Vancouver · Japanese
Motonobu Udon
East Hastings handmade Sanuki-style udon from chef Shin Iwamoto; Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2023.
- Price
- $$
- Opened
- 2020
- Neighborhood
- East Hastings / Hastings-Sunrise3501 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V5K 0E5
About
Motonobu Udon opened on East Hastings Street near the PNE on August 11, 2020, as a specialist shop for handmade Sanuki-style udon. Chef-owner Shin Iwamoto, who cooked Italian and French food in Japan and worked at West in Vancouver, builds the noodles from a Canadian flour blend and a family recipe line he traces to his grandmother. Bowls run hot or cold in house dashi, with specialty options such as spicy tanton with braised pork belly and niku toji with braised beef and egg. Michelin has awarded a Bib Gourmand for 2023, 2024, and 2025. Walk-in only; weekday service usually splits lunch and dinner with a mid-afternoon break, so check hours before you go.
Menu highlights
- Handmade Sanuki-style udon (hot or cold)
- House dashi with tempura bits or mentsuyu
- Spicy tanton with braised pork belly
- Niku toji (braised beef and egg)
- Tempura add-ons
- Inari and pressed sushi sides
Diners say
Public reviews praise bouncy handmade noodles, clean dashi, value for a Michelin Bib room, and friendly walk-in service. Recurring themes include lines at peak lunch and dinner, limited evening hours, and a menu that rewards ordering a specialty bowl plus tempura rather than only the cheapest classic. Diners who like it usually want a noodle lunch or early dinner, not an omakase booking.
Review synthesis as of 2026-07-28. Synthesis of recurring themes in public Yelp and Google Maps reviews sampled July 2026; not a rating or ranking. Cross-checked against Michelin Guide, Vancouver Sun, and the restaurant site.