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Motonobu Udon

4.2 (137 reviews)
Closed 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

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MOTONOBU UDON ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Trendy
Good for groups
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Motonobu Udon

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Ten waka cold
Sonia K.

My favourite udon shop in Metro Vancouver! Go to is always the ten waka cold. Cold udon is much more chewy and springy, and the seaweed always adds a delicious depth of flavour. Prawns are crispy and light. Unfortunately not a fan of the fried jammy egg but otherwise amazing!

Cynthia S.

Mentai udon! How unique and delicious! Loved how creamy the mentai sauce was and the egg yolk added another element of umami. The shisho leaves were an appreciated herbal addition

Shuang W.

Shishito pepper tempura is sooooo good!!!! I cannot stop eating it. My fav is the cold udon since it's such a good deal, comes with a tempura egg too. Their service depends, sometimes they are very friendly, sometimes there is this one unhappy server who looks like she hates us.

Menu
Duong V.

I tried this place when it first opened and I ordered through a delivery service. The portion at the time was quite small given the premium price and I was not really happy about that. However there are not a lot of place that's specialize in Udon in Vancouver area (compared to a million Ramen place), I gave it a second chance this winter and I was surprised by the improvement in portion size. Since then, I have came back to this place with different people. The Udon here is fresh, which elevates the flavour and texture of the dish. I have been trying the MazeMentai both times Im here recently and the flavour is rich and creamy. The only thing that's varied is the brisket. The first time I got a more meaty pieces while the second time I got ones with fatty cap. My husband would prefer the former while I like the latter. Small tips is that the hour online said it closes at 8pm, which means no more new customers or new orders, but they are happy if you arrive like 7:45 and still take you in no problem. It often has a wait line during weekends peak hour but you can put your name in the list and walk around. Free street parking around the block is available so not a big problem. Interior is not the emphasis here. They used to have less sitting with glass wall to the kitchen so you can see people making the noodle fresh. But the new setup added more sitting and you can't no longer see the noodle making, which is a bit of a shame. All in all, I will definitely come back whenever I crave for Udon, but won't try to order it through delivery service.

Sean H.

Best udon spot I've ever been to! Came here on a Saturday afternoon and got seated and greeted right away. We got checked up on regularly and service was pretty good. My udon was incredibly delicious. Hands down the best I've ever had. The broth was super flavorful, noodles were cooked to perfection, and the beef brisket was very, very tender. Definitely coming back if I'm in the area again.

Iris M.

Located a couple min drive east of PNE.. finding parking isn't the easiest.. we enjoyed our food overall but everyone was in agreement that the soup broth was too salty and too sweet.. udon noodles were over cooked.. however, the pork and beef toppings were gorgeously soft and melt in your mouth (yum!!).. tempura had a light, crispy and thin batter - perfectly doneness.. there is one unisex bathroom the size of a downtown loft lol - in need of a good scrub down

Kathryn W.

I love udon and it can be tricky to find an exceptional spot in the lower mainland. Motonobu Udon is top tier. They are often busy in weekends and evening with line ups. Typically, the wait is not too long. Make sure to put your name down inside the restaurant before waiting outside. There are menu options for cold and hot udon, so it is perfect for any season. My go to picks are Mentai and the Goboten Tofu Waka!

Nikutofu udon
Michealea F.

I ordered the nikutofu because I wanted to try the beef brisket and the tofu. The beef is tender and the slices are big. The tofu is sweet and soft. They serve a clear broth with some green onion and tenkatsu which gives a nice crunch to the dish. The meal is reasonably priced for the portion and I love how the portion is as big as the bowl.

MazeMentai $17.95
Stephanie T.

