【Tantan udon where mild spice shines against mellow sesame】 “Hanamaru Udon” in the food court at the IY Chofu branch. My wife chose Nagasaki champon, and I chose udon. ◆ Shirogoma Tantan, medium, 780円 (extra chili oil) Although it's a summer-only offering, it's still a leading choice in this season when the heat lingers into October. The fragrant, mellow white sesame spreads across the palate, followed by a perfectly balanced mild heat. Clinging to the smooth noodles, its flavor made for a bowl combining richness and gentleness. And every time, I'm impressed by the remarkable efficiency of the staff in charge of boiling. Hats off to their concentration as they handle orders one after another at almost untrackable speed. That truly is craftsmanship. Thank you for the meal.

Visited October 26, 2023, 14:00: Came in for a late lunch. The food court has lots of seats, so you can usually find one. The “kake udon ２９０円” sign attracted me, so I ordered it. I enjoyed it. As someone who likes spicy food, I was pleased that the shichimi container was generous in size and had large holes. That made me happy, and I poured on heaps.

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2021 06 26 We'd sometimes stop by after shopping with my beloved wife when we felt a little hungry. This time, I added 2 portions of noodles to an udon bento with 2 pieces of tempura. Has the container become a little sturdier? Even after taking it home by bicycle, the lid stayed firmly shut. (The previous takeout had a flimsy lid, and things were a disaster when I got home. Please see Hanamaru headquarters and so on.) The pumpkin tempura was soft and sweet too‼ The half-piece of chikuwa tempura was an easy-to-eat size, and the spinach? komatsuna? with sesame dressing was delicious~. The supplied noodle broth probably maxes out at 3 portions? It ended up like brothless noodles, but the spinach? komatsuna? was seasoned just right, so even with little broth it just about worked. I personally added ginger, and it was delicious~. From here, this was about 8 months earlier. There hadn't been one nearby, and I'd eaten at other branches for years, probably because it's cheap, quick, and tasty when you're hungry. Recently, coronavirus precautions are still in place, so you can eat there, and you can also get takeout by writing on the paper near the trays and handing it over, which helps. The staff were working hard with smiles, which I thought was good.

Hanamaru Udon's Kokuryo branch is inside Ito-Yokado, making its location very convenient. You can easily stop by while shopping or on your way home, and it's helpful that you can get there without getting wet on rainy days. The udon is consistently delicious, with fragrant dashi and noodles with just the right firmness. There's also a wide variety of tempura and toppings, allowing customization to suit your mood that day. It's a recommended shop that offers both convenience and satisfaction.

When I visited again in 2025 after a long absence, the noodle cooking, which had previously been a problem, had improved. They were pleasantly chewy and firm, cooked to an easy-to-eat texture, and the quality was about the same as other Hanamaru Udon branches, which was good. However, perhaps because it's a food court branch, I feel many of the tempura pieces have been sitting for a while after frying and aren't crispy. ----------------- I visit Hanamaru Udon once a month, but even compared with other branches, the noodles at the Kokuryo branch aren't cooked well. Whenever I go, I feel the noodles aren't tasty. They're probably overboiled and have a coarse, stiff texture. That doesn't happen at Hanamaru Udon branches within Tokyo's 23 wards.