I love the hot barley tea! Besides the great food they offer, I enjoy drinking while waiting for my order to be ready. We usually get the hot udon sansai and spicy tuna don combo. The price is extremely reasonable and the food tastes fantastic and is very authentic! The wait time for your order is really short. If you want some delicious Japanese cousine this is a great place to visit. read more

Fukada - Love the free got cup of barley tea ! - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Service was great. The nice gentleman who helped me brought out my food as soon as I paid. Everything was packed up nicely and secured. I always get the Lunch Special Noodle Combination. Kake Udon 4/5 I love a good udon with just green onions. Their broth is really good and it totally hit the spot for me. Spicy Tuna Don 5/5 Love it so much! My friend introduced us to this place three years ago. At the time, I was pregnant and got the Oyakodon (It was tasty, but I know people come for their spicy tuna don) , but she said that I had to come back and try it. I did and ever since, that's what I order. They also give you a heart amount of rice, which I told mind because I love rice. I'm a carb girly. The next time I come back to Fukada, I want to try their Seafood Salad. My husband really likes it. read more

Fukada - Outside - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Fukada is one of our go to restaurants. My family loves their lunch specials, which is a lot of food for the money. For $18.45, you can choose either udon or soba (hot or cold) and a bowl (oyako don, katsu don, tempura don, tentoji don, curry don, spicy tuna don+$1, unagi don +$1). The spicy tuna don is my husband's fave, and my daughter always gets the katsu don and has leftovers. I love their seafood salad, which is also available as a lunch special ($20.45) with either udon or soba. I usually will just order the seafood salad on its own, which includes snow crab (the lunch special version does not) and seared tuna and seared salmon (four pieces of each). It's something that would cost so much more at sit down restaurant. You place order at the counter and all orders are packed to go. They do have a dining area where you can eat, as well as seating outside. They are very busy during lunch time. If you're planning on doing take out, you can place a phone order (no online ordering available). read more

Fukada - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

My family always stops by Fukada for lunch or dinner whenever we're in the area. Since the pandemic, they've adopted kind of a "fast food" model where you order the food upfront, pay for it, and they hand it to you in to-go containers that you can eat using one of their indoor or outdoor tables. I actually don't mind this model as I think it cuts down a bit on waiting time. Fukada has delicious udon and soba varieties that aren't easy to find in other soba places. One of my favorite things to get here though is their spicy tuna bowl. Their spicy tuna is super creamy and not too spicy, and very filling! Prices here are very reasonable as well, especially in this day and age. It can get pretty busy here during rush hours but the wait usually isn't longer than around half an hour. Seating can be tricky too but there is also a decent amount of outdoor seating. It's a pretty casual family-friendly spot. read more

Fukada - Spicy Tuna Don--comes with salad and miso soup - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Since Covid times Fukada has become this semi takeout spot. They no longer have full service sit down, they will package all the food with disposable takeout boxes but you are allowed sit in to eat there. The combo meal with udon and a rice dish is still a good deal. I love how fresh the udon tastes and I really liked the unagi don. read more

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1 star for the waste, 3 star for the food. Way too much paper and plastic waste. I was genuinely surprised that even though we dined in for lunch, everything was packaged in to-go containers and placed inside a plastic bag, as if we were taking the meal out. This appears to be a standard practice at the restaurant, and the amount of waste generated was shocking. Seeing so many disposable containers heading straight to the landfill was disappointing. I hope the owner will consider rethinking this approach, as reducing single-use containers and plastic bags would significantly cut down on waste, lower environmental impact, and likely reduce operating costs over time. A simple shift to reusable dishware for dine-in guests would make a big difference and show a meaningful commitment to sustainability. It was hard for me to enjoy the food. read more

Fukada - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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The combo meal here at Fukada is great value. Choice of hot or cold udon with a rice dish. I usually go with the katsu don with cold udon. It used to be a sit down with the wait staff taking and delivering order. Since COVID, they pivoted to taking order at the counter and find any open seat if you decide to dine in. There is plenty of seating indoors with a few tables outside. All of the orders are packed as takeout. read more

