Hanamaru Udon (Toranomon-ten)

Fast Food Udon in Tokyo's Civic Center

There are some great fast food noodle places in Japan--after all, once all of the prep work is done for the soup and toppings, it's just a matter of boiling the noodles. Hanamaru Udon is a chain that takes the efficiency of noodle-making and offers customers the chance to customize their dishes with myriad toppings and broth options. I don't recommend visiting this store at lunch time on a weekday if you are new to the Hanamaru shops, since it is packed and nobody is interested in waiting behind someone who is trying to learn all of the different options available (and there are a lot). However, if you are in Tokyo's civic center and want to grab a customizable noodle meal during off-peak hours, then Hanamaru presents a good option. It's also great if you are in touring with visitors who are picky eaters, since the restaurant allows you full customization of your meal unlike most standard noodle places.