Tokyo noodle specialist eatery Udon Shin to make overseas debut in S'pore

Tokyo's famed udon specialist restaurant Udon Shin is set to make its debut here at Takashimaya Shopping Centre in mid-November.

Established in 2011 in Yoyogi, Shibuya, it is known to draw long queues of diners - who wait up to three hours - for its housemade thick and chewy udon topped with a raw or onsen egg.

Served cold or warm in dashi stock, the elegantly swirled noodles come with a choice of toppings such as beef or mentaiko, or crisp tempura on the side.

Its most unusual option is carbonara-style udon with bacon tempura, parmesan cheese, butter and pepper.

According to its Japanese website, prices start at 950 yen (S$8.10) for a basic bowl of udon (soup or cold) and go up to 4,380 yen for udon topped with sirloin rib and yuzu peel. Prices for the menu in Singapore have not been confirmed.

The brand's entry here is via food and beverage company Gaia Lifestyle Group. Other concepts under the group include Gyutan-Tan Izakaya, which specialises in ox tongue, and Koko Patisserie, known for Japanese cakes and pastries, both in Tras Street; and Cantonese fine-dining restaurant The Black Pearl at Odeon 333 in City Hall.

The group confirmed that Udon Shin will be taking over Gyutan-Tan's space at Takashimaya Shopping Centre, which shut on Oct 5.

Instagram accounts of Udon Shin in Japan and Singapore announced the brand's debut in separate posts on Oct 12.

In the @udonshin.sg post, it added: "Every bowl is crafted with one simple philosophy: freshly made, freshly cut, freshly boiled."

A spokesperson for the group says: "Udon Shin was brought in as part of Gaia's commitment to introducing quality Japanese concepts to Singapore, marking the brand's first overseas expansion.

"Known for its artisanal approach, Udon Shin freshly kneads, cuts and boils its udon in-house daily, ensuring a distinctive texture and flavour."

The group is launching another concept on Nov 6. Called Loca Niru, the restaurant is said to offer contemporary innovative fine dining that harmonises Japanese sensibilities with French techniques.

It will be located on the second floor of the 140-year-old House of Tan Yeok Nee in Penang Road, which is gazetted as a national monument and owned by the Karim Family Foundation, which runs Gaia Lifestyle Group.