Liz B.

Trendy wide udon noodles, but be prepared to wait and spend a little more! I tried the himokawa cold udon set, which came two dipping sauces, salad, and veggie tempura. The dipping sauces were unique and clung to the noodles well, I preferred the refreshing yuzu ponzu sauce over the black sesame. It was pretty pricey considering there isn't any protein, but it think it's cool to try once, especially if you haven't had the authentic viral one from Tokyo. It's obviously not as good, but the style is similar! I wanted to try one of the saucy udons and upgrade to the wide, but they were limiting the wide udon to the set meals only. This is likely because they were running out of the wide noodles and aren't super organized yet. The karaage was a little dry, I would stick to the udon next time. The ordering process is efficient and through a QR code for your phone, and our food came out quickly. It hasn't been open for long, so understandably the menu is a little different and the wait is long, but I would wait until the hype dies down to try this spot.

Wen Wen C.

Having enjoyed traditional ultra-wide Himokawa udon in Ginza, we were super excited to discover that Tsurukawa Udon in Tustin is serving this unique, ribbon-style flat udon right here in Southern California. Finding this style of noodle locally is such a rare treat, and overall, the noodles themselves are fantastic. While the texture isn't quite as exceptionally chewy or bouncy as what you get fresh in Japan, it still has a wonderful bite and captures that satisfying, silky mouthfeel. The cold udon dipping sauces were a major highlight of the meal. The citrusy yuzu-based tsuyu dipping sauce was incredibly refreshing and vibrant, and the savory sesame sauce was equally rich and delicious, coating the wide ribbon noodles perfectly. However, there were a few areas that fell a bit short. We ordered the udon with a tempura set (priced on the higher end at $25, which comes with a small side salad), but the tempura wasn't quite up to par. First, it lacked a dedicated tempura dipping sauce--the staff suggested using the cold noodle dipping sauce instead, which isn't quite the same. Second, the tempura shrimp was notably thin and skinny compared to the plump, classic tempura shrimp you typically expect. Lastly, the AC happened to be out during our visit on a nearly 100-degree summer day, making for a pretty warm meal! Despite those small hiccups, the noodles and flavor profiles here are genuinely great. It is a wonderful addition to the Tustin food scene, and we are glad to have a place nearby to satisfy that wide-udon craving!

Hollie W.

Finally tried the viral flat udon inspired by Japan!! I recommended coming early before they open so you don't have to wait in the crazy lines that I've heard last all day. It was still soft opening when I went, so I think they're still working out the details. I ordered the cold udon, and the noodle texture was amazing! It comes with a ponzu sauce and a black sesame sauce. I think the black sesame sauce is too thick, so don't dip your whole noodle like me. The ponzu sauce is really light, and adding a few drops of soy sauce added so much depth/umami to the sauce. I was a little disappointed the noodles/sauces wasn't actually cold though because it was a pretty hot day. I took off a star because it was so warm/humid inside. I don't think their AC was working or it's not strong enough. I was really warm and uncomfortable, which took away from my dining experience.

Valentina L.

FINALLY!! a new Udon Restaurant just opened near Irvine/Tustin area. A super popular udon with unique twist to their udon dishes. They are most known for their Himokawa Cold Udon set, which is the viral flat udon from Japan, both locals and foreigners queue for. This is one of the first udon spot in OC that every udon dish is delicious and a hit. Even to this day my friends still rave about it!!! Reminds me of Marugame Monzo in LA. We waited in line around 6:30 on a weekday and the waited about 30 mins. Please be sure to check in when you get the text otherwise you will be taken out of queue. Service was good despite it being busy. Food was served quite fast after we ordered. Pictured: Kimchi Cold Udon Mentaiko Cream Gochigaru Udon (HIGHLY RECOMMEND ) Himokawa Hot Udon Curry Tonkatsu Udon

Jin P.

My husband and I both enjoyed the meals that we ordered today. The mentaiko cream udon was bold and packed with flavor. I do wish it was a little less oily but otherwise I would recommend. We liked the yuzu soy dipping sauce for the flat noodles a bit more than the black sesame. The black sesame reminded us a little too much of black sesame desserts. I think I prefer a more savory profile for udon. The a/c seemed like it was broken today so that was a real bummer. It was hot inside the restaurant even with all the doors open so we decided to eat on the patio, but I was overheating out there too. I would have enjoyed my hot meal a bit better in a cooler environment. The servers were very friendly and provided good customer service despite being backed up with orders. Overall, the flavors of the dishes were really distinct and we would come back to try the other things on the menu

Daniel C.

I visited on a weekday lunch and it was packed! Everything was delicious and service was amazing. Shared the mentaiko udon and cold himokawa udon set along with some appetizers. The udon thick and chewy and has a perfect bounce to it. I loved that it came with two types of sauces (sesame and citrus). Th sesame is a little thick and sweet so eating it with the citrus also cleanses your palette. Mentaiko udon has a great richness and little touch of spice.

Tiffany H.

3.25/5 The "cold" flat noodle set was pretty good other than the fact that it wasn't cold. I enjoyed the texture of the udon. The ponzu sauce was a little sweet but I added some soy sauce (and chili powder) and that made it better. The sesame paste was on the thicker side, the texture is something you would find in a tangyuan. The tempura was fresh. The main complaint I have about this place is it is so hot inside. I'm not sure if the a/c was broken but it made the experience less enjoyable, especially on a hot summer day. QR ordering, friendly staff. I'm glad I finally gave this place a try but not dying to come back because of the higher price point and not much protein for what you're paying for.

Cindy P.

