(Added in August 2015) Recently, it seems that the restaurant has changed its business format. When passing by the shop on the way back from Kyotango, I stopped to find out that it has become a shop limited to one group per day. The main dishes are kaiseki or hot pot, with other options available upon request. Reservations are required at least two days in advance. Udon is available as part of the hot pot dishes, and all-you-can-eat udon is also available. (Previous review) This is the 9th restaurant I visited on my Kansai Sanuki Udon pilgrimage, near JR Makki Station along R175. I couldn't find detailed information about the chef's background or training. The location is near the famous legend of Sake no Tanyuji, so I assume the restaurant name was inspired by that. While there aren't many authentic Sanuki Udon shops in this area, this one places a strong emphasis on homemade noodles. They use soft water and natural salt in their noodle-making process, and take pride in serving freshly made and cooked noodles. I arrived around 2 pm, with only one other customer in the shop. The restaurant is spacious with a decent seating capacity. It operates in a unique style where customers return their empty dishes to the counter after finishing their meal. While they offer a variety of udon dishes, their popular choices are the set meals named after demons, which are quite filling. The daily special set meal was priced at 900 yen and included udon and eel rice bowl during my visit. I opted for the classic Bukkake Udon (550 yen), served cold. It was a bit unexpected, but the noodles were freshly boiled just before my arrival, so they were served within about 3 minutes. The thick noodles came topped with seaweed, green onions, tenkasu (crunchy bits of deep-fried flour batter), fish cake, grated daikon radish, and a slice of lemon. I squeezed the lemon and enjoyed the noodles. The noodles had a firm texture, not overly chewy, and the broth was slightly sweet with a good balance of flavors. The lemon added a refreshing touch, making the dish quite enjoyable. Despite the decent portion, I finished it quite easily. Overall, I had a good experience at the restaurant, but the quick serving time left me wanting to savor the noodles for a bit longer. I look forward to revisiting to try their set meals next time.

Not very crowded.