Muginbo

What we love…

• Super cheap, tasty, and fresh, udon and tempura can be found at this tiny restaurant in Shibuya. If you blink you'll miss the small door that opens to a long counter where the chef is cooking all sorts of fried deliciousness and hearty steaming bowls of thick noodles.
• As soon as you walk in you'll see a stack of trays, grab one and place your udon order with the person behind the counter. They have an English menu so you can ask for that if you'd like to see the different sets. In just a minute or two you'll have your noodles in hand. Move down the counter to top it with whatever crispy fried fish and veggies your heart desires, as you can see in the pictures above it's all set out in a self-serve situation. You'll pay at the end of the counter and pick out a seat at the back of the restaurant. The seating area isn't huge, so if it's busy just settle in next to a stranger—that's the way you do it in Tokyo.
• Tempura is one Japanese treat you should make a point to try while you're visiting Japan. It's crispy, salty, and light making it the perfect addition to noodles and broth. Although it's light don't be fooled, it is battered and fried, so it isn't particularly good for you per say… but calories don't count on vacation, right?  
• Tokyo has the odd habit of suggesting 'women friendly' dishes. At certain places we've been told everything from dish size to the actual flavor of the dish has been altered to better suit a woman's tastes… obviously this is a bit silly, but if you're looking for a smaller portion size for in between meals, this place does do a woman's set for just ¥780 (about $8 US), which is slightly smaller than the regular set, but will still squash that tempura craving.