あせか
This time, I visited "Sagano Tofu Sanga Tofu Sanchu" located a 5-minute walk from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station on the Sagano Line. Visit time: around 12:00 PM. The restaurant is a small wooden building with 3 friendly staff members. I ordered the "Mother's Udon" for 350 yen. I wanted to have a leisurely meal in Arashiyama, but all the popular restaurants were already crowded with long lines. So I decided to stop by this place for a casual meal. The menu is very extensive, offering soba, various types of udon, tofu, yuba, miso-grilled dishes, steamed dumplings, yakisoba, croquettes, takoyaki, fried chicken, donuts, curry bread, kushikatsu, frankfurters, shaved ice, and various drinks. Among them, I chose the Mother's Udon, which is the cheapest on the menu but has the highest number, assuming it must be a recommended dish. To my surprise, the udon arrived with only chopped green onions and bonito flakes on top, without any broth. It seems that in Kyoto, udon is often enjoyed with just green onions and bonito flakes, a local home-cooked style. When I tried the udon, it seemed bland at first. But then I noticed some broth at the bottom of the bowl and mixed it in, which added flavor to the udon. It's not like a typical broth-based udon, more like a dry style. It was surprisingly tasty, like a simple yet satisfying meal. I wonder why it's called Mother's Udon. Overall, it was an affordable and enjoyable lunch. Thank you for the meal.