Zaru

I randomly stumbled upon this place when I was in the area. I am so glad I did. I didn't even know that they had a Michelin recognition! The staff was nice. It was Friday and the place was packed for lunch. However, they navigated all the people efficiently and I got a seat pretty quick. I got ramen and some tea and both were great! The broth was fantastic and the noodles were flavorful and had perfect texture. I wish I could try more stuff and I am definitely gonna come back when I'm visiting Orlando again.

Starting off- I first visited Zaru on a Friday and loved it so much that I visited another two times the following week (bringing others that HAD to try it). I had heard it was Michelin-recommended (Bib Gourmand), and I've felt like a majority of the Michelin-rec'ed places in Orlando have been pretty great so far... so I wanted to give Zaru a chance. What a wonderful experience. The restaurant is cozy and quaint, seating about 2 dozen people. It is located a couple storefronts down from the newer Mills Market. We went on a busy, colder evening in January when all of the Floridians must've had a group mindset to have udon noodles. It was about a 45 minute, so we had an appetizzy at Mills Market while we waited. Once they texted us that our table was ready, we walked on over. At our table, we were immediately greeted by a server. I felt like the customer service at Zaru was incredible. Multiple servers kept asking us if we were okay, if we needed anything, if there was anything they could do or bring us. But not in an overly obnoxious way- it was just a gentle "Doing good?" Very appreciated. The goods:1) Nikutama Udon (shredded beef and an onsen egg- Just wow. First of all, the presentation was just so beautiful. Everything I ordered came on a wooden tray- the udon came in a really lovely LARGE bowl with a BIG portion of soup (big enough that I've been able to take home leftovers every time I go to Zaru). Little bonito flakes and sesame seeds were in separate dishes- which was great because I only like a small sprinkle of sesame seeds in my soup. The flavor of the broth was scrumptious. I tried DOMU not so long ago when they had the "Somebody Feed Phil" special with a ramen (I think the Richie Rich ramen) + Korean wings... I felt like their ramen was VERY heavy, and it left me feeling 'too full' and just ready to pass out on the nearest couch... BUT Zaru's udon wasn't like that at all. It was a lighter but complex flavor. The udon noodles were BY FAR the best I've ever had (not surprising that they're made in-house). A very delicious and decently-sized portion of shredded beef topped my soup and added more rich flavor to the broth. The onsen egg was... good. An airy, nicely-poached egg. I understand the onsen egg is different than the soy eggs at DOMU... but I wished for a moment there that I could grab a DOMU egg and put it in this soup- it would've been perfection. Regardless, this udon soup was legendary and will be ordered time and time again in the future. 2) Sweet Potato Tempura and Shrimp Tempura- The tempura pieces are lightly crunchy and perfectly tender on the inside. Not greasy at all. Nicely-sized pieces of tempura. There wasn't a dipping sauce for the tempura (not sure if you could ask for some?) but it was so flavorful that it wasn't really necessary. 3) Lychee sake cocktail (?)- Forgive me, I believe that's what my mom ordered... and I loved it so much that I ordered one for myself. I am normally not a sake person because I feel it is a bit of an over-powering punch to the face... This was a sweet lullaby that rocked me gently... Loved it. The lychee was perfectly balanced and not too sweet. And it was topped with the most perfect fruity mochi (I believe it was also lychee). The drink was smooth and delightful. I will definitely be ordering it again in the future. Overall, Zaru was wonderful. As I said, I tried it out once, and then continued visiting throughout the week. It just fills up your heart like soul food. I can't wait for my next visit to Zaru! Definitely recommend this spot.

I recently visited Zaru and was really impressed with the overall vibe. The atmosphere was fantastic--cool vibes with a great music playlist that set the perfect mood for dining. The place was clean, and the staff were friendly and attentive, making it an enjoyable experience.The fried chicken was definitely the highlight of the meal--crispy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The udon noodles were very soft and had a nice texture, but the broth was a bit lacking in flavor, which was a slight disappointment. Still, the overall meal was enjoyable, and I'd be happy to return for the ambiance and those amazing fried chicken bites!