Fukada - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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They are stuck in the Covid era of to go plastic and single use containers. We went to eat in, and everything came in plastic cups and bags and we had to prep the food ourselves . The broth was separated in cups, rice was separated in a cup and salad. It was so much that it took away from the experience of actually enjoying the food. They really need to bring real plates back. We are no longer in the Covid era. It really took away from the experience of eating a nice meal at a restaurant . The broth got cold in the plastic and it's not the same as a real bowl. I really hope they change this as we used to like coming here, but not anymore. I would go to the new Marugame in Aliso.. much better experience and food is amazing. read more

Fukada in Irvine has long been on my list for a casual Japanese meal back when I was working in the area. It's always been popular around for its decent and quick options like soba noodles, sashimi salad, and donburi rice bowls. The menu may have fewer items compared to the pre-Covid days, but the selection is still solid. On my most recent visit, I learned that they now operate as "take-out only." However, you can order at the counter, wait for your number to be called, and still enjoy your meal inside, just be sure to clean up after yourself. Ordering a combination meal is the best value, as you get a generous portion that usually includes rice and noodles or salad, plus self-serve hot tea or water. The system actually works very smoothly, and honestly, the experience didn't feel too different from before. While the food isn't particularly standout, it definitely satisfies when you're craving something Japanese. Considering it's located in Irvine, the prices remain reasonable. Overall, it's a solid four star spot for a simple, quick Japanese bite. read more

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If you've spent enough time in Irvine, you KNOW all about Fukada. Well, we're here to tell you more! This Japanese restaurant has been a staple for so long, and it's still just as good if not better! Come check it out with us. Right now, they operate on a togo-style service, where you can sit at their tables if you want, and we went with the outside ones! Off the bat, we got their lemonade, which was super refreshing, and their fried squid! You guys, the fried squid is something else! It's crispy, crunchy, chewy, and tender, all in one! I can't believe I haven't had this before! Get this if you want to feel something. The main event, though, are these noodle combos. You get a bowl of noodles as well as a rice bowl! Talk about value! I opted for the cold soba with tempura flakes and a spicy tuba rice bowl. This was perfect for the hot weather outside. The soba was bouncy, firm, and delicious dipped into the cold soy/dashi soup. And don't even get me started on this delicious spicy tuna bowl. It's been tasting the same amount of delicious for years, and that hasn't changed at all! It's probably also one of their most popular items! I got the hot vegetable udon, which is super bouncy, chewy, and umami, especially after dumping that hot broth over these guys. It's just a great representation of how simple foods can be absolutely astounding in flavor. And I got my tried and true oyakodon, which is a dashi chicken and egg rice bowl. This tastes like comfort in a bowl guys. I can't get enough of it, and the secret to my enjoyment is eating each bite with a little wasabi! Try it, it's a game changer! We stuffed ourselves silly with this meal, and all the food we ate a lotta. That's why you have to come by and try out Fukada! read more

Food: 9/10 Service: 9/10 Ambiance: 8/10 Fukada is solid. Good deals. My favorite is the dinner special that comes with the Unagi Don and Udon, which with tax comes out to be $24-ish. If you're two girls, that would fill you up. I love unagi so each time I crave it, it's the place I go. Their food is all to-go (like you can eat the to-go-ed food at the restaurant, just an fyi read more

Fukada - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

I haven't been to Fukada for 8 years. I finally returned with my family and I was still pleased with the taste! While the restaurant is now more of a to go/counter service place by serving your food in to go containers, the food is still the same as it was 8 years ago. I have no complaints that my udon and spicy tuna are served in to go containers. I'm so happy that Fukada survived the pandemic and that they have still kept the same quality and service. I can't wait to return when I'm in the area again. read more

