Yamamoto Udon Izakaya

There’s something for just about everyone at Yamamoto Udon Izakaya, a 150-seat Japanese eatery and bar with a vast – and affordable – array of handmade noodles, izakaya-style small plates and cocktails. The brand was born in late 2024 with Bourke Street noodle joint Yamamoto Udon, known for its chewy wheat noodles made on-site.

But this new venue goes beyond noodles. Leaning into the izakaya as Japan’s answer to the pub, dishes are priced from $5.90, so you can give the menu a nudge without breaking the bank. Get a fresh start with sashimi and beef tataki, then move onto the fried octopus balls takoyaki and okonomiyaki pancake. Karaage and tempura are perfect drinking food, and there’s a range of flame-grilled robatayaki meat and vegetables. An iPad lets you order progressively, with dishes arriving at the table as they’re ready.

The udon selection is substantial, with all noodles made fresh daily in the Bourke Street kitchen. Choose from more than 30 varieties across soup, curry and dipping udons – plus silky, cream-based carbonara and mentaiko (pollock roe) udons, which are exclusive to this location. It’s first in, best dressed for the signature himokawa noodles, with only a limited number of serves per day.

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