Chitose-Karasuyama Station!! The shopping street is quite lively with delicious restaurants and bars, so I decided to visit after not coming for a while. I used to come here occasionally, mostly for drinks, so it's been a while since I visited during the day. As I wandered through the shopping street, I started feeling hungry. It was already past lunchtime, but I found a nice udon restaurant along the street. Unfortunately, their lunch hours had ended, but I found another udon restaurant nearby and decided to try their cold udon with tempura. The broth was flavorful, the noodles were chewy, and the tempura was crispy and delicious. Overall, it was a satisfying meal. I look forward to trying other udon dishes like beef udon or spicy cod roe udon next time.

Located about 3 minutes north of the Musashikarasuyama Station (Keio Line), this udon specialty restaurant has a rating of 3.43 on Tabelog as of 2023.5. Despite the relatively low score, it is actually a very popular spot. The restaurant operates only during the day (from 11:00 to 15:00), which may explain the limited number of reviews. During my visit on a weekend around 2:00 PM, the place was bustling with customers. The basic options like "kake udon," "bukkake udon," and "zaru udon" are priced at 500 yen for 300g of noodles. You can opt for a smaller portion (200g) for a 100 yen discount, or a larger portion (400g) for a 100 yen surcharge. Toppings like beef, tempura, grated yam, seaweed, and fried tofu come at an additional cost. They also offer unique options like curry udon for 700 yen and mentaiko butter udon for 850 yen. I tried the tempura bukkake udon in a small portion for 850 yen, which came with a generous serving of tempura including shrimp, pumpkin, shiitake mushroom, eggplant, and green pepper. The tempura was slightly heavy on the batter but freshly fried and satisfying. The udon had a good texture and taste, reminiscent of Sanuki udon. While I found the broth a bit sharp, overall, I was pleased with the meal. Condiments like tenkasu and ginger are complimentary upon request, while grated daikon radish incurs an extra charge. The restaurant is cozy but lacks a serene dining ambiance. They provide full service, although you need to get your own water and hand towel. Payment is accepted in cash or through PayPay. Prices have increased compared to a year ago, but it still remains reasonably priced.

I had curry udon for 700 yen at "Mugikou" in Sengoku Karasuyama. It's a Sanuki udon shop on the north side of the station. The curry udon has a creamy taste because it has cream in it. The curry broth with onions and pork is mildly spicy. The semi-transparent noodles are on the softer side for Sanuki udon. It was a bit busy with about half the seats filled even though it was a Saturday around 11 am.

Around 2:00 PM on January 7, 2023, feeling hungry after lunchtime had passed, I decided to head out. As I ran, my feet led me towards Chitose-Karasuyama. I remembered there was a Kyoto ramen shop there, so I crossed the railroad tracks and arrived at the store. I hesitated for a moment about going in and started to take a stroll. That's when I spotted a Sanuki udon shop. It reminded me of when I climbed Mt. Kibune carrying my baby about 10 years ago. That was the peak of my physical strength. Without researching anything, I entered "Mugikou" and ordered the "Zaru Udon + Additional 300g + Grated Daikon (500 yen + 300 yen + 30 yen)." By the way, the Zaru Udon is 300g, so a total of 600g. The interior of the store is very clean and simple, probably because there are many female staff members who have a good sense of style. After about 5 minutes, my meal arrived. It was beautifully presented. It looked like a total of 600g after boiling. It seems like it would be delicious with a butter topping if served hot. The udon was smooth and chewy, very tasty. However, there wasn't much difference in taste when eaten cold. The dipping sauce was just right in terms of flavor. If you want to be full, I recommend getting the Zaru Udon with an additional 500g. Thank you for the meal.

