We Tried The Viral Flat Udon At This New VivoCity Restaurant Instead Of Flying To Tokyo

Kyo Komachi is a new restaurant with flat udon at VivoCity

Japanese restaurants are a dime a dozen in Singapore. But when one serves up the viral handmade Himokawa udon—an ultra-wide, flat noodle beloved in Gunma Prefecture—you can bet our interest is piqued, given that it’s not the most common Japanese dish you can find here. A new kid on the block at VivoCity is Kyo Komachi, a brand under Japan Food Holdings, which also owns Ajisen Ramen, Tokyo Shokudo and more.

This new eatery takes pride in its freshly made flat udon, served in a variety of broths and sauces. But is Kyo Komachi worth braving the weekend crowd for, or is it just another run-of-the-mill Japanese restaurant? We dropped by to find out.

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Food at Kyo Komachi

Their signature Kimokawa Udon ($12.90++) marked the start of our meal. 

About 10 to 15 pieces of silky noodles were served on a huge wooden plate. 

The first thing that caught our eyes was the icy-cold water the noodles were soaked in; it was a nice attention to detail, as the noodles remained smooth and chewy without sticking to one another. Don’t leave your noodles out too long, though, or you’ll lose that optimal QQ bite.

Not to worry about any excess water, as a small metal sieve is provided to drain it out before you dip your noodles in their sauces. For sauces, choose from the likes of rich Curry,  sweet-salty Shoyu, or nutty Sesame. We went for the latter two, since we were expecting a curry dish later on in our meal.

We found the Sesame sauce a tad salty, and almost mistook it for peanut sauce midway through because of its rich, nutty fragrance. Since there wasn’t any soup, protein, or veggies to balance it out, the dish turned jelak pretty quickly.

The Shoyu fared better. It was lighter and more balanced, which was a refreshing contrast to the heavier flavours of sesame.

We then tried the curry dish, which was a collective favourite at the dining table. The Signature White Curry Udon ($12.90++) is a fun twist on your typical curry udon, where each bowl is served with their house-made espuma-style mousse—essentially a light, airy foam that enhances the dish with a smooth and delicate texture.

Stir your udon into the warm Japanese curry, and you’ll get a mix of creamy, sweet, and savoury in every spoonful. Despite being out for a while, our noodles remained pleasantly chewy—a huge plus in our books.

It was a delicious dish overall, with our only gripe being that there were only about five thin slices of beef. That said, each piece was tender with just the right amount of sweetness.

On a rainy day, go for the Nabeyaki Udon ($16.90++) instead.

Let me talk about what I liked first: the semi-clear beef stock was light on the tastebuds but also carried a rich umami fragrance. Here’s a tip: let your beef simmer in the soup for a while so that your soup becomes extra robust and flavourful.

The beef leaned towards the chewier side, likely comprising tendon or soft bone cuts.

As for the udon, it comes pre-cooked, so we recommend dunking it in the hot soup for just a few seconds for a springy, elastic texture.

A small bowl of sesame sauce is served on the side, perfect for those who want to zhng up their udon with a deeply roasted, earthy flavour.

Unfortunately, I was a tad disappointed with the ingredients served. There was a baby corn, a prawn, half a shiitake mushroom, and a small handful of tau gay that felt more like plate fillers than thoughtful additions. It would have been great if a simple ingredient, say an egg, had been added.

For every main, you can top up $2++ for a side dish. Options include Fried Ebi Mayo, California Maki, and a bowl of Mini Beef Curry Gohan. 

We tried the former two and fell in love, particularly with the Fried Ebi Mayo, which was deep-fried then doused in a creamy-tangy mayo sauce. We appreciated that the prawns were plump and bouncy too.

The California Maki wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. The sushi rice was soft overall, but we bit into a few random hardened grains.

Food aside, we had their Berry Grape Soda ($7.90++), which tasted like a fizzy raspberry drink—something you can probably imagine even without trying. The Peach Green Tea ($7.90++) was unsweetened, making it a great palate cleanser to cut through the richness of your Sesame or Curry sauce.

Ambience at Kyo Komachi

Located on the first level of VivoCity megamall, the cosy restaurant holds about 35 diners at once. It’s adorned with wooden furniture and olive green tones, exuding a clean, minimalist vibe typical of modern Japanese restaurants. Warm lighting adds to the casual dining atmosphere, making it a great spot to grab a quick meal or catch up with friends.

Better yet, their udon-making station sits right at the entrance, so you can experience how your noodles are made right before your eyes.

Kyo Komachi – Eatbook review

Considering how expensive Japanese restaurants in Singapore are, Kyo Komachi offers quite a good deal for diners looking for a decent meal without splurging. The next time I’m in the area, this new restaurant will come to mind. I’m keen on trying their other items too!

For more wallet-friendly Japanese food in Singapore, check out Kyoto Ramen Hachicken in Chinatown for their $4.90++ ramen. Alternatively, for those travelling to Japan soon, check out the best Tokyo convenient stall foods.

Address: 1 Harbourfront Walk, #01-99, VivoCity, Singapore 098585
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Website
Kyo Komachi is not a halal-certified eatery but serves no pork or lard.

Kyoto Ramen Hachicken Has $4.90++ Ramen At Chinatown Point

Photos taken by Paula Formantes.
This was a media tasting at Kyo Komachi.