Sanuki Udon Shop (Takamatsu)
Sanuki is the old name for Kagawa Prefecture, which sits on the northern point of Shikoku. Its modern day use is not to describe Kagawa but to describe noodles. Sanuki Udon is a famous variation of udon in Japan. In fact, it is probably the main variant of udon today due to its popularity. You can get udon everywhere in Japan but the Sanuki style is the best, in my own personal opinion. It is cooked in an al dente style creating a chewier texture compared to regular udon. Some people don’t enjoy this but I do. It is difficult to keep this texture of udon so it is often better to have it in a cold broth rather than a hot one. I do enjoy hot udon noodles but the cold broth makes it taste much better for me as the texture is retained. There are several different shops where you can eat Sanuki Udon around Japan with the most famous being the Marugame or Hanamaru udon chains. Both are large chains with their own udon. Marugame is probably the more famous of the two due to their popularity and growth outside of Japan. Marugame has shops all over Japan including shops in China, Hong Kong, Australia, and Russia. They make all of their udon on site and require all of their shops to have a Japanese style of service. It was interesting to see the Taiwan branch having a special discount for people who use the standing bar counter to eat. The typical standing and eating style of restaurant is not popular in Taiwan so they created a discount for people who would like to do that. Hanamaru is also a famous chain, but unlike Marugame, Hanamaru is originally from Takamatsu. Marugame is originally from Hyogo. Both are good shops and wherever you go in Japan you will be able to get authentic Sanuki Udon if you go to either of these shops.
Bukkake Udon
Kagawa is of course well known for udon and it is possible to find udon everywhere you go. It isn’t difficult to find a shop but if you want regular udon, any chain shop is good. I went to a small udon shop near Takamatsu Station. I don’t know the full name but it was Sanuki Udon. It was a simple shop that closed early, a little too early so I couldn’t always get udon when I wanted it. They had your typical udon but I always order the bukkake udon because it can have cold broth. It is very simple as it has daikon oroshi, green onions, and a lemon wedge. It is refreshing, but works better on hot days. One word or advice, avoid getting the large bowl as it was too much for most people, including me and I it was a bit of a chore to eat the whole thing. It was delicious nonetheless. Thankfully you can try udon at many other places too but the most famous places usually have a line of people outside as well as being in an area where you would likely have to drive to get there. I personally won’t go too far just for udon but if I’m in the area I would try it. I don’t mind eating udon almost every day but unfortunately due to my schedule in Takamatsu, I only had it once. Getting udon for dinner is not very popular so I just couldn’t do it as often as I would have liked. If you are in Takamatsu, or Kagawa, you must eat udon at least once. If you are not, you can try to have udon if you go to one of the famous chains in Japan and you won’t be disappointed.
Information:
- Sanuki Udon (Wikipedia)
- Hanamaru Udon (Japanese)
- Marugame Udon (English)
- Marugame Udon (Japanese)
Funny how you say that the Marugame chain is probably the best known, most widespread. I have never heard of it. π
Maybe it’s not in Kagawa?
However, while I tend to avoid chain restaurants in general, Hanamaru is a favorite of mine. There are better udon restaurants in Kagawa, but there are also worse ones, so it’s also a safe and still very good choice; the popularity of udon and udon tourism is such that there are probably too many udon restaurants in the prefecture, including some that are not that good.
I don’t know the restaurant you went to (I’ve probably passed by in front of it many times without paying attention).
My favorite downtown is at the corner of Hyogomachi and Chuo-dori (right next to my favorite Katsudon restaurant, aways a tough choice when I have lunch in the area), although you have to get there early, not as much because of the crowds, but because they make the tempura pretty early in one batch, so it gets cold after a while. The make the udon on site though and it’s always delicious.
I did mention Marugame is from Hyogo. π I think they have shops in Kagawa. I should double check, but it is definitely more famous outside of Takamatsu. They are the largest udon shop in Japan now.
Next time I’m in Takamatsu, I’ll give that shop a try. I doubt I’d be able to have it in the morning though, so a night time udon is a must. Especially since I’ll probably be visiting all of the art sites in the day. π
Yes you did, but I found interesting that I had never heard about it, and I can’t think of any in Kagawa.
The restaurant I’m mentioning is closed at night though, but there are a few in the neighborhood that are open, including Hanamaru almost next door, and a more “restaurant type” (with waiters and such) in Hyogomachi too, but I forgot where exactly.
Actually, there are 4 shops in Takamatsu.
http://www.toridoll.com/shop/search/list?area=%E5%9B%9B%E5%9B%BD&prefecture=%E9%A6%99%E5%B7%9D
When I return, I won’t go to Hanamaru. Just too big of a chain and I can get it here in Tokyo. I’ll have to ask for a different recommendation next time as I’ll more than likely be going at night. π Who knows though, right? Maybe I’ll get another opportunity sooner than later.
I see. Two are in the shopping malls. I see where is the third one, but it’s an area where I rarely go, and the fourth one… Well, I ride my bike in front of it almost every morning to go to work…. Whoops…. I just had no idea of the name, I may or may not have seen “δΈΈδΊ” on it, but if I did, I didn’t think twice as it’s also the name of a city in Kagawa.
And yeah, it’s better that you ask me for recommendations shortly before coming back (when you know where you’ll stay and such)
Will do. Wonder if the one near your ride to work has Marugame on it… π
Will I get kicked off Γ la Facebook if I vote for hΕtΕ udon from Yamanashi? π
You might get a swift hip check, but I wouldn’t kick you off. π
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2WHmijaPRw
I think I showed this video to you before though…
oooo yumm!
we only went to Hanamaru because it look the least “frightening” for first timers eating sanuki udon. ;p
It is pretty safe. I just wouldn’t do it because there are too many here in Tokyo. When I go there, I want something unique… well as unique as I can get.