Make sure you know their hours of operation! They are not open between 2 PM to 5 PM, just check their Google maps or Yelp hours of operation pretty closely. Came on a Saturday at 1:30 PM, and there were still some people eating inside. I think that their entire operation is now just to-go containers, but they explained pretty clearly that even with to-go containers, you're welcome to eat indoors. They have a couple of tables outside as well. We were greeted by a very kind and patient server, with the distinct Japanese style of hospitality. That was a breath of fresh air to be met by someone so patient to take our order and answer our questions. I just came from a dealership, so I was kind of tired of people being mean to me all the time. Lunch Special: $16.95 (Udon, Oyako AKA Chicken w/ Rice 7.5/10) - Udon was really good! For toppings, you can do half half with half of their veggies, and half with tempura crispy bits. - the veggies are on the slightly sour, but super fresh and a distinct taste. Definitely would recommend a try. Noodles are chewy, and the broth is pretty light and enjoyable. - Oyako (chicken/steamed egg over rice) was a little bit on the bland side. I do appreciate that they gave huge portions with a lot of rice to make sure that you are full, but I thought that the chicken was pretty plain, and didn't have enough seasoning. - Mom got the Unagi (eel), and they gave a relatively small piece of eel for the amount of rice that she got. It was an extra dollar, but that eel was pretty tasty. Overall: for around $17, getting both soup and rice is a pretty good deal. The chicken/egg rice dish wasn't the greatest thing ever, and a little bland. Maybe the beef dish is better, which is an extra dollar. Udon was good though! The veggies, broth, and tempura bits make for a fantastic bite. read more

Fukada - Udon + Oyako AKA Chicken w/ Rice - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Solid place for a weekday lunch. Reasonable prices and great value and taste. Their cashier is very friendly and took the time to help me find a dish I liked. It's a very casual vibe with plenty of seats inside and outside. You can't go wrong with their tempura udon -- in fact, just thinking about it makes me want to get more. Highly recommend it. read more

If you're into generous portions and crave comforting Japanese food, this spot hits the mark! Their soba, udon, and donburi are my go-to picks, flavorful, filling, and well-priced. For low-carb folks, you can sub rice for veggies or salad with your donburi, which is a nice touch. Highly recommend the spicy tuna and eel don. so satisfying. While the rolls only come with six pieces, each bite is packed with flavor. Don't skip the salmon skin hand roll and the crunchy roll, both are my personal favorites. Service was thoughtful and efficient, they even asked how I wanted my to-go items packed and separated everything perfectly. The ambiance can get a bit loud indoors, but the outdoor seating is really cute. Bonus: it's a great casual date spot too! read more

Fukada - Here it is! Places to sit inside and outside - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Had some family visiting from out of town and they were craving Japanese food. A quick Yelp revealed that Fukada would be the place to go, but only if we could get there early enough to avoid the lines! Even a few minutes before opening there was already a line forming! It's a bit of a weird setup. You order at the front and they bring your food to you in to go containers but you can also stay in the interior to eat as there are plenty of tables, just no wait staff. We each ordered the udon combo. It took maybe 10 minutes or so but everything arrived hot and fresh, I was pretty impressed how quick it all was. We decided to stay and eat in. I loved the agedashi tofu. It's been a while since I had it and it always hits the spot. I actually think with the tofu, I maybe have over ordered because the udon combo is actually quite large! I ended up taking the pork to go and just ate the udon there. I went with the tanuki udon and it was very yummy and savory. I think if I come back I would just get this! My SIL got the cold soba noodles and enjoyed this as well. read more

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If you like Japanese food, then the food here will definitely satisfy your cravings. They have a lot of fresh udon, seafood salad, sushi rolls, Oyakodon (chicken and egg rice bowl), and many other popular rice bowls + fresh tempura! The udon texture was really soft and light, the soup was perfect, and the mixed toppings that I got were super delicious. I asked for recommendations on sides/combos, and the seafood salad is very popular. The fish was fresh and tasty. It's worth getting. The inside has maybe enough seating for like 5-7 groups? There is limited outside seating. This is not a fast food joint / chain, but rather the staff is limited and focused on quality. Due to staffing, the food is served in Togo containers since 2020 (I believe). The taste is addicting. Service is very kind. read more

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This place is so good, authentic Japanese food, good portions, and the inside of the restaurant is very clean. You need to order up front even if you plan on eating inside, food is packed in to go containers regardless of if you eat there. I recommend the Katsudon bowl and the spicy tuna donburi bowl. read more

Only place where you can get a good bowl of tuna don. Unfortunately the side salad it came with had dirt on it. Got halfway through the salad before I saw read more

