 1 a piece). It was swimming in sauce but pretty tasty for what it was.
Everyone who works there is really nice and welcoming. I will be back whenever I have to make a Costco run.

Chillin out in the OC and wanting to introduce my non Unilocaler companion to udon, yeah the white boy don’t know about udon! Truth!
This place was highly recommended from a few trust worthy Unilocal elites so we had to go here.
We went with the kimchi tofu with beef sukiyaki for me. And beef sukiyaki and cold udon for him.
Portion, presentation, and flavors were spot on. Very rich in flavor and savory indeed.
Place was designed to eat and go and that’s what we did.
Will definitely return if in the area again !

Alright, can’t wait to go back to O Udon when I crave noodles since it’s the closest good udon place near my work. Thank you J.G. and Wendy L for confirming that it wasn’t closed, but just going through renovations. The last time I stopped by for lunch… it seemed like it was close since it was going through construction and the signs were misleading…
Anyways, I think O Udon is always a great place for a healthy alternative lunch /​dinner spot. I’ve only come here a handful of times for lunch. Not sure if they still have the Unilocal check in for the 2 pc california rolls.
Menu is pretty straight forward, you choose what you want, order at the front and they bring you your dish in a pretty quick manner. I’ve only come for the udon and haven’t tried any of their other rice or ramen dishes… i’m on a diet people…
I think I’ll stop by this week to see what the renovations look like.