Tsurutontan

Humongous bowls of udon. I pass by this restaurant a dozen times a week and there is always a crowd outside waiting for a table. Several times I tried to get reservations for dinner, to no avail. And the harder it played to get, the more I wanted it. WHAT could be so great about a bowl of udon that people would wait for an hour outside (even during typhoon rains!) to get one? Finally, after waiting for 45 minutes, we secured a table tonight.

The verdict? The udon is really really good. And there is an extensive list of choices to choose from - from your standard kitsune udon to curry to cream broth to cold udon to seasonal specials including tomato, duck and even a creamy avocado clam version. But the main attraction is that you can have MORE noodles...for FREE! Who doesn't like free?

Creamy mentaiko udon - savory, hearty, creamy, delicious

Nabe udon

Hot dipping udon with sesame dipping sauce that you prepare yourself, with a side of tempura

Sticky glutinous rice topped with brown sugar syrup and roasted soybean powder

Food rating: *** and a half
Bang for buck rating: 4.5

The essentials:
http://www.tsurutontan.co.jp/
Location: Gaienhigashi-dori, near Roppongi Crossing, Tokyo
Average price of meal for two: 3000 yen (~$35)