I went to Yamada Udon for the first time in a while. I had the impression that it was a very cheap restaurant, but it was not that cheap. They not only had udon, but also soba, and a wide variety of set meals. It was a family restaurant. I had the Nikujiru Udon & Soba and it was delicious!

The first time I ate there was about 50 years ago in Ina City. The restaurant had a rural udon shop vibe with a wooden one-story building. The menu was limited, but I liked the udon and poached egg. Nowadays, the menu has expanded a lot and changed significantly. I really enjoyed the fried rice set, which was always delicious with a nice texture.

Set meal restaurant. Here, udon is available in mini size or as a set. The mini size is not really mini, and it's not a main dish flavor. I recommend the kakiage-don or, well, the simmered set meal is the best. I used to eat here a lot when I was a student, and it had been a while since my last visit, but my memory was correct. However, I made a mistake and ordered the udon. I should have trusted myself.

R4.3 revisited during a slow lunchtime. I ordered tempura soba with a coupon for croquette. Yamada Udon, which has recently become famous, used to be a local place with a school lunch noodle provider vibe that was cheap and quick for Saitama residents. The prices have doubled since the days when udon/soba was 180 yen and tempura was 50 yen. The soba has changed to fresh soba, and the tempura, which used to be flat and thin, has become thick and crispy, and I enjoyed it all. Thank you for the meal.

=R4.3= Visited this place for the first time in 1 year and 3 months for an early lunch. I ordered a curry set that had slightly increased in price, with tanuki soba noodles and a coupon for spring rolls. The soba noodles here are now freshly made. Since it wasn't busy, my order was served quickly. The curry was a bit on the lighter side and slightly spicy. I thought maybe I should have ordered a half portion of curry.

This is Yamada Udon ☆ Higashiyamato store. Tanuki soba ...... 280 yen. This is my second time at this shop. I stopped by on my way home from shopping for some reason. Oh! I found a coupon that I haven't seen in a while ^ ^ It was expired because it was until May. Anyway, it was a dinner without any particular impact (lol).

=R2.12= This is a revisit during the late lunch time, around 2 pm. Surprisingly, it was not as empty as I thought. It seems to be getting busier as we head towards the end of the year. I ordered the tanuki soba with a mini oyakodon at the counter. I also got the Christmas special deal on curry croquettes. It's a great deal with the discounts and the quick service is much appreciated.

Blog: Hangover Meal at Yamada Udon Restaurant, Higashiyamato Branch Today, I would like to introduce the "Yamada Udon Restaurant". I was intrigued by this place because it was once featured on a TV show as the soul food of Saitama prefecture. Even though I used to live in Saitama, I never had the chance to visit this place. Interestingly, the name has changed from "Yamada Udon" to "Yamada Udon Restaurant" while keeping the same logo resembling Yajirobee. I always wanted to try it out, so I decided to visit the Higashiyamato branch. Upon entering, the restaurant gave off a vibe similar to Yoshinoya or Matsuya. There was a central counter seat with sofa and chair seating around it. It wasn't exactly what I had imagined, but it was cozy and welcoming. The menu offered a variety of udon, soba, set meals, and curry. I noticed they also had a good selection of side dishes like mini rice bowls and salads, which I appreciated. I decided to try the "Vegetable Flavorful Udon" and added a mini "Red Punch Bowl" as a side dish. The Vegetable Flavorful Udon arrived, and it was packed with vegetables. The soup was flavorful, slightly salty, but with a gentle taste. The udon was thick and slightly soft, which I found to be a nice change from the trend of chewy noodles. The amount of noodles was generous, and I felt satisfied without needing the Red Punch Bowl. The Red Punch Bowl, a specialty of Yamada Udon, was a tasty mix of stewed offal with a spicy kick from garlic and ginger. It paired well with the udon, but I felt that the mini size was just right as a side dish. I might have gotten tired of it if it was a full-size bowl. By the end of the meal, I was pleasantly full, almost to the point of discomfort. Overall, it was a satisfying dining experience at Yamada Udon Restaurant.

Visited again in October and this time I changed the curry set to soy sauce ramen. I added the coupon croquette on top of the curry. The soy sauce ramen was surprisingly good, although the portion was a bit small. It's a set menu, so the focus is on affordability, which is just right. I always receive a free croquette coupon after every meal, so it's almost endless.

=It had been 11 months since my last visit, so I decided to order the kakiage-don set and change it to tanuki soba, adding a coupon croquette on top. It was a carb-heavy meal for two people, priced at 680 yen. The small roadside restaurant in Higashiyamato has U-shaped counter seats, table seats, and a raised seating area. The parking lot was full during lunchtime, as expected.

During my journey along the Shin-Ōme Street, I revisited the Toudaiwa store the following month. I ordered the Curry Set for 660 yen, which can be served quickly, and added a mini hamburger from the Tanuki Udon & Great Deal Coupon. I chose to have the hamburger curry with cabbage on top. When in a hurry, the quick Curry Set is very convenient.

=R1.10= I revisited after 3 months, during lunchtime around 1 PM. I chose the daily special set menu, which on Mondays is the Chicken Cutlet Bowl set for 720 yen, along with Tanuki Soba. I had one bowl and one serving of noodles, a carb on top of another carb. I ate the soba first and used the soup as a side dish. Surprisingly tender chicken breast cutlet in the bowl, topped with self-serve pickles. I finished my meal feeling satisfied and full.

=H31.2=I arrived at the restaurant close to 2 pm for a late lunch. The parking lot was empty, which was convenient. I ordered the popular kakiage donburi set with tanuki soba.=R1.7=I revisited the restaurant in July, during the rainy season, five months later. I had chilled tanuki soba and a mini curry donburi for just 500 yen. =R1.7 again=Shortly before the end of the rainy season, I had a curry set with tanuki udon for lunch. I topped the curry with a coupon croquette to create croquette curry.

H31.1 = It's been about a year since I revisited the East Yamato store along the Shin-Aodera Street. The store sign had changed to Yamada Udon Eatery. I ordered the curry set with tanuki soba and added a campaign croquette. I put half of the croquette into the soba, and the other half along with shredded cabbage drizzled with sauce into the curry. It was a delightful experience enjoying croquette curry.

On July 24, I visited a restaurant called "Yamada Udon" in Saitama, where I have lived for almost 40 years. Despite being from Hakata, I rarely visit this place. However, on this day, I decided to try their "Spicy Miso Ramen" priced at 520 yen. Honestly, I don't find their udon noodles very delicious. The broth is also quite flat. But they have managed to attract a lot of customers. The restaurant has expanded its menu beyond just udon noodles, and it seems to be popular among many people. By the way, the restaurant's name is still "Yamada Udon" but it is now called "Yamada Udon Shokudo." They seem to have enhanced their menu with items other than udon noodles. When I asked a classmate from Fukuoka if they wanted any souvenirs from Saitama, they requested "Yamada Udon's punch." I managed to deliver it to them, but I have yet to try it myself.

Morning Mini Curry & Small Udon for ¥350. Half curry and half udon, portion size is medium.

Chilled Chinese noodles, large serving size.

"Kakiage-don and fried horse mackerel."

Premium tempura bowl with Setouchi shrimp ===========