Anjali Jethva

Extensive menu with delicious and hearty meals! Makes me feel like im back in Hawaii!!!! Was craving udon and did not disappoint. Don’t need a reservation and there is plenty of naming. Friendly service and plenty of seating .

Rosalie S

This udon place now becomes my favorite spot around Houston. I would say they have the best udon soup that I ever have before. But the weird thing that I don’t like about this place is they will charge your money when you ask for chili oil.

Sharon Ree

This is a perfect experience and felt cozy because it is smaller than other gigantic Houston eateries. My family and I happen to stop by on a weekend day, mid afternoon, so no one was out and about eating at 3:30. It’s perfectly close to Chinatown and Bellaire and the Korean eateries and everything, but just behind the main area so it’s quieter. There’s plenty of parking and it’s a small smaller strip mall. It could be a little sketch, but that’s the entire area really. We had Tan Tan udon, Curry Tonkatsu udon, squash, tempura, and a few other things, and raw squid, please see pics. Our server was perfect. The temperature of the tonkatsu and the curry were very hot. Piping hot and the noodles and flavors were all on spot.

+1

Benjamin Kang

Ishin Udon exceeded all my expectations! The broth was perfectly rich and flavorful, and the udon noodles had just the right texture—soft yet satisfyingly chewy. Every bite felt like a well-balanced harmony of authentic Japanese flavors. The service was impeccable, with staff attentive and welcoming, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. The attention to detail in the presentation of the dishes showed their commitment to quality. I also loved the variety on the menu; there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a classic udon lover or looking to try something unique. Ishin Udon is easily one of the best places for udon in town. Highly recommend to anyone who appreciates great food and a wonderful dining experience!

+2

Jimmy Zhu

Ishin Udon is a true gem in Houston! From the moment we walked in, the warm wooden furniture and cozy ambiance set a welcoming and comfortable vibe, perfect for an udon spot. The food was incredible! The curry beef udon was flavorful, rich, and perfectly satisfying. The tan tan udon had a fantastic balance of spice and creaminess that left us wanting more. We also tried the chicken karaage, which was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside—a perfect side dish to pair with the noodles. Prices were very reasonable, especially given the quality, and the service was impressively quick, making the whole experience seamless. We can’t wait to come back for another bowl of udon!

I really enjoy the food here, it's become one of my new favorite spots. I really enjoy the Italian fusion udons, I've gotten the shrimp Diavolo and the mentaiko cream and loved both. I also got the kitsune Udon and liked that one too! The Udon in all of them was cooked perfectly. The only downside was that the service felt a little hit or miss, the first couple times I went the waiters were very attentive and helpful but the last time I went, our waitress didn't not check on us at all after the food came, nor asked how it was when clearing our plates. But it wasn't unpleasant so i don't mind too much, and I will return ☺️

So I've fully specced into just commenting on Japanese food for quite a while now and am not pretending anymore lol. (Not to say I never eat from other cuisines anymore, just that whatever prospective reviews I have for them would be lower on the priority list.) That said, is Ishin Udon amazing? No, not really. My bar for "A-tier" is higher than that. But this one is a solid B+ and has all the hallmarks of what a good udonya should be - cozy, tasty, filled with amusing graphics honoring Tokyo's golden age of the 1980s, and catering specifically to tired salarymen and women such as myself. It's not a place you'd bring your friends and family into, but after a bad experience at the TxDPS, it really hit the spot. (For some context, my 4 stars is a "recommend" / "better than expected" / "better than most".) This is actually the first time I've had Chuka Idako and even though their cold appetizers come boxed so it's unlikely any of these was made in-house, it's become one of my favorite small dishes ever. Cold octopus with sesame and raw egg on a searing hot day in Houston (record high temps this year, too!), what's not to like? Wasabi tako is also good. Nothing super special, but they use a Doraemon nori and it's these kinds of little things that do put a smile on my face. Another thing I've tried for the first time is the Niku Tama Ankake, which is a mouthful but is basically a niku udon in egg drop soup. Funny story, I was actually quite sick of udon for a while after coming back from my trip to Japan. Not because ramen is usually the "obviously correct" choice considering how well-regarded it is abroad and in anime, but because I had udon basically every day for 2 weeks straight when I was in Tokyo. Ramen might be the nation's best-known noodles, but udon is a more heartwarming and "authentically" Japanese experience, that's for sure. Whatever that might mean to you. In any case, I WAS having a craving for professional udon considering how hard it is to find an udonya around here, and the Niku Tama Ankake combined both udon and another of my hard-to-find favorite dishes in Saigonese crab soup (which uses a very similar base), so I couldn't pass it up. And I must say, my expectations were met. The dish came out piping hot, in a slurpable bowl that's not too Texas-sized, and every good thing I wanted from the two aforementioned dishes - the mouthwatering, slippery beef and thick, supple noodles in niku udon together with the slimy, eggy sensation of Saigonese crab soup all came out at once. And if none of those adjectives sounded appetizing to you, get the hell outta here. Chikuwa ten was average, could use a little more crisp and mouthfeel. TL;DR Great place to eat up and chill off after work or meet-ups with the local government. A rare nice thing to have in this economy. P.S. I REALLY should've visited the Morii café next door before going home so soon... oh well, maybe next time.

