Yoshinoya Hanamaru Udon Azuki Cafe

Quick Review:
1. Restaurant Layout:
Left — Rice;
Middle — Drinks;
Right — Udon (popular)
2. Price: Decent, considering it’s located at a mall ($ 8 — $ 15)
3. Pros:
+ Fast service
+ Tasty. Usually I don’t fancy Udons, but this made me change my mind
4. Cons:
— Self-​service
— Queue can be quite long sometimes, with limited seating
— Confusing menu. Although the menu is in English, I still don’t understand more than half of the items. I ordered the Ontama Bukkake (no joke), but it came out soft & tasty, pun fully intended. I’ve listed the definition below:
打っ掛け（ぶっかけ）Bukkake Definition
1. Splashing on; splashing at;
2. Dish made by pouring broth over something (esp. bukkake soba)

The restaurant is broken down into 2 sections — noodles and rice, so for firs timers it would look like they are two separate restaurants.
It’s a good quick fix for Japanese food and I especially like the texture of the udon served and the wide selection of tempura.
It’s cheap, fast and convenient.

A bit confusing if you are first time here. They are using food court concept here. The different with our local food court is just the foods. The foods & beverages here mainly Japanese for the theme.
There are three different counter. First counter on you right when you facing the restaurant is selling noodle. There are 5 steps for this session. Firstly, take a tray. Secondly, choose your udon. Thirdly, pick your favourite side dishes (mostly fried food — tempura, karaage, pumpkin, etc). Then, continue with add on oden or rice ball to your meal and lastly, pay at the cashier.
Second counter in the middle of restaurant is beverage. There are green tea with unlimited refill, soft drink, smoothies, etc.
Last counter will be rice counter. It do come in set (including salad and miso soup).
Overall was not bad.

Yoshinoya Hanamaru Udon and Azuki Café are three shops in one lot at the corner of the thrid floor in Midvalley facing their exhibition centre. Hanamaru are famous for their Udon, but Yoshinoya offers very good rice bowls.
I ordered a hamburg steak rice bowl from Yoshinoya and a set of salad, miso soup and green tea to go with my dish. The bill came to RM20 ++. However as I waited, they handed me a gadget that looked like an air con remote control that actually beeped and buzzed letting me know when the food was ready to collect. This is probably my first taste of authentic Japanese technology.
Taste wise their food is okay. Not one of the best but one of the better ones. Also it tends to get crowded and there’s not much space to maneuver around so you may want to leave the shopping till later.

This is like a interesting combo package for me where you can have Yoshinoya, Hanamaru Udon and Azuki & Café in one stop. Three different concept of Japanese cuisine combine as one. It’s just located in Mid Valley, 3^rd floor next to Muji.
Isn’t it awesome? It’s a very good place where all the family or friend can gather together but got to enjoy the foods on their own preferences. I love this idea. Although it’s sound like a food court but it’s more like a Japanese style cafeteria restaurant to me. Everything here is Self-​service :You queue, you ordered, you pick your own food and get your own seat.
Yoshinoya counter is situated at the left side where its emphasis more on rice bento. While Hanamaru Udon is at right side corner, I love their curry udon with additional prawn tempura! They prepared when you order, so it’s fresh. Eh! Eh! Don’t forget to order your beverage at Azuki & Café which is right in the middle in between Yoshinoya and Hanamaru Udon. A cold yuzu soda should able to quench your thirst!
«ITADAKIMASU !!»