I've wanted to try this udon spot for awhile now, but it's not in the most central location for me (close to PNE). We decided to go for lunch and arrived before 11:30 am, knowing that it gets busy and there were at least 4 groups ahead of us in line waiting for first seating. By 12 pm, the restaurant was entirely full so it was a good call to arrive prior to opening. There is free parking in the neighbourhood around it. I ordered the MazeMentai ($17.95) and my bf got the Spicy tantan ($18.75) which were both listed as "popular" on their menu. The MazeMentai was delicious and they were very generous with toppings. Every bite had some topping in it. Unfortunately, the Spicy tantan wasn't very good surprisingly, and we regretted ordering that. It just wasn't very tasty or particularly flavourful. However, the udon was cooked well in both cases - chewy and not soft/overcooked. The portion size is decent. I could have eaten more, especially the MazeMentai as it was delicious, but it was filling enough for a lunch. I really want to come back again and try something else in addition to the MazeMentai again. That was so good! I'd just avoid the Spicy tantan despite it being "popular".

Inari
Taylor K.

I had to try it. It's Michelin bib gourmand recommended so I felt like I should try it and see how it was. The noodle is really good. You can tell that it isn't your typical frozen noodle that you buy in the frozen section of your grocery store. The broth was umami and tasty. And we got lucky and got seated right away. We also got inari as a side and they are good too but the star is the udon. The noodle is chewy and has that texture of handmade noodle. Definitely not your typical udon you get at a Japanese restaurant. I got the tempura udon and I kind wish they had put the tempura on the side so the batter didn't get so soggy. I guess you could request that if you read my review. Yes, if you love Japanese food and you love noodles, you should try this place. Maybe try going right after lunch rush to avoid the line ups. But if you don't mind lining up, you can anytime they are open. Keep in mind, they do close between lunch and dinner time.

Maya Mayuko T.

Motonobu Udon specializes in udon, offering a variety of udon dishes on the menu. This sounded very interesting, and I finally had a chance to try it. We ordered Niku Toji (beef brisket and egg swirl) and Maze Mentai (creamy pollock roe sauce, poached egg, beef brisket, seaweed, Japanese pickled plum, thin fried tofu, green onion, sesame seeds, and chili oil) and Inari sampler. Maze Mentai is a bit spicy. Without soup, we enjoyed the ingredients on top of the noodles, such as beef brisket, poached egg, and pickled plum, which blended and matched well. Since I grew up in Osaka and had many opportunities to enjoy Sanuki Udon (a signature Japanese udon style), I'm accustomed to a thin, light broth, so the broth in their Niku Toji wasn't quite to my taste. The noodles were also a bit firmer than I expected, differing from the Japanese al dente style. Based on my experience in Japan, udon's al dente texture should be slightly firm and chewy, creating the perfect balance, but here, the noodles were a bit harder than I would have liked.The beef brisket was tender and delicious. Inari Sampler was just ok. I think the udon at this place can be hit or miss. I'll try another dish on my next visit.

Amy D.

Food was delicious -- we had the brisket and it was soft and fatty. Refills for udon was also cheap if you're still hungry (1.50). I ordered a side of ebi tempura which was very freshly made. The ambience is simplistic. The service was quick.

Menu
Malinee S.

3.5!stars total. Niku hot ramen. Good size of brisket. Light mild soup brought. The udon is good. Overall it was good but not great.

Tantan Udon

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Fat Mao Noodles

Fat Mao Noodles

4.4
(125 reviews)
7.2 km
$$

Fat Mao or Fat Cat has become one of my weekly rotations. I honestly love all of the noodle…read morevariations they offer but my go to is the Nham Ngeaw! And yes, it has the pork blood which I love! Service is quick and they have a counter that faces the kitchen if you're a solo diner. I've also done doordash and the food is packaged well. My only gripe with the delivery is that they don't deliver the noodle in a bowl that is big enough for the entire dish. The noodles and soup are put in two different bowls but you almost can't put them together because it will overflow. This is difficult of you're staying in a hotel so if you can, just eat in the restaurant because they also have hot sauces and pepper that they serve on the table, which they don't give to you if you order delivery.

