SERVICE: Personally, I like it. It's casual. It has dining hall seating with booths and bench tables available. You enter the establishment and you order your food from one of the kiosk. The kiosk prints out a ticket, which you will hand to a staff member in the queue. He/she will assemble your food and puts it on a tray. Then you'll go through selecting fried appetizers and stuff for an additional fee. When you get to the cash register, they have drinks available. You could order their lattes too via the kiosk. I just had a Coke. There is water available too by the plastic silverwares. When you are done, you bring your dirty dishes to the tray return area. Simple. FOOD: The food was good. I had a tonkotsu udon with added charshu pork. The broth was delicious. I saw other dining patrons who drank from their bowl! The calamari was cooked right. I didn't need any sauce. I also bought the spam musubi, which was egg, SPAM, and rice--I saved it for later and it was delicious. PARKING: I parked at the Oak Street Parking Ramp that is affiliated to the University of Minnesota/M Health. It is $3.00 for 1 hour. The restaurant is just right around the corner. There are street parking available, but I'm not gonna drive around near rush hour/near when students are finishing up their last class and just wanting to get home. There were plenty of parking space in that ramp. read more

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This is along the East Bank of the University of Minnesota. There's plenty of metered parking and at the time it was about $2/hour. There's two self service kiosk to the right as you enter and you can make your selection. There's some Udon options, ramen options, rice bowl etc. Very straightforward and I decided to get their special creamy shrimp udon. If you don't order the special Creamy Hokkaido udon, they are able to build your bowl immediately while mine was about 10 mins which wasn't unreasonable at all. I enjoyed my udon and happy they didn't skimp on my shrimps! There's a row of tempura options and other snacks to add to your meal averaging about $2-$5 a piece. There was a lack of variety when it came to beverage options but there's a self service station for water that works too. It was quiet in the space and a small greeting is always nice to have but we navigated through the process. read more

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Not bad for a very quick bite before a flight to the airport. I think the food came on in world record time compared to other restaurants I've been to. I would say that the flavor is good enough for the price, don't expect world-beating flavor to go with the world record serving speed, but it gets the job done. One recommendation to the staff is to slightly tone down the salt levels in the dishes overall to make things perfect. I could see why this would be a popular destination among UofM students. read more

Kinzo Udon - Noodles Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I was so impressed with this restaurant! They are in the old space of Punch Pizza and I love the space inside. The prices are super reasonable and you're able to order at the kiosk and then turn in your tickets to make your food. They had multiple vegan options and I was able to get fried tofu too since they were out of the tofu add on inside the udon. It was easy to find a spot and they have free water which is great. I will definitely be back! read more

Kinzo Udon - Vegan curry udon - Noodles Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Totally authentic Sanuki style udon served up authentic Japanese cafeteria style without a single Japanese person involved. Totemo oishii desu! I am in Nirvana. One doesn't just invent this, someone did serious research and training, this is absolutely brilliant. Hand pulled noodles are essential and that's what they serve here. The Watermelon juice, yakitori, the tyaki dessert all also authentic Japanese style, they even use real Japanese utensils and service ware. I can't believe my luck. The one item that wasnt authentic Japanese was the spam and egg musibi which was authentic Hawai'ian Japanese. Ii desu ne! read more

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I was so excited to try this as soon as I saw them put up their sign. Walking in, the decor was very nice and felt like an upscale cafeteria. You order at a kiosk, give your ticket to the person at the counter and pay! They had different sides and tempura set up like they would be at a cafeteria. The staff was friendly and very fast. The food was great! The tonkatsu broth was fatty and rich. The noodles were the perfect texture and the meat fell apart. My boyfriend enjoyed his curry but said he felt as if it could be used a little more salt. I felt as if the portions were big ! neither of us were able to finish our entire bowl. Overall i enjoy this place! I hope they add a couple more things to their menu! read more

Kinzo Udon - curry udon - Noodles Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Super yummy! Came here for Valentine's Day because who needs an expensive steak meal when you can have something more delicious! read more

