Famished Girl
O Chame
On a rainy or blustery day — as we had this weekend — there are few things that can beat a delicious, steaming bowl of udon noodles from O Chame. I have ordered udon from dozens of restaurant menus, in the Bay Area and in Japan, and as far as I’m concerned, this is as good as it gets.
From the moment I walked into O Chame for a recent lunch stop, I felt relaxed. The warm terra cotta walls and dimly lit dining room has a peaceful vibe to it. There’s a large communal table at the entrance, as well as booths and several smaller tables; in total, about 40 seats.
While there are quite a few good starters to choose from (I love the tuna sashimi), you may want to save your appetite for the udon — which is really the main attraction here. I can’t resist the version with smoked trout, mustard greens and enoki mushrooms. The pork tenderloin is also fantastic. (You can replace the silky udon noodles with soba, but I wouldn’t.)
Service is friendly and efficient — which was perfect for my visit, as I had to get back on Interstate 80 and continue my drive home. But my meal at O Chame proved good for my belly as well as my soul.
O Chame
1830 Fourth Street
Berkeley, CA
(510) 841-8783
Area: Berkeley 