Udon Baka Ichidai

There is some truth to the claim that tourists prefer kamatama udon at Sanuki udon shops in Kagawa Prefecture. The reason is simple. Kama-tama udon is popular with tourists because it looks simple and is both Instagram-friendly and easy to eat. Locals, on the other hand, tend to prioritise the firmness of the noodles and the flavour of the broth, preferring menu items such as kake udon, bukkake udon or zaru udon. Therefore, this shop, which features unorthodox menu items like kama butter as its signature dish, caters to tourists and isn't popular with the locals. If you consider this a shrewd strategy, then it is exactly that. I visited this much-talked-about and rather unusual udon shop just after 11am, and it was already almost full. I decided to try their famous butter kama-age udon, which took about nine minutes to prepare, so I passed the time by eating some tempura. Unfortunately, the dish itself was very disappointing. It tasted like Japanese carbonara, but it made me feel nauseous and I struggled to finish it. The shop itself looked quite shabby, with a cluttered open kitchen that gave off more of a local eatery vibe. Strangely, while the building itself felt worn and unkempt, the walls were neatly lined with framed autographs of celebrities, creating an odd mismatch. It seemed as though the restaurant valued the autographs more than the food or the customers. Prices were on the high side and ordering tempura or karaage would quickly push the bill close to 2,000 yen. Compared to typical Sanuki udon, the noodles here were limp and lacked the firm texture one would expect. It seems that the business thrives more on its celebrity-driven reputation and ample parking spaces for out-of-town visitors than on the quality of its food. I doubt many locals come here. The service wasn't unfriendly, but it added to the disjointed atmosphere: a young woman with dyed hair greeted customers in a fast-food style, a young man clumsily worked the udon dough at the back, and an elderly woman handled the register carelessly. It left me wondering where the true spirit of this shop had gone. Overall, it was a disappointing experience. Perhaps, though, on another occasion I might give it one more try with a simpler dish, such as bukkake udon, to see if I can discover the essence of good Sanuki udon here.