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Koya Bar

Koya Bar

Udon Restaurant and Japanese Restaurant££££
Soho
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8.6/10
697
ratings
  • Stars
  • Tips
    Katerina K.
    "The most delicious udon noodles outside of Japan."(13 Tips)
    Glenn T.
    "Really good.. the buta cold udon with hot soup is best."(10 Tips)
    Susanna S.
    "Love the age tofu, onsen tamago and hiya-atsu udon!"(4 Tips)
    Shirley L.
    "Great place to grab authentic udon as a party of 1-2."(4 Tips)
Tips and Reviews icon143 Tips and reviews
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  • Ka Y.heart icon on user image
    Ka YuanDecember 14, 2016
    Been here 25+ times
    Besides the fact that the udon is just perfect, their broths are absutely amazing too. Try the duck broth or the walnut-miso if you want a vegetarian option. Cold udon with hot broth is the best!
  • Ezgi K.heart icon on user image
    Ezgi KOctober 4, 2016
    If you have never tried udon noodle before, here is the place to try. Soup and prawn were very tasty (Hot udon: prawn tempura). Decoration and taste just make you feel like you are in Japan.
  • Kim P.heart icon on user image
    Kim PhamMarch 2, 2017
    Some of the best udon I've had. Make sure to order: onsen tamago + pork belly small plates, and any hot broth/cold udon 😍
  • S P.
    S PJune 16, 2019
    Possibly the best Japanese breakfast in London and some of the tastiest original ramens and tonkatsus. Well worth a try!
  • Park Y.heart icon on user image
    Park Yong ShikNovember 13, 2016
    Awesome! An udon only bar! My favorite! I loved the fried and grilled tofu, the special (chanterelle and dropped egg udon),The breaded beef onglet and cabbage and the cold udon with hot broth, beef
  • Alex W.
    Alex WardSeptember 4, 2016
    Holy shit the udon is unbelievable. The tempura is also worth getting. Pork and miso hot udon and beef cold udon is delicious
  • Misoheart icon on user image
    MisoFebruary 24, 2018
    I like the kitsune hot Udon with hot broth, though cold Udon with hot broth is chewier. Such good tempura. Artichoke sunomono special was awesome, definitely check out the specials!
  • JC
    JCJuly 6, 2018
    Been here 10+ times
    Huge improvement since my last tip/complaint about the gyu-katsu. They nailed it this time - tender & juicy + portion size has doubled
  • Rachel M.
    Rachel MercerJune 10, 2015
    Been here 10+ times
    Highly recommended for breakfast. The most legit udon place in London. Highly recommend the Butajiru and the Curry Udon. The tempura is always shifting based on what's in season. Onsen Tamago always.
  • Minhee P.heart icon on user image
    Minhee ParkApril 28, 2016
    Udon was great! Had a hot udon/hot soup -the chicken veggie one and a cold udon/hot soup - miso pork. Both were good, the chicken one was more mild and the pork one was more salty. Both delicious!
  • Kwok T.heart icon on user image
    Kwok TangDecember 27, 2015
    Been coming here since they opened. Love this place - traditionally made udon with a 'bouncy' texture (noodles are just as important as the soup base IMO). Great example of simplicity & clean flavours
  • Shirley L.heart icon on user image
    Shirley LiuFebruary 11, 2016
    Great place to grab authentic udon as a party of 1-2. The beef udon was great but had a lot of ginger -- I regretted not getting the cold noodle with hot soup and tempura! Pork belly was good but meh
  • David R.
    David RosenbergMay 6, 2014
    Koya Bar is now the only place you can get Koya's amazing curry udon, so it would be rude to order anything else. Wash it down with tea and or/hot sake.
  • David A. S.
    David A. SymonsNovember 3, 2018
    Omg! 🤤 best udon in London 🍜 broth is second to none. Can’t wait to go back! Be prepared to queue, its popular and a small venue.
  • Ana Isabel S.heart icon on user image
    Authentic Japanese food, nice place and enviromment. Reasonable prices. I had I really taste and delicious lunch!
  • Elynn L.heart icon on user image
    Elynn LeeJanuary 4, 2018
    Really tasty udon! The tempura is also nice. Friendly staff, too. The wait can get long (even in the middle of the afternoon!), so this place is best for parties of 1-2.
  • Dan S.
    Dan SanduleacJune 30, 2018
    Been here 10+ times
    Niku udon (thinly sliced beef) and Saba udon (mackerel) are both great, so is Buta Miso (pork)! Beware of the duck udon though, too overcooked.
  • Angela L.heart icon on user image
    Angela LiuSeptember 29, 2017
    The restaurant that i keep going back - everything is great and my personal favourite is the cold udon with sweet tofu with a side of sesame sauce (bomb!)
  • Jill C.heart icon on user image
    Jill CSeptember 14, 2015
    Ordered the cold udon noodles with hot broth and duck. Broth was good and noodles too, hot noodles and broth is more for me. Great place to enjoy a meal for one because it literally is a noodle bar.
  • Magdalena M.
    Authentic atmosphere of Japanese うどん屋, super nice Japanese staff and delicious udon. In summer, cold udon is the best!
  • Stanley Y.heart icon on user image
    Stanley YauFebruary 20, 2016
    Don't be put off by the small queues - meals are very quick and the turnover of customers is constant. Definitely worth the wait, though - the food is absolutely fantastic!
  • Alper Ç.heart icon on user image
    Alper ÇuğunOctober 23, 2013
    The bar has specials and is actually the better option because you don't want to eat your udon at a table anyway and the wait is shorter as well.