Fukada - dirt. - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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It rained today, so I stopped by hoping for a warm bowl of udon, but somehow the whole experience felt colder than expected. After ordering and sitting down, all the food came out in takeout containers, and I had to unwrap everything at the table. I didn't really understand this system, and it felt like customers were expected to handle all the trash and leftovers themselves. If I were taking the food to go, that would make sense, but having this setup for dine-in felt strange especially considering I had already tipped 20% at the counter without knowing this. The udon noodles were thin and tasty, but because they were served in a to-go bowl, the food wasn't as hot as I expected. The tempura didn't taste freshly fried at all; it tasted more like it had been made earlier in the morning. Maybe my expectations were high because it's a Japanese restaurant, but I was very disappointed. If this were simply a takeout-focused place, I could understand the setup. But as a dine-in experience, many aspects felt off, and honestly, I don't think I'd want to return. read more

Fukada - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

I come to this spot from time to time for lunch since I work from home. It's tucked away in a small-ish plaza with some other restaurants I frequent (shoutout Kebab Shop) and there's plenty of parking if you decide to drive. What's pretty unique to this spot is that everything is served in to-go containers - that's the only option. You can still eat inside or outside, but don't expect your typical plates or bowls with your full service. The food itself is pretty solid. The udon is flavorful, the oyako don comes in generous portions, and the overall prices are very fair for Irvine. Nothing crazy, but consistently good. There's lots of seating and service is minimal since it's basically a grab-and-go setup. If you live around the area and you're craving quick service Japanese food, it's a reliable spot. read more

Simple menu - you get exactly what you see on the menu / order. I got a lunch noodle combo with hot udon and unagi rice bowl. Food is good but not enough to wow me to return, I think. Maybe I need to try something else on the menu. They are low staffed right now so everything is a to-go order (order at the counter) but they do allow you to sit and each at their tables inside and outside! There is also self serve iced water and hot tea in the front. Staff was friendly when I ordered from them so service is good as much as I experienced it! read more

Fukada - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Amazing service. Very friendly and welcoming. The server cleaned the bar before we sat down, and also as other patrons left, but assured us we could stay as long as we wanted. The food is also fresh. I recommend the combo deal as you get a lot more food for a couple more dollars. I had the ten zaru soba with vegetable tempura. The tempura was so fresh, very crunchy golden brown outside. read more

Super casual spot for nice and simple flavors! I found this spot specifically because I had the best chikara udon of my life in New York and was craving it so bad, and Fukada was one of the only places around that had a chikara udon on the menu! I can't say it was as good as the one in New York, but it definitely fulfilled my chikara udon craving. I might have liked the spicy tuna rice more haha, it was flavorful and fresh! read more

Fukada - chikara udon and spicy tuna don - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Went in on a friday around 11:45 and the place was full with many people waiting for their orders. The wait was about 30 mins to get our food. The menu like others have mentioned is pretty simple. I got the tanuki udon and spicy tuna don combo. The tanuki udon was good and the spicy tuna don was alright. It was not that spicy and wasn't insanely impressive. Overall good and filling meal. Would come back if someone suggested it! read more

Fukada - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Came to this plaza for lunch and the menu looked interesting. I ordered a lunch combo with udon and tempura bowl for to go. The soup was tasty but it seemed like some flavor was missing from the meal. Tempura came on top of rice and the portion of food was decent. I'm not sure if they offer sauce but the meal seemed to be missing something. It was plain tasting. Since this was my first time at this place, it's possible that I may not have eaten it correctly. There is a line suring lunch time. Plenty of seating outdoors which is convenient for groups with people who have different food preferences. read more

Came into Fukada for their lunch special. You have to order at the counter and they give you the food as takeout but you have the option of sitting down inside or out if you please. The lunch special comes with many options. I opted for the hot soba noodles with the tempura and egg donburi. The broth was very comforting and hit the spot as a warm broth on a rainy day. I tried my friends cold soba noodles and they were amazing as well with the wasabi. The noodles were fresh and had a perfect chew to it. We had the katsu and tempura donburi with egg. It was made with a light, sweet soy sauce which was delicious. They cooked the tempura and katsu with the egg so if you are looking for a crunch do not order it with the egg. This was a quick and delightful meal all for 16 dollars. Could barely finish half of the food so it is so worth the price. Will be coming back when I am near the Irvine spectrum mall again! read more

