I visited Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. I wanted to come here once. After praying and eating Umegae mochi, I should head to the airport soon. But I'm a little hungry. It's already past 2 o'clock, so it's natural. There's a "Ichiran" ramen shop in front of the station (^-^) But it's so hot for ramen. "Inaniwa Udon" sign caught my eye. But it's not "Inaniwa Udon", it's "Inaniwa-style Udon" (^^;) I don't know why there's "Inaniwa Udon" here, but Zaru soba sounds good (^-^) It's surprisingly crowded inside. There are table seats and small tatami rooms. I slipped into the corner of the tatami room. The prices on the menu are reasonable. Not only tourists but also locals and students are here. I don't need a set menu. There's a "Hibai Tororo Udon" that looks very Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine-like. I'll have that cold. First, something came as a "service". A small udon (^-^) It's flat and crispy. It satisfied my hunger for now (^-^) After a while, the real thing arrived. Shrimp fry, wakame, and plenty of tororo. And on top of the tororo, there's a plum. There are a lot of plums at Tenjin-san after all. The slender and smooth beauty udon (^^) In Kyushu, Inaniwa udon is not bad. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal. Here are some menu items I could understand: - Fried squid dumpling set 1000 yen - Gyudon set 1000 yen - Rice ball set 800 yen - Mentaiko rice set 900 yen - Tempura and egg bowl set 1150 yen - Kamatama Mentaiko Udon 770 yen - Pork cutlet bowl set 1000 yen - Meat Udon 920 yen - Hibai Tororo Udon 920 yen - Round tempura Udon 620 yen - Shrimp tempura Udon 800 yen - Tempura Zaru Udon 1420 yen

I visited the Kyushu National Museum to see the special exhibition "Hokusai" on Sunday, April 24, 2022. After that, I enjoyed freshly baked Ume-gaeshi mochi at Amagiya, strolled around the approach, and had lunch at this restaurant. We entered around 13:30 with 3 adults and 1 child (middle school student). Here is what we ordered: - Me: Aged squid and shrimp dumpling set for 1,000 yen. The portion was about 70% full, and the presentation seemed a bit sloppy overall. However, the dumplings were freshly fried and served, so I was satisfied and didn't end up as a lunch refugee.

The set meal of katsudon and udon is 1000 yen! The taste and price are better at "Tsuruya Honke" near my place. The service udon was good, but I didn't like the sourness... I thought it was just regular noodle soup, so I was surprised by the sourness. Thank you for the meal!

This is a shop near the entrance of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. It has a traditional udon restaurant vibe. There is a famous ramen shop next to it, but it was too expensive so I decided to try this place instead. There were quite a few customers inside. I ordered the Kama-tama mentaiko udon for 770 yen. The noodles were thin and soft. It came with one fried squid shumai. The other order was a set of soba and mentaiko rice. While waiting, they served a small portion of cold yuzu-flavored udon as a complimentary dish. It was a hot day, so I was very happy about it.

Next to Dazaifu Station in Dazaifu City, there is "Ume no Kura." I decided to compare the udon here with the neighboring udon restaurant, which did not meet the same level of satisfaction as its ratings on Tabelog. I ordered the Maruten Udon (620 yen), which is a bit pricey at 50 yen more than the Kake Udon at 570 yen. The udon here is described as having a strong texture and a smooth throat-feel, created by slicing Sanuki udon dough into Inaniwa udon noodles. First, a small serving of cold grated daikon was served as a complimentary appetizer. The noodles were indeed delicious, with a clear and beautiful appearance. The Maruten Udon, served a few minutes later, had a delicious soup with a depth of flavor. However, it was difficult to pinpoint the exact dashi used due to the well-balanced flavors. The noodles were flat and had a width of 5mm and a thickness of 2mm, providing a good throat-feel but lacking in firmness compared to the cold noodles. The Maruten had a crispy and flavorful finish, making me believe they may have fried it again after receiving the order. Despite the slightly higher price, I prefer this place over the neighboring udon restaurant.

