Midtown Lunch

Anyone here familiar with Yoshinoya (42nd btw 7+8th Ave)? It may seem like one of those crappy fast food joints but I actually like eating their beef bowl. I grew up eating it in LA., where they were cheap and open 24/7. Nothing like a decent bowl of steamy rice topped with thinly sliced beef and onions to cure that hunger after partying all night.

Yoshinoya was what I was thinking about when eating the egg and scallion beef bowl ($7.50) from Onya (47th btw 3rd+Lex). From now until I’m not sure when, Onya is doing a “Beef Bowl Festival” (the lady behind the counter said it’s been quite popular so she’s not sure how long they will have it but it’ll be a while). So what’s a Beef Bowl Festival? Let’s find out.

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I’m excited to welcome our newest contributor Profiled Midtown Lunch’er Amy, from the blog AmyBlogsChow (where she posts videos showing you how to make smores in the microwave.) She works in Midtown East, and will be covering that area for us. -Zach

On Zach’s first visit to Onya last fall (on 47th btw. Lex+3rd), he pointed out that the fresh noodles and mix-and-match menu at this udon joint made it a worthy alternative to nearby Udon West (on 46th btw. Lex+3rd). Five months after their opening, Onya is still one of my favorite Midtown East lunch spots, and last month, they added some nine lunch options to the original five! Even though I tend to stick with what I know (the #5 Kamatama) I figured it was time to tear myself away from the same old, same old. With thirteen similar-sounding udon varieties to choose from (there are a few rice combos, but most of the menu consists of udon prepared in different broths served either hot or cold) I basically closed my eyes and pointed at an entrée.

My finger landed on Number 14, the Mentaiko-Tororo Bukkake Udon – cold udon noodles that’s “a little bit sweet” the lady behind the counter said. Whatever, I like sweet- and while cold noodles is not exactly the best choice for a week like this I felt the need to follow the finger.

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Onya Japanese Noodle (on 47th btw. Lex+3rd) is having a “Special Thanks Week” where udon lovers can indulge in extra chicken or beef for free! Not sure why they are thanking us, but we’re not looking a gift horse, err I mean udon horse (?) in the mouth. So if you’re in the mood to get your noodle on, head on over and indulge for free on some extra meaty thankfulness.

Related:
My First Taste of Onya Japanese Noodles

I was pretty excited when the company that owns Beard Papa announced that they would be bringing the Onya Japanese Noodle chain to the US. Admittedly I’ve never been to Osaka, so I’m not really the best person to confirm or refute their claim of being the very first udon spot in New York City to offer freshly made Osaka style udon… but it sounded good enough!  And unlike Udon West, which is just a block away on 46th btw. Lex+3rd, their menu seems far less interested in dumbing things down for the Western customer.

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Photo courtesy of The Eaten Path

Onya, the Japanese noodle chain owned by the company that brought Beard Papa to the US, opened on Monday and Midtown Lunchers have wasted no time in checking it out.  It’s not really fair to judge a place on its first week (especially one that makes its noodles fresh, and will most likely get better with time) but the reviews seem generally positive.

As promised yesterday, James Boo weighed in on his blog The Eaten Path and seemed generally pleased, if not completely blown away:

“Onya’s curry udon… is certainly well done; I could see this kind of broth easily going down the path of too thick or too salty, but Onya’s preparation avoids these pitfalls to give us a hearty udon option… I wasn’t at any point disappointed by the food, which is likely to improve as the kitchen staff finds its bearings here in New York. The sheer diversity of menu items and sizes makes a meal here extremely convenient, and I’ll be going back soon for the cheaper udon and mini donburi options.”

Questions about service, and an Osaka born blogger weighs in… after the jump.

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Photo Courtesy of The Eaten Path

Onya Japanese Noodle opened yesterday (on 47th btw. Lex+3rd), and early reports from the forums indicate that they are not doing takeout– only eat in.  It’s assembly line style, but you have to take your food to the back to eat it.  Onya confirms via email that they are not doing takeout right now:

“We are considering it. But in general we do not provide take out for the udon noodles primarily because they are prepared fresh and is meant to be eaten immediately. It’s a quality control policy that is consistent with our Onya restaurants in Japan. That said, I am working on a bento and donburi (rice bowl) menu for take out.

Thanks to James Boo for forwarding along the photo.  He sampled the bukkake udon and curry udon yesterday and will be posting early thoughts later today on his site, The Eaten Path.

Related:
Onya is Bringing Real Osaka Udon to the USA on September 14th

The news about Onya, the Japanese udon chain owned by Muginoho (the Japanese company that owns Beard Papa) keeps getting more and more exciting.  We reported that they would be moving into the old Cafe Zest space on 47th btw. Lex+3rd back in August, and the more we’re hearing about the place the better it sounds.  According to the owners it will be the first restaurant in New York City to serve freshly-made, authentic udon from Osaka, Japan- going so far as to say that they will do for Osaka udon what Ippudo has done for ramen from Fukuoka.

I guess that means it’s different then the udon served at Udon West (on 46th btw. Lex+3rd).  The description of the restaurant sounds different enough… the first floor will have quick bento lunches in the front, a small dining area in the back, and an open kitchen where you can watch the noodles being cut.  Sit down dining will be available on the 2nd floor.  Even with all that, everything on the menu is well under $10, and looks awesome.  Check it out after the jump…

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