I must confess. When I was invited to have lunch at Musashiya Udon Noodle, I knew next to nothing about Udon. Ok, I knew nothing. I walked into the spotless Westwood restaurant, the first thing that struck me were the smells… vibrant and fresh. My ears perked up when I was asked if I wanted to try the squid jerky. I can’t wait to try it again!
Musashiya isn’t afraid to step outside the box. Have you ever heard of Carbonara Udon? Neither had I before I set foot in Musashiya. Japanese/Italian fusion? That’s new one on me, but it was absolutely delicious. There’s no way not to slurp the noodles. It’s messy, but delicious and fun and they do offer aprons. I sipped sake while trying other bowls. Miso with beef and with spicy tuna. The #7 Niku Udon is one of their most popular dishes, Udon noodles with plenty of beef.
They make their own noodles using a very modern piece of equipment, and it’s fun to watch.
One udon bowl for around $12 could easily feed two to four people. They also offer a wide array of tempura dishes. It’s an egg-free tempura that’s very light. Musashiya is open Monday through Saturday at 1049 Gayley Avenue in Los Angeles’ Westwood district. A San Diego location is in the works.
Tom Plant launched WINEormous in 2009 and is a member of the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association. Based in Temecula, California, he offers intimate winery tours for no more than seven people. Tour details and pricing are available at www.temecula-tours.com. Call now to book your Temecula Winery Tour at (951) 907-9701. Ask about special discounts.