Zen Sanuki Udon — Restaurant in Toronto

While many Japanese noodle shops are small and cozy, Zen Sanuki Udon is palatial with a spacious and airy dining area. To the point they could add more tables given they’re at capacity so quickly – pretty much every table was filled when they opened at 5:30pm. More seats shouldn’t detract from service levels: they employ a lot of staff so that food arrives at a quick clip and there’s always people standing around waiting to serve.

Speed is important when you’re selling noodles in broth. At this Zen location, their menu is based around hand-made sanuki udon from the Shikoki region, which is square-shaped and thinner compared to the cylindrical thick ones found elsewhere.

I expected springy chewy noodles, but they arrived fairly soft for udon. If anything, they tasted like the hand-pulled noodles found at the neighbouring Magic Noodle, which while not terrible is also a dime-a-dozen in the Markham area.

The ebi-ten udon ($16) allows diners to try the dashi broth made with a combination on konbu, bonito flakes, and dried baby sardines in a neutral form. Not surprisingly, there’s a rich umami flavour and it’s just salty enough without becoming overwhelming.

But then they ruined by broth by throwing in so many tempura bits that as you’re sipping the hot soup, every mouthful is filled with mushy batter. A spoonful would have been fine, but it seemed like there was equivalent tempura bits to noodles. As much as I commend chefs who use food scraps to eliminate waste, they should serve them in a separate bowl so diners can add it to broth themselves.

Bits of lemon zest adds a refreshing element to the udon, but the citrusy taste could also be strange for some customers, especially if you’re hoping for soup that’s really hearty and savoury. Who knows, perhaps it’s just something they include during the summer months to lighten everything?

The tempura was kept separate and arrived hot and crispy. While the shrimp a good size and deliciously sweet, I would have liked a light sprinkling of salt on everything as the vegetables were bland so you had to dip it into the broth, rendering the crispy crust soggy, to add flavour.

Their beef udon ($17) is like having bulgogi with udon, the meat thinly shaven and even has the same marinated sweetness. Call me a traditionalist, but it’d be much better if the beef was served in thick slices, similar to the pork shoulder cut you...

(UPDATE 2024-11-13) Zen Sanuku Udon is one of my favourite dinner spots after clinic work in Scarborough. It was especially busy last night on Wednesday during dinner time. The crowd usually dies down a bit by 8:30pm. We opt to sit at the bar for just the 2 of us.

The udon noodles and broths are yummy here :) I remember having the curry udon when Zen first opened, and it was very spicy. It seems like the curry udon now has toned downed a bit, which was nice! The staff usually offer you a bib when you eat the curry one lol. I personally am not a fan of the curry here, but the chicken katsu was very well made, crispy and very juicy!

The older lady working there is always friendly and courteous; English is not her first language, and she tries her best to carefully communicate with us.

P.S. Mandarin Orange Pie is 100% a must-order :3 (2022 Review) Toronto has now entered the "udon phase", where udon shops are popping up left and right lol. At least now I don't have to go downtown for authentic udon noods (yay!). Located NW of Midland and McNicoll, Zen Sanuki Udon is the hot spot for all your udon cravings. It is owned by Zen Japanese Restaurant, so you know the quality is there. But be prepared to splurge. Each udon are about $20 a bowl before tax.

Use the easy-to-use waitlist function via the Yelp App to get in line. You will receive a text message notification when your table is ready! Usually table turnover is pretty fast if you have 2 people. Not recommended for large groups unless you don't mind waiting. Service is courteous and friendly throughout the dining experience.

My friends and I have tried the following: Sliced Beef Curry Broth Udon: served hot, comes with bib lol. The curry is very tasty; it can get spicier as you eat! Hot udon noods are softer than cold udon Fishcake & Egg Cold Udon: cold udon is always refreshing, if you love al dente, this is for you! I really love the fresh yuzu added to this dish Added a side of Chicken Tempura: comes in 3s, it goes well with the curry, but I'm not a fan of this Added a side of Shrimp Tempura: priced per piece, double battered and deep fried. Try this at least once. It was like a foot long; it is ginormous lol. Freshly daily made handrolls: a DIY experience. I had the hamachi fish, and I loved it...

Second visit: Very accommodating when I called to make a reservation. Their online reservation portal Yelp does not always work properly; shows no availabilities but indeed yes when telephoned.

Tried one of their summer special dish--cold thin noodles with tempura served with two dipping sauces (sesame and regular tsuyu). They didn't use panko as tempura batter but their cold udon texture is AMAZING!!! Not the generic mushy kind at all. Must have something to do with the flour they imported from Japan as displayed at the entrance.

What's more...one of the two dipping sauces, the sesame one with a bit of spicy paste served separately is also divinely delicious. Definitely returning before they disappear after summer (not certain but listed as special summer dish).

Their homemade ice-cream flavours of black sesame and houjicha were exquisitely satisfying to my taste buds. You can get takeout tubs of them: $20-$25 for a large 1L tub. Perfect degree of sweetness and much less sweet than the Hime ones sold at T&T.

Once again enjoyed my meal in the lovely, calm and relaxing decor.

+++ First visit: Excellent ambiance and decoration. High-end chairs.

Staff was very courteous. Since it was my first visit, I didn't know there's no menu...need to scan with QR code until I asked for one. Another waitress gave us a menu afterwards.

The udon was amazing! Not doughy at all. Upon leaving I noticed bags of flour from Japan. No wonder.

Very disappointed with their grilled eel...tasted fishy given its price. If the sauce was more flavourful like in Japan, it might have helped. Definitely not fresh eel but frozen.

We were told they messed up an order and gave us a complimentary pork belly dish... melts in your mouth. Too fatty for my belly😅

Pork donburu tasted authentic and it was a generous portion, but the pork cutlet was too rough (lean meat)... should've tenderized the pork chop more.

Hot genmai cha (green tea with roasted barley) was aromatic and tasty. Very well prepared.

Their prices are definitely five out of five. A lunch for two was $80!!

Will return for special...