They say, “The key to udon is its chewiness,” right?
However, that isn’t always the case.
Udon has its own distinctive characteristics in each region.
“Sugichaya” is a restaurant devoted to “Okayama udon,” a style unique to Okayama.
The udon noodles have a springy, “tanwari” texture that pushes back when you bite into them.
To make udon like this, Sugichaya is particular about its flour.
Also popular is “Sugichaya Manju,” a sweet bun made using the flour that Sugichaya takes such care in selecting.
Enjoy its refined flavor, made with the rare “Awa Wasanbon brown sugar syrup.”
Also worth trying is “Nama Karinto,” Sugichaya’s original sweet made with Awa Wasanbon brown sugar syrup.
Here’s an introduction to Sugichaya’s Tenmaya Kurashiki store.
The store closed in March 2024.
The information below is from when it was open.
Takeout products are still being made and sold, with production now based at a kitchen in Setouchi City.
The Food Hall and Specialty Sweets Shop on the basement first floor of Tenmaya Kurashiki continue to sell wild vegetable rice, assorted tempura, zaru udon, Sugichaya manju, and nama karinto, so please do stop by.
【New kitchen location】
290-5 Hattori, Osafune-cho
Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture 701-4276
1F, Setouchi Memorial Hospital
Sugichaya Setouchi Kitchen
Tel/Fax: 0869-24-8083
The information presented here is as of the article’s publication in October 2022. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Sugichaya is an udon restaurant devoted to “Okayama udon,” with its distinctive texture and flavor
Sugichaya is an udon restaurant located in one corner of the sixth-floor dining area at Tenmaya Kurashiki.
Sugichaya’s main store is in the Fukuwatari district of Takebe, Kita Ward, in northern Okayama City.
Since opening its main store in 1973, Sugichaya has remained committed to noodles with a “tanwari” texture and to “Okayama udon,” with its distinctive local flavor.
“Tanwari” is an Okayama dialect word meaning something like “chewy.”
Udon isn’t the only thing Sugichaya is known for.
Its manju and karinto are also specialties.
▼Sugichaya is a “full-service” udon restaurant, not a self-service one.
One of the advantages of a full-service restaurant is that you can take your time deciding what to order after you’ve been seated.
▼The spacious interior has plenty of seating, so you can enjoy your meal at a leisurely pace.
The tables can be rearranged to accommodate different group sizes, so even large parties are welcome.
“Jozaru Tempura Udon” lets you enjoy popular zaru udon for hot weather and the restaurant’s signature tempura
I had the “Jozaru Tempura Udon.”
The tempura zaru udon comes in premium and regular versions, with different tempura selections.
▼The prices for each tempura zaru udon are as follows.
| Premium Tempura Zaru Udon | ¥1,350 |
|---|---|
| Regular Tempura Zaru Udon | ¥1,100 |
Prices include consumption tax. As of October 2022
▼The udon noodles are a beautiful white color.
They’re thick and glossy, and look delicious
Of course, the tempura is freshly fried!
The tempura selection is as follows.
- Shrimp (2 pieces)
- Shiitake mushroom
- Green pepper
- Sweet potato
- Shiso leaf (green perilla)
▼This is the dipping sauce for the udon and tempura.
▼The condiments are green onion and wasabi. There’s also pickled plum to refresh your palate.
▼Salt for the tempura is also provided.
▼The joy of zaru udon is dipping the noodles in the sauce and slurping them up heartily.
When I tried the udon, I first noticed its firm chewiness.
Then, as I gradually put more effort into chewing, I could feel the noodles’ springiness.
The way they push back when you bite into them and their chewy texture are just right.
I could really understand why the restaurant describes its noodles as “tanwari.”
This is the distinctive flavor of “Okayama udon,” different from the strong chewiness of Sanuki udon.
The noodles are thick, making them very satisfying to eat, and I couldn’t stop reaching for more.
Then there’s the dipping sauce clinging to the noodles.
It had a sweet flavor and a pleasant dashi aroma, and I drank every last drop.
I also enjoyed the tempura between bites.
Every piece had a crisp, fragrant coating.
The shrimp tempura had a plump texture that contrasted with its crispy coating.
It had a pleasantly springy texture and was so delicious, it hardly seemed like green pepper.
The shiitake mushroom was thick and, despite being fried, had a pleasantly springy texture with just the right amount of bite.
The tempura is delicious dipped in the dipping sauce, but I recommend trying it with salt, which lets you enjoy the ingredients’ flavors more directly.
I tried half with the dipping sauce and half with salt.
Other menu items at Sugichaya
Prices include consumption tax. As of October 2022
▼Sugichaya offers more than 28 kinds of udon.
There is also a wide selection of rice bowls, set meals, and udon toppings.
They also have an English menu.
▼They also serve alcoholic drinks such as local sake and beer, as well as individual dishes.
I thought it would be just right for when you want to have a quick drink.
The restaurant’s top recommendation is the “Udon with simmered beef tendon” (1,100 yen)!
Enjoy the rich flavor of tender, slow-cooked beef tendon.
