{Japan: Eat} Hanamaru Udon on a Rainy Day in Kumamoto
In a Nutshell:
- Where: Sanuki Udon Hanamaru, Shimotori Arcade, Kumamoto
- When: On a rainy day in May, 2012
- *Notes: Website, over 300 locations in Japan, 1600 JPY for 2 large udons + kakiage + shrimp tempura + chicken karaage + korokke
Full Report:
After our very pleasant visit to Arisa, we felt like eating something filling and hot due to the rainy weather. Luckily, our hotel, Nikko Kumamoto, was very close to two shopping arcades (Shimotori and Kamitori) packed with plenty of eateries. From the hotel, we crossed the street to Shimotori Arcade and began our search for lunch.
It didn’t take us long to spot an outlet of the popular udon chain, Hanamaru. We had first spotted one in Tokyo a few years back, but we hadn’t gotten a chance to eat there then. We climbed the stairs to the restaurant on the second floor and it was packed inside. I’m guessing most people had the same idea as us and wanted something warm to fill their bellies with. Unfortunately, the line was creeping forward really slowly due to a lack of workers. There was one person on the cash register and another cooking and serving the udon. Along the counter were a number of trays filled with various kinds of fried foods. Plates are provided at the front on the line and you can serve yourself.
As you can see from the picture, the udon menu is overhead. I decided to go with the Ontama-Bukkake udon and M got the Kitsune Udon. We each also picked a couple of fried foods. It all came out to only 1600 JPY or so, very reasonable for all that food —- which was very good by the way. There are over 300 locations in Japan, with at least 4 in Tokyo (Shinjuku, Harajuku, Asakusa, Shibuya) so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find.
Ontama-Bukkake + kakiage + shrimp tempura
Kitsune Udon + chicken karaage + korokke
I remember the shopping arcade in Kagoshima looked almost exactly the same as the one here. Is there something common among shopping arcades in Japan – is it a cultural thing?
I think all the bigger cities in Japan have a shopping arcade —- at least all the ones I went to did. And yes, they all looked pretty much the same! I would always enjoy visiting them in each city I went to, especially because it was easy access to good, cheap food. And a chance for great people watching…..there were always drunk people staggering around at night!
I love udon!!!
Me too, there’s times I prefer it over ramen! Is udon popular where you are? We have some udon shops here in Southern California but it’s nothing compared to ramen. Even Vietnamese pho might be more popular!
Not much here in the Middle East as there are very few Japanese restaurants here. But in my home country, the Philippines, we love it. We super love Japanese food!
There looks like so much to eat… ahhhhhh. I want those fried foods. >___> I wish we had food shops as simple as these in California… I want to go to Japan!
At the Mitsuwa (Japanese supermarket) close by, they have a restaurant called Sanukiseimen Mugimaru in their food court. It’s the exact same concept as the Hanamaru Udon —- pick fried foods at the counter and order udon. Of course, it doesn’t taste quite as good as the one in Japan but it’ll do for now!
But I know what you mean about simple food shops. Just pick one kind of food, whether it be udon or tempura or curry, and concentrate on making that one thing good. Here in CA, the menus are HUGE but variety doesn’t equal quality!
That sounds amazing. At the Mitsuwa in NorCal, we do have a food court, but it doesn’t sound like it has as much as the SoCal one, even – there’s a lack of fried foods. We do have curry, udon, and Santouka ramen, which is my favorite – do you have that? Santouka is the best ramen in the Bay Area already… Haha. Nijiya has some fried foods, I guess.
If I recall correclty, the only time we get the decent quality is when they have those special promotions like that recent Mitsuwa 25th anniversary with the ramen, fried foods, sushi, and the like.
We definitely have Santouka Ramen, most people I know think it’s the BEST ramen in So Cal. I always get the set with the natto bowl. Which really, really grosses out whoever I’m eating with!
The Hokkaido Fair is coming soon for all the Mitsuwas! They’re going to have ramen, soup curry, premium seafood bento boxes, ice cream….. I’m guessing you’re closest to the San Jose store? They’ll have it from 9/26-29. Do you think you’ll go?
I’ll see if I can make it during that weekend. Yup it’s at SJ! Are you going to go to yours (…or are you gonna be on the epic trip!)?
The Mitsuwas down here have their Hokkaido fairs the weekend before my epic trip so I will be able to go. Kind of funny to be sampling Hokkaido food right before I’m going to get to try the real thing. I’m especially excited for the Hong Kong portion of my trip though! I wish I had the time to eat at all the restaurants you featured in your blog!
Thanks for liking my post, you’ve got an amazing blog. I love Japan, just been to Nagoya and Kyoto, so I will follow it!
I am following your blog as well, you have such beautiful pictures on it! I’ve been to Nagoya and Kyoto but only briefly….I really hope to get back there again someday. Thanks so much for your kinds words!
Thank you for stopping by my blog so that I can discover yours, I’ve just created a facebook page last month, so really appreciate it if you share the page among your lovely family and friends and get everyone excited about cooking simple, delicious, healthy meals at home
http://www.facebook.com/Cooking.Thyme.Ca
Thanks for commenting. I don’t yet have a Facebook page but when I do I will try and help spread the word.
Thanks, really appreciate it 🙂
Thank you, appreciate it
Hanamaru Udon is the best! My favourite is the ontama bukkake. Yum!
The ontama bukkake was so good when I had it! At first, I was a little surprised at how little soup there was. But then I broke open the egg yolk and mixed it around with the noodles and soup and it became like a carbonara udon —– yum!!! I am really looking forward to eating at Hanamaru again on this upcoming trip to Japan.
Thanks for liking my watermelon cube doodle!
I love Jupiter the Space Pug, as well!
Thanks!
I love kitune udon. The taste of fried tofu is unforgettable~1
Yes, the udon at Hanamaru was so good, especially because it was a cold, rainy day. I’ll be back in Japan in a few weeks and I’m really looking forward to eating more udon again! Are there a lot of udon restaurants where you are?