Whenever I visit Osaka, I usually arrive early in the morning and enjoy udon for breakfast. However, due to the impact of COVID-19 and staff shortages, many shops and restaurants have changed their business hours. My favorite udon shop, Tenmasa in Namba, now closes on Tuesdays and opens later on other days. This change is true for many udon shops. But fortunately, Matsuya (松屋) came to the rescue!
This Matsuya is not a gyudon shop. They serve udon (and soba)! Their udon is very affordable, and the quality is great. However, I wouldn’t recommend it to those who prefer tidy, upscale restaurants.
There are two ticket vending machines at the entrance. One has buttons, and the other has a touch screen. Udon prices start at 240 yen—what a deal!
The top 10 items are listed on the wall, and it’s easy to navigate. But I recommend using the touch screen vending machine for a smoother experience.
I decided to try the most expensive udon on the menu, which is Abura-kasu udon plus green onion. (The menu lists it as “oil cake udon,” though I’m not entirely sure what “oil cake” means!). To be honest, this was my first time trying abura-kasu udon. Do you know what abura-kasu is? It’s deep-fried beef innards, a local specialty in Osaka, and it comes with plenty of abura-kasu.
This udon only costs 490 yen! Since the innards are deep-fried slowly, they don’t have excess fat, so it’s not too greasy. It’s perfect for breakfast. The soup is rich with the essence of kombu seaweed, which adds a delicious depth of flavor.
The udon itself was softer than expected. They don’t make their own udon but buy it from wholesalers, much like Tenmasa. But that’s no problem! The abura-kasu and the fantastic soup take center stage. When you order abura-kasu udon, they also serve grated garlic in a pot, and of course, I added some. It was perfect!
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Name Matsuya (松屋)
Open Morning through night
Reservation Unavailable
Credit card Unavailable
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