  • Hao L.heart icon on user image
    Hao LeJune 4, 2022
    Udon, Japanese Breakfast, English Breakfast, Kedgeree
  • Bjorn V.heart icon on user image
    Bjorn Van HoeymissenSeptember 30, 2017
    The English breakfast variation is an inspired udon noodle dish. Just sitting here waiting is a feast. Watching the chefs prepare your dish, the scent teasing your nostrils…
  • Betony K.heart icon on user image
    Betony KellyJanuary 4, 2015
    Don't worry if noodles for breakfast seems odd to you. Get a ginger tea and discover the delights of starting your day with udon, broth and delicious toppings.
  • Pointless Oneheart icon on user image
    Pointless OneJanuary 2, 2018
    Been here 10+ times
    Pork belly in cider is a must! Also don’t be deceived by the fact that it’s in the small plate menu.
  • Katerina K.heart icon on user image
    Katerina KerrSeptember 21, 2015
    The most delicious udon noodles outside of Japan. The waiters are very knowledgable about the dishes so it is always worth asking about the chef etc
  • CLheart icon on user image
    CLSeptember 24, 2017
    Definitely order Udon, daily specials are worth give a go, special menu sashimi is good as expected... p.s. worth for a potential long queuing on Friday night
  • Cat
    CatNovember 24, 2013
    A typical Japanese breakfast consist of rice, pickled vegetables, miso soup and grilled fish. Simply authentic and coming come close to this in London. Great work Koya!
  • Glenn T.
    Glenn TereFebruary 16, 2016
    Really good.. the buta cold udon with hot soup is best. Skip the side of onsen tamago and remember not to eat the whole udon as you get totally bloated
  • Tom W.heart icon on user image
    Tom WilliamsSeptember 14, 2013
    Been here 5+ times
    This is Koya's excellent off shoot. It serves the same udon noodles but it doesn't have the specials board. As ever the noodles and broth are excellent. It's easier to get into too
  • Romain V.
    Romain VezirianDecember 4, 2018
    Tempura udon + kirin = well worth the wait. Great intimate setting that reminded me of Japan.
  • Elynn L.heart icon on user image
    Elynn LeeJanuary 4, 2018
    Kaiso udon (mixed seaweed) was really yummy! Loved the different flavors and textures.
  • prima f.heart icon on user image
    prima filiNovember 12, 2017
    Been here 5+ times
    Love the mushroom and walnut noodles. Add a boiled egg for extra yummy. Their ginger tea is sweet, but nice in cold days.
  • Silvia F.heart icon on user image
    Silvia FoxFebruary 11, 2017
    Been here 5+ times
    Our fav japanese in london. Adorable and tipic place, staff kind and friendly, best cold noudles with sesame dip ever
  • Cat
    CatNovember 23, 2013
    Amazing japanese breakfast with porridge/ congee just done right with pickled beetroot, seaweed and mushrooms. Healthy wholesome vegetarian breakfast.
  • Nick Z.heart icon on user image
    Nick ZeroApril 24, 2018
    they have daily breakfast menu until 12pm. best options are scribbled on the blackboard.
  • Chinoiseriesheart icon on user image
    ChinoiseriesFebruary 25, 2016
    Very vegan-friendly place: the atsu-age (fried and grilled tofu) and kaiso (seaweed) udon noodle soup are delicious.
  • Sharon L.heart icon on user image
    Sharon LamDecember 1, 2018
    Chewy homemade udons with wholesome soups. Accompanied with seasonal starters/side dishes. What more do you want? Fave: curry udon
  • Shelley C.heart icon on user image
    Shelley CFebruary 15, 2015
    Udon is super fresh and the rest of the dishes looked amazing too. KoyaBar is easier to get into and more laid back environment.
  • S P.
    S PDecember 3, 2016
    Very good Japanese breakfast of grilled mixing cured mackerel and miso soup.
  • Alessandro M.heart icon on user image
    Alessandro MingioneOctober 25, 2014
    Been here 10+ times
    Honest authentic Japanese food. You come for the udon and you stay for the specials. These guys take their craft very seriously
  • Clara W.heart icon on user image
    Clara WuJune 26, 2015
    this place is great for 1 or 2 to eat otherwise the wait is inhumane. I ordered 2 udons last time I went and the only regret I had was that I didn't have more room for more.
  • Johannesheart icon on user image
    JohannesSeptember 3, 2016
    One of my favourites in London. Had the homemade Hot Ginger and Kinoko, both were fantastic. Absolutely recommended 😋
  • Sean D.heart icon on user image
    Sean DaveyAugust 30, 2015
    Udon noodles, handmade in front of you. Very trendy - don't forget to slurp!
  • Simon B.heart icon on user image
    Simon BruceJanuary 22, 2015
    We came here as Koya had just closed up. The food was great. The chicken hot pot was very tasty and wholesome.
  • Lana C.heart icon on user image
    Lana ChoiNovember 26, 2017
    Really great udon! Adding an egg gives you a sous vide egg 💕🥚
  • Robin H.
    Robin HowieJuly 26, 2014
    Breakfast here is fantastic and quiet too. The kedgeree has awesome deep flavours.
  • Atheer S.heart icon on user image
    Atheer SulimanJuly 19, 2015
    Atsu - Atsu (hot-hot) beef udon with seafood broth was tasty and warmed me up.
  • Michael H.heart icon on user image
    Michael HadwinJanuary 24, 2015
    Well executed fresh noodles great taste. Have the steamed oysters - sublime. Get there early to avoid queues.
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