Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Motonobu Udon

    4.1 (140 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

    Motonobu Udon Photos

    Business Info

    MOTONOBU UDON ATMOSPHERE

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

    You might also consider

    More like Motonobu Udon

    Recommended Reviews - Motonobu Udon

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Mazementai
    Melissa L.

    I liked that it had a good amount of toppings but I didn't really taste the mentaiko flavour so I wouldn't get the mazementai again.

    Xichen J.

    This place is located in downtown Vancouver on E. Hastings St. There is no parking lot so be prepared to find street parking instead. The service here is top-notch and the environment is pristine. We tried their udon and sushi. While they were not the best we ever had, it was pretty close. The flavors are unique and quite different from other places I've tried in the past. The udon is made from scratch here so it's very chewy and fresh.

    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.

    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

    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.

    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!

    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

    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.

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    20 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Paul A.
    316
    289
    1851

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sun G.
    164
    549
    2904

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jurn L.
    143
    279
    1510

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Edward L.
    605
    3890
    47715

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rod D.
    494
    686
    3363

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mark Y.
    121
    421
    3622

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 4

    Motonobu Udon Reviews in Other Languages

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Japanese 8,465 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Kingyo - Hot stone

    Kingyo

    4.4(1.3k reviews)
    8.0 kmWest End
    $$$

    We had a reservation for 8 pm on Tuesday. The restaurant was packed and bustling. Without a…read morereservation, we would have had to sit at a communal table. I always order beef tongue, Japanese fried chicken, and shrimp mayonnaise. These are my must-orders and their signature dishes. The beef tongue is actually quite simple; it's delicious just from being lightly heated. The hot stone slab is served piping hot, perfect for searing meat. Be quick, or it will cool down. The Japanese fried chicken is tender, juicy, and incredibly fragrant. The seasoning is just right. The shrimp mayonnaise is plentiful and a perfect match for beer. The two seasonal or specialty dishes of the day weren't as good, and I wouldn't order them again. My advice is to order their most popular and classic dishes, and definitely make a reservation in advance if you want to come (especially on weekends, as the wait can be up to an hour).

    Dining at Kingyo Izakaya is always a spirited and delightful culinary experience, complete with…read morecreative Japanese decor and an energetic, welcoming atmosphere. The ambient bamboo accents and lively buzz from the open kitchen instantly set the stage for an unforgettable tapas style feast. The service was vibrant, attentive, and executed with immense warmth from the moment we walked through the door. Cooking the tender Kobe Beef directly on the Super Hot Stones brought a wonderful, interactive sizzle to the table, delivering melt in your mouth rich flavor in every single bite. The deeply savory Tan Tan Noodles were packed with comfort, and the artfully presented Bento Box offered a beautiful, balanced taste of their finest dishes.

    Photos
    Kingyo - Bamboo divider along community table

    Bamboo divider along community table

    Kingyo - Beef tongue

    Beef tongue

    Kingyo - Anniversary menu course #2 - omakase 3 kinds appetizers

    See all

    Anniversary menu course #2 - omakase 3 kinds appetizers

    Miku

    Miku

    4.4(2.6k reviews)
    6.2 kmDowntown
    $$$

    I've been to Miku several times, and today I finally decided to write a proper review. First, I…read morewant to praise the service. Every time I come, I can feel the professionalism and attentiveness of the staff. From seating to ordering, and then to the care during the meal, everything is done with great finesse, making me feel comfortable and at ease. The unique politeness and meticulousness of Japanese service are naturally reflected here. The food is also a reason I want to come back. Whether it's the freshness of the ingredients, the presentation, or the taste, you can feel the attention to detail. Japanese cuisine emphasizes the quality of the ingredients themselves, and Miku presents this refinement beautifully. Every dish is pleasing to the eye and has a layered flavor. I also love the ambiance. The overall design is simple, elegant, and has a very comfortable Japanese aesthetic. The lighting, seating, and spatial layout all create a relaxing atmosphere without feeling overly decorated; instead, they have a high-quality feel. As for the atmosphere, I think it's what makes this place so special. Elegant and quiet, yet not too formal, it's suitable for dates or enjoying a good meal with friends. Sitting there slowly eating and chatting makes the whole dining experience particularly comfortable. After several visits, I still feel that Miku is a restaurant worth returning to again and again. It's not just because of any one dish, but because the service, cuisine, environment, and atmosphere combine to create a very pleasant experience every time I come.

