This is a personal story, but one of the restaurants that sparked my interest in "food exploration." Located in Higashiyama, Kyoto. In the past, I was brought here by someone I admire, and I was surprised to see a line forming an hour before opening on a weekday. It was a good memory where I learned about the "difficulty," "depth," and "enjoyment" of seeking food. In December, I came to winter Kyoto with a friend who loves coffee, and we decided to visit on their suggestion. I was prepared to wait in line based on past experiences, but upon checking the restaurant's information again, it seemed that they had changed to a system of "9:00 am on the day - simultaneous reservations." It was already past 11 o'clock. Thinking it might be difficult, I called on a whim, and to my surprise, they had a cancellation and said it was okay for an evening reservation. "Well, since we're here," I made a reservation. We arrived at the front of the restaurant 10 minutes before the reserved time. There was no line, just a few people waiting near the store around the same reservation time as us. It's different now. But this way, there's no need to wait outside for a long time, and it's comfortable as long as you can make a reservation. Just about the reserved time, the staff came out and called out the reservation holders. Then we were handed the menu to consider our orders. Each item was introduced with a photo in detail, making it hard to choose. I hesitated a lot, but my eyes stopped at the "Zaru Udon with Burdock" (1,050 yen). Looking back, this was the menu that I ordered and was impressed by when I first came here. Yes, let's go with this. A little over 10 minutes from the reserved time. Finally, we were guided into the restaurant. We were invited to a corner of the counter seats. The interior that impressed my friend as "stylish." A tasteful Japanese-style decor. The familiar male staff member (probably the manager?) was energetically cooking as before. It felt nostalgic. A little over 5 minutes after being seated, it was served on a wooden tray with character. The first thing we tried was, of course, the "udon"! Look at that shine! It looked divine to my eyes. Each one was long, so they were cut into easy-to-eat lengths with what looked like tongs. Dip it into the broth with condiments and slurp. ...Mmm, amazing! The chewy outer layer. Not just the texture, but as you get closer to the center, the surprising "firmness"! It's not just that the "boiling" is sweet. The udon itself has this "strength"! I've had udon in various places over the years since I first tried it, but the more I eat, the more I keenly feel the greatness of the udon here. Truly impressive. Next, the "Burdock" was served tempura-style. This was also amazing. A moist texture, packed with juiciness and umami. This meaty feeling is practically meat. At this moment, it's almost like it deserves the nickname "meat of the field" instead of soybeans. I felt like I was witnessing the "breath of the earth." When I tried it with a bit of "curry salt" on the side, this spice enhanced various flavors. The seasoning was just right. Delicious!! My friend ordered the "Pork Udon with Aromatic Oil" (1,200 yen). The scent of oil from next to me constantly teased my nostrils. My friend also said, "It was delicious." For dessert, almond jelly. It was a complimentary service from the manager. Come to think of it, I remember having it before. A refreshing sweetness, perfect for the end. Finished every bit. When leaving, the same staff member (probably the manager?) bid farewell to each customer. Courteous. I am thoroughly satisfied. This is undoubtedly a top-notch restaurant! The firmness of the udon here is unparalleled in the udon world. With the same-day reservation system, the threshold seems to have become lower, making it easier to recommend to everyone, and I definitely want to come back again.

They accept same-day phone reservations starting at 9:00. I called about 50 times starting at 9:00 and finally got through around 9:40. Despite the constant incoming calls, the service was very polite. I ordered the Zaru Udon with Tororo (¥1,200-). They mentioned that due to the long noodles, you can cut them to your liking with scissors. The noodles had a very strong texture which I liked. However, not only the udon but also the Tororo was exceptionally delicious. Lastly, I also had almond jelly which was also tasty. At the end of the meal, someone from the kitchen came out specifically to thank us, providing exceptional service. Overall, it was the best udon experience I've had, including the service.

Yamamoto Menkurou. When I visited for lunch 8 years ago, I lined up with little interest and got incredibly frustrated waiting for udon. Since then, I heard they started accepting phone reservations and became more accessible, so I tried calling right at 9 am when reservations opened, but couldn't get through, like a telekura. Still, I persisted, calling relentlessly with two phones, and on the 34th attempt, one call miraculously got through, and I managed to secure a reservation for 1:30 pm. When I arrived at the reserved time, I could enter without waiting. Despite the weather making me hesitate between hot and cold, I ordered the "Red Menkurou Special." The noodles had a strong chewiness that tired my jaw, providing a satisfying bite. The tempura of burdock root and fried rice cake were also delicious. It seems the prices have gone up slightly, but at 1400 yen, it's still a bargain. I also thought the attentive service was excellent. I've been to various udon shops and become a udon enthusiast since my last visit, but... this might be my favorite udon place. "Red Menkurou Special" 1400 yen.

My favorite udon restaurant in Japan. It's summer, so I usually have cold zaru udon, but I really wanted to eat the red Menkura Special here, so I ate hot udon sweating profusely. Still delicious as always. The staff are all friendly. They've raised the prices a bit.