Ugh, it's so cold and windy! On a day like this, I had a morning meal of oyakodon with Kyoto-style pickles. The oyakodon was surprisingly delicious with a slightly runny texture and chunks of white meat that added to the flavor. Some chains use pre-made egg mix instead of cracking fresh eggs, but I'm not sure if this chain does that. As for the "Kyoto-style" pickles, it had a noticeable sourness that enhanced the overall taste. I wish they would provide more detailed descriptions on the menu about what makes it "Kyoto-style".京風漬物セット

Local, around midnight past 11:30, "Nakau". The 24-hour store that is open all year round is convenient. Even if you don't actively use it, having it is helpful or rather, appreciated. In this area within a small radius of about 100 meters, the choices for late-night dining are "Nakau", "Yudetaro", as well as "Matsuchan Ramen", "Nagahamaya", and "Kyanakya". Lately, it often comes down to a choice between "Yudetaro", which is relatively uncrowded, and "Nakau". I ordered the "Beef Topped Cold Udon (Regular)" (590 yen) with a "Chicken and Egg Bowl (Small)" (410 yen) - as shown in the photo. This udon is a new addition. The udon noodles are thinly cut specifically for cold udon. The dipping sauce, as the title suggests, is filled with beef. The first bite may feel a bit off, but as you keep eating, it becomes more and more delicious. Mixing it all together, the base dipping sauce with bonito and other seafood dashi, along with the sweetness and umami of the beef, blend together nicely. When you add Nakau's "Special Aroma Togarashi" with a hint of orange peel fragrance, the spiciness enhances the flavor of the dipping sauce and adds a vibrant touch. The udon noodles are smooth and slippery on the surface, despite being thinly cut, they have a strong elasticity, which is quite appealing. I've had the Chicken and Egg Bowl many times, and even in the small size, the ingredients remain the same, just the amount of rice is reduced. The overall taste of the dashi, seasoning, egg, and chicken is quite good, exceeding the price value. The "Special Aroma Togarashi" goes well with this dish too. A bit more is just right. Thanks for the meal. (By Kyo Natsushu Sora, 2023.6.7) (34 reviews, 3.06 average rating)

I had breakfast at Nakau on this day. I love Nakau's breakfast set because it's great value for money. You can choose from several side dishes, which is a good deal. This day, I chose the beef side dish. Pour it over rice and you have a delicious beef bowl. I choose based on my mood that day. It's simple but satisfying. If I had to say something, the grilled salmon that day had big bones. But I will definitely visit again. Thank you for the meal.

I tried the special udon at "Nakau". Around 11 pm, my feet naturally lead me to this neighborhood near my place. I have a tendency to crave noodles after drinking. Sometimes I go all out, other times I just have a small portion to satisfy my hunger. I chose the "Clam Butter Udon" (590 yen) this time. As you can see in the picture, if I'm not in the mood for a soy sauce-based dish after drinking, I tend to go for "Nakau". It was a choice driven by my craving for clams. The "Clam Butter Udon" features smooth udon noodles topped with flavorful clams in shells and butter in a rich seafood soup. The soup, infused with the essence of clams, is made with Nakau's signature Kansai-style udon broth and a garlic-infused special sauce for a deep flavor. The butter on top enhances the richness as it melts, offering a smooth and enjoyable taste transformation. It was pretty much as described. However, personally, I didn't like the fuss of removing the clams from their shells one by one, so I took them all out at once before eating. While I haven't eaten clam butter dishes often, I realized it's actually quite good. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal. (By Natsuyuki, April 19, 2023)

Local, around 3:30 am, "Nakau". The 24-hour store, open all year round, is convenient. Even if not actively used, having it around is helpful, or rather, appreciated. When choosing a place for late-night dining within a small radius of about 100 meters around this store at around 3:30 am, the options are "Nakau" and "Yudetaro". "Marinated squid Yukke bowl (regular) + Chicken salt udon (small) set" (1,040 yen) - as shown in the photo. I was intrigued as a seafood lover by the unusual menu. I eat the marinated squid Yukke-style with Kochujang and raw egg. Well, it tastes within expectations, but I wonder what the squid is marinated in. I sense the taste of umami seasoning, but in a place like this, it's quite good. If this were served at a seaside seafood bowl restaurant, I might criticize it as junk or artificial, but this is a fast food restaurant in Ikebukuro. Of course, the price is reasonable, which is wonderful. The chicken salt udon also has a taste within expectations. However, the salt sauce may feel slightly strong and salty. That day, I had been drinking a lot, so I actually liked it this way. Thank you for the meal. (By Kyanatsu Shuusora, 3/3/2023) (33 reviews, 3.06)