When it comes to Sanuki udon, I have memories of visiting quite a few Sanuki udon shops back when I was working in Okayama from April 2013 to March 2014. My job at the time involved a lot of business trips to the 9 prefectures in the Chugoku region, so I would sometimes visit Kagawa Prefecture for work and be taken to Sanuki udon shops by locals. Additionally, on weekends, I would often visit Kagawa Prefecture, mainly in Sakaide which was convenient to travel from Okayama, and enjoy visiting different Sanuki udon shops. During that year, I visited a total of 57 Sanuki udon shops, as recorded on Tabelog. However, at present, almost 40% of those shops (22 in total) have closed down or are no longer listed, indicating the tough conditions in the industry. There have been various trends and booms surrounding Sanuki udon, leading to the emergence of nationwide chains and influencing individual shops. Moreover, with the recent rise in prices affecting key ingredients like wheat flour, the business environment has become even more challenging. Succession issues have also been a longstanding problem for many Sanuki udon shops, especially those run as family businesses. Despite the challenges, I have heard that many shops are working hard to preserve this traditional local cuisine. Today, I visited a Sanuki udon shop in Chitose-Karasuyama on the Keio Line in Tokyo. There are not many individual Sanuki udon shops in Tokyo, but this shop opened in December 2013, marking its 10th year. With 59 reviews and a rating of 3.43 on Tabelog, it seems to be doing reasonably well. The location used to be a yakiniku restaurant called "Kaika-tei," but it seems the owner completely changed the concept to open an udon shop. While there is a similarly named shop in Kagawa Prefecture (Bakuka in Marugame City), there appears to be no connection between them. The access to this shop is about a 2-3 minute walk from the west exit of Chitose-Karasuyama Station on the Keio Line. The shop opens at 11:00 am, and I arrived around 11:10 am. The interior has counter seating for 5, facing tables for 6, and 9 table seats at the back, accommodating a total of 20 people. I ordered the Hiyatsu (cold noodles with warm broth) Bukkake Udon with a large serving for 500 yen, along with Kakiage tempura for 250 yen and Chikuwa tempura for 120 yen, totaling 970 yen. The prices are relatively affordable compared to other Sanuki udon shops in Tokyo. The food arrived in about 4 minutes, and the Hiyatsu Bukkake Udon was served in a bowl with cold noodles and warm broth.

Long time no see, I'll rate the Megusuri (★3 out of 5) here: Udon (noodles) - ★Smooth texture, but lacks the firmness and chewiness of Sanuki udon. 1.5 out of 5. Gyoza (dumplings) - ★Chicken tempura is made from breast meat or tenderloin, thin and soggy. Difficult to eat as it doesn't cut cleanly. 1.5 out of 5. Soup - ★Lack of flavor from dried young sardines. A tingling sensation on the tongue might be from MSG? Overall rating - ★1.5. More like regular Kansai udon than Sanuki udon. It seems that most people in Shikoku prefer udon with tempura rather than plain noodles, so the scoring may seem harsh as I compared the same menu item. If serving flat tempura, it might be more considerate to cut it for easier eating. Otherwise, customers have to either take a big bite or place the whole piece on top. I was a bit surprised to find lotus root attached to the tray.

I arrived at the restaurant 30 minutes after it opened. It was a Saturday and there was already a line, but luckily I was seated at a single table that had just opened up. I debated between getting the Ume Oroshi Bukkake or the Tempura Bukkake, but I was really craving tempura so I ordered that with grated daikon on top. You can choose to have the noodles and broth for the Bukkake Udon hot or cold, and I prefer cold noodles so I ordered mine cold. The tempura was crispy and delicious, especially the shrimp and shiitake mushrooms. The noodles had a great texture, typical of Sanuki Udon. I believe noodles with good texture, like Sanuki Udon, are better cold than hot. I didn't linger after finishing my meal, as there was no need to. As I left the restaurant, the line had gotten even longer. Next time, I'll try the Ume Oroshi Bukkake! Thank you for the meal.

Bukkake (chilled) Mochi Tempura - a recommended restaurant by a friend. The broth is extremely delicious, made with a combination of kelp and bonito flakes. It has a gentle yet deep flavor that makes you want to keep drinking it. The noodles have a good texture and are easy to eat. The Mochi Tempura is delicious when eaten with salt. It's great that you can have it without any toppings for only 500 yen. It's a fantastic value for the price. I'm happy to have found a restaurant I want to come back to. Thank you for the meal!

