Sanuki Udon Shikokuya｜Osaka Ekimae Buildings

I had curry udon at Sanuki Udon Shikokuya, located on the second basement floor of the Osaka Ekimae Daini Building (Osaka Ekimae 2nd Building).

It’s a long-established udon restaurant with a 46-year history and is one of the most popular spots in the highly competitive lunch area of the Osaka Ekimae Buildings.

During lunchtime, many people line up in front of the restaurant, so it’s best to visit a little earlier or later if possible.

This time, I ordered the Chicken Tempura Curry Udon (¥1,150). Right around the time I placed my order, the restaurant had just filled up completely.

After waiting for about five minutes, my curry udon was ready and served—pretty quick! Since the chicken tempura takes some time to fry, it’s served on a separate plate, so I waited about two to three more minutes for it.

The first thing I want to mention is that the bowl containing the udon was enormous. At first, I thought it was just the bowl that was big—but it was actually filled to the brim, and I ended up completely full. It was so delicious that I ended up eating it smoothly and quickly.

As for the characteristics of Shikokuya’s curry udon, the noodles were slightly on the softer side, but that made them wonderfully chewy and springy in texture. To go along with that, the large-cut onions were cooked just enough to retain a bit of crunch instead of being overly soft, creating a nice contrast with the udon’s texture and making for an excellent overall mouthfeel.

The chicken tempura served on a separate plate consisted of four thin slices. They were crispy and delicious—I assume they serve it separately to help maintain that crispiness.

The curry poured over the udon wasn’t very spicy, but it had a rich flavor with a strong dashi base. Because of that, even people who don’t like spicy food should be able to enjoy it without any problem.

As mentioned earlier, this is a popular restaurant, and there’s a good chance you’ll have to wait during lunchtime. So, if you plan to visit, I recommend going a bit early. That said, the turnover rate is quite fast, so even if you go right at lunchtime, you’ll probably only have to wait a short while.