clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
More Maps

Boston’s Best After-Work Dining Deals

Boston’s Best Breakfasts

14 Excellent Chinese Restaurants Around Boston

More in Boston See more maps
An eye-catching black-and-white striped bowl is full of a brothless udon garnished with sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, scallions, and ground meat
Mad tiger udon at Futago
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

9 Utterly Delicious Udon Spots Around Boston

Where to eat bouncy, chewy noodles in a multitude of preparations

by Karen Wilber
View as Map
Mad tiger udon at Futago
| Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater
by Karen Wilber

Just a few years ago, if you were looking to get your hands on a bowl of udon in Boston, you might expect to turn to one of the last pages of a menu to find just a few options. But with a growing number of incredible udon-focused restaurants and Japanese hot pot spots opening, it’s getting easier for Bostonians to try a great bowl.

Udon noodles are wheat noodles that are typically thick, springy, bouncy, sticky, and chewy. They are a labor of love because their perfect texture relies on the noodle-maker building up the gluten and resting it properly. Udon is versatile: hot, cold, stir-fried, immersed in soup, with a light dipping sauce on the side, in any of the multitude of hot pot broths, or topped with tempura. There are no wrong choices.

Here are 9 excellent options for udon in and around Boston.

The latest CDC guidance for vaccinated diners during the COVID-19 outbreak is here; dining out still carries risks for unvaccinated diners and workers. Please be aware of changing local rules, and check individual restaurant websites for any additional restrictions such as mask requirements. Find a local vaccination site here.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Tampopo

Copy Link

Tampopo’s udon has a great bite to it while still being soft. It’s served with a light broth and tempura shrimp, Japanese eggplant, and other veggies. And you can’t go wrong with a side of the karaage chicken.

Tampopo is open for takeout and delivery; find it inside the Porter Exchange.

1815 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140
(617) 868-5457
(617) 868-5457
Overhead view of a bowl of udon, topped with three crispy tempura shrimps. The bowl is black, and it’s on a wooden table.
Shrimp tempura udon from Tampopo
Karen Wilber/Eater

Yume Ga Arukara

Copy Link

If you don’t dream of udon yet, Yume Ga Arukara may make it impossible not to. The udon noodles are house-made, and you can taste the unbelievable freshness. Every element is balanced, and with this level of perfection, you only need to choose: hot or cold? and spicy or mild?

Yume Ga Arukara is open for takeout; like Tampopo, it is inside the Porter Exchange.

1815 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140
A black plastic takeout bowl is filled with udon and thinly cut beef. It’s all topped with a lemon slice, green scallions, and seaweed. The bowl sits on green grass.
Classic cold udon from Yume Ga Arukara
Karen Wilber/Eater

Also featured in:

Kayuga

Copy Link

There is something addicting about the hot crunch of tempura alongside a chewy udon noodle. This unassuming Japanese-Korean spot delivers on not only that, but yaki udon (stir-fried) and sansai udon (topped with “mountain vegetables”) as well.

Kayuga is open for indoor dining, as well as takeout and delivery. 

1030 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
(617) 566-8888
(617) 566-8888

Red White

Copy Link

Red White describes its vegan offerings as part of a tradition of Japanese Buddhist monks that’s more than 1300 years old. Unique flavors like “special truffle salt” and “creamy sesame” come with a variety of toppings, including vegan meat substitutes, vegetables, vegan butter, and more. Each noodle dish includes a choice of gluten-free rice noodles, ramen noodles, and, the reason for its inclusion here: udon noodles.

Red White is open for indoor dining, as well as takeout and delivery.

294 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02115
(857) 277-0609
(857) 277-0609

Tsurutontan Udon Noodle Brasserie

Copy Link

Tsurutontan’s love for noodles is in its name — “tsuru” refers to the sound of slurping noodles, “ton” to the sound of the kneading and shaping, and “tan” to the cutting of the udon. In addition to house-made noodles featured in over 20 different udon dishes (sesame fans: try the spicy tan tan), the restaurant also serves “udon pon dumplings,” which are made from an udon dough and served with a spicy crunchy chile sauce. Come hungry: Tsurutontan — which is part of a chain with roots in Japan — offers huge portions.

