Tomukun Noodlebar

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Without sounding like an appointed defender, I want to explain why there might be more going on at Tomukun than initially meets the eye (and ears and taste buds). Here are some of the issues you may encounter:

The menu is hard to read. Yes, the type is small, and capitalization stylishly scarce (shall we blame iApple?). A waitress explained that the small words under each entree are ingredients, not options for preparation. "Everyone gets confused about that," she said. Thus, curry udon comes with steak, shrimp, and sauteed vegetables, not your choice among them. We were, however, able to customize a few dishes. Because cuisine here hails from Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, some words could be unfamiliar. But we got satisfactory answers to questions and had less trouble with the menu on each subsequent visit; maybe the fall version of the summer menu we ordered from will correct some of these difficulties. (For the record, "pork belly" is a less processed version of bacon; it's still a guilty pleasure in pork buns and some ramen creations.)

Vegetarians don't have a lot choices, and what about MSG? Only four of the twenty entrees are marked with the little green diamond indicating "vegetarian upon request." But two of the five appetizers are vegetarian as well. (Those who don't eat pork will miss out on the quartet of crispy pan-fried dumplings, a deal at $3.) Vegans may be pleased that dairy is hardly in the house. As for MSG, it is in some of the house-made broths, apparently to varying degrees. Ask for more info if it's important to you.