Kyoto Udon Namasoba Okakita

Kyoto Udon Namasoba Okakita, established in 1940, is a popular dining spot located near Heian Shrine. This eatery, spanning four generations, continues to offer traditional flavors handed down from its founder. Given its proximity to the tourist hotspot of Heian Shrine, it is consistently bustling with customers at any time of day.

Faithful to Kyoto's tradition of emphasizing quality dashi, Okakita uses only natural Rishiri kelp for its broth. The udon noodles are deliberately thin to ensure they don't overpower the delicate dashi. The noodles are cooked for 10-15 minutes to achieve a texture that's both absorbent and resilient. Among its classic udon offerings like kitsune, tanuki, and curry, the "tentoji" is particularly outstanding, with fluffy eggs softly enveloping the noodles, creating a dish that is hard to find elsewhere.

In addition to noodles, another highlight is the "egg-covered" donburi dishes, similar to the tentoji udon. The soft egg and Kyoto-style dashi deliciously complement the rice underneath, with sansho pepper enhancing the flavors, making these dishes a must-try.