IYO UDON

IYO UDON

HONOLULU, HAWAII

IYO UDON

ALA MOANA CENTER

1450 ALA MOANA BLVD, SPACE 2054

HONOLULU, HI  96814

808-955-5888

HOURS:  Monday thru Saturday 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM

                 Sunday 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM

www.facebook.com/iyoudon

The former Panya Bistro location in Ala Moana Shopping Center is now home to Iyo Udon.  This is part of an Osaka, Japan based company that has over 30 Udon restaurants in Japan and Korea.  Hawaii marks the first venture into the United States for the company who's owner made his fortune building and operating over 600 hair salons in Japan.  From hair to noodles makes sense to me.  We chose to eat at Iyo Udon because my daughter had some dental work done and she was looking for something soft to eat.  Her friends recommended Iyo Udon so we decided to give it a try.  We arrived to find a small line of patrons in line around lunchtime.  This gave us time to look at the menu photographs and figure out how to order.  When our time came we ordered by name or number from the large menu hanging above.  I ordered the Regular Spicy Kake Udon and then watched the employees take fresh noodles and place them in a strainer.  They were then immersed in hot water and placed in a bowl that had already been filled with the broth.  The bowl was handed to me and placed on a tray.  I pushed my steaming hot bowl of noodles down the line passing large plates of Tempura that you can add for an additional cost.  I went with a single piece of Shrimp for $1.79.  My daughter added Shrimp and Fish Cake at $1.79 each and my Wife got the Mixed Vegetable Tempura $2.49.  After paying for the meal which was under $25 for three people with tax, we took our bowls to a table where you can add Green Onion, Tempura Flakes, Pickled Ginger and assorted sauces.  I loaded my Udon bowl with lots of Green Onions and a little bit of Pickled Ginger.  First off I have to say that the prices here are incredibly low for Ala Moana Center.  The Udon is $3.79 to $4.79 per bowl.  How this place makes money in the high rent district is beyond me but I will enjoy while we can.  The Spicy Kake Udon ($4.99) was actually pretty delicious.  There were small finely diced pieces of some kind of meat, garlic and spices that gave this bowl of noodles a kick.  When my nose started to run I knew the heat level was good and that this deserved the "spicy" designation.  Not too spicy though.  It was just right.  My Daughter enjoyed her #13 Bukkake Udon ($3.79).  Again how can you serve something in Ala Moana Center for this low price.  She consumed every noodle and all of the broth without coming up for air too many times.  Must have liked it and it did not irritate her dental work.  The Beef Bowl ($6.49) included a large portion of rice along with finely diced beef with lots of onions.  The onions added a sweetness to the dish that my Wife enjoyed.  The entire family liked the Mixed Vegetable Tempura ($2.49).  This was kind of like a light version of Onion Rings with thin slices of carrots thrown in.  All in all this was a good meal at a very low price.  If you are craving Udon while in Ala Moana Center, I would say you cannot go wrong at Iyo Udon.

IYO UDON

IYO UDON IS LOCATED NEAR GENKI SUSHI IN ALA MOANA SHOPPING CENTER

THERE ARE OVER 30 IYO UDON RESTAURANTS IN JAPAN, KOREA AND NOW HAWAII

NOTE THE PASSING DEPT. OF HEALTH GREEN SIGN.  THIS WAS THE FIRST RESTAURANT IN HAWAII TO GET FINED FOR NOT PASSING THE HEALTH STANDARDS.  ALL GOOD NOW AFTER $11,000 FINE

STAND IN LINE AND ORDER AT THE COUNTER

THE MENU HANGS ABOVE THE LINE.  ORDER HERE

SMALL MENU MAKES IT EASY TO ORDER AT IYO UDON

REGULAR AND LARGE PORTIONS ARE SUPER CHEAP FOR ALA MOANA CNETER

GRAB A SIDE DISH OF SUSHI, TEMPURA AND VEGETABLES

THE SANUKI STYLE NOODLES ARE MADE FRESH DAILY AT THE RESTAURANT

THE DOUGH IS MIXED AND THEN FLATTENED IN SHEETS

AND THEN TURNED INTO NOODLES IN THE BACK OF THE KITCHEN

THE STAFF COOKS YOUR NOODLES TO ORDER.  SERVED HOT OR COLD

NOODLES ARE COOKED AND THEN PLACED IN A BOWL AFTER YOU ORDER

GRAB A TRAY AND MOVE DOWN THE LINE

MY BOWL OF UDON WAS READY IN MINUTES

TAKE YOUR BOWL DOWN THE LINE AND ADD SIDES 

TEMPURA SHIRMP, SQUID, FISH CAKE AND VEGETABLES AVAILABLE FOR ADDITIONAL COST

ASSORTED SAUCES AVAILABLE

GARNISHES 

TAKE  A SEAT IN THE DINING ROOM AND ENJOY YOUR UDON

#13 BUKKAKE REGULAR SIZE

SHRIMP AND FISH CAKE TEMPURA

SPICY KAKE UDON REGULAR SIZE WITH SIDE ORDER OF SHRIMP TEMPURA

SPICY KAKE UDON WITH TEMPURA SHIRMP

LARGE BEEF BOWL

BEEF AND ONION MIXTURE IN BEEF BOWL

MIXED VEGETABLE TEMPURA

DROP YOUR TRAY AND BOWL OFF AS YOU WALK OUT THE DOOR