Udon Baka Ichidai — Restaurant in Takamatsu

Visited Wednesday, May 15, 2024

This place is famous for a reason! The udon broth is hands-down the best I have ever had, even after living in Japan for 2+ years. If I lived in the area, I would eat here at least once a week, if not more.

When you enter, you get a tray and get in line to order. And there will be a line! Be patient and you will be rewarded. We used Google Translate to decipher the menu, but we just ended up ordering the most popular option (there is a photo of it right next to the place you order, so if you feel nervous, you can't go wrong with this option). Then you pick your size; we went with small, but one of us was accidentally given medium. When we split the extra noodles from the medium, it was the perfect amount, even though I would force myself to eat every single bit of a large by myself if that ever happened. It is seriously that delicious! Add an egg and any other toppings you want. Get a side dish... they are all tasty. Hold on to your number.

Once your order is in, you go to the register and pay. Choose a seat and get your waters. Waiting is torture as you watch everyone around you devour their best meal in ages. Hunger and excitement build! Finally, miraculously, your number is called and you return to the counter with your tray to receive your much awaited treasure. Add any more toppings from the free selection at the order station. Return to your seat, and begin to savor/devour the plethora of umami and ecstasy that is your udon. Your prize. Your home-away-from home food that reminds you of your childhood and every pleasant memory you can recall. This is your happy place. You want it to last forever, but your mouth and hands can't stop eating the heavenly noodles soaked in liquid gold. It is over too soon, and you are left feeling both fulfilled and depressed, desperate for an empty stomach once again so you can repeat this unforgettable experience. But you look around, noting the growing line and eager customers, and you kindly, drowsily, pick up your tray, return it to the counter, and force yourself back to your car to process this moment and decide what on earth you should do next. Returning to regular life seems impossible, unthinkable even! You must rescue kittens! You must climb the nearest mountain! You feel the need to pray thanks at every shrine you pass. In the end, a nap wins out, and you happily dream of endless udon bowls and unfillable tummies. You are forever changed.

Thank you, Udon Baka Ichidai, for an...

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...

I have always loved ramen and soba, but i could never understand udon. That is until i went and tried Udon Bakaichidai!! Talk about being converted. I had their signature Kama Butter Udon, and my wife had Kake Udon. Both were excellent and the texture of the udon was exceptional. The Kama Butter Udon is served steaming hot with butter and black pepper, then you crack a raw egg on top, add their special mentsuyu soy sauce, mix it all up together and voila! A bowl full of umami. Make sure you add enough negi (to your liking), and there was a range of tempura to choose from for sides. The tempura and katsu were fun, but not what you go there for. The Kake Udon was served with an insanely good dashi that left us wanting more. There is an english menu inside next to the counter where you order your udon. I didn’t get to read it, but I’m pretty sure they have all the usual suspects. To order, grab a tray (and drink) just before you get to the counter, then order the type of udon you like, hot (atatakai) or cold (tsumetai), and the size (syou - S, chu - M, dai - L). You’ll get it in seconds, then feel free to add as much topping as you like on your udon. Next, load up on any tempura or katsu that tickle your fancy, and bring everything to the cashier where the staff will give you the total amount to pay for. After finishing your meal don’t forget to clear your table and bring the tray and dishes back to the shelf next to...