Team Udon in Masjid Jamek, KL
Team Udon could have been referred to as “just another new restaurant” when they entered the food arena in Masjid Jamek in KL. But the noodle shop didn’t want to be just that.
Introducing unconventional spins to the classics, the local-run, Muslim-friendly noodle shop turns nasi lemak into an udon dish and uses matcha latte as one of the broths.
Intrigued to try their unique udon dishes, we visited Team Udon to bring you this review.
Nasi lemak udon & udon swamped in matcha soup
The interior of Team Udon resembles nothing like a stereotypical udon shop – we mean a warm Muji ambience with plenty of wood elements.
Their ethos is quite the opposite, featuring cool-toned furnishings and white walls. Solo seats are also available in the high-table area for patrons who dine alone.
Contrary to the compact space, the menu goes beyond the conventional. They put Udon Lemak (RM14.80) and Matcha Udon (RM16.90) onto the table.
What typically goes into a plate of nasi lemak can be found in their Udon Lemak – such as sambal, ikan bilis, peanuts, and cucumbers. This is basically the udon version of nasi lemak.
Whereas, Matcha Udon has plain udon immersed in matcha soup – yes, soup. You know it is going to be a mind-blowing bowl when matcha is referred to as “soup” instead of a beverage served in a cup.
There are also less bizarre options such as Curry Udon, Buttermilk Udon, and Beef Ball Udon – each priced at RM12.80. Their Niku Udon (RM18.80), in particular, comes with Australian beef slices.
If you visit the shop on weekdays any time between 12pm to 3pm, you can add on specific sides and enjoy green tea with unlimited refills for only RM5.80.
Here’s our verdict
Of course, we had to get our hands on their Udon Lemak – it was the whole reason for our visit. There are two types of sambal at play, one is sweet with sautéed onions, while the other is spicier and more savoury with coarsely ground chilis.
You’re supposed to mix all the ingredients in the bowl thoroughly before eating. We started by poking the poached egg at the centre with our chopsticks to let the egg yolk run down through the noodles.
The noodles, glistening from the blend of sambal and egg, tasted sublime with a mouth-coating richness. All the components worked together like a dream team, creating a balanced flavour profile of spiciness, sweetness, and egginess.
Meanwhile, the ikan bilis and peanuts were crunchy, and the edamame and cucumber gave the dish its much-needed green flavour to cut through the savouriness.
We then moved on to the Matcha Udon, wondering what to expect. The experience felt like opening a mystery box – would the dish be sweet or savoury?
The dish turned out to taste like a dessert. The matcha soup had a mildly sweet and milky flavour similar to that of a matcha latte, with only a hint of cha bitterness.
The udon and tempuras didn’t carry much seasoning of their own and thus were fully infused with the matcha taste.
Overall, the dish was bizarrely satisfying and we just kept indulging in one slurp after another.
One-of-a-kind udon dishes by Team Udon in KL
Masjid Jamek in KL is known as the hub of Indian eateries. Now it is also where you should head to for one-of-a-kind udon dishes. A place like Team Udon is made to stand out – it is never “just another new restaurant”.
Address: 27-G, Jalan Tun H S Lee, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 12pm-3pm, 5pm-9.30pm (Closed on Mondays)
Contact: 03-2022 3613 | Team Udon’s Instagram
Also watch our video feature here:
For more Muslim-friendly eats in KL, check out the viral Chinese Muslim crispy roti in Bukit Bintang and the modern solo Yakiniku at The Exchange TRX.
Photography by xinyeegoh.
Cover image adapted from: The Smart Local Malaysia