A perpetually-queued Tabelog Top-100 udon shop near Shinjuku where every bowl of springy noodles is cut and boiled to order — try the cult carbonara udon.
Can I eat here?
We haven’t confirmed specific diets here yet — use the phrasebook to show staff what you can and can’t eat.
Udon Shin is a Tabelog Top 100 udon counter on the ground floor of an older mixed-use building in Yoyogi, close enough to Shinjuku Station that the lunchtime line regularly spills past the door.
Order the kamatama udon with butter and pepper — the dish that built the shop's name, and the one locals half-jokingly call "carbonara udon." A hot bowl of just-boiled noodles is topped with raw egg, Échiré butter, coarsely ground pepper, and grated parmesan, then finished with bacon tempura; the yolk and butter melt into a rich, savory coating while the noodles keep a real, springy bite. It's a Western-leaning departure from dashi-based udon, and it's the reason people wait.
The shop is small — just 12 seats, six at the counter and two compact tables — and it runs on what the kitchen calls its "three fresh": dough delivered daily, left to rest and mature overnight, then cut and boiled only after your order comes in, with boil time adjusted for the day's temperature and humidity. That precision is why a bowl takes 10–15 minutes to reach the counter even if you're the only customer in the shop — nothing here is ever pre-cooked or held.
A practical note: it's cash only, no credit cards or e-money, and reservations run through an online fast-pass system (booked up to 30 days ahead, for a fee) that lets you skip the walk-in queue — worth using if you're set on a specific time. It draws a steady stream of international visitors, and it's held its Top 100 ranking for multiple years running. Open 11:00–22:00 (last order), daily except New Year's.
No — it's cash only. No credit cards or e-money are accepted.
Can I reserve a table at Udon Shin?
Yes, through an online fast-pass reservation system bookable up to 30 days ahead for a fee, letting you skip the walk-in queue — worth using if you want a specific time.
✓ Last verified Jul 2026
Hours and details can change — please confirm before you visit.
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