Fukada - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Great bang for your buck. The lunch combo included a noodle dish and rich dish for roughly $15. There's menu print outs at the entrance and you order first and seat yourself. There's self serve water at the entrance as well. The food came out relatively fast and fresh. They brought it out all packaged for to-go but we sat down and ate there. It gets packed here quick for lunch and they are onto open until 2 pm. read more

Fukada - Katsu Don - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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We ordered the udon with shrimp tempura and chicken teriyaki. The udon came with a small seasoning packet similar to what you find with packaged udon from Costco, and the noodles didn't taste freshly made like the udon I've had at other restaurants in OC and LA. The shrimp tempura batter was thick and the fried food came out greasy and dark, which made it seem like the oil wasn't very fresh. Because of this, we didn't finish the meal and ended up throwing most of it away. Our food was also served in plastic takeout containers even though we were dining in, which felt a bit wasteful. read more

Located in a plaza with easy parking! We ordered and sat outside. There was no wait when we came on a Thursday during dinner time. I ordered the seafood salad combo as I was feeling healthy, which came with spicy tuna don on top of brown rice. We also ordered agedashi tofu and salmon sashimi as appetizers to share. The salmon sashimi quality was so good and buttery! The tofu was also delicious as well! The combo portion was fairly large and I was able to save leftovers for a second meal. read more

Fukada - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

My boyfriend and I stopped by around 7pm on a Friday and the place was almost packed. We were a bit confused at first and didn't realize they're currently doing to-go only as they're understaffed. So we were just waiting in the front for a few minutes without anyone telling us it's to-go only, and then I noticed the sign. You can still sit down and dine here, which is nice, but you just won't be serviced. The price you pay for the lunch and dinner combos is immeasurable. However, I only think it's worth it if you choose to get the rice dish instead of sushi rolls with your noodles. I ordered the hot tanuki udon (it comes with broth) and my boyfriend ordered the same, but for the second part of the combo, he chose the katsu don and 2 a la carte California rolls. I chose to get the salmon tataki rolls for the second part of my combo. The rolls were okay, but I wouldn't get them again and don't think they're worth the price. A la carte rolls here are $7.00 and for California rolls, they charge an extra $0.50 per roll, but you only get 4 pieces per roll... So we basically paid $15 for 8 pieces of a California roll which was not worth it.. The salmon tataki roll, however, came with 6 pieces. If you order a roll instead of a rice dish, you get $1 off for the combo, but I wouldn't recommend this and I'd say to just go with the rice dish. I ended up eating the katsu don, which has pork and eggs, because my boyfriend ordered this by accident and meant to get the oyako don that has chicken and eggs. The katsu don and udon soup were both good! Overall Fukada is a nice and casual restaurant to get to-go, or you can still technically dine in but it'll just be from your to-go order. I'd come back only for the noodle and rice combination since it's a great deal ($18.95 dinner for essentially two dishes) but I would also be willing to check out their other dishes, as they have an extensive menu. I just wouldn't get the rolls again. read more

Fukada - Katsu Don, hot tanuki udon soup, salmon tataki and California rolls - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

The food itself is overall pretty good. The udon and donburi are classic, and the seafood salad has a delicious (though somewhat salty) dressing. My biggest gripe was the takeout only vibe. It seems like they started doing everything in takeout containers during COVID and then never went back. I'd understand if they just had people take out only for safety reasons, but they have people still sitting in the restaurant and they give you the food in plastic takeout containers. All I could think about was how much microplastics I was ingesting.... I generally try to avoid getting takeout for this reason, but here I came for a dine in meal and got a takeout experience instead. However, the cashier and owners were pretty nice. We accidentally stayed a few minutes past closing and no one was rudely shooing us out or anything. read more

