When trying to figure out when was the last time I visited Sapporo, the search function of Tabelog's "Visited Shops" comes in handy. I keep accurate records of when I visited each place, except for simple reviews written as "memories" for the purpose of recording places I have been to. So, by searching for shops in a specified area, I can clearly see when I visited them. Upon investigating, I found out that my last visit to Sapporo was in mid-July 2019. This was just before reaching the milestone of turning 60. During that visit, I was still working at my previous workplace, and the reviews of the restaurants I visited indicate that the trip to Sapporo was for an external meeting. After Sapporo, I also traveled to Obihiro for work, making it a 2-night, 3-day business trip. Looking back at the reviews, I remember the background of that trip. This is my way of using Tabelog, so some may think it's strange to write about things other than food in my reviews, but I hope you can be understanding. This time, my visit to Sapporo after 3 years and 3 months was purely for leisure, not business, so I felt more relaxed. My main purpose was to visit two of the top 100 udon shops in Japan in Sapporo, as there are two qualifying shops in the city. The biggest challenge was the uncertainty of their operating hours, as many individual shops have irregular hours. This is a common issue not just in Sapporo but in general, so it's a risk you have to take when booking cheap flights and setting a schedule. Even so, I confirmed the operating hours of the two shops I planned to visit as the date approached. It turned out that the shop I initially planned to visit on the first day, "Curry Udon Tsubaki" in Nishi 18-chome, was temporarily closed for several days, so I had to change my plans and visit it on the second day instead. This shop opened in Higashi-ku, Sapporo in 2002, and will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. In December 2008, it relocated to its current location, making it nearly 14 years at this site. The owner, Kaoro Terai, is originally from Higashi Kagawa City, Kagawa Prefecture. After graduating from university, he trained at the famous Japanese restaurant "Yoshizumi" in Ebisu, Tokyo, before returning to his hometown to learn the art of udon making at two udon shops in Takamatsu, including "Handmade Udon Hariya." With this experience, he opened his own shop in Sapporo near his wife's family in 2002. The shop was selected for the Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2017 and has been included in the Tabelog Udon Top 100 since 2017. The shop is located about 1km from Kotoni Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway, about a 15-minute walk away. I arrived in Sapporo in the early afternoon and headed straight to the shop, arriving around 1:30 pm. Although it was quite late for lunch, there was still a waiting list with customers, and about 6 people were waiting in the chairs inside the shop. I added my name to the list and waited while looking at the menu brought by the staff. The menu was refined with a touch of Sanuki udon, featuring popular items like tsukemen and curry udon, showing a creative side. However, the prices were quite high, especially when compared to Sanuki udon. After a while, the staff came to take my order, and I ordered the Kakiage Udon for 950 yen. It was a good time for customer turnover, so the order was ===========

I lined up before the store opened based on reviews and was able to enter successfully. The food was delicious. However, when I tried to leave, I found that my car was blocked by another car parked in the store's parking lot. I asked the staff for help, but they couldn't find the owner of the car. Eventually, the police had to be called. It turned out that the owner was inside the store all along. The main fault lies with the car owner, but I was disappointed with the store's response. I hope they consider improving the parking space.

Teraya, a regular restaurant at the Eat Log Top 100, is a hand-made udon shop. I have posted about it once before, but the photos were terrible, so I am reposting it properly (laughs). This shop opened in 2003 in Higashi Ward, and moved to its current location in 2008. They used to have Inari sushi and it was delicious too. I found out that my husband had also been using it with his family since we got married, so I was surprised (laughs). Therefore, we continue to use it as a family. It is becoming more and more famous, and it is always crowded whenever we go, but it is a family-friendly restaurant, so we have been using it since our children were very young. The "Sanuki Oden" that you dip in mustard miso is rare in Hokkaido, and it is really delicious. Oh, there's no beer? I think I was drinking, but I probably forgot to take a picture (laughs). The udon I order is usually bukkake with chikuwa tempura on top. I really want to go with beer followed by sake or wine, but the location... I hope to make it happen someday. The mini kashiwa tempura bowl is also recommended for those who want to eat heartily. Without a doubt, the number one udon shop in Sapporo.

On September 3, 2023, at 11:00, for the second time during my visit home, my younger son, who loves udon noodles, wanted to try all the famous udon shops in Sapporo. We decided to visit one of the shops, prepared to wait in line. Our first visit was 8 years ago in 2015, on a weekday, with my wife. It was delicious, but the long line made us feel exhausted, and my wife commented, "If we have to wait this long, our usual place is good enough." Over the years, I tried to visit a few times, but it was always sold out. So, this time, we arrived at the shop just before opening at 10:40. Wow! There was already a long line... about 20 people, including us. Will we be able to get in on the first round...? Luckily, we managed to get the last 3 seats at the 22-seat counter! For those planning to visit, it seems that arriving 20-30 minutes before opening on weekends is the key. We ordered a simple bukkake udon (750 yen) for my wife and me, and a large serving of meat udon (900 yen + 250 yen) for my son. We had decided on the orders while driving to the shop. Now, we just had to wait for our udon. The sight of the various udon bowls lined up on the counter was impressive. Finally, after 35 minutes, we were served. It was delicious. Cold udon is the best. The firm texture and smoothness of the noodles, along with the aroma of wheat, were delightful. In Kagawa, where udon is famous, it is often enjoyed with raw soy sauce. However, I also love the Kagawa udon served in this meticulous broth. It feels like udon born in Kagawa and raised in Hokkaido. By the time my wife and I finished eating, my son's meat udon finally arrived. I really wished we could have eaten together... Despite getting in on the first round, it took us a total of 1 hour and 20 minutes to finish our meal... As we left the restaurant, the line had gotten even longer... If you plan to visit on a weekend, it's best to line up 30-40 minutes before opening. Thank you for the delicious meal!