I explore new restaurants every day because I have been revisiting the same ones too often. I don't want my foodie friend to get bored, so I need to show them new places. This time, I was wandering near Tenmangu Shrine in Dazaifu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, feeling a bit tired from walking. I took a break at Dazaifu Station and saw a udon and soba restaurant right in front of me. When I checked on Tabelog, the last review was from 6 years ago. I was curious, but I thought it might be expensive. Still, I found myself heading towards the restaurant with a sign saying hand-made soba. It was past 12 pm on a weekday, and there were three customers inside. It's clear that the number of tourists has decreased. I sat down and looked at the menu. The usual burdock tempura udon was priced at 720 yen. I thought it must be expensive. I reluctantly ordered the zaru soba for 820 yen. I didn't have high expectations, but I couldn't just leave the restaurant now. Before the soba was served, they brought a small container of cold yamakake udon as a service, enough for two bites. I had to wait a bit longer to take a photo once the soba arrived. It had thin noodles like a Nagano-style soba, topped with chopped seaweed. The noodles were firm and smooth, unmistakably good quality. The slightly sweet broth with green onions and stem wasabi as condiments was satisfying. The price was a bit high, but it's a tourist area, so it's understandable. If only it was priced at 600 yen, it would be perfect. The cold yamakake udon served earlier had a refreshing citrusy flavor from squeezed yuzu, and the noodles had a good firmness to them. When I asked what kind of soba they used, they said it was from Nagano, ground in a stone mill and freshly made every morning. It felt expensive, but I would like to eat their soba again. Surprisingly, the restaurant seemed to have a strong commitment to their noodles.

I ordered the Meat and Burdock Tempura Udon. The restaurant's name also mentions Inaniwa-style thin noodles Udon. It was delicious.

I visited this restaurant near the station after visiting Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine and feeling the need for a cold beer due to the intense heat. It was my first time here and there were 3 tables of customers already seated. I asked for their recommendation and was told about a cold udon with shrimp tempura, but I decided to start with a beer first. After some consideration, my companion ordered the recommended dish while I opted for the pork cutlet rice bowl set. About halfway through my beer, a complimentary mini udon was served as a snack. It was surprisingly delicious, with thin noodles that had a good texture. I regretted placing the soba noodles next to the udon, but I was happy to enjoy both types of noodles. As for the pork cutlet rice bowl set, the pork could have been a bit more tender. The soba noodles were tasty, but after eating the udon, it seemed like the udon stole the show. It's important to listen to the restaurant's recommendations!

I wanted to try the famous Saito Udon in Dazaifu, so I searched for "[Dazaifu] × [Udon]" on Tabelog. On my first visit, the restaurant was closed on Monday. When I came back on the 25th, it was a special day in Dazaifu and both this place and the adjacent udon restaurant, Haginoya, were crowded. I ended up choosing this place because my family pointed their shoes in this direction. The restaurant was quite full, and my family, who had already tried meat udon at another place, ordered a plain udon and a Ramune, which was a rare find. The young, cute waitress who took our order seemed to be Chinese, but her Japanese was pretty good. I tried to make sure she understood by pointing at the menu item "Ramune." However, there was a misunderstanding, and a more senior Japanese staff member came to confirm the order. It turned out they were out of Ramune, so I ordered tea instead. The Inaniwa udon I ordered arrived, and it was my first time trying it at a restaurant. It was thinner than the usual udon noodles. The broth was light in color but had a good flavor without relying on saltiness. It was a pleasant experience trying Inaniwa udon. As the restaurant was busy, I quickly finished my meal, and as a Chinese family of four was waiting for a table, I informed the Chinese waitress that a table would soon be available. I felt a little happy to see her value as a Chinese employee. In hindsight, I realized that while Coke is produced year-round globally, Ramune production and consumption may be limited, explaining its unavailability in winter. I had mistakenly assumed it was available year-round like Coke.

Plum House - Handmade Inaniwa Udon near Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine! I visited Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine! As expected, there were a lot of people due to the exam season. Now, for lunch! I chose this place, known for its delicious food, among the three udon restaurants lined up in front of Nishitetsu Dazaifu Station. "Plum House." I heard it was delicious, so I decided to eat here! It was crowded as usual, but I was seated fairly quickly. The menu includes udon dishes, set meals, individual items, and rice bowl dishes. Although not listed on the menu, you can add toppings for an additional charge. I ordered the "Mentaiko Rice Set" (750 yen) with "Meat Topping" (150 yen). The "Meat Udon" broth was clear and refreshing, with a hint of sweetness from the meat. The noodles were thin, shiny, and had a unique smoothness and firmness. They were easy to eat and had a great texture. The "Mentaiko Rice" had a generous amount of spicy cod roe on top of the hot rice. It was a truly satisfying dish. My companion ordered the "Shrimp Tempura Udon" (700 yen) with "Yam Topping" (200 yen). The broth was light and delicately flavored. The udon had a fresh taste, and we were both very satisfied with the meal. After visiting Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine and enjoying some Ume-gaeshi Mochi, we headed home. "Plum House" Address: 2-6-1 Saifu, Dazaifu City Phone: 092-921-2203 Hours: 10:30-17:00 (Closed when noodles run out) Closed on Mondays.