Some friends had recommended I try this place, mentioning it was very reasonably priced and tasty. I was driving through the area one day and saw the Fukada sign so I decided to drop by on a Sunday for lunch. Upon walking up to the entrance, the outdoor seating was filled so I thought it was a good sign. Honesty, I was thrilled to try out this place after looking at the star rating. I got in a long line up to the door, and we ordered the following: Lunch special combination of hot udon with tempura flakes and the katsu don with brown rice CA roll a la carte Tempura- 2 pcs of scallop 2 pcs of sweet potato I was quite disappointed about the meal. The udon was basically something I could make at home and there was a surplus of tempura flake, which made the soup very oily. The katsu don was extremely dry and not fresh. It tasted like microwaved pork katsu, and the brown rice had a strange flavor with the juices of the katsu leaking into it. We didn't finish this and had to throw it away because it was not edible. The CA roll was the worst I've ever had. The rice was warm and soggy and also tasted like the imitation crab was old. It did not have any flavor and I also trashed this item. The tempura tasted like they had been fried in reused oil. The scallop was old, rubbery, and brown. As I bit into it, the tempura skin completely separated from the scallop. It had no flavor even after I dipped it into the dipping sauce. The sweet potato tempura was okay. Overall, the meal tasted oily and microwaved, with lots of MSG. I felt extremely thirsty throughout the day, and I was so disappointed I had to go to another restaurant to get more food. Not sure if the food was bad as they have been short-staffed since Covid. All orders were for take out only. Nevertheless, I will not be returning to try anymore items from Fukada. Better luck next time. read more

Fukada - Scallop and sweet potato tempura, hot udon with katsu don/rice, CA rolls- 2 stars - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

flavor was great, very authentic, but portion may be a bit on the lighter side for me for that one day when I ordered take out per the price, great place to hangout in group setting forsure since the food was delicious and setting was clean read more

Fukada is a great spot for Japanese comfort food. The noodle combinations are yummy, and the portions are definitely worth the price. I came back just for the spicy tuna bowl. It was also my first time trying agedashi tofu, and it was clean, light, and really tasty. They serve food in to-go containers, which is super convenient, but there's also both indoor and outdoor seating if you want to dine in. Solid restaurant! read more

Fukada's food is amazing good, I had a spicy tofu soup meal, the soup was delicious and the sides were amazing. My husband had their donkasi and he really enjoyed it too. We had very positive experience there and we recommend if you feel like some Korean food in Aliso Viejo. read more

I LOVVEEE FUKADA! As a girlie who loves Japanese food but wants options, Fukada is the way to go. Their combos are so worth as you get to choose two different items: a noodle and a rice bowl. I really love the spicy tuna bowl for the rice option, and both the soba/udon noodles are good! It's so much food for a great value and is healthy as well. They do takeout only and you can do phone order to get your order in ahead of time. You can also dine in but I love taking this to go and enjoying it with my friends! read more

The food at Fukada is incredible. Their quality is very consistent, no matter if you go in the morning when they just open or if you go right before their last call cut off time. Service here is great, very friendly and welcoming. I have been coming here for years and I would highly recommend this place if you are in the area. read more

The cold udon here is so yummy, super chewy and great texture too. The lunch noodle combo is a great deal, and the rice bowls are also massive, there was definitely enough for leftovers. The hot udon was slightly soggy and not chewy enough, so I'd definitely suggest the cold udon. read more

Fukada - Lunch Noodle Combination - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

They used to have servers but due to staff shortages they only have take out but you can use the tables inside. We got their dinner special combination ($17.45) which included an udon bowl and a donburi or sushi roll. DONBURI - we got the oyakodon and the katsu don. I thought the chicken in the oyakodon was a little dry and I preferred the katsu don more. HOT UDON - we got one of the sansai (vegetables) and the tanuki (crispy tempura flakes). I really liked the broth on the udon which was light and flavorful. It was warming and would be great on a cold day. My only wish was that there was meat on it. PORK LOIN CUTLET ($7.50) - they have the appetizer (with one piece) option or the entree (with two pieces and rice). It was very crispy and I liked the dipping sauce. Two dishes for $17.45 is a pretty affordable meal nowadays. I liked the udon bowls more than the rice bowls but both are comforting for a good price. read more

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