Menchirashi

Tucked away in an alley off Cat Street, Menchirashi is a stylish space to savour house-made udon noodles amongst Harajuku’s fashionable crowd. But don’t let its American-diner-with-hip-Japanese-twist interior deter you: prices here are very reasonable, with most udon dishes priced below ¥1,000.

Menchirashi is known for its fried-to-order tempura and onigiri rice balls, both of which make perfect accompaniments to a bowl of udon. If the menu triggers a bout of FOMO, opt for the kake udon (plain noodles in broth) for ¥450, add on a tempura (from ¥150 a piece) and finish off with an onigiri stuffed with a variety of fillings including tuna and takuan (daikon) pickles (from ¥200). That way you’ll try a bit of everything.