"Sanuki," "Hakata," and "Inaniwa": Three must-try brand udon noodles in Morioka! [Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture]

Among the various regional udon dishes found throughout Japan, there are some that are nationally famous and known as "brand udon."

Famous examples include "Sanuki Udon" from Kagawa Prefecture, "Hakata Udon" from Fukuoka Prefecture (considered the birthplace of udon), and "Inaniwa Udon" from Akita Prefecture in the Tohoku region

This article introduces popular restaurants in Morioka City where you can enjoy these "brand-name udon" dishes, along with their menus

(Please note that the prices mentioned in this article are as of late May 2026.)

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Mishishippi Udon (Sanuki Udon: Tsukigaoka, Morioka City)

The unique name of the shop was chosen by the jazz-loving owner, who hoped the shop would last a long time, like the Mississippi River in the American South

The interior of the restaurant is bright and airy, resembling a cafe, unlike what you'd expect from a Sanuki udon shop, making it a comfortable and relaxing place for even solo female diners to enjoy a meal

The homemade noodles, made by the owner who was born in Morioka and trained in Sanuki, have not only a firm texture but also a chewy consistency, making them a smooth and easy-to-swallow udon

The "medium size" (approximately 450g) of noodles is equivalent to a large size at other restaurants, and even the regular size (approximately 300g) is a sufficient amount, all for the same price as the small size (approximately 200g)

The broth is made using domestically produced "urume sardine flakes," "mackerel flakes," "dried sardines," and "true kelp," resulting in a rich broth with a deep seafood flavor

Also, while tempura is an essential accompaniment to Sanuki udon, the restaurant's top recommendation is mackerel tempura, made with fatty mackerel that has no unpleasant odor, and whose delicious flavor enhances the taste of the udon

Chikuwa tempura and mackerel tempura udon (950 yen)

The restaurant's signature dish is bukkake udon, topped with mackerel tempura and chikuwa tempura that spill out of the bowl

You can enjoy the crispy texture of the burdock tempura by serving it on a plate, or you can try dipping it in the delicious broth

The two types of bukkake udon introduced here are topped with plenty of green onions and seaweed, and come with a small side dish of delicious simmered daikon radish soaked in broth and topped with scrambled eggs

Squid tentacles and mackerel tempura udon (950 yen)

This dish features two thick, satisfying pieces of squid tentacle tempura instead of chikuwa (fish cake) tempura

A plate for removing the tempura and tempura dipping sauce are provided, so you can enjoy the tempura while it's still crispy without it getting soaked in the noodle broth

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Udon Isshun (Hakata Udon: Motomiya, Morioka City)

This is a rare Hakata udon restaurant in Iwate Prefecture, which opened in February 2022 at BeBA TERRACE in Morioka Central Park, located in the developing Morioka Minami district

Hakata udon is also known as "Kyushu udon" or "Fukuoka udon," and it has a fluffy exterior and a chewy interior

The noodles, made from a blend of wheat from Kyushu and Iwate prefectures, are served in a rich, flavorful broth made with Rishiri kelp, shiitake mushrooms from Iwate, and soy sauce from Kyushu

The system involves placing an order via a touch panel near the entrance, which sends the order to the kitchen. It's a self-service style where you pick up your order when your ticket (receipt) number is called

You can add as much tempura batter scraps with green onions and dried shrimp as you like

The shop faces a large parking lot, but the entrance and exit are located in the courtyard at the back of the building, accessed through a narrow alley-like passageway from the parking lot

The restaurant has a warm, inviting atmosphere thanks to its wooden interior. It's spacious and offers about 40 seats, including comfortably spaced tables and counter seats perfect for solo diners

Meat and burdock tempura udon (960 yen)

Enjoy the delicious combination of the savory flavor of beef seasoned with sweet and savory soy sauce and the crispy taste of deep-fried burdock root tempura

Another recommended way to enjoy it is to put the braised beef on top of white rice and eat it like a beef bowl

Extra-large squid tentacle udon (990 yen)

This udon is topped with tempura made from the tentacles of an entire squid, and its sheer volume, as well as the way it spills out of the bowl, makes a powerful visual impact

It's quite a challenge to bite through a large squid tentacle tempura, but just take a big bite!

Mini katsudon (440 yen)

This restaurant's popular side dish features three thick yet tender pork cutlets in a mini bowl, making it quite filling

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172〇 (Inaniwa Udon: Marunouchi, Morioka City)

Located near Sakurayama Shrine in Uchimaru, this is an Inaniwa udon restaurant whose name, "172○," is not immediately recognizable as "Inaniwa."

Originally, it was an izakaya called "Asanuma Shoten Sando Branch" with 5 counter seats and 1 two-seater table, but it operates as "172○" during lunchtime

The menu features Inaniwa udon noodles, known for their firm texture and smooth mouthfeel, served with five different soups and a small bowl of rice topped with green onion miso

While eating rice with green onion miso is good, adding it to soup allows you to enjoy the delicious taste of rice porridge

All five types of udon noodles are 1,000 yen (tax included), and you can choose between hot or cold udon, but I always opt for the cold udon to enjoy its firm texture

Even better, two slices of Akita's famous "iburigakko" (smoked pickled radish) are served as a side dish, making you want to order a drink even in the middle of the day

Spicy meat miso udon (1,000 yen)

The clear, refreshing soup is topped with plenty of savory and spicy minced meat sauce

In addition, it is topped with chopped purple onion, shredded white onion, and finely chopped green onion, and the restaurant recommends mixing them well before eating

When these ingredients are thoroughly mixed, the soup, combined with the flavor of sesame oil, transforms into a refreshing and harmonious taste that coats the flat noodles perfectly

Soy milk tantan udon (1,000 yen)

The mild and gentle-tasting soy milk soup, served in a chilled bowl, pairs perfectly with the crisp, cold Inaniwa udon noodles

The soy milk soup is primarily made with chicken broth, and the homemade chili oil sprinkled on top adds a spicy kick and a touch of color

The minced chicken is topped with plenty of ingredients such as shredded and chopped green onions, and it's recommended to mix it all together before eating

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summary

The people of Morioka are known for their love of noodles, such as "reimen (cold noodles), jajangmyeon (noodles with black bean sauce), and wanko soba (small bowls of soba noodles)," but they also love ramen, spaghetti, and udon

In Morioka city, there are many restaurants serving "Morioka Original Udon," which I introduced previously, as well as national chain restaurants specializing in Sanuki udon

From among them, we've introduced three restaurants where you can enjoy famous brand udon noodles

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