I had some business at Fukuoka University and found this restaurant nearby. It was my first time visiting. As soon as I entered, I noticed it was filled with students, which was expected. They had a ticket system, so I ordered the meat udon for 560 yen with an additional 30 yen for 1.5 servings. After ordering, they said they would need 15 minutes to prepare the noodles, but I could get a refund if I was in a hurry. I decided to wait for the noodles. They gave me a tray and a cup for water, and I found a seat. They called out the orders by number, and mine was ready in about 10 minutes. However, I was disappointed to see that there was very little meat in the udon. I tried digging around, but the amount remained the same. It was mostly just noodles. The noodles had a good texture and were tasty, but it felt more like a cold udon dish. I heard they also had tempura bits, but there was no sign of them being refilled. I probably won't be coming back here. Thank you for the meal.

I went alone around 12:15 on a regular day. It happened to overlap with the lunch break at Fukuoka University, so I had to drive through a road full of students walking and parked my car in front of the store. There were about 10 people lined up in front of the ticket machine, but there was a menu with photos in front of them, so I was able to choose my meal before buying the ticket, and I didn't have to wait long to get the ticket. I chose the burdock tempura udon for 440 yen (tax included) and added extra noodles for 30 yen (tax included), totaling 470 yen. The extra noodles were like a large serving, and the fact that it was only an extra 30 yen was a pleasant surprise. The inside of the store was very crowded, with the table seats full of students like a school cafeteria, but there was room at the counter seats, so I sat there and waited for my order. In a few minutes, my ticket number was called, and they brought me the burdock tempura udon. Despite the large number of customers, the speed of service was amazing. I immediately started eating. The noodles were slightly thin with good elasticity, and they were delicious. I really like these noodles. The burdock tempura was a bit lacking in volume, but it was crispy and seemed freshly fried. The broth was also delicious, and I felt like I wanted to go back to this restaurant.

Fukuoka University is right in front of the restaurant. Next to it is a bowling alley. There are parking spaces for 3 cars in front of the shop, and it seems that you can also use the bowling alley's parking lot. As soon as you enter, there is a menu lineup on the right. They offer various types of udon, such as regular hot udon, soy sauce udon, bukkake udon, and kamaage udon, as well as set meals and mini bowls. After some consideration, I chose the parent and child udon for 460 yen. You buy a ticket at the machine, give it to the staff, and then choose your seat. There is a long counter and four large tables where you can sit with others. I sat at the counter. There are baskets for your belongings. You can help yourself to konbu and rice crackers (seaweed salt and consomme flavors) while waiting for your udon. The udon arrived with a soft-boiled egg, chicken, and green onions on top. The noodles were chewy but not too firm. The broth was a bit light. Adding yuzu pepper or ginger made it more refreshing. Many students were eating udon and rice bowl sets. The restaurant was quite crowded, and social distancing was not well maintained. There were many tempting menu items, especially the rice bowl with soft-boiled egg and miso. The burdock root tempura udon also looked delicious. The prices are reasonable, making it a casual dining spot. Thank you for the meal.

Last night, I drank too much at a drinking party and woke up with a slight headache. I rested until the afternoon to recover, and then decided to go out and explore! I visited this place for the first time, planning to attack with a light udon dish! You can park at the adjacent Nana Kuma Family Plaza, and parking is free! The location right in front of Fukuoka University means there are many students around. Personally, I love restaurants that offer great deals for students! The interior was spacious with a counter and tables. You buy your meal ticket at the ticket machine near the entrance, and there are various options to choose from, making it hard to decide. I ordered the "Bukkake Niku Yamaimo" udon with an extra noodle portion. The Bukkake udon can be served hot or cold, and I chose hot this time. The noodles were not as firm as Sanuki udon, but they had a smooth and chewy texture that was delicious. The portion size was good, and the sweet and savory meat with grated yam flavor complemented each other well. The Bukkake broth was soy sauce-based, and the flavor of the broth was also good. The udon arrived in just 10 minutes, and the system where they bring your order to your table and clear it away when you're done was efficient. Overall, the udon was tasty, filling, and had great value for money. The menu has many enticing options that make it a popular spot for students. The restaurant will have changes in operating hours from February due to staff shortage, and it seems they will be closed on Sundays. Despite this, I believe this restaurant will continue to be loved for a long time. Thank you for the meal!

Smooth and refreshing. The noodles are happily tangled with the warm egg and meat. I went during lunchtime, so I lined up at the ticket machine. On this day, I had the cold meat and warm egg over noodles in a large portion for 600 yen. Since it's Chikugo udon, I want to try the warm version someday, but I haven't made it there yet. The curry udon also looks really tempting. But, of course, I had the cold over noodles this time. My companion had the meat miso, which also caught my interest. I must come back again and again and again!!! Lunchtime is always packed with students, so next time, I'll try to go at a different time.

