Tsurumaru is a chain of udon restaurants that I love when I need to grab a quick bite. I find myself often going to the Shinbashi branch as they are open early in the morning, from 7 a.m. It’s a great spot for a quick meal anytime of the day.
The flour for the udon noodles is from Japan. Pre-cooked noodles are boiled after each order is placed and have a nice texture and flavor. The dashi used for the broth includes katsuo (skipjack tuna), saba (Pacific mackerel), and niboshi (dried sardines). It is a delicate broth that is rich in umami.
The basic bowl of noodles is only 200 JPY. There are many types of tempura to use as toppings. I love this vegetable kakiage which is a melange of vegetables fried up in a cake. With my chopsticks I break it up and take a bit with the noodles.
As a standing restaurant there are no chairs. It takes a little while getting used to standing and slurping. Once the bowl cools down you can pick it up and slurp some of the broth. It’s a fun and very local experience.
Tsurumaru つるまる饂飩
Minato-ku, Shinbashi 1-8-6 港区新橋1-8-6
Other branches include:
港区虎ノ門2-4-1 Minato-ku, Toranomon 2-4-1
渋谷区恵比寿南1-1-12 Shibuya-ku, Ebisu-Minami 1-1-12
渋谷区代々木2-11-12 Shibuya-ku, Yoyogi 2-11-12 (near Shinjuku station)
Food Sake Tokyo 
Looks good. Yearn for it on a cold morning. Thanks.
Yes, so for the next few months….