Local, around 5 am, "Nakau". The 24-hour store, open all year round, is convenient. Even if you don't actively use it, having it is helpful or rather appreciated. In this narrow area within a radius of about 100m, the choice for early morning dining comes down to "Nakau" and "Yudetaro". "Katsu Curry (regular)" (690 yen) + "Special Egg" (60 yen) + "Haikara Udon (small)" (250 yen) - as shown in the photo. The Katsu Curry at Nakau, I feel like I might have eaten it for the first time, but it was not bad. Or rather, it was quite delicious. Of course, curry preferences vary from person to person, but other than feeling that the saltiness was a bit strong, I thought it was a curry with a decent amount of richness, creaminess, and spice. But what caught my attention the most was the spiciness. This level of spiciness is probably not something young children can eat. I would like to request something around the level of R12. (laughs) Or maybe kids these days can handle it? The katsu also had a satisfying thickness. In my tipsy thoughts, I really wanted to have TKG Katsu Curry, so I ate it that way from the middle onwards, and that combination was also quite good. As a soup substitute, I had the Haikara Udon. It was gentle and heartwarming. Yes, it was delicious. Thank you for the meal. (By Kyanatsu Shuukuu, January 25, 2023) (30 reviews, 3.06 stars)

Local, after midnight past 12 a.m., "Nakau". The 24-hour store, open all year round, is convenient. Even if you don't actively use it, having it around is helpful, or rather, appreciated. When choosing a place for late-night dining within a small radius of about 100 meters around this store, the options would be "Nakau", "Matsuchan Ramen", "Hakata Ramen Nagahama-ya", and "Yudetaro". "Matsuchan Ramen" tends to be crowded at that time, and "Nagahama-ya" also attracts a decent amount of customers. Both of these places also cater to customers who are looking to have drinks, so there are many such patrons. Therefore, if you are just looking for a quick meal to finish off the night, "Yudetaro" is often the preferred choice. The "Beef Udon (regular)" (530 yen) - as shown in the photo. It is Nakau's classic Kyoto-style udon, "Haikara Udon", topped with simmered beef used in their "Japanese-style beef bowl" without the tempura flakes. The base has a gentle flavor, with the addition of the richness and heartiness of the meat. The meat has a slightly sweet taste, so adjust the amount of shichimi pepper to your liking. It's just the right flavor and portion to satisfy your late-night cravings. Thank you for the meal. (By Kyonatsu Shuusora, 2023.1.25) (30 reviews/3.06)

I visited the restaurant late after work when other places were closed, so I was grateful as I was too tired to cook. I ordered the katsudon. Whenever I come to Nakau, I always end up ordering katsudon... It's affordable, always available, and served quickly. I appreciate the efforts of the company.

I used it during my work break. It's located about a 10-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station. The restaurant I wanted to go to had a long line, so I decided to visit Nakau nearby. I entered around 1:00 pm for lunch, and since it was a Sunday, the restaurant was quite empty. I purchased a pork cutlet bowl ticket at the entrance ticket machine and took a seat. They accepted cashless payments like PayPay. Before I knew it, the pork cutlet bowl arrived. It was a regular size, but the thick and juicy pork cutlet made it quite filling. The hot cutlet was juicy and the slightly sweet broth was nice! It had a vibe of a traditional cutlet bowl from a local shop rather than a chain store, and the egg was fluffy and creamy. It was nice to feel the homemade touch, but I also felt like something was missing. Thank you for the meal.

Ikebukuro. I was taking a long walk and it was time for lunch. I noticed Nakau! It's been a while since I've been to Nakau... Before I knew it, I was inside the shop haha. So, I ordered the mini size udon. I quickly bought a ticket at the machine and soon it arrived! Slurp... delicious! This lightness is what's great about fast food. Love it!

After work in Ikebukuro. It's late at night, around 2 am. There are only a few places open, but luckily there is a 24-hour fast food restaurant that is a lifesaver. They serve delicious, cheap, and quick Japanese fast food. I usually get tired of just eating beef bowls, but Ootoya offers a variety of options like chicken and egg bowls. The food is always tasty and the restaurant is clean, which I appreciate. The mini set with Kansai-style light soy sauce udon is only 600 yen, which is really cheap. I've been going to this chain restaurant for over 20 years. Today, once again, I am satisfied and heading home. Thank you for the meal.