    Very good experience. Love to go again with my family every month . love the experienceread more

    Photos
    Miku - Inside the restaurant

    Inside the restaurant

    Miku - Spicy edamame (CAD $8)

    Spicy edamame (CAD $8)

    Miku - Little emperor (CAD $10) and Aka miso old fashioned (CAD $24)

    See all

    Little emperor (CAD $10) and Aka miso old fashioned (CAD $24)

    Guu with Garlic - Fish carpaccio

    Guu with Garlic

    4.3(1.1k reviews)
    7.7 kmWest End
    $$

    Guu with Garlic has become one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Vancouver. It's an energetic…read moreizakaya with a fun atmosphere without feeling over the top. One of the best parts is the ever-changing menu of daily specials alongside the regular menu, so there's always something new to try while still coming back to your favorites. This visit we ordered the shrimp garlic fried rice, Agedashi Nasu, Grilled Squid with Garlic Mayo, and an assortment of sashimi. The shrimp garlic fried rice is an absolute must every time. It's packed with flavor, perfectly seasoned, and somehow manages to be comforting without feeling too heavy. It is a large dish and can easily be shared by 3-4, depending on what else you order. We also love the Agedashi Nasu here with melt-in-your-mouth eggplant wrapped in a light, delicate coating that soaks up the savory broth. Service is always quick and organized, even when the restaurant is busy. Dishes arrive as they're ready, making it easy to share everything around the table, which is exactly how an izakaya experience should feel. If it's your first visit, don't skip the shrimp garlic fried rice, and make sure to check out the daily specials before ordering. They often feature seasonal dishes that aren't available on the regular menu and are well worth trying.

    Great ambiance for a night out with friends for drinks and small bites. I like ordering a few…read morethings for the table to share so we can try more of the items. It really depends on how many people you come with though because the dishes are on the smaller side so you might need to make 2 orders of a dish for sharing. Okonomiyaki, gyoza, sukiyaki and udon are usually my go-tos for sharing.

    Photos
    Guu with Garlic - Same decor as 20+yrs ago when this was our go-to place for drinks & snacks!!

    Same decor as 20+yrs ago when this was our go-to place for drinks & snacks!!

    Guu with Garlic - The delicious individual bite of their yellowfin tuna tempura

    The delicious individual bite of their yellowfin tuna tempura

    Guu with Garlic - Una-Meshi

    See all

    Una-Meshi

    Tendon Kohaku - EBI TENDON

    Tendon Kohaku

    4.3(217 reviews)
    6.8 kmDowntown, Granville Entertainment District
    $$

    Very clean and zen restaurant when we went there early around 11am on a weekday for a quick bite…read morebefore heading to airport ; We had spicy beef udon, takoyaki and salmon handroll; they were all good; wish we had bigger appetite and longer stay to try more items on the menu ; Friendly service too :)

    As a Washington resident I did not know that the Vancouver Tendon Kohaku's menu was much smaller…read moreand the less formal vibe. I thought it was a nice change of scenery to be honest also I did miss some items I originally wanted and planned to try. There were some of the main dishes, like the bowls, and also mainly udon. The chicken karaage was extremely tender and fresh, you could tell because it was hot which was nice! The udon in both the curry and rose cream udon was very soft and tender as well, tender than what I usually have for udon. If you like your noodles al dante I don't think it'll quite fit your taste but I personally really enjoyed it! As for the taste the spicy rose cream udon tasted exactly like Buldak Ramen's Carbonara flavor, and everyone at my table agreed. The garlic bread was nice tho. To be completely honest staff and workers aren't very attentive, the restaurant wasn't full and I could see the workers standing around. Our table had to ask for water multiple times. Other than that however they're very kind.

