Vol.13 Proud of its firm texture! Shirasasa Udon Tanaka, an udon restaurant in a traditional Japanese home, uses spring water for its udon noodles

This time, we spoke with Mr. Sato, the manager of Shirasasa Udon Tanaka, which is a five-minute walk from Shirasasa Inari Shrine, one of the three major Inari shrines in the Kanto region.

Shirasasa Udon Tanaka is an udon restaurant in an old-fashioned house located in a residential area behind Shirasasa Inari Shrine.

-What kind of restaurant is Shirasasa Udon Tanaka?

This udon restaurant prides itself on its homemade noodles made using groundwater that springs from within the premises. The building is a renovated traditional Japanese house with over 100 years of history, and the clay walls and layout remain intact, giving the restaurant a traditional feel. I have worked as a staff member for around 20 years since the restaurant first opened in 2002, and was appointed manager in April of this year.

The spacious interior of the restaurant has a traditional Japanese feel.

-I heard that the store is so popular that there are lines on weekends. How did you make it popular?

Our restaurant is located in a residential area away from the station. We have been working to create a rich menu that can be enjoyed no matter how many times you visit. When we first opened, the menu consisted of just two types of dishes: zaru (seaweed) and kamaage (deep-fried rice). Through trial and error, the number of dishes has gradually increased, and now we offer over 20 different hot and cold dishes. We have received positive feedback from many people, and our restaurant is now used by many people from both within and outside the prefecture, including regular customers who return multiple times and people who stop by on hikes and sightseeing trips. We are truly filled with gratitude.

In addition to the menu that has been available since the restaurant first opened, there are a variety of hot and cold dishes available.

-Please tell us the secret to the deliciousness of noodles made with Hadano's famous water.

Spring water is used in all production processes, from kneading the noodles to making the broth. The spring water brought into the kitchen is cooler than regular tap water, and by tightening the boiled noodles, it creates a firm texture. We also pride ourselves on our homemade noodles, made with a unique blend of carefully selected domestic wheat, and you can choose from two types of noodles. "Shirasasa Udon Thick Noodles" are characterized by their firm texture and chewy stickiness and elasticity, making them very satisfying to eat. "Shirasasa Udon Thin Noodles" are thin noodles that you can enjoy their aroma and smooth texture, and are a great match with cold dishes such as Zaru (cold udon). We recommend them during the hot season.

The udon noodles are made using the famous Hadano water that springs from within the premises.

-Please tell us about your recommended menu items.

The most popular menu items are seasonal specials.

Currently, we offer thick noodles called "toritama," which are extremely popular as the thick noodles mix well with the chicken meat bound in egg (as of April 2010). Furthermore, we change the ingredients and toppings of our "Seasonal Colorful Chicken" dish approximately every two months. Topped with seasonal vegetables sourced from a local vegetable farm in Hadano, it looks gorgeous. You can enjoy new flavors over and over again. Our "Sesame Sauce Udon," "Grated Daikon Udon," and "Mountain Vegetable Udon" come with vinegar, but adding it at the end of your meal to change the flavor will bring out a refreshing flavor and allow you to savor the soup to the last drop.

-What is the reputation of Kanai Sake Brewery's sake?

Kanai Sake Brewery offers cold sake, taking into consideration the compatibility with hot udon and oden. Many people enjoy it with oden while waiting for their udon. Another recommended dish that pairs well with cold sake is "Tomato Udon." The rich soup is made with plenty of tomatoes and is topped with fresh tomatoes, which create a perfect match with the acidity of the tomatoes and the light, clean taste of the Shirasasatsumi sake. Please give it a try.

The "Tomato" menu, which uses plenty of tomatoes in the soup and ingredients, is recommended by the manager, Mr. Sato.

-Please tell us about your future prospects.

Recently, we have been putting effort into decorating the restaurant. We have been working on creating a comfortable space through hospitality measures such as displaying illustrated postcards and providing handmade toothpick holders. Of course, we will also continue to devote ourselves to making delicious udon noodles that will satisfy everyone.

Introducing "Shirasasa Udon Tanaka"

This udon restaurant serves homemade noodles made with domestic wheat and the famous spring water that springs from within the premises. Both the thick and thin "Shirasasa Udon" noodles are characterized by their firm texture. The interior of the restaurant, which was renovated from an old Japanese house, has a calm and peaceful atmosphere.

Name of restaurant: Shirasasa Udon Tanaka
Address: 1039-6 Imaizumi, Hadano City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Contact: 0463-83-7253
Business hours: 11:00-15:00 (last order 14:30)
Closed: Irregular holidays, closed from January 1st to January 3rd
Access: 15 minutes walk from Hadano Station towards Shirasasa Inari Shrine