On August 18, 2010, I visited a restaurant and was surprised to find authentic Inaniwa udon noodles in Dazaifu, Kyushu. It was a hot day, and after visiting a friend for an entrance exam prayer, we both experienced mild dehydration. When we saw the Inaniwa udon flag waving in front of us, we couldn't resist trying it. We ordered the Hiume Oroshi Udon, which was delicious and helped cool us down. The atmosphere of the restaurant was also very welcoming. I later realized that Inaniwa udon is considered one of Japan's top three udon noodles. I highly recommend trying it when visiting Dazaifu.

Located in front of Dazaifu Station, this restaurant, Ume no Kura, serves hand-made udon and soba noodles. It is a popular spot for visitors heading to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine and Kyushu National Museum to grab a bite to eat. Known for the plum blossoms from the legend of Hime Ume at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, many places along the way to the shrine sell plum rice cakes and pickled plums. However, this restaurant serves udon and soba noodles with plum inside. In the upcoming hot season, the refreshing taste of plum pairs well with the noodles. The strong flavor of plum enhances the chewy noodles, making them even more delicious. The cozy atmosphere inside the restaurant was also very pleasant. The time from ordering to serving was quick, and we were even treated to a delicious yuzu-flavored udon as a bonus.

I went during the first 3-day weekend of January. It was before noon, but there were already about 10 people lined up. Since it's noodle dish, the turnover was quick and my turn came sooner than expected, which was helpful. It was cold, so I had the meat udon. The price was reasonable at 650 yen. It was a bit small, but it was just right for eating on the premises. However, even though it was advertised as Inaniwa-style hand-made udon, it was clearly boiled dry noodles. It was crowded in Dazaifu due to New Year's visits and exams, so I guess it can't be helped. Normally, you would expect to get hand-made udon.

I used it for a meal before visiting the shrine. I ordered the meat udon. The noodles are like Inaniwa udon, but I remember the original ones being more chewy. Fukuoka's udon seems to be softer, so maybe it has been localized. The broth is a clear Kansai-style one, with a slight sweetness to it. The meat in the dish is simmered in a sweet and savory sauce, with a ratio of 2 sweet to 1 savory. It's a shame that the smell isn't fully eliminated. Some people who don't like sweet things, like my dad, might give it a lower rating, but I think I could get used to it. The complimentary small udon with ponzu sauce is refreshing and would likely receive good reviews from anyone who tries it. (When I asked how to order this on the way out, they said to ask for zaru udon.) It's interesting to be able to learn about the local food culture through udon.

I ordered the katsudon set for 650 yen. It came with a refreshing yuzu-flavored udon as a service, which was delicious! The udon had a great texture and as a fan of yuzu, I loved it! The set included katsudon, yuzu-flavored udon, miso soup, and pickles, all of which were served in generous portions and offered good value for money. However, the katsudon itself was average, and the initial tea served was lukewarm, so I would give it a rating of 3 out of 5 stars. I would like to see the yuzu-flavored udon added to the menu as a standalone item.

When I visited Dazaifu, I stumbled upon this restaurant near Nishitetsu Dazaifu Station. It was a cold day, so I was debating whether to have udon for lunch or maybe ramen in Hakata at night. I decided to avoid noodles and ordered a pork cutlet bowl instead. It arrived in less than 5 minutes, surprising me with its speed. The taste was honestly just average. However, the staff brought me a mini-sized cold udon with yuzu flavor as a complimentary dish. This udon was incredibly delicious, with firm noodles and flavorful broth. It turned out that the neighboring restaurant served udon, and their pork cutlet bowl was cheaper. I only went in for that reason, but it was a great find. I definitely want to try their udon next time.