Osaka, Japan｜Kitatake Udon

Never ending udon made fresh before serving! Just a short wait and you get value for money udon! Don't worry about Google translate and just select based on the pictures provided. It was a pleasant surprise when I got to try out cold udon noodles for the first time!

If you're a fan of Udon noodles, this restaurant is an ABSOLUTE must-visit. I consider myself a bit of a Udon connoisseur, and I can confidently say that this was hands down the best I've ever had. The noodles themselves were incredibly chewy and satisfying, and the portion size was more than generous. What really sets this restaurant's Udon apart, though, is the broth. It was so refreshing and cleansing, with a subtle yet distinct flavor that perfectly complemented the noodles. I was fortunate enough to arrive when the restaurant opened and was still greeted by a line, so I highly recommend going a few minutes early and lining up to guarantee a seat! : )

Nestled in between Namba Station and Kuromon Ichiba market, this unassuming udon place offers one of the best udon noodles that are made in house from scratch everyday. The noodles are slightly thinner and perfectly balanced with the right amount of chewiness and tension. They don’t cut the noodles in advance - the chef only prepares the right amount as orders come in. This adds better quality and freshness to the noodles in my understanding. I tried the following (see photos for reference): 1. Fried tofu has just the right amount of crunchiness. Such a humble dish done extremely well. Ginger lemon scallion dashi soy sauce combo is very refreshing and quite addicting as they mention on the menu. 2. White meat tempura chicken is light and crunchy outside, soft and juicy inside. Noodle is served in cold dashi soup base with a hint of Katsuobushi which is subtly pleasant. Add a few spoons of the dashi soup into the dipping sauce, and it becomes even more delicious. Scissors are useful because the noodles are very long - you will need to cut the noodles into the dipping sauce. 3. This tempura oden and soft boiled egg combo is quite popular and standard in Osaka. Again, such a simple dish done right and very well. Beautiful noodles. Simply beautiful. Can’t wait to revisit and try other menu items!