As a beef tendon lover, the udon with simmered beef tendon is something I’d want to try at least once.
▼The “Tempura udon” (890 yen), a classic udon shop menu item.
Tempura udon is Sugichaya’s most popular menu item all year round!
▼The “Nabeyaki udon” (1,390 yen) is very popular in the cold season.
▼“Meat udon” (820 yen) is also a popular menu item in the cold season.
▼They also had “Demikatsu-don (a pork cutlet rice bowl with demi-glace sauce)” (1,000 yen), famous as a local specialty of Okayama City.
▼Few places in Kurashiki serve demikatsu-don, so it’s a dish you should definitely try if you’re visiting as a tourist.
▼If you’re visiting with small children, it’s helpful that they have “Kids’ udon” (690 yen).
It came with mini udon (kake or zaru), a mini hamburger steak, French fries, fruit, and more.
By far the most popular set meal is the “Komachi Set” (890 yen).
▼The Komachi Set is a great value, consisting of mini kake udon with toppings, two inari sushi, a mini salad, a small side dish, and one manju.
At just 860 yen including tax, it’s excellent value for money!
Sugichaya is also known for its “Sugichaya Manju” and “Nama Karinto”
Sugichaya is a restaurant specializing in udon, but its manju and karinto sweets are also popular souvenirs.
Sugichaya sells “Sugichaya Manju” and “Nama Karinto.”
Both Sugichaya Manju and Nama Karinto are sweets made with “Awa Wasanbon Kokumitsuto” (Awa wasanbon brown sugar syrup)!
“Sugichaya Manju” are manju filled with smooth bean paste and a rich brown sugar flavor
▼Sugichaya Manju have a dark brown crust.
These thin, disk-shaped manju have a glossy surface.
▼Inside is smooth red bean paste.
The dough feels light and fluffy, and the sweet flavor of Awa Wasanbon Kuromitsu Sugar spreads through your mouth.
The key to Sugichaya Manju is the brown sugar!
Awa Wasanbon Kuromitsu Sugar is very rare.
The smooth red bean paste is moist, with an elegant sweetness that melts in your mouth.
The prices of Sugichaya Manju at the Sugichaya Tenmaya Kurashiki shop are as follows.
| Quantity | Price |
|---|---|
| 3 pieces | 190 yen |
| 8 pieces | 490 yen |
Prices include consumption tax. As of October 2022
“Nama Karinto” stands out for its fluffy texture and rich brown sugar sweetness
▼Nama karinto looks almost the same as regular karinto.
Regular karinto has a crisp, hard bite, right?
But nama karinto is so soft you can hardly believe it’s karinto!
After trying it, I thought “nama” (“fresh”) was exactly the right description.
▼When broken open, the color in the center is different.
The differently colored part is where the brown sugar syrup hasn’t soaked in.
In fact, this is the key to the flavor of nama karinto.
Think of pasta cooked al dente.
This gives it a unique texture that is soft yet has a little spring to it!
Nama karinto lets you enjoy the deep, rich sweetness of Awa Wasanbon Kuromitsu Sugar, as if you were eating high-quality brown sugar candy.
Its light, fluffy feel on the tongue is delicious, too.
The prices of Sugichaya Manju at the Sugichaya Tenmaya Kurashiki shop are as follows.
| Quantity | Price |
|---|---|
| 6 pieces | 320 yen |
| 8 pieces | 430 yen |
Prices include consumption tax. As of October 2022
Both Sugichaya Manju and nama karinto make perfect gifts.
Sugichaya Manju and nama karinto are sold not only at the Sugichaya Tenmaya Kurashiki shop, but also in the souvenir section on the first basement floor of Tenmaya Kurashiki.
You can also buy Sugichaya Manju and nama karinto at Sugichaya’s online shop.
Sugichaya serves carefully crafted udon and also sells delicious manju and karinto.
We interviewed Sugichaya’s representative director, Sugimoto Masaki.
Sugichaya Tenmaya Kurashiki Shop Information
| Name | Sugichaya Tenmaya Kurashiki Shop |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-7-1 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, Tenmaya Kurashiki Store, 6th floor |
| Contact | 086-426-2637 |
| Parking | Available Use the parking facilities affiliated with Tenmaya Kurashiki Store *Two hours free with purchases of 3,000 yen or more |
| Hours | 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. |
| Closed | Open daily *Follows the closing days of Tenmaya Kurashiki Store |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted |
| Seating | 44 seats in total ・Four tables for two ・Two tables for four ・Three tables for six ・10 counter seats *Table seating arrangements can be changed |
| Smoking | Entirely non-smoking |
| Restrooms | Western-style restroom, accessible restroom |
| Families with children | Nursing room, diaper-changing table Strollers allowed Children’s chairs available Children’s tableware available |
| Accessibility | Accessible restroom, elevator Wheelchair access Please use the restroom on the 6th floor of Tenmaya |
| Website | Official Facebook page of Sugichaya Tenmaya Kurashiki Shop |
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Jozaru Tempura Udon is popular during hot weather!
It’s one of Sugichaya’s signature dishes.