At Nakau, I am a frequent customer. I usually visit late at night when I'm in the mood for a seafood bowl. This visit was marked as my 6th, but I believe I have been here around 30 times. Last time, I spent over 2,000 yen on an eel bowl and small udon. Before that, I have tried salmon bowl, salmon roe bowl, scallop bowl, sea urchin bowl, all with small udon, always spending over 1,000 yen. This time, I had the marinated tuna bowl (hearty serving) for 1,000 yen and small sudachi citrus udon for 350 yen - as shown in the photo. The marinated tuna was even more delicious than it looks. The bowl had green onions, shredded omelette, chopped seaweed, white sesame seeds, adding to the atmosphere and flavor. Nakau's wasabi is also good. Towards the end, I tried adding yuzu shichimi pepper, which added another layer of flavor. Nakau's udon is quite good too. It comes with half a sudachi citrus, which you squeeze over the udon. The aroma of sudachi was surprisingly good. Thank you for the meal. (By Kyonatsushuukuu, 2020.10.11)

Eating out, "Nakau" reaches 2,000 yen for the first time in its history. Even my beloved "Yoshinoya" may not have reached 2,000 yen. I have often used this "Nakau" as one of the local 24-hour stores that are open all year round. I usually go for Kyoto-style udon and seafood rice bowl, rather than beef bowl. This time, I felt like having an early "midsummer day of the ox" meal. "Unagi Donburi Gokai Mori" (1,650 yen) + "Sudachi Oroshi Udon (small)" (350 yen) - as shown in the photo. It looks amazing. The unagi is carefully grilled and steamed, then broiled three times with a special sauce to create a crispy and juicy texture. The taste of the whole unagi and chopped unagi seemed slightly different. The whole unagi tasted like Chinese eel sold in supermarkets, while the chopped unagi had a slightly river fish-like flavor. Even if it's just thawed frozen grilled eel, it has a certain atmosphere. Most importantly, the joy of eating at such a place is not to savor the delicate flavors slowly, but to devour the bowl without hesitation, just like a beef bowl. I sprinkled shichimi togarashi and added pickled ginger, and quickly devoured it. Despite the mountain pepper, the quantity and atmosphere surpass the taste. The udon at Nakau is also good. The chilled sudachi oroshi udon. The acidity of the sudachi enhances the flavor of the unagi. If we evaluate the taste within the price reasonableness, the unagi bowl would be around "3.2" and the udon "3.7", but considering the compatibility and balance of both, I would give an overall rating of "3.5". Full and satisfied. Thank you for the meal. (By Kyanatsu Shukku, 2020.7.21) (19 reviews/3.06)

This is a local "Nakau" restaurant. This time, I had the "Ikura Don" at 3 am. I have tried dishes like Uni Don, Salmon Ikura Don, and Raw Scallop Ikura Don before, and I trust Nakau's seafood dishes to be reasonably priced and of good quality. I have never had a major disappointment. This Nakau branch is located in Ikebukuro 2-chome, right in my neighborhood. I visit this restaurant frequently. I ordered the "Natural Ikura Don (regular)" (890 yen) with a side of "Haikara Udon (small)" (200 yen) - as shown in the photo. Last time, I had the "Raw Scallop and Ikura Don," but this time, it seems they have switched to using natural Ikura only. It doesn't feel dramatically different, but it tastes better than usual. The sensation of crushing natural Ikura in your mouth is indescribable. It feels luxurious in a way. Also, Nakau has a good sense of selecting wasabi. This time, they used the "Shinshu Azumino-produced Fragrant Hon-Wasabi" from Kinjirushi. It goes well with Ikura and soy sauce. Last time, they used the same Kinjirushi "Chopped Wasabi Soy Sauce Pickle," but the fact that they pay attention to changing the wasabi packet according to the dish's taste is commendable. The Haikara Udon is always a nice addition for a soup-like experience. It satisfies the Ikura cravings at 3 am. Thank you for the meal. It can be challenging to evaluate chain restaurants on food review websites. They have a wide range of menu items. However, I tend to rate Nakau as a whole, even though it may seem biased. The exact same natural Ikura is served at a certain sushi restaurant for around 1,000 yen per piece. That sushi restaurant would easily score over 3.5 on food review websites. Considering the price, taste, and portion size, I believe Nakau's buyers deserve recognition. In the world, there is a tendency to prioritize the opinions of amateur staff or part-time workers, but I wonder why people don't listen to the opinions of professional buyers. (By: Kyonatsu Shuusora, 2020.2.23) (19 reviews/3.05)

1. Noodles: A bit chewy. 2. Broth: Slightly soy sauce-flavored. Lukewarm. 3. Tempura: Hot and freshly fried. Shrimp with shells are fragrant. 4. Others: Fish cake. Today's meal was at the 4th location of Nakau in Ikebukuro. Nakau's style is relatively rich in flavor. Total spent on tempura soba so far is 161,291 yen (333rd bowl). Thank you for the meal.