I arrived 30 minutes before the store opened. There were already 2 cars parked in the parking lot and 2 groups of customers waiting ahead of me. Once I placed my order, it came out quite quickly. The noodles had a nice firm texture and were delicious, perfect for this time of year. I always go for the usual toppings of half-boiled egg and fish cake. The burdock root and tempura were exceptionally tasty. I feel like eating here regularly. It's also refreshing to add some kabosu citrus for a different flavor. I wonder when I'll come back next time?

I arrived at the restaurant around the time it opened. I was able to sit without waiting, but I think I would have had to wait if I had arrived a little later. However, the waiting area is indoors, so it's convenient during the hot summer. The udon noodles had the perfect firmness like Sanuki udon! The tempura was delicious with tender meat. I want to try the shrimp tempura next time. I really want to go back again after a long time! It was delicious!!

This was my first time lining up before the store opened, and when I arrived around 10:45, there were already more than 10 people in line. I just made it in for the first seating and sat at the counter. I ordered bukkake udon with onsen egg and chikuwa tempura on top. It was reliably delicious - the udon was chewy, the tempura crispy, and everything was hot. The broth soaked into the tempura, making it soft and tasty as well.

I had a good seat at the end of the counter, so I could see the udon being prepared. It was a great spot. Even though I arrived more than 15 minutes before opening, there was already a line. The restaurant quickly filled up, but everyone seemed to finish their meal and pay promptly, so the turnover was fast. The fried tofu was thick and had a light taste. The oden also seemed to be popular. I wanted to enjoy some sake on a cold day. The broth was delicious, and I finished my meal while adding some shichimi togarashi and fried tempura bits for extra flavor.

Title: Sapporo's Most Popular (But Actually Hokkaido's Best)! I wrote in the title that it is the most popular in Sapporo, but it might actually be the best in Hokkaido! When we arrived at the restaurant, it was packed. We had to write our names and the number of people on a reservation sheet. They also have a system where you can order your food before your turn comes up, so it might be a good idea to decide what you want to eat beforehand! [Budget] 1000-2000 yen per person This time, we were a party of two. We ordered two types of oden and one udon dish each. I ordered the udon with half-cooked egg tempura topping! The total came to 3080 yen. - Oden: Konnyaku 180 yen - Oden: Ganmo 250 yen - Kashiwa Tempura Curry Udon 1200 yen - Kashiwa Tempura Bukkake Udon 1250 yen (this was my order) - Topping: Half-cooked egg tempura 200 yen First, the oden arrived. Personally, I found the konnyaku to be very flavorful and delicious! The udon arrived about 10 minutes after we were seated. I took a bite of the noodles alone. Delicious! I then added the sauce, sudachi, and mixed it all together. The combination of the udon, sauce, negi, and ginger was already delicious, but then came the kashiwa tempura. The mixture of the soft and crispy textures of the tempura in the broth was heavenly! The crispiness of the tempura surprised both of us! I highly recommend trying this kashiwa tempura! The curry udon was also delicious. The curry broth and the firmness of the noodles were perfect! Overall, this is a must-visit restaurant with no disappointments. We had a very satisfying lunch! I would love to try their simmered udon next time during the cold weather. Thank you for the meal! (*´ー｀*)

It was raining heavily and the weather was bad, so we decided to go somewhere nearby. Surprisingly, there was no one there. Maybe they are closed? Usually, there is always a long line. Lucky us! Maybe it's because of the bad weather? This place is known for their tempura rice bowl. We also ordered some oden. My son tried beef tendon for the first time and he seemed to like it. It would be even better if the prices for the tempura rice bowl and the plain rice bowl were the same...

A rare authentic Sanuki udon restaurant in Hokkaido. They also serve oden, which you can enjoy while waiting for your order. The beef tendon udon I had was delicious. The mixed tempura udon was really tasty and satisfying. Of course, the tempura was crispy! It's common to see a line, but they have good turnover so you get seated quickly, which is nice. I would definitely go back if I'm in Sapporo again!

