Sanuki udon　Sanya｜Minato-Motomachi Kobe

I visited Sanya, a Sanuki udon restaurant located in the Motomachi Shopping Street in Kobe.

Motomachi Shopping Street is a large shopping arcade that stretches from JR Kobe Station to JR Motomachi Station, and this restaurant is located closer to the Kobe Station side.

This is a street I often walk along, and I frequently pass by this restaurant. Every time I did, I thought to myself that I’d like to try it someday – and finally, I had the chance to go.

I wasn’t sure what to eat, but since it was my first time visiting the restaurant, I decided to go with a classic dish to better judge the quality of the food, so I ordered the Chicken Tempura Bukkake Udon. It was already mid-September, but the lingering summer heat was intense, with temperatures over 30℃, so I decided to have cold udon.

About 5 to 10 minutes after placing my order, the dish was ready and served. There were 4 to 5 pieces of chicken tempura, larger than I had expected, served with a slice of sudachi on the side.

The udon noodles at this restaurant are authentic Sanuki-style with a firm, chewy texture, and the chicken tempura is crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and absolutely delicious. This is definitely something I’d like to come back and eat again.

The better on the chicken tempura is perfectly balanced – thick enough to retain heat in the chicken, yet it doesn’t warm up the cold udon, which stays refreshingly cool.

The udon also has a smooth, pleasant texture – it effortlessly slides down your throat, making it a truly delightful and exceptional dish.

Since it’s a popular restaurant, there are often people waiting depending on the time of day. It’s best to either visit during off-peak hours or be prepared to wait a little.