Restaurant · Yoyogi / Shinjuku South

Udon Shin うどん 慎

A tiny Yoyogi udon shop famous worldwide for its hours-long queue and Instagram-darling carbonara udon topped with bacon tempura. Noodles are rolled, cut and boiled to order in front of you.

About

Udon Shin opened in 2011 and has around a dozen seats, which is why its pavement queue near Shinjuku's south side became one of the most photographed food lines in Tokyo. Each portion of thick Sanuki-style wheat noodles is rolled and cut only after you order, then boiled for about 10–15 minutes, so the texture is glossy, springy and firm. The menu ranges from classic cold zaru udon and hot kake udon to rich modern creations, but the dish that made it viral is the carbonara-style kama-tama udon with butter, black pepper, egg, cheese and a slab of bacon tempura. Crisp tempura sides (chikuwa, chicken, seasonal vegetables) are excellent too. The shop now runs a numbered ticket and online booking system, and has even opened abroad, but the Yoyogi original remains the one people queue for.

Highlights

• Hand-rolled noodles cut and boiled only after you order
• Viral carbonara-style udon with butter, black pepper, cheese and bacon tempura
• Classic zaru (cold) udon to taste the pure noodle texture
• Crisp tempura sides including chikuwa fish cake and chicken
• Only around a dozen seats, so meals feel intimate

Tips

• Book online via TableCheck from the official site if slots are available, it saves hours
• Without a booking, arrive well before 11:00 to get a numbered ticket, then return at your time
• Expect a 10–15 minute wait after ordering, since noodles are cut to order
• Late evening (after 20:00) can have shorter lines than lunch

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

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