There are 5 parking spaces at the back of the store, but there are puddles making it difficult to park all 5 cars properly. I hope they fix it. Before opening, there is a line of about 20 people waiting. It takes about 20 minutes to order and receive your bowl of noodles. The noodles have a great texture and the tempura is crispy and delicious. The timing of your visit can affect how crowded it is, so be prepared for a wait. Thank you for the meal. - Bukkake (noodles) 750 yen - Large serving 250 yen extra - Chikuwa tempura 180 yen - Shrimp mini tempura bowl 630 yen

I visited around 12:55 on a regular day. There were 8 groups waiting. I received my food at 13:21, so I didn't feel like I waited that long. It's been over 10 years since I last visited when it was in Motomachi. Surprisingly, the udon was still delicious. I thought the sweet potato tempura was a bit thin. It would be nice if they could improve by accepting payment methods other than cash only. I don't like waiting in line, so I might not visit again for a while...

The udon noodles are beautifully presented but the broth for the zaru udon is a bit strong in bonito flavor and slightly sweet, with a clear soy sauce taste. The noodles have a medium thickness and good texture, but the tempura underneath is soggy. The kitsune udon has a rich flavor with kombu, bonito, and soy sauce, similar to Hokkaido style rather than Kansai style. The fried tofu is not too sweet, which is not to my liking. Overall, I prefer to enjoy udon quickly and affordably.

I ordered the Kashiwa Tempura Udon (1,120 yen), Chikuwa Tempura (200 yen), and Soft-Boiled Egg Tempura (200 yen) for a total of 1,520 yen. The Kashiwa Tempura has a seasoned flavor so you can eat it without any sauce, and it is juicy and delicious! The udon noodles are quite long, so dipping them in the broth can be a bit of a challenge (laughs). When you try the udon, you'll notice that it has a great texture!! Oh, it's so delicious! By the way, I wonder what the lemon is used for... it remains a mystery (laughs). It's a bit pricey for lunch, but I'm satisfied with this. Thank you for the meal.

Popular restaurants always have long lines. There weren't enough seats inside, so we had to wait outside for quite a while. However, I have no regrets about waiting because the food was incredibly delicious. I definitely want to wait in line again! The tempura was hot and crispy, and the oden and spicy miso were also very flavorful. Even though I was already satisfied with everything besides the udon, the udon itself was also delicious with a great texture. I left feeling full and completely satisfied. Next time, I'm torn between getting the tempura on top of udon or trying the tsukemen... Both options are delicious, so it's a tough decision.

Today's location was in the Yamanote area. Around lunchtime, we drove 3 minutes to this place with my partner OG. We were the 4th group waiting inside the restaurant. We were given the menu and I ordered the tempura udon, while my partner ordered the burdock tempura with meat dipping noodles. The background music was acoustic guitar, creating a nice atmosphere. After about 10 minutes, we were seated. While waiting for our udon, we had some oden with mustard miso, which was delicious. After a 10-minute wait, our udon arrived. The udon noodles were long, about 95 centimeters each. We slurped them up one by one, dipping them in the ginger, green onion, and sesame soup. It was incredibly delicious. My partner especially loved the burdock. The tempura udon cost 1170 yen, while the burdock tempura with meat dipping noodles cost 1200 yen. We also had chikuwa for 180 yen and hiraten for 180 yen. It was a delicious meal. Thank you! (^^)v

This is a high-end udon dish priced at 850 yen. The regular size costs 1,000 yen, so going for the large size doesn't seem worth it. It's a simple and delicious bowl of udon, nothing extraordinary, just really well-executed. The noodles are not too thick but have a nice texture, and they hold up well in the thickened egg topping. The broth is flavorful, maybe because of the egg. It doesn't have a special wow factor, but it's just a comforting and tasty bowl of udon. I didn't try the tempura, but it looked good. Prices for udon seem to be going up everywhere, but is it just because it's considered high-end here?

Arrived at the parking lot at 11:20 AM and had to wait for about 10 minutes for a parking spot as it was full. The restaurant was crowded with 6 people ahead of me in line. Despite the constant flow of customers, the popularity of the restaurant was evident. The staff efficiently took our orders even while we were waiting. The noodles were beautifully glossy and had a firm texture. The crispy fried chicken tempura looked delicious. The noodles had a great chewy texture, the best I've ever had. The fried chicken tempura was also very tasty and I could eat as many pieces as I wanted. However, the price of the udon has become quite expensive at 1570 yen.

I had kashiwa tempura udon with chikuwa tempura and tamago tempura toppings. The firm and smooth udon noodles were delicious, and even though I usually prefer soba, I really enjoyed the udon here! I'd like to visit Kagawa Prefecture. I arrived 15 minutes before opening on a weekday and was the first in line. The restaurant quickly filled up after opening, and there was a waiting list when I left.

Located in the Yamate area of the Nishi Ward. The sign is small, so it's better to look up the location before going. They open at 11 am, but it gets crowded so it's best to line up before they open. Their oden is also famous, I ordered 2 pieces of beef tendons for 240 yen each. It came out before the udon. It was soft and delicious. And the kashiwa tempura zaru udon I ordered, this udon has a firm texture that you rarely find in Sapporo. Is this the real Sanuki udon? It was incredibly delicious.