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While Punch Pizza will always be missed in this spot, I couldn't be more excited for Kinzo Udon to take over in its place! Walking over from my office on campus, it's a pretty slick experience! You simply go up to the ordering tablets and choose your broth, protein, and toppings! You then take your ticket to the line where you are given your noodle bowl. Lastly you make your way through the line of additional options, such as Katsu, Shrimp Tempura, Gyoza, etc. Check-out and find a seat to enjoy! I had the beef bone broth, which had a lovely flavor and the noodles were perfectly chewy! The 3 slices of pork Chashu was tender and flavorful! I will say that I'll probably skip the tempura flakes next time...they get soggy instantly and make for a less desirable broth texture. Overall, the perfect cool weather lunch spot on campus! Excited to come back! read more

Kinzo Udon - Pork Chashu Beef Bone broth - Noodles Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Pretty mid udon in my opinion. The flavor is okay and the noodles were fine but I honestly felt like you could get it anywhere. The fried dishes were also extremely expensive and not worth the price. If you've never been to a place like this, it's a fun experience. But it's nothing special if you've been to other places outside of Minnesota. read more

Kinzo Udon - Noodles Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I'm hoping this place improves with time but for now, I didn't like it much. The soup base options and toppings were pretty limited. I would have liked more flavor in the broth (more savory and umami taste) and wish it was hotter- it wasn't warm but also not hot enough for my preference. The noodles were really good, they had a good bouncy and chewy texture and was not mushy at all. I would say I really enjoyed the chicken katsu or fried chicken piece- it was crunchy on the outside, salty and juicy on the inside. It is cafeteria style with limited service interaction so I can't say much there besides the staff not really saying something but the total cost when checking out before sitting down or take out. There is a small condiment bar with soy sauce but the water station. In total it was about $20 for udon with egg, chicken katsu, shrimp tempura and veggie tempura- which I think is reasonable with the current prices of things but maybe pricey for students. It is located at the UMN East bank so there is limited metered parking. read more

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Kinzo Udon fills a niche of fast, well-priced, yet quality food that's disappearing fast. There's a high degree of customization available, starting with choosing one of six broths. Of the four I've tasted, the beef broth with white pepper is my favorite. It's very rich with a flavor deep enough that you want to drink down every bit once your noodles are gone. From there you can add scallions (do), tempura flakes (don't, unless you want your bowl to quickly feel like mushy cereal), and a range of meat and egg options. If udon isn't your thing, they've got a couple rice bowls too. Service is quick and friendly, done cafeteria style with self-serve tempura sides to add once you've received your main dish. The environment is nice too, highly recognizable as a former Punch Pizza. Kinzo Udon is still in its first month, so there are a couple growing pains. The biggest thing that needs attention is temperature regulation. While I haven't received a cold bowl in my two visits, I wouldn't have minded if they were hotter. Same goes for the tempura. Also, the ordering system should be clarified. They hype up their paper ordering sheet online and throughout the store, but then you actually order via an electronic kiosk. No big deal, but a bit confusing at first. All in all though this place is a welcome addition to the UMN food scene, and I'm excited to see them grow! read more

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Quick stop in spot for a bowl of hot udon on a cold day was my exact thinking when I came in! I like how customizable everything is which helps with my pescatarian diet. I tried the black sesame latte and it was quite heavy on the milk so I'll pass on that next time but the red bean taiyaki was a nice touch too for post meal. read more

Kinzo is our favorite new Japanese restaurant in the Twin Cities, and one of the best Udon spots I've been to in the US. Everything about this restaurant is super cool: the inside reminds me of being in Tokyo, right down to the computer ordering and the fun decor. The udon iteself is really tasty; they have a few different broth options, and the regular broth as well as the curry broth were both delicious. The noodles are fairly standard, but the toppings really "make" the bowls. We tried a couple different tempura items, and both the shrimp and sweet potato were perfectly cooked. The gyoza were great too. Customer service is awesome (they made a special bowl for our young daughter), and they have big doors they open in the summer which is cool. A must visit new restaurant in Minneapolis! read more

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Really enjoy the whole experience ordering with the kiosk and the people working here are so nice. The broths are so good and to me the udon noodles are perfectly chewy, though I'm far from an udon expert. read more

Tried Kinzo Udon for the first time and went with the beef bone soup. Service was quick and efficient, making it an easy option if you're looking for a fast, hot meal. The broth was comforting without being overly heavy, had a perfect amount of white pepper in the broth, and the toppings were fresh. Portions are generous for the price, making it a good value, especially if you're after something filling but affordable on campus. read more

