What type of cuisine is served at Mentouan?

Mentouan serves Japanese cuisine, including Udon.

Mentouan

Name: Mentouan
Address: 30-1 Hashimotochō, Nara, Nara, 630-8217, JP
Telephone: +81 (0) 742-25-3581
Price range: $$
Rating: 4

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Nara

Japanese: Udon

Mentouan Description

Located near Kintetsu Nara Station, Mentouan is a hidden gem specializing in udon and curry udon dishes. This cozy restaurant in Nara offers a unique twist on traditional udon, serving up steaming bowls of noodles in flavorful broths that will warm your soul. The menu features a variety of udon options, from classic favorites to creative combinations like curry udon, which adds a rich and aromatic curry sauce to the dish.

What sets Mentouan apart is its dedication to quality ingredients and attention to detail in every dish. The udon noodles are freshly made, ensuring a chewy texture that pairs perfectly with the savory broths. The cozy interior of the restaurant provides a welcoming atmosphere, making it the perfect spot to enjoy a comforting meal after a day of exploring Nara. Whether you're a udon enthusiast or looking to try something new, Mentouan offers a delightful dining experience that will leave you craving more.

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Mentouan Overview

Directions

Address

30-1 Hashimotochō, Nara, Nara 630-8217

Phone

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+81 (0) 742-25-3581

Operating Hours

Sun: 11:00AM-4:00PM
Mon: 11:00AM-3:00PM
Tue: Closed
Wed: Closed
Thur: Closed
Fri: 11:00AM-3:00PM
Sat: 11:00AM-4:00PM

Payment Methods

Cash

Restaurant Features

Take-out Available

Family-friendly

Sake Selection

Mentouan Reviews

Mentouan Google Average Rating

Google

You have to go early and put your name on the list or you might miss it. When it went they were only open from 11am to 3pm, so it’s a pretty short time. If you don’t put your name on the list just forget it you’ll never get in. There was already quite a bit of names when I went but I only waited 45min since o was solo and a lot of people didn’t show up when their name was called (they wandered away and miss their window 🤷🏻‍♀️) I had the famous udon with the curry and it was one of the best Udon I had so far on my Japan trip ! This is one stop I’m happy I made.

Google

Udon noodles wrapped in a fried egg bag. The broth is very rich and is perfect for the winter season. The curry tastes great too, although it got a little more diluted from the noodles.

There are only 20+ seats here and one wait staff so service may require patience. The queue took nearly an hour but was worth the experience.

Toilets are available here, although you would be seated next to a large fish tank and the wall between you and the kitchen isn’t sound proof.

Google

Waited approximately 40-45 minutes to be seated. Although there were open seats, they weren’t being used because staff shortage. Friendly staff, they’re just short on workers to serve a lot of people at once… so please understand while you wait!

Waiting was well worth it! We ordered the curry udon and the regular udon. Broth was great for cold seasons, curry was fine too.

I preferred the regular udon more because you can sip the broth and not so much for the curry. Shrimp tempura was decent, I recommend eating that first unless you want a not so crisp tempura.

Had no issues bringing a large luggage to this restaurant, will visit again when in Nara!

Google

I found this place on Instagram and was hoping it wasn't a gimmick and after waiting almost two hours to sit down we discovered it wasn't.

Unlike most restaurants that make you queue up when they are full, at Mentouan you write your name and number of people in your party on a list. This allows you to browse the shops close by rather than standing there the whole time.

There are only a couple of soup options for the tofu skin pouch. Beef curry, Dashi and Dashi with Mushrooms. I chose the Beef Curry and thoroughly enjoyed it! It was a well balanced curry with a fair amount of heat, but not too much. After I was done with the Udon noodles I finished off the tofu which was also good.

As we were leaving the restaurant, the chef was in the entry way. I asked for a photo and he obliged.

Google

Enjoyed the udon noodles and the flavour of the broth and curry. It's worth trying for the experience and would recommend coming here early. I arrived at 10.55am on a Monday with about 15 people ahead and waited 30 minutes to be served. It is understandable the restaurant let's a few people in at a time as they appear to be understaffed.

Mentouan Map

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Mentouan

Mentouan Description

Mentouan Overview

Mentouan Reviews

Mentouan Google Average Rating

Mentouan Map

Learn More About Udon

Bites of Japan: Kake Udon Noodle Soup

Exploring the World of Udon Noodle in Japan: A Foreign Traveler's Guide

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