We came on a Saturday afternoon during peak hours. We weren't able to waitlist online, so we had to do it in person. It was about a 1.5 hour wait. We decided to wait anyways, but noticed the restaurant's AC wasn't working. We waited in the car and grabbed our portable fan. Ordering was easy and you just scan the QR code and order through there. We ordered the Signature Cold Set and Katsu Curry Udon. The curry was okay, it would have been better if the broth was thicker. The Signature Cold Set's yuzu sauce was so good and refreshing and the noodles were chewy. I see some posts of people complaining there's only 10 strands of noodles, but if you think about it, if the noodles were cut smaller, it would be a lot. The tempura was amazing and fried to perfection! This place is fairly new, so we noticed them going to the wrong tables and trying to put orders down, but getting turned away. They also tried to do that for our table as well. We noticed every table order the Signature Cold Set which came out fast. But their party that ordered something else did not get their food yet. Every party had to wait 20-30 minutes for the whole table to receive their food. If you observe the restaurant, you will notice this. This is something they definitely need to improve on. Usually people do not eat until everyone gets their food at the table. I feel like this needs major improvement and this is the only reason why the wait is long. I'm also concerned for the AC. I also heard a table asked for ice. The worker stated they did not have that much ice or something along the line. I'm not sure how they can operate like this especially on the hot summer days coming up.

Sharon N.

Got here shortly after they just opened at 11am. We got seated within 15 minutes in the patio area. Today was really hot (85°F) and there wasn't any indoor seating left. It didn't feel like there was any air running inside the restaurant so we chose outdoor patio. They had a few umbrellas but honestly it was still too hot sadly. I can't blame them for the hot weather. Ordering was simple - you scan QR to order. My partner got the Mentaiko Cream Gochugaru Udon and I got the Himokawa Cold Udon Set. My partner got his bowl within 10 minutes of placing our order, while my order took about 25 minutes. It almost seemed like they may have forgotten my order bc everyone else around me had their cold set even though they sat down after me. Because they're still in soft opening, I noticed that they kept bringing orders to the wrong table. Per my partner, his bowl was delicious. The udon was bouncy and the cream/sauce was flavorful. He's definitely will get it again. As for mine, the cold set was refreshing. I love how chewy the wide udon noodles were. My favorite is pairing it with the cold citrus yuzu dipping sauce. The black sesame dipping sauce wasn't my favorite since it's too nutty and thick, but it wasn't terrible at all. Just not my cup of tea. Definitely would love to come back if they fixed their AC situation for their indoor seating or on a day where it wasn't blazing hot to enjoy the outdoor patio lol.

Phoebe L.

Located at the District close to the theatre, where Five Guys used to be. Parking was difficult on a Friday night, and the wait was close to an hour. Luckily, we were seated outside on the patio and there was a cool breeze (it felt stuffy indoors as we walked through). Staff were pleasant but busy, so we didn't get much attention (especially since we were tucked in the corner). The menu is slightly confusing, and our server wasn't completely sure about them when we asked. Overall taste of food was solid. I like the bounciness of the noodles, but the hot udon did not come with enough broth in my opinion (after we loosened the udon) and the creamy udon was original/different (but not very creamy). Hopefully they will work out the kinks and get to know their menu better!

Angela C.

I came here on a Wednesday afternoon and the place was filled. Luckily I didn't have to wait too long. I was excited to try this place and see how it compared to the popular Japan's Godaime Hanayama Udon. I got the Himokawa Cold Udon Set with flat noodles (+$2 charge) and the Spinach Cream Smoked Salmon Udon. Both dishes were really good, the flavors were great and the udon was nice and chewy! The cold udon set came with the cold citrus yuzu and black sesame dipping sauce. The citrus yuzu was quite refreshing and the black sesame was good, but didn't coat the udon evenly when you dip it so you kinda just scoop it out instead. The tempura set itself was nicely coated, not too heavy on the breading. The spinach cream was nice and creamy, but because it was served in a deep bowl rather than a flatter bowl, so the udon did not cool evenly so be careful not to burn your tongue! There was a heat wave this week and I'm not sure if the AC wasn't working or they were saving money and didn't have it cooled down, but the entire restaurant was HOT. It felt like eating in South East Asia, and all the customers there were sweating and fanning themselves. Honestly it affected the experience quite a bit because it was just SO HOT. The dish itself was also quite pricey and each dish didn't have much protein, so if you need more protein, you'd have to get an appetizer too which adds to the total cost. When you check out, it is also automatically set to 20% gratuity jusy FYI. Overall, great place to try something new but definitely not worth the wait. Please fix the AC!

Viv N.

WORTH THE WAIT!! I've never been a fan of udon but this place changed my mind & I'm already making plans to go back asap :') My friend and I ordered the himokawa cold udon set & mentaiko gochugaru creamy udon, which ended up being the perfect amount to share. The black sesame dipping sauce tasted exactly how you think it would & made for an interesting experience! But we still preferred the cold citrus yuzu dipping sauce, which was lighter & paired perfectly with the noodles. The mentaiko udon was also well seasoned & not too spicy, loved the topping of the lotus flowers which added a lil crunch. Overall, thoroughly satisfied with our meal :-) Make sure to come before or by 11:30 am opening to get seated shortly, otherwise it's around a 45 minute-1 hour wait. Btw there's only an in person yelp waitlist & seating is somewhat limited. P.S. 10% OFF YOUR ORDER DURING SOFT OPENING!

Alexis K.

Absolutely delicious flat wide udon that you can't get anywhere else in CA, but that's if you can get a table. They're in their soft opening stage, so hopefully it'll get better. Though with how good the udon is, I forsee the lines staying long! We ordered the tempura cold udon set and let me say, the udon is so bouncy and al dente! Both the ponzu and sesame sauces were delicious and not overwhelming, so much so that we couldn't choose a favorite between the two. We will definitely come again, but only during the weekdays at lunch!