What to Order (and Skip) at Tsurutontan Tokyo | Udon Review
I stopped by Tsurutontan during my Tokyo trip without realizing it’s actually known for its massive, oversized bowls — so I was genuinely surprised when my udon came out in what looked like a small basin. Turns out, that’s part of the fun.
This popular chain, originally founded in Osaka in 1979, specializes in modern and creative udon dishes and has built a reputation for putting its spin on traditional comfort food. I came for the noodles, and honestly, that’s where they shine. Some of the other menu items didn’t hit quite the same, but when you stick to their signature, it's easy to see why this place draws such a crowd. The Tokyo chain locations hover around a 3.4–3.6 on Tabelog, which in Japan is relatively solid — especially for chains.
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The beef arrives just barely cooked and finishes in the hot broth, which I loved — it kept the meat tender and flavorful. The sweet fried tofu was the star: absolutely soaked with broth and full of umami, sweet, and savory notes. It paired with the noodles well and could be eaten alone as a satisfying, sweet bite. The broth was deep, rich, and meaty at first, but as the tofu continued soaking and releasing its sweetness, the soup ended up a bit too sweet for my taste by the end. Noodles were fine — a little chewy, but didn’t cling to the broth as much as I hoped.
Rating | 3.25/5
Ordered | 1x
Would I order again? | probably
Price | ¥980 + meat | ~$6.60 -
Surprisingly subtle — I expected a punch of vinegar or fruit, but this leaned more into lightly sweet and gently refreshing. The alcohol was barely noticeable too which is good in my opinion
Rating | 2.25/5
Ordered | 1x
Would I order again? | probably not
Price | ¥650 | ~$4.38 -
This was a nice surprise! The non-alcoholic version uses ginger ale as a base (not the overly sweet kind like Canada Dry in the U.S.). The balance between the yuzu’s citrusy brightness and the subtle spice of the ginger ale worked really well. A great palate cleanser.
Rating | 3.5/5
Ordered | 1x
Would I order again? | Yes
Price | ¥780 | ~$5.25 -
Unfortunately, mostly batter with very little prawn. Lacked the light crisp or flavor you’d want from a good tempura side.
Rating | 2/5
Ordered | 1x
Would I order again? | No
Price | ¥350 | ~$2.36 -
Super fishy and a bit off. I normally enjoy bonito, but this version didn’t feel fresh or balanced by the ponzu.
Rating | 0.5/5
Ordered | 1x
Would I order again? | No
Price | ¥780 | ~$5.25 -
This didn’t live up to its name — not spicy, not noticeably seared, and mostly just watery cucumber.
Rating | 1/5
Ordered | 1x
Would I order again? | No
Price | ¥480 | ~$3.23
Skip to 8:57 in my video to see how all the foods look!