Sanuki Udon in Taman Bukit Desa, KL
Every country seems to have that one food so remarkable it becomes a national symbol – think Malaysia’s nasi lemak, Korea’s kimchi, and Vietnam’s bánh mì. For Japan, some might say their iconic dish is sushi while others might suggest ramen or its cousin udon. Regardless of which dish takes the top spot, they are each delicious on their own merit.
If slurping thick and chewy noodles sounds like your thing, plan a visit to Sanuki Udon. This legit Japanese-run restaurant in Taman Bukit Desa, KL serves up delicious soft and slurpy udon dishes humbly priced from RM8 per bowl.
Curious about what an affordable bowl of udon like this could offer, we visited the restaurant to bring you this review.
An udon restaurant with a true Japanese aesthetic
Nestled on the first floor of a shoplot, Sanuki Udon mirrors a true Japanese eatery. Natural stone floorings, wooden tables and stools, and dimly lit pendant lights fill the space, while wooden frames crisscross the place like spider legs, giving some separation between tables.
The space is small but still manages to fit in two bar counters – one facing shelves of Japanese sake and wines, and the other facing the kitchen where chefs do their prep work.
Freshly prepared udon dishes from RM8/bowl
The restaurant’s menu pays homage to Japanese cuisine. It starts with a variety of Ramen dishes (from RM17) and Skewers (from RM3), followed by a whole page of the Sanuki Udon series.
Patrons mostly come here for their House Special Udon and Original Soup Udon, which are priced RM8 each and can be served hot or cold. The thick and chunky udon noodles are made from scratch every day by skilful in-house chefs, ensuring freshness in each slurp.
Here’s our verdict
Knowing well that we wouldn’t want to miss any of the experience, we opted for a bowl of hot House Special Udon and cold Original Soup Udon.
For the former, an onsen egg is delicately placed atop the udon, which has been poached to perfection and seasoned well with Japanese soya sauce. Scallions are then sprinkled on top as the finishing touch, adding a nice pop of green to the off-white composition of the noodles and egg in the bowl.
When our order arrived, we gently poked the onsen egg with our chopsticks and were instantly mesmerised by the sight of the soft and runny egg yolk oozing out over the noodles. It was the same satisfaction as cutting through a lava cake.
Without hesitation, we gave everything in the bowl a good mix, making sure every udon strand was egg-glazed.
One taste and it became evident to us that we have uncovered really great noodles. They were soft yet retained just enough springiness to not instantly break apart as we sunk our teeth into them. Rather than being mushy, these noodles had a nice bounce.
The onsen egg didn’t disappoint either. Its creamy-eggy taste bestowed the dish with a delightful richness, drawing us back for more hearty slurps. It also gave us a sense of familiarity – like savouring roti bakar coated with half-boiled eggs.
As for the cold Original Soup Udon, the udon is plunged into a bucket of icy water before being transferred to the bowl. Wasabi, vegetables, and chopped scallions are then added on the side, and everything gets served swimming in cold soba broth.
Contrary to the creamy flavour of the previous dish, this one was rather refreshing. The broth was light and boasted a smoky flavour from the bonito flakes. The noodles were once again superb with a satisfying bounciness.
A bit of the wasabi was like icing on the cake, adding a subtle heat to the sweet-umami flavour profile.
Affordable udon dishes with spot-on flavours from Sanuki Udon
Udon dishes at Sanuki Udon truly represent simplicity at its finest. Its components are nothing fancy but it is this unpretentious approach that yields bowls of udon with spot-on flavours.
If you consider yourself a noodle lover, this restaurant can potentially be your next favourite spot for meals.
Address: 1st floor, 25A, Jalan Bukit Desa 5, Taman Bukit Desa, 58100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11.30am-3pm, 6pm-10pm (Closed on Mondays)
Contact: 03-7980 3704
For more affordable eats, check out this bouncy tang yuan from RM3.50/bowl in Taman Paramount or the RM1 Masala tea in Brickfields, KL.
Photography by xinyeegoh.
Cover image adapted from: The Smart Local Malaysia