There are nights in New York when you want a complicated tasting menu. And then there are nights when all you really need is a giant bowl of udon, a good broth and absolutely no nonsense.
Enter Udon St. Marks, the tiny East Village Japanese noodle spot at 11 St. Marks Place that has quietly become a favorite for affordable, satisfying comfort food. The restaurant describes itself as a fast-casual destination for authentic Japanese udon and rice dishes, with everything made to order.
The space is small, casual and decidedly unfussy, with counter seating that gives diners a front-row view of the kitchen. It is also cash-only, so consider that your reminder to visit an ATM before heading downtown. The restaurant’s current hours are 4–10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 1–10 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
As for the menu, udon is obviously the star.
Popular choices include Niku Udon with simmered beef, Curry Udon, Ebi-Ten Udon with shrimp tempura and Kitsune Udon with seasoned fried tofu. Cold udon is also available for those moments when New York decides to cosplay as Tokyo in August.
The restaurant also offers donburi, Japanese curry, tempura, gyoza, kara-age and takoyaki. The set meals are particularly popular, pairing udon with rice and another main or side—essentially giving you enough food to question whether you accidentally ordered dinner for tomorrow, too.
At Udon St. Marks, the appeal isn’t flashy design or complicated culinary theater. It’s big portions, comforting noodles and wallet-friendly Japanese food in the heart of the East Village.
In a city where dinner can require a small loan application, that’s a pretty compelling pitch.
Bring cash.
Bring an appetite.
And prepare to slurp.
