Ittou Noodle Bar is a Japanese restaurant hidden in plain sight, tucked away in a basement down a small alleyway just opposite King’s College. You could easily walk past this spot a dozen times without noticing it, but as any follower of the Cambridge Foodies community knows, this is the city’s worst-kept secret, already being raved about by our fellow foodies.

Once you find the entrance and venture down the winding stairs, you enter a space with minimalist interior. The atmosphere is distinct with dim lighting, which unfortunately made capturing good photos and video challenging (apologies in advance!), and the air is noticeably more humid than outside. However, rather than feeling uncomfortable, this ambience perfectly complements the ‘hidden’ narrative. It felt like stumbling upon a genuine, secret find just for me.

Menu

Considering its central Cambridge location, the prices at Ittou are surprisingly reasonable, with Bibimbap starting at £11.49. The menu features the classics you would expect from a noodle bar, including ramen, tossed wok noodles, rice bowls, a selection of starters, and the pre-mentioned Bibimbap.

Shoyu Ramen Noodles

I started strong with the Shoyu Ramen Noodles – a soy-based dish served with bean sprouts, egg, seaweed, and pork. The broth was thick, comforting, and flavourful. The pork itself was lean, served in generous, juicy chunks. While the size made it slightly challenging to manage with chopsticks and ladle, I couldn’t fault the lovely soft texture and punchy flavour that still cut through the richness of the broth. This dish isn’t about being gourmet or fancy, it is wholesome comfort food and as authentic as it gets, transporting me straight back to traditional noodle bars I used to stumble across while travelling in Japan.

“Spicy Wings Of Love”

I couldn’t resist the Korean Chicken Wings, affectionately named the “Wings of Love.” I was pleased to find they were served boneless, making them easy to eat and adding to the meatiness of the already generous portion. They were served incredibly crispy and slathered in a sauce I suspect was a kimchi mayo. It had a visual and textural similarity to burger sauce but had a much-appreciated spicier yet punchy flavour and was simply delicious.

Dumplings

The chicken dumplings arrived presented on a sleek black ceramic plate with a side of soy sauce. They were perfectly prepared: simple, large, and crispy on the outside while retaining a wonderful softness on the bite. They were consistently packed with chicken and maintained their structural integrity well. This is exactly how a great dumpling should be!

The staff team was an absolute delight and very attentive throughout. Yes, I visited in the middle of the afternoon (as I hear it gets rather crowded during peak hours) so it was very quiet but they didn’t dither. When I asked you the bill, it came straight out. No fuss, no muss!

The true hidden gem of Cambridge

Ittou Noodle Bar is genuinely the true hidden gem of Cambridge. Situated literally across the road from King’s College, it delivers an authentic noodle bar experience with great portion sizes, bold flavours, and excellent value. The exciting element of discovery only adds to its charm, making it a must-visit destination for casual diners and hardened foodies alike.

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