Last time I ordered the cold and hot bukkake udon, so this time I ordered a large serving of zaru udon with tempura. The udon had a nice texture and the tempura was freshly fried and very delicious. The menu also includes curry udon and mentaiko udon, so I would like to try other items as well.

The dashi here is incredibly delicious, so I often used to order the hot udon. However, due to the heat today, I opted for the cold bukkake udon. I also added tempura chicken and fish cake. The udon was smooth and chewy, with a great texture that went down smoothly. The flavor of the wheat was brought out perfectly. It was a long time since I enjoyed such delicious udon. The tempura chicken was thinly spread out and fried quickly, which I found to be excellent. It was just so delicious. I want to go back again soon!

At the only Sanuki udon restaurant "Bakko" in Chitose-Karasuyama Station, despite being located in the upscale area of Setagaya Ward, they faithfully serve authentic Sanuki udon in a down-to-earth manner! The interior is bustling with local customers just 15 minutes after opening at 11:45. The counter seating faces the wall, typical of udon shops in Kagawa. There are also family-friendly table seats at the back. [Order] Bukkake udon (cold) 450 yen Extra noodles 80 yen Tempura 200 yen The dishes arrived in 5-6 minutes. The shiny, fresh noodles are topped with cold dashi! The noodles have a great chewy texture. The dashi made with dried bonito, sardines, and kelp is slightly dark and sweet, with a rich flavor leaning towards Kanto-style. The tempura ingredients include vegetables as well as small shrimp, small fish, onions, carrots, and chrysanthemum greens, providing a crispy and juicy texture. Thank you for the meal.

Semi-donburi beef udon for ¥860, large serving for an extra ¥80. I didn't know there was such a nice place in Chitose-Karasuyama, my second home ground that I use all the time! I must have passed by hundreds of times, but I didn't even notice the existence of this restaurant. It seems to be open only during the day. Thanks to my friend for letting me know about it. Sanuki udon has a good texture and a very refreshing taste. Even with five kinds of tempura on top, it's not even a thousand yen, which is a great price. You can choose from various options of hot or cold udon, making it perfect for everyday use. I wish I had a place like this in my neighborhood! #Chitose-Karasuyama Gourmet #Mugiko #Mugiko Udon #Sanuki Udon #Semi-donburi Beef Udon #Personal Gourmet Memo #Food Diary #Fluke Certified Ambassador

Setagaya-ku Minami Karasuyama Sanuki Udon Mugioka rarely posts in the local series, but for some reason, I felt like having udon so I went to Mugioka. There are many female customers here. I ordered the tempura bukkake for 900 yen, with a large serving for an additional 80 yen, half-cooked egg for 110 yen, and a beer (medium bottle, Ichiban Shibori). The tempura included shrimp, eggplant, pumpkin, shiitake mushroom, and shishito peppers in a 5-piece assortment. I remember thinking I never wanted to eat tempura again after having amazing tempura in Hanno some time ago. The eggplant was large and satisfying to eat. Of course, everything was freshly fried and delicious. The staff were also soft-spoken and friendly. Thank you for the meal.

Located about 3 minutes from Tawaramachi Station on the Keio Line, this udon specialty shop has a rating of 3.43 on Tabelog as of March 2022. The low score may be due to its limited operating hours (11:00-15:00) and relatively few reviews (44). I visited around 2:00 pm on a weekend and saw a steady stream of customers coming in. The basic options like "kake udon," "bukkake," and "zaru udon" are priced at 450 yen, with 300g of noodles. You can opt for a smaller portion (200g) for 80 yen less, or a larger one (400g) for an additional 80 yen. I appreciate the pricing based on portion size, unlike many ramen shops where the price remains the same for larger servings. Toppings like beef, tempura, grated yam, seaweed, and fried tofu come at an extra cost. They also offer unique options like curry udon for 600 yen and mentaiko butter udon for 600 yen. I tried the seaweed bukkake for 560 yen plus grated daikon for an extra 30 yen, minus the small portion discount, totaling 510 yen. The 200g portion was satisfying for me. The udon noodles were firm with a good chewiness. The broth for the bukkake contained a mix of dried bonito, mackerel shavings, kombu, and dark soy sauce, giving it a slightly soy sauce-forward flavor. I recommend adding grated daikon if you choose bukkake. I look forward to trying it with tempura next time.

