Last time I went to Tsurutontan’s Marunouchi TOKIA branch and really liked it, so this time I visited the Shinjuku branch with a friend from Korea. At this level, you can bring anyone and they won’t be disappointed. The Shinjuku branch is behind the Shinjuku Koma Theater in Kabukicho. It isn’t hard to find, but it’s in a basement, so the sign doesn’t really catch your eye.
The entrance
The interior is far more stylish than the Marunouchi branch. I guess that’s because it’s in Kabukicho.
The stairs
The line was really long. We waited about 30 minutes. On weekends it’s probably smart to go after the dinner rush.
Water
The glasses are pretty. The shochu list wasn’t bad either. My one small complaint is that we were shown to the couple seats at the counter… -_- It was a bit awkward for two guys, but after waiting that long we were in no position to complain.
The Tsurutontan Zanmai my friend ordered
Udon topped with every topping possible: fried tofu, meat, kelp and so on. It also comes with tempura on the side. It’s 1,800 yen, but it’s worth every bit of it. Not that the 680-yen kitsune udon isn’t delicious too. My friend kept praising it the whole time he ate. Another successful restaurant pick today.
A close-up of the udon
The bowl is so huge it didn’t come across well, but this should give you a rough idea of how it’s served.
The summer special I ordered: eggplant and ayu udon
It’s tangy, so it’s great for getting back the appetite you lose in summer. It tasted good, but I thought it was a cold udon and it turned out to be hot, which was a letdown. On top of that I tried ordering it with thin noodles, and they went soft. I should have just gone with the thick noodles. My mistake. Oh well… Anyway, I still enjoyed it.
If only you didn’t have to wait so long, it would be perfect. The Marunouchi branch has the shortest line, so it’s probably better to go there. Or, since the Shinjuku branch is open late, going after mealtimes would be a good idea too.