A Story About Trying Hanamaru Udon's New Menu Item
This time, I’m going to write a blog about my recent visit to Hanamaru Udon to try their new menu item.
The dish I had my eyes on this time was the "Miso Butter" Udon.
The pork topping looked delicious, but what really caught my attention was the scallops.
For just an extra 20 yen, I could upgrade to scallops—how could I not give it a try?
Curious about how it would turn out, I decided to head to Hanamaru Udon right away.
No way... It's not available!?
However, when I actually arrived at the store, to my surprise, the "Miso Butter" Udon was not available. Instead, they were running a "Grilled Nori" Fair.
What’s more, there was no mention of this Grilled Nori Fair anywhere on the official website.
I don’t dislike nori, but I was really looking forward to trying the scallops...
That said, if it's not available, there’s nothing I can do about it.
When I checked the website, I found a note saying, "Not available at some locations."
But for a Tokyo store to be one of those "some locations" feels oddly specific... It all seems a bit mysterious.
The "Grilled Nori" Fair Menu
Pulling myself together, I decided to check out the "Grilled Nori" Fair menu. There were three options available:
- Onsen Tamago Udon
- Mentaiko Onsen Tamago Udon
- Butter Onsen Tamago Udon
I was a bit unsure which one to choose, but in the end, I went for the most standard option, "Grilled Nori Onsen Tamago Udon (Small)", priced at 590 yen (tax included).
Then, I happened to notice something interesting—they now offer free green onion toppings!
Previously, the staff would add the green onions for you, so if you wanted a bit more, there was no way to adjust it. But now, just like at Marugame Seimen, you can add as much as you like, which is great news!
Time to dig in!
Here’s what I got after placing my order.
I added ginger and green onions to my liking, and since the onsen tamago and grilled nori were served separately, I arranged them myself before eating.
Now, for the first bite...
The broth and grilled nori combination was fantastic! It paired really well with the udon, and overall, it was quite delicious.
However, one thing stood out—the sheer amount of grilled nori.
While tasty, I couldn't help but wonder if it was sticking to my mouth or teeth as I ate. Some people might find this a bit bothersome.
This is especially something to watch out for when eating out. Since I was heading straight home afterward, it wasn’t an issue for me. But if I had a meeting or work right after, I might have hesitated to choose this dish.
Summary
This time, I unexpectedly came across the "Grilled Nori Fair", which wasn’t mentioned on the official website, and unfortunately, I couldn’t try the "Miso Butter Udon". However, I did make some new discoveries along the way.
It seems that Hanamaru Udon’s limited-time menu varies by location, so if you’re curious about a particular item, the only way to find out is to visit the store yourself.
If you're thinking about trying the Grilled Nori Udon, I’d recommend doing so when you have no plans afterward and can head straight home (just in case!). 😆