Inviting interior. There is a variety of seating, and the kitchen is in the main room of the…read morerestauraunt in a way that feels home-y and more personable. Staff was very friendly and fast. We received our food within 10 mins. We ordered the vegetarian khao soi. The fried egg noodles added a nice crunch and visual, but the long rigid strands made it a little tough to eat together with the khao soi. The broth looked spicy, but the main flavor profile of the coconut curry was the creamy sweet coconut milk flavor. There were plenty of veggies that were all cooked well, and the rice noodles were fun to chew and novel! Personally, I would have liked some condiments to increase the spiciness or add another layer of flavor. But, for what it is, it was good.

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The interior
The interior
Fried egg salad
Fried egg salad
Vegetarian cauliflower and tofu khao soi (with wonton noodles)

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Vegetarian cauliflower and tofu khao soi (with wonton noodles)
Ramen DANBO - Robson

Ramen DANBO - Robson

4.4
(762 reviews)
7.3 km
$$

I recommend going early! Since I was having a solo party, I was able to be seated early at the…read morecounter if there were any available seats! The guy in front of me, Deng, looked at me with such envy as he cut in line. This place is incredibly popular! Every time I pass by, there's a long queue. Even on rainy days, people are willing to get soaked in the rain just to have a bowl of hot tonkotsu ramen. While you're queuing, the staff will hand out menus. The ordering system is similar to Ichiran Ramen; you can choose the noodle firmness, broth consistency, spiciness, green onions, oil level, and MSG amount . The basic ramen is only $13. I added a soft-boiled egg and pickled cabbage for $2 each. Although the pickled cabbage is really expensive , I can't help it, I'm a pickled cabbage addict! The pickled cabbage paired with the rich tonkotsu broth was refreshing. The broth was flavorful but not greasy, the noodles were chewy and springy, and the portion size was just right. Overall, it's incredibly good value for money; no wonder there's always a queue. After eating, you really get that "Ah~ this is the taste of happiness" feeling

Coming from Hawaii, I had high expectations. This is my 2nd time visiting Vancouver, and the 1st…read moretime had a long line that I walked away from. This time, still a line, but it went faster. This is definitely not a sit down and enjoy your meal w anyone. Order your food from a slip of paper you're given so that by the time you sit, they collect it and place the order. Seats are hard and it is devised where you and then leave. I had the goma vegetarian and my brother the tonkatsu. We both had thicker noodles. However, one could not tell. The vegetarian was loaded with sesame seeds. Now i love those seeds but it was way too much for my liking. Too much seeds to chew on. They also do not put any vegetables on like Hawaii does. Everything is ala carte and that adds up. I simply chose the ramen version without all the add ons. The broth was yummy but again with the loaded seeds, it made it challenging to just drink the soup. I will say, Hawaii has by far better ramen, but this place was ok too. Pricey for for what you get though.

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Ramen DANBO - Robson
Ramen - most delicious!!!
Ramen - most delicious!!!
Classic ramen with chashu nori soft-boiled egg

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Classic ramen with chashu nori soft-boiled egg
Marugame Udon

