Okasen

A trip to the Utazucho area just for a bowl of udon might sound excessive, but when you try one from the famous Okasen, you'll understand that it's worth every moment spent traveling. This shop strives to serve the best sanuki udon in all of Kagawa. Highly regarded for their original, thin, strong udon noodles, the owners here have been cooking up udon excellence since 1992. The secret behind the lovely texture is not only technique but also maintenance. Okasen knead their noodle dough up to five times every four hours, while storing them at a precise temperature and humidity. The famous dish here is the Hiya Ten Oroshi Udon, topped with two big crispy tempura shrimp. Their light and rich broth clings onto the chewy udon noodles, giving each firm bite a burst of flavors. Other popular dishes include Kama Ten which is straight-from-the-pot udon with tempura. A variety of side dishes are also available, like onigiri (rice balls) and oden: assorted ingredients like minced fish and skewered vegetables simmered in a broth. With generous portions and filling bites, a bowl at Okasen will leave you full for the whole evening. If you want to try a bit of everything, mini sizes are available as well — they are meant for kids but adults can order them with no problem!