I was pleasantly surprised. I honestly didn't think it would be anything special. It's a chain restaurant. I think I may have eaten at a food court in some commercial facility in the past, but I hardly remember it. There is a popular competitor near this store along the main street, and I used to go there more often. Two months ago, during my lunch break, I went to Yodobashi Camera to buy a neck cooler. Since it's far from my office, I didn't have time to have a leisurely lunch, so I decided to quickly eat some udon and go back. I headed to the competitor I always used, but there was a huge line outside the store. With that, I gave up and decided to visit this place that I was slightly curious about for the first time. It's on the second floor. I went up the stairs and entered the store. There was a row of tempura in front of me. I picked up a tray and went to the left. Since I didn't have much time, I chose the "<Spring/Summer Limited> Tamatoro Bukkake (Medium/M)" for 630 yen (tax included) that caught my eye. I placed my oral order with the kitchen staff, received my udon, and slid to the cashier. I paid with PayPay. I carried the water on the tray to my seat. The seating area is quite small. And when I started eating, I was surprised! The noodles were so chewy! The texture was amazing. It was much tastier than I had expected. However, it felt a bit lacking in terms of presentation and ingredients. I should have chosen something with more toppings. Well, I didn't have much time that day, so I'll come back another time to try a different menu. After finishing my meal, I returned the dishes to the return counter. [Second Visit] On a hot day in August, I ordered the "8-Vegetable Salad Udon (Small/S)" for 690 yen (tax included). The amount of vegetables was... well, as expected. There was plenty of savory sauce on top. I mixed it well and the 8 vegetables included broccoli, celery, pumpkin, daikon radish, carrot, okra, red cabbage, and red bell pepper. I thought it was just vegetables, but there was also steamed chicken, and corn, which wasn't counted as a vegetable, was sprinkled on top. And of course, the incredibly chewy noodles. They are addictively good. You really have to work to chew them. Is this quality consistent across all stores? It's delicious. The nearby famous competitor is good too, but this place is much better than I thought. I've become a fan. I'm thinking of trying different menus or maybe having tempura next time.

Hello. This is Private Tsuchinoko. I felt like eating "udon," so I came to Hanamaru Udon in Ueno. Today, I'm having a solo lunch. I arrived at 11 o'clock. The available seats are on the second floor. As soon as you go up the stairs, there's an introduction to the fair. Torotama Fair! It seems good for your health with "tororo" and "okra" haha. There's a "fried food corner" set up right after you enter the store. The tempura looked delicious, but I didn't order it this time. There are four types of onigiri. I wonder if it varies by store? They also had the menu for bento boxes posted. Looking at the grand menu, I noticed they had "hiyashi" (cold udon), so I was interested. It seems that the broth for the "hiyashi" is different from the "kake udon" (hot udon). The "hiyashi" has a stronger umami flavor. You can get "yuzukosho" as a topping for 30 yen. I ordered the "hiyashi" from the staff, and it arrived at my seat in 2 minutes. There are condiments like "tenkasu," "sesame seeds," and "ginger" near the register, so I prepared them in a separate dish! First, here's the udon. It looks like this. Looking closely, it seems to have a strong chewiness! I took a bite and... it indeed has a strong chewiness! The broth is rich and the udon is ice-cold, so it has a nice sharpness. However, the amount of broth is quite small, so be careful. It's better to ask the staff to make it with more broth when you order. I think they might accommodate your request. The topping of green onions is also small. It has a crispy texture and is good, but if you like green onions, I think it's better to add extra topping. This "yuzukosho" was the first time I ordered it. Has this always been available? I thought it was too spicy to put directly on the noodles, so I put it on the rim of the bowl first. Then, I took a little and put it on the noodles. Even with this amount, you can fully taste the "yuzukosho." This condiment is highly recommended! It goes really well with cold noodles! I put "tenkasu," "sesame seeds," and "ginger" in a separate dish, so it's fun to change the flavor. Hanamaru Udon has both "crispy tenkasu" and "soft tenkasu," but the crispy one is better! There's also "shichimi togarashi" on the table, so it's good for those who like spicy food. Oh, it was delicious! I want to come back again (´∀｀) Thank you to everyone who always reads my reviews. My writing may not be great, but I hope it can be helpful as a reference for evaluating dishes. I am participating in the ranking of "Nihon Blog Village." I would be very grateful if you could click on this banner, as it will increase my motivation to write articles! I also post reviews on Twitter in under 140 characters, so if you could follow me, it would be very encouraging. I will try to follow back as much as possible, so thank you in advance! [Twitter] Magical Soldier Tsuchinoko Tan (@tsuchinoko81) URL https://twitter.com/tsuchinoko81 I post reviews on Eatlog by writing reviews on my blog. Private Tsuchinoko ~ Tokyo Lunch Food Report ~ https://tsuchinoko81.blog.fc2.com/ Finally, I also run a blog that introduces products and services that make life richer and daily life more comfortable, aiming to improve the quality of life. [QOL Explosive Improvement Blog] https://better-life-qol.com I also make videos on YouTube reviewing products that I have reviewed on my blog! Magical Soldier Tsuchinoko Tan [Product Review Channel] https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO7XW1GDZu-0t3A1-3e431A I would be very encouraged if you could subscribe to my channel and give it a high rating. Thank you very much!