Marugame Udon

4.0
(102 reviews)
6.0 km
$$

There was a lot of hype around this place when it first opened and i passed by it many times. I…read moredecided to check it out for dinner, mostly to check it off my list of Japanese restaurants to try. As a transit user, It's conveniently located across the street from chinatown stadium skytrain station. I like that it opens a bit later until 10pm so i can go there after an evening movie at international village a 5 minute walk away. There was basically no queue to order so i was able to order as soon as i walked into the restaurant. I told the staff i was a first time customer and asked what was the most popular dish, and they said number 5 which is the nikutama udon. It comes with sweet beef, BK sauce, and onsen eggs on top of thick udon noodles. The braised sweet beef was alright in terms of flavor and it definitely hit the spot. It's by far the best ingredient in the udon. I had never tried onsen eggs before, and I didn't really care for them. It's basically eggs that were cooked slowly at a low temperature. The texture and appearance is unusual in my opinion. i thought the nikutama udon overall was pretty good and it has unique flavors and ingredients. It's not amazing but I can understand why people love the unique BK sauce's flavors. There's not many customization options but you can get the dish served hot or cold, and you can choose to get a regular version or larger version for only $1.50 more. There's apparently a lot of hype around the BK sauce but i didn't find it that great. It has a unique combination of salty, sweet, and smoky flavors. The portion size is a little smaller than i prefer so i'd definitely get the large size. But i think most people will find the regular size just fine. I was able to eat my whole dish within 5-7 minutes and im not a person that wolfs down their meal quickly. Price-wise, the cost of their udon is fair. They are around $12-13. Slightly cheaper than other ramen places. The tempura add-ons are expensive in my opinion but I saw lots of folks buying them anyways. At the time, other ramen places like Kinton Ramen had a $15 set meal, which I thought was a better deal because it came with a special summer drink and gyoza. I wish Marugame's nikutama udon had something like this. Like adding a choice of a couple tempura and a drink for a similar price. The dining area was a little smaller than expected because half of it was closed at the time. But I was still able to find a seat at the counter where i could eat my dish. They don't use a wait staff but it's cafeteria style where you get the food at the counter and bring your dish to the table, and bring it back to the cleaning area yourself. I like that you can get your own water at a tap, napkins, utensils, and cups too instead of asking for them at the counter. The dining area was pretty clean and spacious. Overall, I give Marugame 4 stars out of 5. You should definitely check it out at least once if you are a fan of Japanese udon. Try the nikutama udon with BK sauce and see if you'll like it too.

Japanese udon chain restaurant. Right across from the Stadium Skytrain station. Medium sized space…read morewith simple modern decor. There is the ordering area after you enter and the seating area to the left. You order at the first counter for the udon or rice bowls, which they'll assemble for you on the spot, or bring it to your table if they are waiting on udon noodles. Then you move left where you can self-serve the tempura items, and then pay at the cashier. Utensils, sauces, and water are off to a counter in the seat area, and there's a return area to bring back your empty bowls/trays. Not super busy when we got there on a weekend night, but filled up as an event at BC Place was ending. We got the beef udon with the classic soup, the beef rice bowl that has the runny egg, the chicken katsu curry udon, and a few tempura items. My favorite was definitely the curry udon, since the curry soup/sauce had more flavor. Out of the fried items, the shrimp tempura is delicious, and the zucchini tempura has a nice sweetness to it. Udon noodles were pretty good, has a nice solid texture to them. Overall bill was $50ish for 3 people. And since this is basically fast food, you don't necessarily have to tip.

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Fried food
Fried food
Nikutama Udon (CAD $11.99), Chicken Karaage (CAD $3.99), Squid Tempura (CAD $2.99), Kakiage (CAD $3.49)
Nikutama Udon (CAD $11.99), Chicken Karaage (CAD $3.99), Squid Tempura (CAD $2.99), Kakiage (CAD $3.49)
The Tempura Station at Marugame Udon in Vancouver. It sells so quickly that even sitting under the lamp it's still crispy.

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The Tempura Station at Marugame Udon in Vancouver. It sells so quickly that even sitting under the lamp it's still crispy.
Mount Everest Kitchen & Grill

Mount Everest Kitchen & Grill

4.6
(113 reviews)
6.3 km
$$

We were visiting from California. We arrived on the later side of dinner. The restaurant was still…read morevery busy and full of people who appeared to be Indian/Pakistani - always a good sign. They have a big tv above the bar and above the entrance that was showing the hockey game. It's a small storefront entrance on a busy street but you couldn't hear the street noise. The food was AMAZING. We got the goat biryani, chicken tikka masala, samosas, garlic naan, mango lassi and a hot chai. Big delicious portions of everything. The service was ok, they were busy and potentially less attentive than usual. Anyway, would definitely go back again.

First there is no mistaking this for a high end restaurant as another review recorded. This is a…read moresolid Nepalese joint. However it is not focused and instead provides a little bit of the region for everyone (Nepal, China, India, Pakistani influences). Came in for lunch on a weekday. Quickly seated and tended to by the staff. Interior is more of a diner scene than nice cafe. Bathrooms are gender neutral and clean but not nice. Here's my three things: 1) I got a lunch special featuring fish peckora, and tandoor chicken. Good flavor but missed on the real spice flavors. Veg salad was sour and worked with the rest of the plate. 2) These folks can make some NAAN! The Naan stole the show. Sweet, salty and crisp. 3) Price wise you can fill up and have a drink for $25-30CAN.