For Minnesota, I think this is a great addition to the food scene. Udon is a delicious comfort food and I definitely appreciate a place dedicated to that. It's pretty cheap and is cafeteria style where you order at a kiosk, get your bowl, and then serve yourself sides like shrimp tempura and gyoza. They only have 6 types of udon to choose from and I tried the curry base. I also got the chicken which was very crispy and well flavored. It's fast and convenient and probably perfect for the college environment it's located in. These kinds of chains are pretty common in Japan so it's cool to see it in Minnesota. read more

Kinzo Udon - Curry udon with egg and beef - Noodles Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I tried the beef bone done noodles and added the sliced beef. 10/10 even on a hot day in the twin cities! The staff was so kind and answered all of my questions. They have an asking selection of appetizers to choose from as well. Sadly, I was in my way out of town or I would've stayed to try them. When they heard that I was taking the train, they carefully wrapped everything up and put it in an insulated/reflective bag so that it would stay warm in my way to MSP. Noodles are perfect - just the write amount of chewiness, and try the broth was flavorful. They have a variety of spices and oils to add at the restaurant as well. Noodle dishes are customizable with add-ins (green onions, pano) as well as different meats you can add for a small charge. read more

Kinzo Udon - Beef bone udon noodles, added seasoned sliced beef. - Noodles Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Love the concept that they have of ordering. You order on a kiosk, but originally they were suppose to have paper menus but I didn't see them during my visit. Udon was perfectly made as they were chewy and thiCCC Broth was more mild in depth, but great taste! As a first timer on ordering udon, I do wish they had a description on what the bowl comes with because I didn't know charsu, poached eggs, and etc were additional, but it's a learning experience! i have a tiktok video post for this review as well on @xcyannlee read more

Fast service. Fresh and chewy noodles and the tonkotsu was actually spicy! The space is accommodating with various areas for seating. I like the decor here as well and it was really clean. read more

Kinzo Udon - Spicy tonkotsu udon - Noodles Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Great atmosphere. This is a Chinese noodle place, not a ramen place. Soup taste like Chinese/ sze chuan hot pot soup that is slightly lacking in depth. Noodle is good. Only 6 selection of soup broth. Meh.... read more

Kinzo Udon - Big tables for seats - Noodles Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

The location is street parking. It was not busy when I went on a Monday night. The service was easy as you order on the screen and move through the line cafeteria style until you pay at the end. The broth and noodles were good! read more

Kinzo Udon - Tonkotsu broth with added Chashu pork. - Noodles Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

For a bowl of noodles and soup, the price is pretty good if you're not a meat eater. I enjoyed picking out our own tempura we wanted, but $3 for one shrimp tempura is a little steep. The takoyaki was okay, a lot of flour but the chicken katsu was the best side, I would recommend that one. Service was quick because you just order with the kiosk and there's a lot of seating for large groups. read more

Best Udon in minneapolis. I go here twice a week and it's amazing every single time, maybe my favorite restaurant atm. The ambiance is cafeteria but the tables are a nice wood that give it a more relaxed and intimate vibe. Service is lightning fast and polite. The to go option is well designed to keep all the ingredients fresh and warm if there's a lunch rush. Can't recommend enough. read more

I have been waiting for a good udon restaurant to arrive in MN for years! Kinzo Udon is absolutely a must try. It's positively delicious! There's usually a line, but it goes fast. Order on the 2 large screens on your right when you enter the restaurant. Each bowl of udon noodles is customizable to whatever you want. Start by choosing which broth you desire (beef bone broth, spicy, curry, etc.) Then "add": beef slices, egg, scallion green onions, tempura flakes. You can choose more or less on the noodle portion, meat, scallion, tempura flake, beef. There is a slight up charge for more beef and or eggs. After you're done ordering, take the slip of paper the screen spits out and proceed to the cafeteria style line to get your noodles. Then proceed to pick out the tempura you desire (optional), canned/bottled drinks, and pay at the cashier. Tempura and tako-yaki are crispy and range from ~$1-5. Udon noodles are chewier in texture and the broth has lots of flavor. If you added an egg to your udon noodles, they will give you a whole soft-boil egg that you'll need to crack over your udon noodles. It is cooked, just very soft/runny so when you crack the egg into your soup, mix it up to "cook" the eggs further, if you want. There's a self-serve water station and spicy mayo, siracha sauces for your tempura and noodles soup. Chopsticks are provided when you get the noodles. You may ask for a fork, if you want. They have self-seat in booths or long picnic-like tables. Street metered parking or there was a ramp a coupe of blocks within walking distance for $. Keep in mind Kinzo Udon is located in the heart of U of MN and the Gopher football stadium is about 2 blocks away so the area is packed with pedestrians and traffic gets very busy during Gopher games/homecoming, etc. read more