Hanamaru miso sauce kakiage udon / Hanamaru Udon I have a free tempura voucher for Hanamaru Udon. It is a one-item free tempura voucher that can be used multiple times until October 13 next year, included as a bonus in the "Hanamaru Udon FANBOOK" sold by Takarajimasha. So, I visit Hanamaru Udon once or twice a week when I come across it. Yesterday, I decided to have a late lunch at the Ueno Center Mall store. This time, I ordered kake udon (small) and vegetable kakiage. I sprinkled tempura crumbs and red pepper, and topped it with ginger at the communal counter. I noticed a small packet that I wasn't familiar with on the side. Miso sauce? Of course, I picked it up and sat down at my table. I love miso flavor, so I squeezed it into the udon soup and mixed it. It changes the taste to something like miso stew udon. This is great! As someone who owns a yearly free tempura voucher, I want to use it as much as possible in the future... It's a nice service to be able to change the base flavor! However, it seems that it is not prepared at all Hanamaru Udon stores... Hanamaru Udon FANBOOK [Premium Tempura Season Pass] (TJMOOK)

I visited "Hanamaru Udon Ueno Center Mall Store" around 2:00 PM on a holiday in October 2021. The store is located about a 3-4 minute walk from Ueno Station, up the stairs, and has a decent size. However, the seating spacing felt a bit cramped. The store was about 30% full. I chose the "Kake (small)" for ¥240 and the "Chikuwa Isobeage" for ¥110. I decided to sit at the counter seat. The simple Kake Udon had a gentle flavor with a clear soup made from dried bonito, without any strong taste. The noodles were firm with a good texture typical of Sanuki Udon. I enjoyed dipping the Chikuwa Isobeage in the soup. The Isobeage had a mild flavor of seaweed. The Chikuwa Tempura Udon was easy to eat. Despite being a small size, the Kake Udon had a satisfying amount. I finished it quickly because it was easy to eat. The aftertaste was refreshing. It's great to have a place where you can easily and affordably enjoy Sanuki Udon. However, I felt that the variety of tempura options was limited compared to before, so I found it lacking. Personally, I would like to see the return of the squid tempura.