Daniel C

Food was delicious. Broth was wonderful and the noodles soak up the flavors very well. My only complaint is that they’re way too conservative with their toppings. If they gave a bit more toppings then it might justify their prices.

Alex Nguyen

Great place to get udon around Houston. They have a lot of options to pick from. I got the Niku udon which was very flavorful, a bit more sweet than anticipated. Overall lots of meat and good portion size. I wish the egg was automatically included. Overall, I highly recommend and would come back.

+1

Samhitha Muppana

The udon here is great the texture is perfect and the restaurant is so cute. The sweet potato I got could have been cooked a little longer and I will say there are no vegetarian/vegan options.

+2

Megan Harbuck

I went right before the lunch rush on Sunday and didn't have to wait for a table. The Tonkotsu Curry Rice was good, but the cutlet didn't have any flavor. The curry tasted the same as what I had in Japan, so it's definitely an authentic flavor. There was a shaker of spice on the table that enhanced the flavor a lot. I was a little intrigued by how the kimchi was served in a little plastic container, but it had a delicious flavor and a good texture. No fountain drinks here, just canned sodas. I'll be coming back to try the other dishes on the menu too.

Calvin Nguyen

Went during lunch, but was reminded by staff was inhospitable about kitchen closing when we were seated at two, had Niku niku udon and tan udon. Portions were small, brisket was not very tender. Space not suitable for large groups, however they’re offer very affordable options.

paree

food was decent, we got the curry tonkatsu udon. the curry was overly peppery compared to other spots i've been to and the katsu pork was a bit on the drier side. the curry itself was good and the noodles were good. my issue however was with the service. initially everything was ok, however when we got our bill, it said our total was $45+ when our meal actually costed $15+. they charged us and notified us of their error and told us to write down our phone number for updates and then just left. they didnt let us know if we would be fully refunded, or if the difference would be returned, how long it would take to get the refund, they just went back to their ipad and ignored us. we waited for around 5 minutes to hear back from them but to no avail. we had to approach THEM about clarification about THEIR error which is kind of ridiculous. we got down the waiter's name (phat nick) just in case and left. we were then quite literally chased once we left the establishment and told by the waiter that we need to pay our table's bill. apparently we were supposed to tellapathically know that the difference would not be returned to us but rather that we had to pay both the WRONG bill and our bill. Upon hearing this we were very confused and I asked Nick why do we have to pay both bills, is there any way the difference can be returned to us instead, he asked us if we were hesitant to pay the second bill because we had a credit limit.... is this any way to speak to a customer after you made an error? regardless, had a very disappointing experience here.

Ana Y

I have been a fan of Ishin since it opened, it’s been consistently good. However, over the last 2 years I’ve seen a decline in portion sizes while increasing prices. I usually eat here a couple of times a month. I meet a friend typically during lunch and we both enjoy this place. We get our usual entrees and appetizers. Typically it’s the same thing we order every time. This time the calamari appetizer was so small that we thought the restaurant had given us a half portion. We called the waitress over and even asked her if this is correct. The appetizer only gave us a total of 6 calamari rings for $6.50!! The waitress said they made changes in the kitchen. No kidding! Very disappointed that Ishin continues to cut corners and shrink portion sizes while raising prices. I’ve enjoyed the food here but this is unacceptable. I will no longer be going back