They say "the texture is the essence of udon."
However, that is not always the case.
Udon has its own characteristics depending on the region.
"Sugichaya" is a restaurant that is particular about "Okayama udon," which is unique to Okayama.
The udon noodles have a "tender" elasticity that pushes back when bitten.
To create such udon, Sugichaya is very particular about the flour.
Additionally, the "Sugichaya Manju," a bun that utilizes their commitment to udon flour, is also popular.
You can enjoy its elegant flavor made with the rare "Awa Wasanbon brown sugar syrup."
Furthermore, pay attention to Sugichaya's unique confectionery "Ikarianto," which also uses Awa Wasanbon brown sugar syrup.
Now, let me introduce the Tenmaya Kurashiki store of Sugichaya.
It closed in March 2024.
The information below is from when it was in operation.
Takeout products are still being manufactured and sold from a kitchen that has moved to Setouchi City.
In the food hall and regional sweets shop on the basement floor of Tenmaya Kurashiki, they continue to sell wild vegetable rice, assorted tempura, zaru udon, Sugichaya Manju, and Ikarianto, so please make use of it.
【Kitchen relocation address】
701-4276
290-5 Hattori, Nagoe-cho, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture
1F Setouchi Memorial Hospital
Sugichaya Setouchi Kitchen
TEL/FAX: 0869-24-8083
Sugichaya is a udon shop that is particular about the texture and flavor of "Okayama udon," unique to Okayama
Sugichaya is a udon shop located in a corner of the dining area on the 6th floor of Tenmaya Kurashiki, where various restaurants are gathered.
The main store of Sugichaya is located in the Fukuwatari area of Takebe, Kita-ku, Okayama City, in the northern part of Okayama.
Since opening its main store in 1973, Sugichaya has been committed to noodles with a "tender" texture, maintaining the unique flavor of "Okayama udon."
"Tender" means something like "mochi-like" in Okayama dialect.
Moreover, Sugichaya is not only famous for udon.
Buns and karinto are also specialties.
▼Sugichaya is a "full-service" udon shop, not self-service.
Once seated, you can take your time deciding on the menu, which is a great aspect of a full-service restaurant.
▼The interior is spacious, with plenty of seating available, allowing you to enjoy your meal at a leisurely pace.
The table seating can be rearranged according to the number of people, so it's safe even for large groups.
"Jō Ten-zaru udon" is a popular zaru udon with tempura, enjoyed in the hot season
I had the "Jō Ten-zaru udon."
Note that there are Jō and Nami versions of Ten-zaru udon, which have different tempura contents.
▼The prices for each type of Ten-zaru udon are as follows.
| Jō Ten-zaru udon | 1,350 yen |
|---|---|
| Nami Ten-zaru udon | 1,100 yen |
Prices include tax. As of October 2022.
▼The udon noodles have a beautiful white color.
They are thick and glossy, looking delicious.
Of course, the tempura is freshly fried!
The contents of the tempura are as follows.
- Shrimp (2 pieces)
- Shiitake mushrooms
- Pepper
- Sweet potato
- Perilla leaves (Ao-jiso)
▼The dipping sauce for the udon and tempura.
▼The condiments are green onions and wasabi. There is also a pickled plum for palate cleansing.
▼Salt for the tempura is also provided.
▼Dunking the udon in the dipping sauce and slurping it up is the essence of zaru udon.
When I ate the udon, I first felt a firm texture.
Then, as I gradually applied pressure with my jaw, I felt the elasticity of the noodles.
The sensation of it pushing back when bitten and the chewy texture are exquisite.
I understood well why the shop describes the udon noodles as "tender."
This is a flavor unique to "Okayama udon," different from the strong, firm noodles of Sanuki udon.
The noodles are thick, making them very satisfying, and I couldn't stop using my chopsticks.
And the dipping sauce that clings to the noodles.
With its sweet flavor and pleasant dashi aroma, I finished every drop of the dipping sauce.
I also enjoyed the tempura in between.
Every piece of tempura was crispy and fragrant.
The shrimp tempura had a plump texture that contrasted with the crispy batter.
The flesh had a bouncy texture, making it taste unlike any pepper.
The shiitake mushrooms were thick and had a pleasantly chewy texture, even though they were fried.
The tempura is delicious when dipped in the sauce, but I recommend eating it with salt to enjoy the flavor of the ingredients more directly.
I tried half with the dipping sauce and half with salt.
Other Menu Items at Sugichaya
Prices include tax. As of October 2022 (Reiwa 4).
▼Sugichaya offers more than 28 types of udon.
Additionally, there are plenty of rice bowls, set menus, and udon toppings available.
Also, there is an English menu available.
▼Local sake, beer, and other alcoholic beverages, as well as side dishes.
I thought it would be just right for a light drink.
The shop's recommended dish is "Udon with simmered beef tendon" (1,100 yen)!
Enjoy the melt-in-your-mouth flavor of the beef tendon.
Udon with simmered beef tendon is a must-try for beef tendon lovers.