Located at Chitose-Karasuyama Station on the Keio Line, this popular restaurant often has long lines during lunchtime on weekends. I visited around 2 pm on a weekday. I ordered the small portion of wakame udon for 480 yen. Even though it was a small portion, it was quite filling. It's great that it's under 500 yen. This is Sanuki udon, but perhaps because I had it warm, I didn't feel the firmness as much as I expected, so next time, I want to try the zaru udon. The restaurant was about 60% full when I visited, and I thought it was a place where people eat quickly and leave, but surprisingly, everyone was leisurely enjoying their meals and no one left their seats while I was there. Surprising.

The fact that they are open until 3:00 pm was very convenient. Unfortunately, the Chinese restaurant I was looking for was closed, so I ended up at "Sanuki Udon Mugikou" near Keio Line Chitose-Karasuyama Station, just a 2-minute walk from the north exit. I sat at the counter facing the wall, which had narrow wooden tables. Soft guitar music played quietly in the background. Since they didn't have my favorite "kakehiya" from Kagawa, I settled for the "bukkake" udon instead. - Bukkake Hiyahiya (cold noodles and cold soup) 450 yen - Chikuwa tempura 110 yen The udon was served in a wide bowl with thick, glossy noodles. They were smooth and chewy with a strong texture and a hint of saltiness. The soup was rich and slightly sweet with a subtle flavor of dried bonito. The chikuwa tempura was a half-sized crispy and chewy treat. It was warm and delicious. The staff, all women, created a soft and pleasant atmosphere in the restaurant. Despite not being self-service, the prices were very reasonable. Great value for money!

Until the day before, I had been drinking and eating moderately, so I wanted to give my stomach a rest but still eat something delicious! I chose this restaurant that I occasionally visit from the options that came to mind. Even though it was a weekday, the restaurant was already busy during lunchtime, so I arrived a little early. I usually go for cold noodles, but today I chose the warm menu - Ume Tororo. I love tempura, so I was torn between Tori Tempura and Ika Tempura, but ended up ordering the Ika Tempura. The food arrived without much wait. The gentle soup with a strong flavor of dried fish was so comforting. The noodles were not too thick but had a nice chewiness, easy to eat. Mixing the Tororo and Ume plum gradually added a nice change in flavor. The Ika Tempura was crispy and had a decent thickness, incredibly delicious. The staff were also very friendly, making the udon meal enjoyable. I finished every last drop of the soup and said, "Thank you for the meal."

I went for lunch with my family! It was during the weekday lunchtime, but we were seated right away. There were many menu options, and I had a hard time deciding, but I ended up ordering the half-boiled egg bukkake udon (tax included 650 yen). For the bukkake, you could choose between warm or cold broth and noodles. The noodles were smooth and chewy, and they looked shiny! When you break the half-boiled egg into the broth, it adds a mellow flavor. The simplicity of the dish made the deliciousness stand out directly.

I had lunch today at the Sanuki udon restaurant "Mugikou" in Sengoku. It has been about a year since my last visit. The weather was nice today, so I couldn't decide between having bukkake udon or hot udon, but I ended up ordering a large serving of hot "ume toro udon" and topped it with squid tempura. The food was served about 5 minutes after ordering! The large serving of "ume toro udon" came with freshly fried squid tempura on a separate plate. The udon had a good texture and a smooth mouthfeel, making it delicious. The refreshing udon with Kishu Nankoume plum and grated yam, enhanced with ground sesame seeds, had a rich flavor. I also broke up the plum while eating. I finished every drop of the flavorful broth. It was a satisfying lunch with consistently delicious food.

#Chitosekarasuyama "Bakko" Ate too much for lunch at a Sanuki udon restaurant in Chitosekarasuyama * Mentaiko butter udon * Large serving * Kakiage * Chikuwa isobenten tempura * Squid tempura Mentaiko butter udon can be flavored with lemon and pepper, which is great! It's a dish you won't get tired of! #TeaTokyo #TeaChitosekarasuyama #TeaUdon #TeaLunch