The udon shop "Bukkake udon Kawahara" (hereafter, "Kawahara") has been loved in Mabi-cho, Kurashiki City for many years.
It is a popular shop bustling with many customers, especially known for its Bukkake udon.
However, it was affected by the heavy rain disaster in July 2018.
About three months later, it was rebuilt and has been supporting the recovery of Mabi-cho.
Kawahara relocated and opened a new store in May 2021 (Reiwa 3).
Let’s introduce the features and commitments of Kawahara's new store.
Kawahara is a long-established udon shop rooted in the community
Bukkake udon Kawahara is an udon shop located in Mabi-cho, Kurashiki City.
In 1993 (Heisei 5), the owner Kawahara Yukio opened the shop in the Arai area of Mabi-cho after becoming independent from an udon shop in the Mizushima area of Kurashiki City.
Since then, it has been operated by the owner, his wife, and staff, and has many local customers as a community-rooted udon shop.
It was affected by the "Heavy Rain Disaster in July 2018," but was rebuilt in the same location in October of the same year, about three months later.
Yukio's son, Ryo, also joined the operation, and they have been supporting local recovery with the motto "Revitalize Mabi."
After the rebuilding, Kurashiki Tocotoco also covered the story.
Then, on May 19, 2021, it relocated and opened a new building in the Kawabe area of Mabi-cho.
After the relocation, it continues to operate with the same concept of being a "bright, energetic shop providing delicious udon rooted in the community."
Appearance of Kawahara's new store
Kawahara's new store is located about 600 meters east of the old store.
Like the old store, it is right next to Prefectural Road 278 (Shiso-Mabi Line).
The interior of Kawahara's new store is characterized by different impressions between the entrance side and the back side.
The interior has counter seats, table seats, and also tatami mat seating.
Kawahara's menu
Prices include tax. Information as of May 2024 (Reiwa 6)
Kawahara offers a variety of udon types.
In particular, the Bukkake udon series is popular, with five varieties of Bukkake udon alone.
The types of oden are as follows (each item is 121 yen).
- Konjac
- Tsukune
- Gobou tempura
- Hiraten
- Egg
- Beef tendon
Additionally, Kawahara offers takeout.
If you are taking it home, please make a reservation in advance if possible!
Takeout is available in containers and bags.
For containers, a container fee is required. For bags, a fee of "22 yen (including tax)" is required per set.
Recommended Menu Introduction
Kawahara's menu features a variety of udon.
From the many menu items, we have picked out the recommended dishes.
“Bukkake udon with squid” is topped with a mountain of squid tempura and is the most popular!
Among Kawahara's menu, the most popular dish is the Bukkake udon with squid.
Each Bukkake udon can be chosen as cold or hot!
During the interview, I ordered it cold.
On top of the Bukkake udon, there is a generous amount of tempura of squid legs.
The portion is very satisfying!
The dipping sauce is rich and has a sweet flavor.
The batter of the squid tempura is crispy and very fragrant, and the chewy texture of the squid legs releases a wonderful squid flavor when bitten into.
It is also delicious to soak the batter in the dipping sauce and eat it.
The thick udon noodles have a firm texture and a chewy, bouncy feel.
And they pair very well with the dipping sauce, making them very delicious.
“Tempura udon” is udon topped with squid tempura
At Kawahara, tempura udon topped with tempura is popular.
There are several types of tempura udon, and the most popular among them is the Tempura udon with squid (770 yen).
There are also “Small shrimp tempura udon” (682 yen) and “Shrimp tempura udon” (902 yen)!
On top of the kake udon, just like the Bukkake udon with squid, there is tempura of squid legs.
The squid legs are cut into bite-sized pieces, making them very easy to eat.
Enjoying the crispy batter is delicious, but it is also recommended to soak the udon in the broth and eat it.
The broth is clear and slightly milky.
When you drink it, the deep flavor of the broth and a refreshing saltiness spread across your palate.
It leaves a very clean aftertaste.
The noodles are thick and have a chewy texture, making them very satisfying to eat.
“Kitsune udon” features deep-fried tofu that is well-soaked in flavor
Kawahara also offers “Kitsune udon” (627 yen), one of the classic udon dishes.
The deep-fried tofu is well-soaked with a sweet and savory flavor.
The moment you bite into it, the sweet and savory flavor spreads in your mouth from the deep-fried tofu.
It is also delicious to soak the deep-fried tofu in the broth and eat it.
The broth seeps into the deep-fried tofu, and the sweet and savory flavor seeps out from the tofu into the broth, allowing you to enjoy new flavors from both the tofu and the broth.
“Meat udon” is loaded with plenty of beef!
At Kawahara, various types of Bukkake udon, including squid Bukkake udon, are popular, but another highly popular dish is "Meat Udon" (825 yen).
Meat Udon is only available hot, but it is popular all year round!
As the name suggests, it is filled with plenty of beef, and there is also a generous amount of tempura scraps.
The seasoning for the beef is mild.
Therefore, you can fully enjoy the flavor of the meat.
This is a recommended udon for meat lovers.
"Meat Bukkake Udon" features beef and a sweet-savory sauce
Among Bukkake udon, the next most popular after squid is "Meat Bukkake Udon" (874 yen) and "Small Shrimp Bukkake Udon" (737 yen).
So, I ordered the Meat Bukkake Udon hot.
Just like the Meat Udon, the lightly seasoned beef is generously placed on top of the Bukkake udon.
Since the flavor is mild, enjoying the taste of the beef itself is delicious, but it is also recommended to eat it well-coated with the rich, sweet sauce.
With a fresh start in a new location and building, Sanuki Udon Kawahara has begun anew.
I interviewed the staff member Kawahara Ryo.
Data on Sanuki Udon Kawahara
| Name | Sanuki Udon Kawahara |
|---|---|
| Address | 1810-3 Kawabe, Mabi-cho, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 0866-98-8286 |
| Parking | Available |
| Business Hours | 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM |
| Regular Holidays | Monday If Monday is a holiday, open until 3:00 PM |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation Availability | Possible Reservations may not be accepted during busy hours For takeout, advance reservations are recommended |
| Seating | Total 56 seats ・Counter: 10 seats ・2-person tables: 2 tables ・4-person tables: 4 tables ・2-person tatami seating: 3 tables ・4-person tatami seating: 2 tables ・6-person tatami seating: 2 tables |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Childcare | Strollers allowed Children's utensils available Children's chairs available |
| Barrier-Free | Wheelchair accessible Toilet is not wheelchair accessible |
| Website | Official Website of Sanuki Udon Kawahara |
Popular menu items overall include "Bukkake udon with squid," "Bukkake udon with small shrimp," "Meat Bukkake udon," and "Meat udon."
Following these, various tempura udon dishes such as "Tempura udon with squid" and "Tempura udon with small shrimp" are also popular!