[Review] Ten-ichi Udon.
Udon, that thick Japanese wheat noodle, is normally eaten very simply. It’s usually just served in a light broth, topped with chopped scallions and perhaps accompanied by tempura, nori, or aburaage. Like their ramen brethren they are a favourite among Japanese salarymen (サラリーマン) needing a quick lunch or dinner fix, eaten cold during summer or in hot broth during colder seasons.
Udon dishes can be easily found on the menus of most Japanese restaurants in Singapore, but for a different udon experience one can visit Ten-ichi Udon.
Located in nex’s Shokutsu 10 - a “food street” run by food brand RE&S Enterprises that combines 10 different Japanese food concepts in a single space - Ten-ichi Udon is a self-service udon specialist built in a casual setting, suitable for both the shopper tired from trawling the mega mall for bargains, as well as workers from the surrounding area looking for a quick lunch before heading back to the office.
At Ten-ichi Udon, diners get compose their own udon dish in a self-service queue, choosing from cold dipping sauces, hot broth or even Japanese curry for their udon, as well as select various accompaniments to complement their meal. But what’s interesting about Ten-ichi is that it not only offers the regular wheat-based udon noodle, there is also an option for matcha- (green tea) or yuzu-infused versions, freshly prepared at RE&S Enterprises new food factory premises at Ubi.
Particularly delicious was the very simple Yuzu Wasabi Udon ($6.50), with the noodles in a chilled yuzu wasabi dipping sauce that bursts with flavour, the citrusy notes helping to cut through the starchiness of the noodles.
Likewise, the Kamatama Yuzu Udon ($6.50) comes in a less punchy citrusy sauce - without the mustard - and topped with a poached egg. When punctured, the runny egg explodes and adds a lovely silkiness to the sauce.
But if you prefer a more traditional version, the Beef Soup Udon ($7.50-8.50), available in either original or matcha flavours, is a good bet, with the thinly sliced beef adding a nice contrast in texture to the dish.
In case udon’s not filling enough, there is a wide variety of toppings ($1.00-3.00) one can add to supplement. There are tempura options like the massive Jumbo Ebi Tempura ($3.00), Pumpkin Tempura ($1.00), or the ginormous vegetable Jumbo Kakiage ($1.80, above), to the Satsuma Age ($2.50) and Chicken Katsu ($2.00). There’s even the Eggplant Tempura with Minced Meat ($1.80), which tastes much like the Chinese equivalent in our yong tau foo.
Also, if you’re not a fan of udon, there are rice and chasoba options as well - but you can get those easily in the other Shokotsu 10 concept outlets. The fare at Ten-ichi Udon may not sound mind-blowing - and it’s not - but it’s simple, comfort food that will hit the right spots for the tired shopper or the frazzled office worker.
Ten-ichi Udon is located within Shokutsu 10 Japanese Food Street at #B1-02, nex, 23 Serangoon Central.
- Daniel