At 4 am, I ate a "Scallop and Salmon Roe Bowl" at a local "Nakau" in Ikebukuro 2-chome. It's a place I often visit. Since it's open 24 hours, I usually go late at night, and if I like what I eat, I sometimes have it for a regular dinner. I have some trust in Nakau's seafood dishes like Uni Bowl and Salmon Roe Bowl. This Scallop and Salmon Roe Bowl was no exception. I had it as a late-night meal along with cold udon, and I was so impressed by the taste and the price that I kept telling people about it. So, I felt a sense of responsibility (laughs) and decided to try it again for dinner. I ordered a regular size Scallop and Salmon Roe Bowl (890 yen) with a small portion of Hiyashi Udon (200 yen) - as shown in the photo. Compared to last time, it seemed like there were more scallops in the bowl, but not as much salmon roe. The Hokkaido scallops were delicious, with a winter sweetness and umami. The salmon roe was also good. The wasabi, a special condiment at Nakau, was a nice touch. It's a finely chopped wasabi in soy sauce that enhances the flavors. I couldn't remember the last time I had a beef bowl at Nakau, as I'm mostly a fan of Yoshinoya for beef bowls. Nakau is located a bit far from the drinking district in Ikebukuro West Exit. However, thanks to the popular late-night spot "Matsuchan Ramen" nearby, Nakau and the 24-hour "Yudetaro" seem to benefit from the overflow of customers. I don't often praise it, but I feel like I'd miss it if it were gone. 24-hour restaurants are incredibly important to locals. (By Kyanatsushuukuu, 2019.12.17)

I'm hungry~ but I only have about 10 minutes left~ If that's the case, this kind of place is perfect. At Nakau, you can get a lunch set with udon and a rice bowl for only 500 yen. It's a great deal~ Even though I didn't ask for it, my bowl was filled with lots of broth. I wonder if they thought, "This guy must be a picky regular customer" (laughs). But well, I wanted to eat quickly, so having lots of broth was just right for me (*´∀｀) Thank you for the meal!

Before I knew it, I realized that I had only been consuming vegetable salad, energy drinks, and yogurt drinks all day yesterday. I thought to myself that I should probably eat something proper soon, but I was too busy to spend time on it. I decided to enter the next restaurant I found, and ended up getting a great deal on their lunch set at Nakau. It included a Japanese-style beef bowl and a small serving of udon for only 500 yen! It was really cheap. The udon was alright, but the quality of the beef bowl was pretty good. The sauce wasn't too overpowering, which was nice. Overall, it's a good place for when you're in a hurry (I recommend it for those times only).

Nakau-san♡ I often go there because it's nearby! (●＾▽＾●) So, I'm going there again today! \(´∀`*) Nice to meet you! I'm on good terms with the staff. Lol, there are more foreigners now. I only talk to the older ladies though... I think the staff who are careless at work are really careless. It's not because they're foreigners... I like the older ladies because they are polite and cheerful, but the other staff members are unfriendly. Lol, I usually go alone, because Pupu-san is still asleep. ( .. ) And for breakfast, I love the morning set at Nakau! Not just because it's cheap, but also because you can get a free large serving of rice! I always go for the large serving. Lol, the miso soup has seasonal ingredients, sometimes ahead of the season. Recently, it has been okra, fried tofu, and green onions in miso soup. I love it! It used to be bamboo shoots until a little while ago. (´･д･`) And it comes so quickly! I'm seated for about 2 minutes! Lol, bon appétit! This only costs 330 yen... for breakfast... amazing! Well, of course, cooking at home is cheaper. But Pupu-san is still asleep, and I usually get hungry after Hime goes to school... I end up at Nakau... I've only had the morning set at Nakau... Lol, but I'm satisfied with the morning set. Excuse me... Thank you for the meal as always! ψ(๑'ڡ'๑)ψ Alright! Let's do our best today!!!

I bought a ticket but the staff didn't come to give it to me. They kept going back and forth to the kitchen, ignoring customers standing there, and never gave me my ticket. Time passed and it was a terrible experience. There was a dusty ladder placed in front of the dining area, making it unpleasant to eat. I will not be going to this restaurant again.

This is probably the restaurant that I have relied on the most in the 10 years I have lived in Ikebukuro. I have had both good and bad experiences here, especially noticing that there are more foreign staff members nowadays. Honestly, there are many beef bowl restaurants, but I like Yoshinoya the best. It has a unique taste that makes it stand out, and I especially love their beef bowl with sukiyaki flavor. The miso soup also has a distinct taste that I crave, so I often go for their breakfast or dinner just to have it. The taste and price are unbeatable, but with the increasing number of foreign staff members, I have noticed a slight decline in hygiene. Unlike when there were Japanese or Chinese/Korean staff, the dishes are not cleared until the next customers arrive, which raises some hygiene concerns. It seems like they only clean at specific times, and there are visible food spills that are not promptly taken care of. Despite these issues, I am satisfied with the cheap and delicious food, but the hygiene aspect is lacking.