Udon restaurant "Menkuido" in Nanakuma, Fukuoka City. The shop is located right next to Fukuoka University. I visited on a holiday Monday around 11:30 am. The banner near the entrance of the shop reads "Homemade noodles" and "Chikugo udon". Upon entering the shop, I used the ticket machine to select my order and handed the ticket to the staff. I ordered the mentaiko soy sauce udon (tax included 400 yen) and a kashiwa onigiri (tax included 100 yen). When I handed over the ticket, the staff said, "Please choose from the early bird menu." As a first-time visitor, I was a bit confused. It turns out that if you enter by 11:45 am, you can choose one item for free from the following options: extra noodles (1.5 times), seaweed, raw egg, or fried tofu. I chose the raw egg. I enjoyed the kashiwa onigiri and the udon crackers (with seaweed) while waiting for my mentaiko soy sauce udon. The noodles were thin, flat, smooth, chewy, and soft. It was different from the Sanuki style udon. The shop is quite spacious with four 8-seater tables and a long counter. About 80% of the customers when I visited were Fukuoka University students. It seems to be a popular spot among the students. The udon at Menkuido is reasonably priced. Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience. P.S. I drove there and parked in the bowling alley's parking lot next to the shop. By showing the parking ticket at the shop, you can get 2 hours of free parking. This kind of service is great.

When I want to eat udon, I come here recently. Today, I had the cold bukkake udon (380 yen) with extra noodles (50 yen) and tempura topping (100 yen). It's a student-friendly place!!! Cheap, delicious, and fast! I eat here blending in with Fukudai students. The thin, beautiful noodles are swimming in a sea of broth. I usually don't like self-service places, but I like it here. The tempura topping might be a bit too hard. It seems like it's pre-fried. Next time, I want to try the hot udon. Maybe I'll aim for the kashiwa udon. The parking lot next to Nana Kuma Bowl can also be used.

I think this Warm Tamago Katsuobushi Bukkake Udon (580 yen) with extra noodles (50 yen) and topping of burdock tempura (100 yen) is a must-try in Fukuoka for cold noodles. I only found out that it's Chikugo Udon this time, but the thin, beautiful handcrafted noodles are incomparable to other udon shops like Urato, Kasuke, Marukame, etc. Plus, you can get extra noodles for just 50 yen. What a deal! The broth is not too spicy and complements the noodles nicely. I really want to try the hot version someday! There's no point in going to other udon shops. The only downside is that it's a bit hard to get to, and there are only two parking spaces in front of the shop.

When it comes to Chikugo Udon, I have only tried it with dried noodles before. I usually go to places like Makino, Uest, or Wasuke for udon, but I decided to try something different this time. There are 2-3 parking spaces in front of the restaurant, and you can probably park at the nearby Nanakuma Family Plaza as well. As soon as you enter the restaurant, you'll see a wall with a lineup of photos of the menu, and a ticket machine. I chose the Wakame Udon from the ticket machine, and then asked for "Gobo Tempura" by adding 100 yen in cash. It's a bit of a unique system. Inside the restaurant, there are large tables and a row of counter seats by the window. It's easy to eat alone here. Since it was past lunchtime, there were not many students (usually there are a lot), and my order arrived quickly. The broth was almost transparent, and the noodles were flat, not too hard or too soft, and not too thick or too thin, just right in the middle. The soup was almost clear, with a refined taste of kombu dashi. It's a very elegant udon, not the hearty kind you would expect in a student area. It was a udon that you could easily eat even when you don't have much of an appetite. Thank you for the meal!

When it comes to dining near a university, of course, students, especially athletes, tend to prioritize cheap prices and quantity over quality. In the area of Nanakuma in Fukuoka, around Fukuoka University, there are countless dining options, but one of the cheaper options is a place called "Menkudo." For those who are not familiar with the area, it might seem like the restaurant is located inside the Fukuoka University campus. The restaurant is situated between various university buildings, with even the post office named Fukuoka University Mae Branch. The entrance is not easily visible from the main road, so you have to turn at the Fukuoka University Mae Intersection and walk through the buildings to find it. Menkudo operates on a self-service system, where you purchase a meal ticket from a machine, exchange it for your food, and then take care of your dishes after eating. The menu is mainly udon noodles, and the prices are very affordable. The noodles are a bit different from traditional Sanuki udon, with a texture that is neither too soft nor too firm. The flavor is on the lighter side, but you can add soy sauce from the condiments on the table if you prefer a stronger taste. Overall, if you are a Fukuoka University student looking for a budget-friendly and filling meal, Menkudo is a good option.

I saw it in Udon Walker, so I decided to take the subway from Higashi Ward to go there. It's a bit of a walk from the station. I chose the popular warm egg and pork salt udon. You buy the ticket from the machine. It was my first time, so I was a bit confused. I arrived around 11:30, and luckily got extra noodles for free with the early bird discount. I was asked if I wanted it hot or cold, and I said I wanted firm noodles, so it ended up being cold. However, that was a mistake. The bowl was cold, the pork fat was solidified, and it was the worst. It was a bit difficult to eat. I had come from far away and spent a lot of time getting there, so I was even more disappointed. The solidified fat was left white all over the inside of the bowl. I didn't expect that from the pork fat. I think it would have been delicious if it was hot. The udon broth that others were eating looked delicious. I was confused about where to put the tempura bits and condiments, and where to return the dishes. Also, I didn't know what the tube of condiment was, so I accidentally removed the unnecessary wasabi. It was all a bit confusing. When I entered, there were few customers, but when I left, it was full and there were a few people waiting in line. I'm glad I went early!

It's a diverse lineup of dishes.

There are many varieties and the turnover is fast, so the food is delicious.

The noodles have a good firmness.

The noodles and broth were both delicious.

Cheap, delicious, fast.