Tell a Singaporean that a Japanese F&B brand is opening locally, and they’ll likely be lining up for it in no time. Following beef omakase restaurant Nikuya Tanaka and spicy ‘devil’ ramen chain Kikanbo, the latest one landing on our shores is Udon Shin, a noodle specialty store that handmakes its strands from scratch.
Its original store in Shibuya, Tokyo, is as humble as it gets with a row of six counter seats and a couple of small tables against the opposite wall – it probably can’t fit more than 12 people at any one time. Yet, the tiny restaurant draws hours-long queues, so much so that even a JPY2000 (~S$17) reservation fee – which does not go towards offsetting the cost of food, mind you – isn’t enough to put off hungry fans. It doesn’t help that it’s the only outlet in all of Japan.
Udon Shin serves simple combinations of udon with toppings like soy sauce, butter, pepper and soft-boiled egg, or raw egg with seasoned cod roe and seaweed. Its cold versions would be especially welcome in Singapore’s climate. However, we hear that the carbonara udon with a slab of tempura bacon is also immensely popular, having gone viral on Instagram.
Udon Shin will be opening in Singapore in November 2025 as the establishment’s first international expansion, though another branch will be set up in Arizona in early 2026. Look out for updates on Instagram via @udonshin.sg.
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