Meiji Seimen

Have been looking for a go to udon spot! Diiiing Diiing Diinnnng!!! We have a winner! I have been trying to go to this place but every time I always miss the time frame to go as they have 2 opening times! Mon-Thurs: 11:30AM-2:00PM, Reopens 5:30PM-9:30PMFri-Sat: 11:30AM-2:00PM, Reopens 5:30PM-10:00PMSun 11:30AM-2:00PM, Reopens 5:30PM-9:30PMI finally was able to go with my fiancé and this place did not disappoint AT ALL! I got the Curry beef udon bowl with medium spice and that is exactly what I was looking for when I go to get curry anything (it needs to have spice)(my opinion)!! It was a 10/10 packed with flavor and you don't get tired eating it, I highly recommend that you also order a side of their fried chicken and literally is THE BEST I have had! Pairing it with the curry, just the best of both worlds! The Kitsune udon was so clean and refreshing, the broth was so flavorful and not too strong, 10/10!! The tempura that we also ordered was fried and cooked perfectly, satisfying crunch, shrimp not overcooked, and the tempura sauce was delicious as well!! 10/10! The only thing that was okay was really the fried squid legs as they were nice in crunch but the squid was pretty tough to chew 7/10, great flavor though with the lemon! The service was extremely fast as well, they have a system that literally has you in and out of their quick! All the servers make sure that you are well taken care of! It is a small establishment so make sure to plan ahead and get there early as it can get really busy! Ambiance just made me feel like I was back in Japan and so that is also a 10/10!If you want more space they do have a second location you can try out (okidoki by Meiji) but for me the original will always be the best! TRY THIS PLACE TODAY!!

Meiji Seimen has absolutely taken the #1 spot for my go to udon place. If you're thinking about trying this place, don't hesitate - you won't regret it. They get busy pretty fast, so make sure to join the waitlist. Once seated, staff is super efficient and quick. The place is not super huge, and it reminds me of the little restaurants we visited in Japan!Curry udon - Perfect spice level. The flavor is so amazing and delicious. In my experience, finding a good curry is hard to come by - either it's too light, too spicy, etc. But this was perfect!Kitsune udon - My go-to order for udon is the kitsune; I've tried a lot before, but this was my most favorite that I've tried so far. The broth is so flavorful yet refreshing, and the kitsune had a sweet flavor.Shrimp tempura - The batter was so light and airy, and the shrimp was not overcooked, unlike many different tempura shops. It remained juicy, while the outside was crisp and light.Fried squid legs - This was probably our least favorite item. The taste was great, however, it was overcooked, so it was a bit tough and rubbery. We might skip this the next time we come here.Fried chicken (not pictured) - This was one of the best things we tried. This paired so well with the udons, and it was amazingly crisp and juicy. DO NOT skip this!TLDR - It's amazing. HIGHLY recommend!

Meiji Seimen is a tiny restaurant in Costa Mesa and extremely popular. If you're thinking about coming here, do yourself a favor and sign up on the Yelp waitlist (available within 5 miles). There's nowhere to sit inside, but they do put out some chairs outside. I think we waited close to an hour during lunchtime on a weekend.They make their own udon and soba, fresh every morning. Of the dishes I tried, my favorite was their chicken tempura curry udon, filled with big pieces of chicken tempura - so tasty! I was trying to be healthy and ordered the grilled mackerel combo but wished I ordered that curry udon instead!Meiji Seimen has a sister restaurant Okidoki by Meiji in Tustin, which seems a little less busy.

Yummy!! Some of the best udon noodles. So chewy and fresh coming out piping hot. We got the special kimchi nabe hotpot- pork, kimchi, bunch of mushrooms and tofu. We also got the tempura shrimp soba, small katsu curry and squid legs. Everything came out fast and piping hot. I'd recommend the squid legs for apps, I like the sauce and fresh lemon. Katsu was also a good flavor, and between nabe and soba I liked the nabe for the flavor but the soba dashi broth was so tasty. Also sake wise - kenshei was good, it's a bit pricier than kikisui but smooth. Would come back, you can also adjust your spice level!!

This small restaurant located in a strip mall is serving up some tasty udon. They use Yelp Wait List which you'll need to take advantage of if you're coming during prime dinner time. We had a 30 minute wait on a Tuesday but toward the end of our meal there were open tables. We were seated in time for Happy Hour which runs until 7pm and enjoyed a small plate of the juicy fried chicken and a beer for $9.50. I ordered the beef Shabu Shabu udon and not only was it filling but had a delicious broth and tender udon.

Shabu Shabu udon w beef - broth light yet flavorful, thinly sliced beef lean and practically covered my udon bowl, udon noodles perfectly chewy and soaked the broth well. Super hearty and satisfying.Karaage- crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside. Came out piping hot - batter light and perfectly seasoned, served with this spicy sauce.Came at opening hour for dinner and there was already multiple people waiting at the door. We did have to check in on their Yelp kiosk for a party of 2 but were seated almost immediately. Staff friendly and food came out quick. Easy parking.

Prefacing that I'm not a huge udon lover. Long wait time but if you're there with your party you can get in within 30 minutes. Small shop, good service. + Karaage ($9.50): massive, juicy pieces. Not super crispy (7.8/10)+ Tempura Zaru Udon ($16.25): udon was decent, definitely more al dente than usual, handmade! Tempura was disappointing, very average (7/10)

Came here for lunch with a couple friends when I was visiting! One of my go to udon places in the area. The wait was a bit long around 20-30 minutes. The parking was decently easy to find. The udon was cooked perfectly I love how chewy and soft the texture was. The shabu shabu with the dipping sauce is sweet and sour. The inside is pretty small but it is nicely decorated. The food is decently priced and portions are good. Would recommend if you are looking for better quality udon!

Shabu Shabu Udon (3/5): The udon noodles were nice and chewy. The mild spice is a true mild level, despite how red the chili oil makes the broth look! I knocked 2 stars off this dish because of how chewy the beef. I was expecting it to be more tender and soft. Fried Squid Legs (5/5): Super yummy appetizer! It had the perfect amount of batter and was very crispy. The restaurant is small and there's usually a wait so definitely get on their Yelp waitlist! Service is fast and friendly. There's also plenty of parking in the front lot.

We knew this place was popular, so we were extremely happy to be able to sit within a couple of minutes of arriving for lunch.Here's what we ordered...-Sansai udon: The udon noodles and broth were fantastic. I just wished the vegetables were seasoned a bit.-Tempura udon: Delicious-Inari sushi: Very goodService was excellent and the atmosphere of the restaurant was very casual and relaxed.We tried going back a second time a couple of days later for dinner, but didn't even park the car as we saw many people standing outside waiting to be seated.We'll go back for sure the next time we're in the area.