District 1, Japanese Restaurant NEKOYA UDON Review(2025.03)
- Hochiminh Gourmet
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
#1. District 1, Japanese Restaurant NEKOYA UDON Review
Japanese restaurant NEKOYA UDON is located deep in an alley in a neighborhood where many locals live near the Nhieu Loc canal in District 1. It may be confusing at first visit, as you have to go more than 100m into a narrow alley in a residential area with nothing around. It is a restaurant that is especially popular with local college students living nearby, as they sell a generous portion of authentic Japanese udon at a reasonable price.
My wife and I visited on a Thursday evening to have dinner, and the small restaurant was packed with college students. It was crowded even on a weekday evening, so it seemed to be popular with the college students living nearby as bang for the buck.
The Udon Ca Ri Me Thom(Chicken Katsu Curry Udon) that I ordered came out first. It was a large portion that had curry, egg, and chicken katsu added to the basic udon base, so even a man would have a hard time finishing it all by himself.
The chicken katsu was made with thigh meat and was just okay. The soup was unique, it wasn't the typical thick curry, but was thinned out by mixing curry into udon broth. It had a subtle curry flavor and a rich flavor, perhaps due to the egg and sesame oil.
Next came Asari Udon(Clam Udon) that my wife ordered. The soup, which tasted like a mixture of udon soup with tsuyu and clam soup, was surprisingly quite delicious. The subtle scent of ginger gave the soup a clean finish.
Banh Khoai Thit Bo(Croquette) that I ordered as a side dish came out last. It was rustic with minced beef, potatoes, onions, etc., but it tasted just like what I had eaten at an old Japanese restaurant in Japan.
NEKOYA UDON is a restaurant run by a Vietnamese local who lived in Japan for several years. It serves authentic Japanese udon in generous portions at an affordable price, so it's a great place to stop by for a meal if you happen to be in the area.
#2. Japanese Restaurant NEKOYA UDON Menu
Japanese restaurant NEKOYA UDON sells meals such as udon, rice bowls, and curry rice, as well as side dishes such as salads, croquettes, and fried squid. The restaurant is run by a local owner, so the prices are quite reasonable, but the taste is not inferior to other Japanese restaurants, and the portions are generous. It is especially popular with local college students.
My wife and I visited on Wednesday evening and ordered as follows:
Udon Ca Ri Me Thom(Chicken Katsu Curry Udon): 139,000VND
Asari Udon(Clam Udon): 88,000VND
Banh Khoai Thit Bo(Croquette): 78,000VND
Soft Drink: 20,000VND x 2 EA = 40,000VND
The total amount was 345,000VND, which is quite cheap, compared to other Japanese restaurants in downtown Ho Chi Minh. And the portions are generous, and I was able to taste the same udon I had in Japan, so I had a very satisfying meal. Of course, the taste is not so special or outstanding that it is worth coming all the way from far away, but it is a good place to stop by if you have business nearby.
#3. Japanese Restaurant NEKOYA UDON Hours and Location
Japanese restaurant NEKOYA UDON is located deep in an alley in a neighborhood where many locals live near the Nhieu Loc canal in District 1. For more detailed location, click the Check Location button below to check it on Google Maps.
Address: 38/10/22G Đ. Trần Khắc Chân, Phường Tân Định, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
Phone: 0903368027
Hours: 12:30 ~ 22:00(Tue, Wed, Thu 12:30 ~ 21:30)
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