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!