I searched for a lunch spot near the Orlando Museum of Art and selected ZARU based on its favorable reviews. The restaurant was conveniently located not far from the museum, though I had to use Lyft. Upon entering, I noticed a Michelin 2024 sign, which piqued my interest. A young server escorted me to a seat near the entrance and I requested hot tea, but was surprised to learn that they did not serve hot beverages. This was unusual for a Japanese restaurant, as I had never encountered this before. The server presented me with a paper menu and a small pencil, instructing me to mark my selections. I asked for recommendations and was pointed towards the $19 hot noodle dish. Without hesitation, I marked my selection. The décor was inviting, with ample space between tables and artistic touches such as stone and bamboo accents. The server returned with my piping hot noodle bowl and three accompanying dishes on a wooden tray. The udong noodles were excellent, served at the perfect temperature. The soup was rich and the thin beef slices were cooked to perfection. However, the raw egg was not to my liking. When it came time to pay, I was instructed to use Apple Pay at the front. I had a brief difficulty locating my Lyft driver outside, due to the restaurant's location at the intersection of two major streets in the heart of Little Saigon Orlando.

Delicious udon at a Japanese cafe with trendy vibes. You order off a sheet and there are plenty of cold and hot menu items to choose from. There's tempura, appetizers, rice bowls and salads if you're feeling something other than udon but highly recommend trying something with their signature house made udon.I tried their special Hokkaido Uni Udon and it was super rich and creamy. Topped with a raw egg, seaweed and shiso, it is a nice big portion. A little on salty side and the mentaiko was spicy but the Ikura and uni was fresh. The udon was soft, squishy and bouncy. Perfect texture. It comes with tempura flakes and wasabi for topping. Parking is a bit tough to find, there are lots nearby and some street parking but very packed on weekends.

Had an amazing dinner at Zaru! There was a 30-minute wait, but they text you when your table is ready, so you can relax at a nearby spot or wait outside. Once inside, the space is cozy and intimate, making for a great dining atmosphere. The ordering process is simple! You're given a menu and a pencil to mark your selections. I went with the Nori Udon ($14) and added sliced beef ($7). The presentation was great, with the ingredients served separately so you can mix them to your liking. The noodles were absolutely delicious- some of the best I've had! The broth was rich and flavorful, and the sliced beef was a generous portion that paired perfectly with the dish. The checkout process is smooth- you just pay at the front when you're done. Overall, Zaru delivered on both taste and experience. Can't wait to come back for more udon!

The food was incredibly fresh and even though the portions are huge, the meal is light and so delicious. They seated us right away and we had a minimum wait despite the place being full. The servers were very nice and answered our questions about the menu. Overall we would come back so we can try out the cold udon!

Orlando has no shortage of noodle spots, but this is the city's first dedicated udon shop--and they absolutely knocked it out of the park. The hand-made noodles have that perfect chew, the delicate Japanese dishware makes every bite feel intentional, and the portion sizes leave you satisfied but not stuffed.We kicked things off with the fish dip, which was a delight. Silky, savory, and paired with tiny sheets of seaweed.For the main event, we went for one cold and one hot udon: the Ikura Shiso and the Nikutama. The ikura shiso was bright, briny, and refreshing--a perfect balance of oceanic saltiness with a pop of texture from the salmon roe. But the real winner for me? The nikutama. That rich, umami-packed broth of beef and egg was pure comfort in a bowl. The kind of dish that wraps you up like a warm hug and makes you forget the outside world exists.Orlando's noodle game just leveled up, and I can't wait to go back, again and again.

This was our first time at Zaru and we're so happy we tried it.We had no wait on an early Saturday afternoon, despite the restaurant already getting full. The waitress was friendly and patient with our newbie questions. I noticed people complained in prior posts about the service, but we liked having the water delivered to our table, and enjoying the meal without interruptions until we were finished.The food tasted amazing, so much flavor in the sauces, and the eggplant was incredible - and I could have had two servings of that. I did however find it funny that the kombu was delivered in the tiniest thimble-sized bowl, kinda pointless, like adding less than two postage stamps to your soup.The bill with tip was over $50 but for a quality udon meal for two, I'd say it was worth it as a treat.

Zaru in Orlando is a fantastic spot for authentic Japanese udon with a modern twist. We started with the crab salad, which was fresh and well-balanced, complementing the rest of the meal. The highlight was the udon--thick, chewy noodles served in a rich, flavorful broth that felt both comforting and satisfying. The tempura on the side was crispy and well-executed, adding a nice contrast to the dish. The restaurant has a sleek yet inviting atmosphere, and while it can get busy, the service was attentive. If you're a fan of udon or just looking for a great Japanese meal, Zaru is definitely worth a visit for a great price.