    Photos
    Tendon Kohaku - Inside

    Inside

    Tendon Kohaku - Tiramisu

    Tiramisu

    Tendon Kohaku - Hokkaido milk tea

    See all

    Hokkaido milk tea

    Okeya Kyujiro

    Okeya Kyujiro

    4.8(45 reviews)
    6.7 kmYaletown, Downtown

    I went here for a special occasion dinner. Reservations are highly recommended because they are…read morevery small - 12 diners per sitting and 2 sittings per night. I made reservations about 4 months in advance. Upon arrival, one of the hostesses opened the door for us, and asked us to wait in a very ornate waiting area. We only waited a couple of minutes before another hostess seated us at the main seating area. The space is very dark, and only lit with candles while the rest of the diners trickled in. During that time they take drink orders, which is limited to sake, wine, beer and a few non-alcoholic drinks. Of note, they don't provide a drink menu, so we were a little surprised by the cost - the yuzu sake and the plum wine were $30 each. My non-alcoholic drink was $12, but a fair size. The theatrical portion started a few minutes later than the official start time - closer to 6pm. The shades lifted, the lights turned on, and the chefs introduced themselves. And from that moment on, they immediately went to work preparing our meal. They operate like clockwork to show the ingredients whole to the diners, and then preparing them, and serving them. Soon as the one dish was completed by all the diners, the next round came shortly after. Over 20+ dishes, there was very little wait time in between each. Each time a dish was served, a hostess was there to describe the dish and provided tips on how best to eat it. The food was overall was very good. I thought a few items were very average, most of them were very good, and a select few were truly outstanding. Most of the ingredients are imported from Japan, so I would imagine that it's part of the reason it's so expensive. This is definitely a splurge meal. I think half the diners at our sitting was celebrating a birthday. On the most part, the food is very good, watching the chefs at work is part of the entertainment, and the service is excellent. It's not some place I could afford to go to often, but glad to do it at least this one time.

    Drove from seattle to make it to the lunch here - what a fantastic experience. Everything from The…read moreentrance to the end was ceremonial. You start in a small waiting room thoughtfully decorated with cultural touches before being welcomed into an intimate dining area that seats only about 12-14 people. The service was attentive and personal throughout. When it came to drinks, they first asked what we generally enjoyed rather than immediately pushing specific options. Once we narrowed it down to dry sake, our server kindly brought over several bottles and gave us a detailed explanation of each one before we made our choice. Lunch consisted of around 15 courses, with most served nigiri-style. Everything tasted incredibly fresh, and I loved the thoughtful combinations of flavors and textures throughout the progression. Each piece felt distinct without trying too hard to be complicated.The experience finished beautifully with ice cream and matcha--a simple, elegant ending to a memorable meal. Absolutely worth the drive from Seattle. This wasn't just lunch; the intimate setting, pacing, presentation, and hospitality made the whole experience feel special from beginning to end.

    Photos
    Okeya Kyujiro - Waiting area

    Waiting area

    Okeya Kyujiro - Lychee jelly w/ brown sugar syrup, ginger icecream monaka, crown melon + japanese orange

    Lychee jelly w/ brown sugar syrup, ginger icecream monaka, crown melon + japanese orange

    Okeya Kyujiro - Hokkaido uni with caviar

    See all

    Hokkaido uni with caviar

    Guu Original Thurlow - Pumpkin croquette

    Guu Original Thurlow

    4.1(842 reviews)
    7.1 kmDowntown, West End
    $$

    Found this little Izakaya spot while visiting Vancouver and it was such a great experience. It's as…read moreauthentic as it gets and reminds me a lot of Japan when I visited in 2025. This place gets busy, so I highly recommend reserving a table online (via OpenTable) but we did show up early to see if there was walk-in seating available. Luckily, we did get the last 2 seats at the bar. The staff are so friendly and cheery. They greet customers that come in and thank every customer when they leave. People who haven't been to an izakaya may think it's loud and noisy, but the point of izakayas is they're supposed to be vibrant, high energy, and filled with cheerful chatter. Think of a tapas-style pub/bar for people to unwind and gather to chat after a long day at work. I loved the atmosphere, as it's casual, entertaining, and lively. The food was great and I couldn't think of a dish I didn't like. The sashimi were so fresh and high quality. Of course they use freshly grated wasabi too. The hanger steak was cooked perfectly and super tender and flavorful. The saba mackerel is grilled to perfection and reminds me of the ones I ate in Japan. I'm not a big fan of bonito but the yaki udon was so tasty, I still ate it with the bonito flakes on top! I would love to come back or go to their Toronto (closer to me) location next!

    Great izakaya experience in Vancouver. The ambiance is fun and lively with quick service. In…read moreaddition to the usual menu items there are daily specials. My favorite dish was the yaki udon!

    Photos
    Guu Original Thurlow
    Guu Original Thurlow - Fried pork belly

    Fried pork belly

    Guu Original Thurlow - Eel with rice

    See all

    Eel with rice

    Motonobu Udon - japanese - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...