JR Okachimachi Station is a 2-minute walk away, and it is a 5-minute walk from Ueno Station. The shop is located on the second floor, up a slightly steep staircase. There are separate doors for entering and exiting, and upon arrival, you enter through the glass door on the right side. I was looking for a place to eat noodles and stumbled upon Hanamaru Udon, where they had Salad Udon! It's a wonderful menu where you can enjoy both vegetables and noodles. The Salad Udon costs 473 yen for a small size (with a 30 yen discount coupon). They prepare it right in front of you, chilling the udon and seasoning it with soy sauce, then topping it with lettuce, shredded carrots, fried pumpkin, slimy okra, and chicken breast. Finally, they add sesame dressing. You can choose between sesame or ginger soy dressing. I added a lot of roasted sesame on mine. You can use coupons from the SmartNews app, which offers discounts for places like Hanamaru Udon, McDonald's, Yoshinoya, Domino's Pizza, Shabu-Shabu, FamilyMart, Lawson, and more. The taste was consistent and delicious. Thank you for the meal. It was really good.

After a long time, I drank in the Ueno area and then walked towards Okachimachi Station. It's still bright outside but I've been drinking alcohol without eating a proper meal. I felt like I needed something to fill my stomach a bit, so I was hesitant because I don't usually eat ramen after drinking. However, I found a "Hanamaru Udon" here. They had a small size option so I decided to go for that, without any toppings. Instead, I ordered a piece of daikon from the oden menu and a cold dish of "warm egg over udon". I paid at the self-service counter and sat at a table with a tray of tempura flakes and shichimi pepper. I started with the daikon, which was delicious and helped with digestion. Then I moved on to the main udon dish. The cold udon was refreshing on my slightly tipsy body. Unlike Kanto udon, the broth was emphasized and the flavor was mild, but when combined with the tempura flakes and chopped green onions, it was a delightful experience. Alternating between the cold udon and warm daikon, I soon finished both and then enjoyed the warm egg over the remaining udon. Breaking the egg yolk and mixing it with the udon created a rich and satisfying flavor. It had been a while since I had this combination of warm egg and udon. Overall, it was a satisfying end to the night after drinking in Ueno.

Yesterday's lunch was my first visit to Hanamaru in Ameyoko. I had the Warm Tamago Bukkake (small) for 319 yen and the Vegetable Tempura for 143 yen. Even though it's already November, the temperature was still close to 20 degrees Celsius during the day, so I opted for cold udon. The tempura was quite filling, so the small size udon was just right.

Yesterday's late lunch was at "Hanamaru Udon," located just off Ameyoko. Due to the impact of the coronavirus, they had temporarily closed but have now reopened with reduced hours starting this week. I discovered a "free tempura dish voucher" that had been extended until the end of May due to the pandemic, so I've been taking advantage of this deal and visiting quite frequently. This particular visit was to their Ueno Center Mall branch, located on the second floor of the FamilyMart building, which was my first time there. The unique features included offering the tempura crumbs after frying (tempura kasu) which is currently unavailable at other branches like Asakusabashi, and the view from the window seats overlooking the street was quite pleasant. Although foot traffic is still slow due to the pandemic, it allowed for a relaxed dining experience in the empty restaurant. I ordered the medium-sized Niku Udon and a side of sweet potato tempura, totaling ¥616. The freshly fried tempura kasu had a satisfying crunch, and the juicy meat in the udon was delicious. The soy sauce broth, made with bonito dashi, was flavorful, and the self-serve ginger helped boost my immune system. Hanamaru Udon, once associated with cheap and low-quality food, has now surpassed Marugame Seimen in my opinion. I plan to visit a few more times before the "free tempura dish voucher" expires.

After eating yakiniku and drinking a lot, my junior said, "Let's eat udon or ramen!!" I remembered that this guy was a big eater. Honestly, I was already full. But, let's go along with it. We ended up at this udon shop since there weren't many appealing ramen shops around. When I get drunk, I tend to make a lot of phone calls. Apparently, I called a few people from this udon shop. I don't remember clearly, so the next day I asked one of the seniors I called, "What was I saying?" The senior said, "You were asking if I wanted curry udon or kake udon in a really high tension. When I said kake udon, you were like 'I want curry!' and hung up while making a big fuss." I have no memory of it, but I do remember eating curry udon. Sorry! I only remember eating it, but I don't really remember the taste.