Tsurutontan is open for indoor dining, outdoor dining, takeout, and delivery. 

512 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
(857) 233-2839
(857) 233-2839
Closeup of a teal-colored ceramic bowl full of udon, topped with sliced cucumber, black seaweed, a shiso leaf, and a red scoop of caviar
Caviar udon at Tsurutontan
Nick Solares/Eater

Also featured in:

Futago Udon

Copy Link

Futago means “twins” in Japanese, giving a very cute reason behind the name of this Brookline udon establishment that opened in 2019. The udon is house-made each day, and the menu features a huge range of hot and cold udon choices, including a hot sukiyaki udon and, pictured, a spicy miso pork-topped cold udon.

Futago is currently open for indoor dining, takeout, and delivery.

508-512 Park Dr, Boston, MA 02115
(617) 505-6157
(617) 505-6157
An eye-catching black-and-white striped bowl is full of a brothless udon garnished with sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, scallions, and ground meat
Mad tiger udon at Futago
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Also featured in:

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

Copy Link

This Japanese barbecue spot is not messing around with its garlic udon noodles. You can expect an explosion of pungent garlic weaving its way around perfectly soft stir-fried udon. For a garlic-loving group, consider the mega garlic udon noodles with shoyu chicken — a triple serving of this fan favorite. 

Gyu-Kaku is open for indoor dining, takeout, and delivery at its three Massachusetts locations (Brookline, Cambridge, and Dorchester).

1002 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 264-6190
(617) 264-6190
Close-up show of a black plastic bowl full of udon noodles, topped with shrimp and sliced scallions. Grass is visible in the background of the photo.
Garlic noodles with shrimp from Gyu-Kaku
Karen Wilber/Eater

Also featured in:

Shiki

Copy Link

Shiki offers a few udon options, with a particularly unique one — Inaniwa udon — which features thin udon noodles. This is a specialty of the Akita prefecture of Japan. The thin noodles come immersed in a soup with shrimp tempura on the side.

Shiki is open for indoor dining, takeout, and delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats). 

9 Babcock St, Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 738-0200
(617) 738-0200

Also featured in:

Fugakyu Japanese Cuisine

Copy Link

The menu at Fugakyu is expansive, with sushi, karaage, tempura, and rice dishes, just to name a few. But don’t skip over the noodle section, which features soba, ramen, and udon (pretty much the trifecta of beloved Japanese noodles). Try the zaru udon, which comes with cold udon noodles served with tsuyu, a dipping sauce that is light but delightfully savory and sweet.

Fugakyu is open for indoor dining, as well as takeout and delivery.

1280 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 738-1268
(617) 738-1268

Also featured in:

More in Maps

© 2024 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.

Tampopo

1815 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140

Tampopo’s udon has a great bite to it while still being soft. It’s served with a light broth and tempura shrimp, Japanese eggplant, and other veggies. And you can’t go wrong with a side of the karaage chicken.

Tampopo is open for takeout and delivery; find it inside the Porter Exchange.

1815 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140
(617) 868-5457
(617) 868-5457
Overhead view of a bowl of udon, topped with three crispy tempura shrimps. The bowl is black, and it’s on a wooden table.
Shrimp tempura udon from Tampopo
Karen Wilber/Eater

Yume Ga Arukara

1815 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140

If you don’t dream of udon yet, Yume Ga Arukara may make it impossible not to. The udon noodles are house-made, and you can taste the unbelievable freshness. Every element is balanced, and with this level of perfection, you only need to choose: hot or cold? and spicy or mild?

Yume Ga Arukara is open for takeout; like Tampopo, it is inside the Porter Exchange.

1815 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140
A black plastic takeout bowl is filled with udon and thinly cut beef. It’s all topped with a lemon slice, green scallions, and seaweed. The bowl sits on green grass.
Classic cold udon from Yume Ga Arukara
Karen Wilber/Eater

Kayuga

1030 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

There is something addicting about the hot crunch of tempura alongside a chewy udon noodle. This unassuming Japanese-Korean spot delivers on not only that, but yaki udon (stir-fried) and sansai udon (topped with “mountain vegetables”) as well.