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Bar counter~
Bar counter~
Tandoori Chicken
Tandoori Chicken
Garlic Naan

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Garlic Naan
Big Bowl Rice

Big Bowl Rice

3.6
(36 reviews)
6.3 km
$

This is a small little hole in the wall restaurant serving up some traditional Taiwanese dishes. We…read morecame on a weekday afternoon right before the busy lunch hour - it was packed 30 min after we arrived! The gentleman (owner?) greeted us and provided us with some suggestions on their best sellers. During our dining experience, he was a little loud with shouting instructions to the kitchen and we did feel a bit rushed to finish our meal and not occupy the table with diners lining up. I ordered the beef noodle soup, and the noodles were prepared well (good texture and not soggy) and the soup had a slight but not overwhelm sour taste from the preserved vegetables. The beef wasn't as tender as it could be, but it wasn't chewy or tough to eat. Prices are reasonable at around $20 after tax and tips. While it wasn't the best or most authentic beef noodle soup I've had, it does hit the spot if I'm craving Taiwanese food downtown or want a hot bowl of noodle soup on a cold day.

A small self served Taiwanese eatery. I come here when Ramen Gojiro next door is too crowded and I…read moredo not want to wait. I think most people do that so it also gets filled up during the lunch hour rush. The food is ok, nothing special. The price increase makes it even less appealing. I don't know why there is chili in my Taiwanese beef noodle soup. I don't like spicy soup. Lucky I am ok with spice but I wish it is stated in the menu? So if you cannot take spicy food, check with them before ordering. The beef noodle soup is tasty as I do like the addition of pickled vegetables in it, giving a bit of tartness. The beef is tender though the quantity is very little. More noodles than meat ratio. The combo is totally not worth it now that the price has gone up to about $13. If you want rice and noodle for lunch, I think Peaceful Restaurant across the street is a better bet. At least the portion is bigger.

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BBQ pork fried rice
BBQ pork fried rice
老板非常和善
老板非常和善
有套餐

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有套餐
Pho Quynh Express

Pho Quynh Express

3.0
(5 reviews)
6.5 km

Happy a pho restaurant opened up in this area since there's only one other option within walking…read moredistance. It's perfect for a casual lunch break or take out option. This pho restaurant is a chain so they are consistent with their food and their top service. The and noodles come hot. The amount of food and quality is good. Broth needs to be a bit deeper flavor, but I still enjoy the food regardless.

Wish I could like this place as it's so convenient. Walkable distance from Granville and Burrard…read moreskytrain and Scotiabank movie theatre. Bun Bo Hue (Small $16.19) - super spicy, but that's fine since I enjoy spicy foods. The issue was that the broth was quite bland, and the spiciness wasn't enough to make up for it. Usually, this soup base has a lot of depth and flavour from broth that's been simmering for a long time to extract those flavours, but this was probably one of the worst ones I've tried. Decent portion of meat, at least 3-4 large slices of Vietnamese ham and goor amount of beef slices. The noodles were SUPER undercooked! Good portion of bean sprouts, and came with 1 wedge of lime. Beef Brisket and Beef Ball in Noodle Soup (Large $17.62) - again, VERY bland broth. The noodles also tasted sort of like freezer burn? Decent portion of meat and filling enough. Just had to douse in Siracha and oyster sauce to finish the bowl though... Pork Spring Rolls ($10.48) - flavour was decent, nothing special. Deep fried okay as well. No complaints here but no endorsement either. There's no music in the restaurant either so it's a tad awkward. Staff are friendly. Lots of seating, including a patio area.

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Pho Quynh Express
Bun Bo Hue
Bun Bo Hue
Shrimp and  veggie rolls with peanut sauce!!

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Shrimp and veggie rolls with peanut sauce!!

Motonobu Udon - japanese - Updated July 2026

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