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The model for this restaurant is similar to some of the ramen shops/chains on the west coast, where you order the ramen, then you have the option of adding a bunch of addons. However, everything for restaurant is a-la carte, from the broth to the protein add-ins, and the additional tempura and katsu sold separately. But udon. The only thing isn't a-la carte is the green onions and the tempura flake density. Spicy and house mayo and some togarashi and siracha at the water station for condiments for spice. Service is only at the counter. You are supposed to bus your own table when you're done (for those who think staff are supposed to pick up after you). Fairly small dining room. I ordered the spicy tonkotsu broth with seasoned beef. Added sweet fried tofu, and some various tempura and shrimp katsu. Total was about $23. Udon itself would have been around $15-ish. Noodles are thick and have the texture of hand-cut noodles. They don't exactly have the amount of bounce that typical udon noodles have, but (in my mind) that's not necessarily a terrible thing. Perhaps the noodles need to be cooked a little longer.... The broth had a bit of kick to it, and had decent porkiness. The seasoned beef was a bit overwhelmed by the spicy tonkotsu broth, unfortunately (and that's probably my fault with the order). The tempura and katsu went well with the broth with regards to complementing flavors. Probably the right move with my order would to have ordered the chasu pork for the spicy tonkotsu. The sweet fried tofu would probably be better served with dashi. The seasoned beef could have gone well with the dashi or beef bone broth. Honestly, the udon can be customized just about the way you want it. A little pricey, some things could be a little better, but for the metro area, this is a pretty solid noodle joint.. I can seem myself coming back, and this place would definitely thrive in the middle of winter. A nice complement to Tofu House around the corner as a Japanese counterpart to the Korean there. Now we just need a Chinese noodle shop on campus. read more

This place was a 10/10. It is so needed here in MN and I hope the Minnesotans welcome this comforting food over the winter. Born and raised here in MN, spent 10 years in LA, discovered ramen, udon and all sorts of incredible Asian dishes and restaurants. My girlfriend and I visited Kinzo about a month ago and it is just as good as any udon we've had before. We'll be coming back almost weekly as these winter months come. U of MN students, go get you some!!! read more

This is NOT SANUKI Udon, even not close to any type of Japanese Udon. Please do not call this noodle soup as "Udon". Noodles are not chewy at all and break apart easily. Giving 2 star because it's cheap. Otherwise, I'd give 1 star if possible. read more

Udon was fine but nothing too memorable. Skip the fried sides. Overall pleasantly surprised to see an udon place like this on UMN campus, but could use some work on the dishes ! read more

Easy to order, great vibes in dining room, fast service, what we brought home held up really well as leftovers

Very tasty Udon! The curry udon is excellent and the tomato option is surprisingly a great flavor match. The ambiance is nice, especially with the fresh air. read more

Kinzo Udon - Dashi udon and tomato - Noodles Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

No good vegetarian options. Either Curry udon or tomato based udon. I've never heard of either as an Udon option. I had the curry option... it was not good. Will not return. read more

Been through Osaka/Tokyo and had Marugame Udon this tastes as good, glad this place is open now. 9/10 read more

Kinzo Udon - Dashi Beef - Noodles Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Great food and service! We all definitely enjoyed our hearty lunch! Would definitely return there!

Good food. Good price! What more can you ask for? Quick service and plenty of seating.

Easy and quick ordering system. I had a bowl of cold udon with extra green onions and a poached egg. The texture of the udon was great and I enjoyed the dashi soup too. I think it might also have been one of the cheapest restaurant meals I've had in a very long time? Would definitely like to come back to try the other toppings. read more