Friday, February 10, 2012

umeda hagakure

Diagonal from Tomato Laomen is Umeda Hagakure.

When we passed it to go to Tomato Laomen the other day, Satoshi said, "so this is where it is".

Apparently it has a reputation, a good one.

The shop is tiny, seating only 14 at the counter. You will almost always see a line running out the door.

They make their own noodles, you can see workers putting dough through their noodle machine.

Satoshi ordered their bukkake udon...750 yen. This came with all sorts of toppings like shiitake, kamaboko, sansai (mountain greens) and a raw egg.

The sauce is thick and concentrated and at the bottom of the bowl.

He said it was good.

This is the owner. He believes that if you serve cold noodles it is hard to "fake" anything, everything is "out in the open".

If it is your first time eating certain dishes in his restaurant, he tells you how he wants you to eat them.

I ordered the kijyoyu (pure undiluted soy sauce) udon teishoku (set)...800 yen. This came with some kayaku gohan (rice cooked with veggies and aburage (fried tofu)) and some pickles.

(Actually Satoshi wanted to order his dish as a set, but they don't allow it, so the waitress, said that I should order a set and give my rice and pickles to him.)

"Grab a pair of chopsticks and "stand by" (which to the Japanese means "get ready")", he told me.

He then brings a bowl of noodles over and puts a good handful of grated daikon (long white radish), handful of green onion, and a good squeeze of sudachi (lime) seeds and all and then makes 3 passes across the whole thing with the kijyoyu (pure undiluted soy sauce)....that's it.

"Grab two noodles, no more...and DON'T mix it, you'll change the flavor", he says.

Totally nervous, I grabbed 3 noodles by accident and got scoldings...ack!

Talk about nervous! (which is why the photo of Satoshi's noodles are blurry, thought I was gonna get scoldings for that too)

But even with him checking your every move, this was one of the best sanuki-style udons I've had. The daikon had a natural sweetness and the soy sauce, just the right amount of flavor without coming across as salty.

They have other versions including some with hot broths, but this simple version has to be their best.

We'll be back.

Umeda Hagakure
Osaka Eki-mae Dai-san Building B2
Phone: 06.6341.1409
Closed on Sundays
Hours: Monday-Friday 11:00-14:45, 17:00-19:45
Saturday 11:00-14:30

It's Friday here, hope you have a good weekend!

11 comments:

jalna said...

Hahahaha, the guy reminds me of our pottery teacher!

mariko said...

Sounds great but too scary for this gaijin!

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

Too funny...I've never heard of such an involved owner. Glad you enjoyed :)

KirkK said...

Geeez, talk about having "rules"......

K and S said...

kinda yeah Jalna?!

ha ha Mariko :)

Lizzy, more like in your face :)

I hear there is a sushi guy like this in Hawaii Kirk :)

Take care everyone.
Kat

Rowena said...

Haha...reminded me of the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld! Gosh talk about a dining experience. What a cool sounding place.

K and S said...

it was a cool place Rowena :)

Take care.
Kat

Deb in Hawaii said...

It does remind me of Sushi Sasabune here. It is incredibly good but the "sushi nazi" makes me so nervous that I am going to mess up. ;-)

K and S said...

That's the place Deb, I've never eaten there but heard about that sushi guy :)

Take care.
Kat

K said...

Yum, homemade noodles, I'm sure the strictness was worth it!

K and S said...

you are right K :)

Take care.
Kat