▼A classic menu item at udon shops is "Tempura Udon" (890 yen).
Tempura udon is the number one popular menu item at Sugichaya throughout the year!
▼A very popular dish during the cold season is "Nabeyaki Udon" (1,390 yen).
▼"Meat Udon" (820 yen) is also a popular menu item during the cold season.
▼There is also the famous local dish from Okayama City, "Demi Katsu Don" (katsu don with demi-glace sauce) (1,000 yen).
▼It is rare to find a place in Kurashiki that serves Demi Katsu Don, so if you are visiting for sightseeing, it is a dish you should definitely try.
▼If you come with small children, it is helpful that there is "Kids Udon" (690 yen).
The mini udon (kake/zaru) comes with a mini hamburger, French fries, and fruit.
The most popular set meal is the "Komachi Set" (890 yen).
▼The Komachi Set includes mini kayaku udon, two inari sushi, a mini salad, a small bowl, and one steamed bun, making it a great value.
All this for 860 yen including tax is an outstanding cost-performance!
Sugichaya is also famous for "Sugichaya Manju" and "Nama Karinto"
Sugichaya is a restaurant mainly serving udon, but it is also famous for its manju and karinto, which are popular as souvenirs.
What is sold at Sugichaya are "Sugichaya Manju" and "Nama Karinto".
Both Sugichaya Manju and Nama Karinto use "Awa Wasanbon Kokumitsuto" (Awa wasanbon brown sugar) as an ingredient!
"Sugichaya Manju" is a manju filled with smooth red bean paste and a rich brown sugar flavor
▼Sugichaya Manju has a dark brown dough.
It is a thin, disc-shaped manju, with a glossy surface.
▼Inside, it was filled with smooth red bean paste.
The dough has a fluffy and light texture, and the sweet flavor of Awa Wasanbon brown sugar spreads in the mouth.
The highlight of Sugichaya Manju is the brown sugar!
Awa Wasanbon brown sugar is very rare.
The smooth red bean paste is moist and has a refined sweetness that melts in your mouth.
The price of Sugichaya Manju at Sugichaya Tenmaya Store in Kurashiki is as follows.
| Quantity | Price |
|---|---|
| 3 pieces | 190 yen |
| 8 pieces | 490 yen |
Prices include tax. As of October 2022 (4th year of Reiwa)
"Nama Karinto" has a fluffy texture and a rich sweetness of brown sugar
▼Nama Karinto looks almost the same as regular karinto.
Regular karinto has a crunchy and hard texture.
However, Nama Karinto is so soft that it doesn't feel like karinto at all!
When I tried it, I thought the term "nama" (raw) was very fitting.
▼When broken, the color in the center changes.
The part where the color has changed is the area that has not absorbed the brown sugar syrup.
In fact, this is the key to the flavor of Nama Karinto.
It's like al dente pasta.
This creates a unique texture that is soft yet has a slight bounce!
Nama Karinto allows you to enjoy the deep and rich sweetness of Awa Wasanbon brown sugar, as if you were eating high-quality black candy.
The fluffy and light texture on the tongue is also delicious.
The price of Sugichaya Manju at Sugichaya Tenmaya Store in Kurashiki is as follows.
| Quantity | Price |
|---|---|
| 6 pieces | 320 yen |
| 8 pieces | 430 yen |
Prices include tax. As of October 2022 (4th year of Reiwa)
Both Sugichaya Manju and Nama Karinto are perfect as souvenirs.
These Sugichaya Manju and Nama Karinto are available not only at Sugichaya Tenmaya Store but also at the souvenir shop located on the basement floor of Tenmaya Kurashiki.
Additionally, you can purchase Sugichaya Manju and Nama Karinto at the Sugichaya online shop.
Sugichaya not only offers carefully crafted udon but also sells delicious manju and karinto.
We interviewed the representative director of Sugichaya, Sugimoto Masaki.
Data for Sugichaya Tenmaya Store in Kurashiki
| Name | Sugichaya Tenmaya Store |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-7-1 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, 6th floor of Tenmaya Kurashiki |
| Contact | 086-426-2637 |
| Parking | Available Use the affiliated parking lot of Tenmaya Kurashiki (Reference: Official site of Tenmaya Kurashiki) *Free for 2 hours with purchases over 3,000 yen |
| Business Hours | 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM |
| Regular Holidays | None *Subject to the holidays of Tenmaya Kurashiki |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation | Available |
| Seating | 44 seats total ・4 tables for 2 people ・2 tables for 4 people ・3 tables for 6 people ・10 counter seats *Table seating can be rearranged |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet, barrier-free toilet |
| Childcare | Nursing room, diaper changing table Strollers allowed High chairs available Children's utensils available |
| Barrier-Free | Barrier-free toilet, elevator Wheelchair accessible Use the restroom located on the 6th floor of Tenmaya |
| Website | Official Facebook of Sugichaya Tenmaya Store |
Jō Ten-zaru udon is a udon that is popular in the hot season!
It's one of Sugichaya's signature dishes.