I am an office worker who believes in the power of chain restaurants without any doubt. After over 10 years in the workforce, I have come to appreciate the efforts put in by chain restaurants. This particular day, I had plans to indulge in a full course meal in the evening, so I decided to go easy for lunch. Here is what I had for a total of around 1400 yen, which was quite cheap considering the amount of food I got. - Ginger Kamatama Udon: I was in the process of recovering from a slight cold, so this warm dish was perfect. The fiber-rich noodles from Hanamaru Udon also helped with improving my digestion. - Chicken Tempura: The chicken was tender and easy to eat. - Curry Udon (ordered by my partner) - Oden (beef skewers, Vienna sausages), Bamboo Shoot Tempura (ordered by my partner)

I had dinner at Hanamaru Udon in Ameyoko, Ueno. I used to frequent this place a lot during my student days. I ordered the small size kake udon and loaded it with free tempura flakes until all the soup was soaked up. It was just as good as I remembered. The prices have gone up a bit since then, but it's still a great deal considering the rising costs. Just like other branches, this restaurant is self-service. You pick up a tray, choose your tempura, order your udon at the register, and enjoy your meal. I also ordered a croquette, which was delicious with its sweet potato flavor. The cost performance is unbeatable, and I admire the company's efforts. I will definitely be back!

They were having a Torodama Fair, so I went to Hanamaru Udon for the first time in a while. I usually go to Marugame Seimen, but this menu caught my eye. The udon noodles seemed a bit firmer than usual. It may just be my imagination since I haven't been there in a while, but I remember the noodles being quite soft and chewy in the past. When I want something refreshing, I prefer noodles with more firmness. The taste was delicious as always. They had a variety of side dishes like fried foods and oden, which I found quite interesting. I also tried the oden and it was delicious.

The "Hanamaru Udon" near Showa Street was closed. I decided to visit again and ordered a small size udon with asparagus tempura. The tempura, being in season, seemed to be made in limited quantities due to its high price. I always wish there was salt available on the table. Nevertheless, the udon and tempura were delicious. The overall quality and price of the app service have decreased, so it might be time to say goodbye to "Hanamaru Udon." However, the fact that they are open all day is appealing!

I visited the restaurant on a holiday afternoon. It was bustling with families and children like a family restaurant. I ordered a small udon and chicken tempura. When I paid, the staff dropped the change on top of the tempura. She picked up the coins and handed them to me along with the tempura. I politely asked in English if I could have it replaced, and they did so. The shape of the tempura was different, but the exchange was correct. I enjoyed the meal gratefully. I have always felt that in this type of restaurant, electronic money and mobile payment are necessary. I hope the restaurant will make changes in the future.

I came to Ueno after a long time! Today, I went to Hanamaru Udon for lunch, which I used to frequent in the past. The prices are reasonable and personally, it's a relief haha. This time, I ordered curry udon. Choosing tempura by myself is still great! Shrimp tempura surprisingly goes well with curry udon. Everyone should try it out!

I used it during the day. It was lunchtime, but it wasn't crowded, so can we say it's a hidden gem... I went to various Hanamaru Udon restaurants, but the karaage here was by far the biggest haha. I had the Niku Oroshi Bukkake. Honestly, Bukkake Udon feels a bit unsatisfying because there is less soup, but I love udon so it's all good haha.

I had a few drinks in Ueno and then ate udon noodles as a final dish. I ordered a small size kake udon and topped it with two types of tempura and ginger. The seats were quite full, but I managed to get a window seat. There was a variety of customers from different nationalities. The portion size was just right for a finishing touch.

The salted pork with grated daikon and a bit too much black pepper might be overpowering.