oda-_215
[Initial Visit on July 31, 2021] When you leave Musashi-Sunagawa Station, head towards Haijima along the railway tracks. Cross the Zanbori River and continue north along it until you reach a main street. Along that street, just before reaching the Aeon Mall, you will find a shop. I have recently been getting into udon noodles. Until recently, I thought that udon noodles in Tokyo couldn't compare to those in Osaka. However, after trying Musashino Udon, my preconceptions were shattered, and I became eager to try it properly. So, I decided to check out the top 100 udon shops. It seems that many renowned shops are located around Kodaira, so I decided to visit the area for a lunchtime tour on a Saturday. The destination was Musashimurayama City. There are many highly-rated shops there, so it was a challenging tour under the scorching sun. Did you know that Musashimurayama City is the only area in Tokyo without a railway line? In unfamiliar places, I avoid taking the bus because it can be risky if I make a mistake, and the frequency is often inconvenient. So, which is the nearest station...? I got off at Musashi-Sunagawa Station and ended up walking just over 2 kilometers. I left the station at around noon. Due to the intense heat, I walked slowly and arrived exactly 30 minutes later. I thought I might have to wait due to the timing, but surprisingly, I was able to enter right away. However, more customers arrived afterwards, and there ended up being a line outside. It's definitely a popular shop! In the sweltering heat, I just wanted to cool down, and I remembered a menu item written on the shop's signboard outside. It was the "Rich Ripened Tomato Dipping Noodles"! It seemed like it would revitalize my weakened body! It was a "limited edition" for the day, but I was still able to order it. After waiting for about 15 minutes, I was served, and I also received a delightful bonus of simmered dried fish! Although I didn't have the beer I wanted, the thickly sliced simmered dried fish matched surprisingly well with the oiliness, without any fishy taste, and the umami of the dried fish was pronounced. This finishing touch really shows the skill of this shop... Great expectations! When the udon arrived, my excitement skyrocketed! The udon, slightly tinged with brown, was topped with rare chicken chashu and boiled vegetables. The dipping broth was a tomato sauce with pieces of eggplant. Now, for the taste test! First, I tried the udon on its own. Among the three shops I visited that day, this was the softest, but still had a firm bite characteristic of Kanto-style slightly firm udon. Ultimately, I felt that this shop had achieved the perfect firmness that I enjoy the most. Among the high-quality udon I had that day, this was the most delicious. What I can say about this udon, as well as the udon from other shops, is that the wheat flavor is amazing, and the udon itself has a strong taste. As for the tomato sauce dipping broth... it had a strong taste leaning towards ketchup with its sweetness and acidity. I was initially concerned that the flavor might be too overpowering and I would get tired of it, but the garlic added depth and richness to it. The fact that the udon itself has a strong taste also contributes to its overall deliciousness. In addition to the udon, the dipping broth with simmered dried fish... I was impressed by the skilled cooking, but the chicken chashu was the knockout blow! I wonder how they managed to make it so juicy and full of flavor...? The eggplant in the dipping broth was the same. The level of cooking was just right to bring out the umami. This time, I chose a unique menu item based on the situation upon arrival, but I wonder how delicious their regular menu items are...? The distance is not the only hurdle for visiting this place, but there is definitely enough value in visiting this shop exclusively, as I thought while enjoying a wide variety of udon. The service is attentive, there are many young staff, and the atmosphere is bright!