UmaMon Japanese Food — Restaurant in Penang

This is, hands down, the best udon I've had in all of Southeast Asia. It even surpasses those famous udon restaurants in Tokyo, Takamatsu etc! Highly recommend giving this a try.

The secret to this incredible dish lies with the owner, a true Japanese chef who holds his food to the highest standards. According to his junior, he meticulously inspects each egg, ensuring only the finest quality graces his customers' bowls. For a mere 10MYR, I indulged in a steaming bowl of warm udon. The dashi, a cornerstone of any great udon, was undeniably authentic, simmered to perfection with the finest ingredients. The udon itself? Pure bliss – bouncy, smooth, and truly top-notch. The daily-changing toppings are a delightful surprise, yet always generous. Imagine a vibrant medley of fresh green vegetables, the smoky kiss of char siew and seaweed, the refreshing crunch of sliced radish, and a golden crown of fried tofu. But the real star of the show? The toasted sesame seeds. Toasted to perfection with a touch of salt, they release an intoxicating aroma that elevates the entire experience.

My takeaway curry udon was carefully packed and held up amazingly well after three hours. It was still so...

Update: As of 24th Sept 2023, the situation is greatly improved, its not as crowded, so the wait for food is drastically reduced, able to get my udon in 3 mins or less. I also went there after a heavy rain, so the atmosphere is pretty cool. The staff/boss's wife is friendly as ever

Let's start with cons, because not everyone is suitable to dine here

Cons: Understaff and a lot of customers= long wait time, dont dine here if you are not prepared to wait at least half hour. You should come very early or late like 1:30pm for low wait times.

Its also open air environment, which means it will be hot during sunny days. Also, the menu is limited and there is a daily rotation of menu, so what you ate before may not be on the menu the next time you come

Now, lets get to the Pros,

Pros: damn good food, one of the best. Curry is amazing. if you are a lover of good food, should try at least once. Its also very budget friendly, at RM10 for lunch hours, good luck finding another ramen shop selling for similar quality of food for that cheap

The staff is very polite and courteous, think of staff from Japan. Brings a smile...

Tried their food when they were still at Insadunia Food Court, pre-covid days. Glad to see they survived it, and that their food is still delicious. They've rationalized their menu, though; so there are fewer options than the old days. I prefer their ramen to their udon or curry, but that's just my own taste.

For takeaway, I recommend pouring the whole packet into a big bowl if possible. The plastic bowl they use for takeaway is serviceable, but doesn't do justice to the meal.

Edit: 24-06-2024; Based on their latest schedule, they close on Wednesday and Saturday. Sad to say, Umamon has also been hit by recession. Their ramen today came with only one piece of char siew. I remember they still gave 2 pieces at the start of the year, and 4 to 5 pieces when they were still...