Kayuga is open for indoor dining, as well as takeout and delivery. 

1030 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
(617) 566-8888
(617) 566-8888

Red White

294 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02115

Red White describes its vegan offerings as part of a tradition of Japanese Buddhist monks that’s more than 1300 years old. Unique flavors like “special truffle salt” and “creamy sesame” come with a variety of toppings, including vegan meat substitutes, vegetables, vegan butter, and more. Each noodle dish includes a choice of gluten-free rice noodles, ramen noodles, and, the reason for its inclusion here: udon noodles.

Red White is open for indoor dining, as well as takeout and delivery.

294 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02115
(857) 277-0609
(857) 277-0609

Tsurutontan Udon Noodle Brasserie

512 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

Tsurutontan’s love for noodles is in its name — “tsuru” refers to the sound of slurping noodles, “ton” to the sound of the kneading and shaping, and “tan” to the cutting of the udon. In addition to house-made noodles featured in over 20 different udon dishes (sesame fans: try the spicy tan tan), the restaurant also serves “udon pon dumplings,” which are made from an udon dough and served with a spicy crunchy chile sauce. Come hungry: Tsurutontan — which is part of a chain with roots in Japan — offers huge portions.

Tsurutontan is open for indoor dining, outdoor dining, takeout, and delivery. 

512 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
(857) 233-2839
(857) 233-2839
Closeup of a teal-colored ceramic bowl full of udon, topped with sliced cucumber, black seaweed, a shiso leaf, and a red scoop of caviar
Caviar udon at Tsurutontan
Nick Solares/Eater

Futago Udon

508-512 Park Dr, Boston, MA 02115

Futago means “twins” in Japanese, giving a very cute reason behind the name of this Brookline udon establishment that opened in 2019. The udon is house-made each day, and the menu features a huge range of hot and cold udon choices, including a hot sukiyaki udon and, pictured, a spicy miso pork-topped cold udon.

Futago is currently open for indoor dining, takeout, and delivery.

508-512 Park Dr, Boston, MA 02115
(617) 505-6157
(617) 505-6157
An eye-catching black-and-white striped bowl is full of a brothless udon garnished with sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, scallions, and ground meat
Mad tiger udon at Futago
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

1002 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446

This Japanese barbecue spot is not messing around with its garlic udon noodles. You can expect an explosion of pungent garlic weaving its way around perfectly soft stir-fried udon. For a garlic-loving group, consider the mega garlic udon noodles with shoyu chicken — a triple serving of this fan favorite. 

Gyu-Kaku is open for indoor dining, takeout, and delivery at its three Massachusetts locations (Brookline, Cambridge, and Dorchester).

1002 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 264-6190
(617) 264-6190
Close-up show of a black plastic bowl full of udon noodles, topped with shrimp and sliced scallions. Grass is visible in the background of the photo.
Garlic noodles with shrimp from Gyu-Kaku
Karen Wilber/Eater

Shiki

9 Babcock St, Brookline, MA 02446

Shiki offers a few udon options, with a particularly unique one — Inaniwa udon — which features thin udon noodles. This is a specialty of the Akita prefecture of Japan. The thin noodles come immersed in a soup with shrimp tempura on the side.

Shiki is open for indoor dining, takeout, and delivery (DoorDash, Uber Eats). 

9 Babcock St, Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 738-0200
(617) 738-0200

Fugakyu Japanese Cuisine

1280 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446

The menu at Fugakyu is expansive, with sushi, karaage, tempura, and rice dishes, just to name a few. But don’t skip over the noodle section, which features soba, ramen, and udon (pretty much the trifecta of beloved Japanese noodles). Try the zaru udon, which comes with cold udon noodles served with tsuyu, a dipping sauce that is light but delightfully savory and sweet.

Fugakyu is open for indoor dining, as well as takeout and delivery.

1280 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 738-1268
(617) 738-1268

Related Maps