What a hidden gem! This cozy spot makes their own udon noodles, which are delightfully chewy and fresh. As a bonus, they serve these addictive baked udon chips dusted with flavorful curry seasoning -- seriously next-level snacking. Parking was surprisingly easy, and while the restaurant is small and unassuming, it has a warm, welcoming vibe. We added our name to the list and were seated in about 15 minutes -- not bad at all! Service was friendly, quick, and genuinely thoughtful -- it really added to the experience. We ordered two shabu shabu udons (spicy level 2 -- just the right kick!) and an order of chicken karaage. Total came to $55.88, which felt fair for the quality and portions. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the food and ambiance. I'll definitely be back to explore more of the menu!

I've been here a couple times and I thought the udon was good but not amazing. The cold soba on the other hand, is amazing. Really awesome. Def the thing to order here. Both times the service is really super friendly. Also tried the squid legs and they're good but not amazing. Would def come back to try everything else on the menul

This place just happened to be one block from where I was visiting friends. Oh my goodness. They opened at 5:30pm, we got there at 5:15 to put our name in, there were already three parties ahead of us. By the time they opened, there were 10 parties waiting. Get there early! The food was on point. I was worried when I saw my friend's mom had ordered medium spicy and her broth was RED, but they explained it was the way the broth was made, not indicative of the spiciness. Whew! She said it was fine - it "looked spicier than it was." The karaage and mixed tempura were both very delicious. The beef shabu shabu udon was excellent for me, and everyone enjoyed their bowls. Success, and a great find!

Meiji Seimen has been my favorite comfort spot for delicious udon for a long time now! Finally leaving them a review because they deserves all the best rating! My go-to order at Meiji Seimen would be the beef shabu shabu udon pair with their karaage fried chicken! Trust me, this is the best combo that will get you stuff! It's hearty and fills with protein! The broth here is my favorite because it is clean and flavorful without having too much seasoning. You can really taste the good broth and the beef! Their karaage is fried to perfection and go so well with their tomato dipping sauce. They recently open another location, but I think the Costa Mesa will always be my favorite because of the vibe and the amazing service! The staff here is so friendly and welcoming every time I was there! It is on the smaller side, but supper cozy! I recommend joining their Yelp waitlist beforehand and then check in with the iPad at the front when you get there! There might be a little wait depending on the time you go, but I would say their food is so amazing that it's worth a little wait!!

Came as a party of two on a Saturday afternoon. There were already a few parties ahead of us waiting outside. TIP: Get on the waitlist on Yelp as soon as possible! I'm not sure if it helps, but it definitely can't hurt. Ambiance This is a tiny shop packed with tables, so it's a bit tight, and I could hear all the conversations happening around me. However, the interior design reminded me of Japan, which I found quite charming. And honestly, to keep the line moving, I don't mind sitting in a smaller space. Food Karaage - Total slam dunk. Nice, big, juicy pieces with a breading that wasn't too thick. It was so fresh it almost burned my mouth. Shabu shabu udon (spicy) - Solid choice! There was a lot of meat in the bowl, which I appreciated, and the udon was fresh, slurpable, and had a nice chew. Service Very attentive and made sure everyone was served efficiently. Overall I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but I enjoyed my meal and had a great time!

Super duper cute atmosphere, feels very Japanese! Def recommend placing yourself on the online waitlist before coming and timing it correctly so you don't have to wait. We did this and had 10min to wait which wasn't bad! The service was fast and friendly. I got the shabu udon noodles and my boyfriend got the curry udon noodles. We each got medium spice and it was perfect. Will be coming back again!

Great food and service. Soba is simply brilliant and the same as what we have had in Japan in our previous visits.

Meiji Seimen has absolutely taken the #1 spot for my go to udon place. If you're thinking about trying this place, don't hesitate - you won't regret it. They get busy pretty fast, so make sure to join the waitlist. Once seated, staff is super efficient and quick. The place is not super huge, and it reminds me of the little restaurants we visited in Japan! Curry udon - Perfect spice level. The flavor is so amazing and delicious. In my experience, finding a good curry is hard to come by - either it's too light, too spicy, etc. But this was perfect! Kitsune udon - My go-to order for udon is the kitsune; I've tried a lot before, but this was my most favorite that I've tried so far. The broth is so flavorful yet refreshing, and the kitsune had a sweet flavor. Shrimp tempura - The batter was so light and airy, and the shrimp was not overcooked, unlike many different tempura shops. It remained juicy, while the outside was crisp and light. Fried squid legs - This was probably our least favorite item. The taste was great, however, it was overcooked, so it was a bit tough and rubbery. We might skip this the next time we come here. Fried chicken (not pictured) - This was one of the best things we tried. This paired so well with the udons, and it was amazingly crisp and juicy. DO NOT skip this! TLDR - It's amazing. HIGHLY recommend!

Shabu Shabu udon w beef - broth light yet flavorful, thinly sliced beef lean and practically covered my udon bowl, udon noodles perfectly chewy and soaked the broth well. Super hearty and satisfying. Karaage- crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside. Came out piping hot - batter light and perfectly seasoned, served with this spicy sauce. Came at opening hour for dinner and there was already multiple people waiting at the door. We did have to check in on their Yelp kiosk for a party of 2 but were seated almost immediately. Staff friendly and food came out quick. Easy parking.