Chef Sean “Sonny” Nguyen will open Udon Fifty (Instagram | Website), a 10-seat counter serving housemade Kanto-style udon, on Thursday, October 22, in Orlando’s Mills 50 district.
The restaurant is at 1222 E. Colonial Drive [GMap], in the former Dochi Donuts space, and the soft opening is expected to feature counter-service only, with a grand opening at a later date, which will add an eight-seat dining area and bring the total dining capacity to 18.
The menu centers on freshly made udon in umami-rich dashi broths typical of eastern Japan, along with made-to-order tempura and small plates. The press release describes the space as a traditional “mom-and-pop” Tokyo setting with a modern twist, where diners sit directly across from the cooking action.
Nguyen is the chef and restaurateur behind DOMU and Tori Tori, and he trained under Master Soba Chef Shuichi Kotani in New York, learning hand-crafting techniques for ramen, udon and soba. He says his approach is guided by Shokunin, the Japanese philosophy of dedication to craft and continuous refinement.
Nguyen planned Udon Fifty as a pop-up inside Tori Tori (which itself started as a pop-up concept) back in March 2020, but the pandemic put it on hold. The recipes and techniques stayed in the “vault” for six years, according to the press release.
Udon Fifty is Nguyen’s third concept in Mills 50, following Tori Tori and Edoboy. The neighborhood has personal roots for him. His parents immigrated to Florida in the early 1980s, worked in citrus groves and Winter Haven kitchens, and later opened three Chinese buffets and an American steakhouse. Nguyen grew up in those kitchens. For his family, Mills 50 was an anchor for the Vietnamese immigrant community.
“Food is such a huge way we stay connected to culture,” Nguyen said in the press release. “Growing up around Mills50 and watching this community evolve, it means everything to be part of the next generation of business owners adding to the neighborhood. Udon Fifty is both a tribute to the Mills50 neighborhood and an homage to the art of udon, built on years of studying traditional Japanese craftsmanship.”
Soft opening hours are Thursday and Friday from 4 to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. for lunch and 4 to 9 p.m. for dinner. The restaurant is closed Monday through Wednesday and also closed Thursday, October 29, for a private event.
Full details and updates are available on Instagram at @udonfifty.
