Ise is especially well-known for “Ise Udon” Ise Udon is the soul food of Ise, with its fluffy thick noodles and glutinous texture, served with a dark sauce made of slightly sweet tamari soy sauce and soup stock.
Ise Udon is said to have originated in the Edo period (XNUMX-XNUMX), when Ise Udon was served to visitors to the Ise Shrine as a dish easy on the stomach after a long journey. One may understandably think that they all taste the same, but each shop expresses its individuality with different broths and toppings. This section introduces some recommended Ise Udon shops that are about a XNUMX-minute walk from Geku and Naiku, Ise Kawasaki Merchant Hall, and the Futami Okitama Shrine.
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A long-established business established in XNUMX. Since it is located near a cultural center where concerts and other events are held, many famous people visit this place. Legend has it that Rokusuke Ei, who came to Ise for a performance, had udon at this restaurant and found it so delicious that he talked about it on the radio, which led to the name “Ise Udon.” The special sauce is made from dried bonito flakes, mackerel flakes, kelp, dried sardines, and the finest sashimi soy sauce, and takes three days to make. The now-popular “Meat Ise Udon” is said to also have originated at Chitose. The shop is located near Ujiyamada Station in the center of Ise and is loved by the locals.
Address: 1-15-11 Iwabuchi, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
Since its establishment in the early Showa period (XNUMX-XNUMX), this shop has maintained its original taste. The homemade noodles are made every morning only for that day, and are made with care for temperature and humidity, as well as salt and water content. Once the udon noodles are made, they are slowly boiled for an hour to create the fluffy texture that is unique to Ise Udon. The sweet sauce made from two kinds of local dried bonito flakes, mackerel flakes, and dried sardines, combined with tamari soy sauce and pomace, is excellent. Their Gochaise Udon was invented by a regular customer and is a popular menu item with a lot of ingredients such as shrimp tempura, meat, and kitsune (deep-fried tofu). Ise Udon noodles with Ise arare (tiny rice biscuits), a specialty of Ise, are also rare. It’s a short walk from Iseshi Station, so it's a good place to grab a bowl before heading home. (Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand shop)
Address: 1-4-23 Miyajiri, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
A long-established business since XNUMX. It is said that there has been an udon shop in a place called Tanaka Nakaseko in Gekumae since the Edo period, and Nakamura took over the business in XNUMX. It takes pride in its rich sauce, which is made by slowly simmering locally produced tamari soy sauce, dried bonito flakes, and kelp soup stock for about five hours. A salad and rice set is available, and some people add rice to leftover udon sauce. Their curry udon is also popular among locals. The spicy curry matches the chewy Ise Udon noodles. You can even add your rice to the sauce at the end!
Address: 12-14 Honmachi, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
Founded in the 12th year of the Taisho era.
A long-established store that has been sticking to homemade soup and homemade noodles since its establishment and continues to preserve the same taste.The pure white and transparent udon noodles and the sauce that is boiled for 3 hours or more are the traditional flavors that have been passed down since the establishment.
The set menu is abundant, and you can eat Ise's specialty dishes together.There is also a luxurious menu with whole spiny lobster on it.It is also ◎ to challenge because you came to Ise with much effort. There are also seats on the second floor, which is recommended when you want to eat in large numbers.
The shortcut is to exit from the north exit of Iseshi Station.
Address: 2-19-11 Miyajiri, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
This restaurant specializes in udon that is rare, even for Ise. Mekabu (also called “mehibi”), directly from Toushijima Island, is the root of wakame, a sticky seaweed that goes perfectly with Ise Udon. One taste and you’ll be hooked! The smiling face of the proprietress, who is always ready to welcome you, is a specialty of the restaurant, which has many repeat customers, both local and tourists. The shop is located just off Geku-sando.
Address: 6-11 Honmachi, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
This restaurant mainly serves Ise Udon. The portions of Ise udon are large, and there are plenty of toppings to satisfy even those who want to eat a lot. As it is a restaurant, there are many other food options. It is recommended for variety and deliciousness of the rice bowls, among other things. It is located along Geku-sando, two minutes from Geku, making it easy to access.
Address: 19-17 Honmachi, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
In addition to traditional Ise udon, there are also many new types such as Cheese Ise Udon. There is a wide variety of food on the menu, including the local dish, tekone-zushi, and the most popular among women, seared Matsusaka beef on rice. It is located right outside the Geku North Gate, making it a good place to eat after visiting the shrine.
Address: 16-5 Honmachi, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
The shop is located facing Oharai-machi and is crowded with shrine visitors. It takes pride in their sauce, which is prepared daily to match the noodles. It is also slightly thickened to make it easier to blend with the noodles. Most Ise Udon noodle sauce is sweet sauce, but Okadaya’s sauce has a slightly salty flavor. You can add an egg to make it milder and enjoy the different taste. The Curry Ise Udon, which is half curry and half sauce, and the Chilled Ise Udon in summer, are recommended.
Address: 31 Ujiimazaike-cho, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
The shop looks as if it has been transported from the Edo period. The name of the restaurant, “Fukusuke,” was inspired by a popular restaurant from the Edo period, and was named with the meaning of “good fortune in eating.” The Fukusuke on the shop’s roof tiles is a landmark! The sauce is made from dried bonito flakes and kelp, combined with rich tamari soy sauce, with a flavor that is lighter than it looks. Recommended are the homemade, handmade noodles, which are delivered in a “taji” similar to “okamochi,” which is a box-shaped container used for traditional deliveries. You can enjoy the atmosphere of a bygone era from the shop's exterior to the interior There is also a wide variety of Ise Udon. The shop is in Okageyokocho.
Address: 52 Ujinakanokiri-cho, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
The pride and joy of Tsutaya is their sauce, which is made in the traditional way with a lot of time and effort, using a lot of luxurious ingredients that are just barely profitable. They continue to follow the method of removing odors by adding a grilled iron plate as a final touch to the sauce that takes about five hours to make. Ise Udon is the specialty of the owner, who eats it every day to make sure the taste is right. The Grilled Pork Ise Udon is very popular, with its soft and fluffy pork that melts in your mouth. It is a short walk from the Ise Kawasaki Merchant Hall.
Address: 2-22-24 Kawasaki, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
Kihachiya was established in the Taisho era (XNUMX-XNUMX) and the movie director Yasujiro Ozu used to patronize it. They take pride in their sauce, which they continue to make and add half by half to preserve the taste of their ancestors. The signature dish of Kihachiya is curry udon, a dish that satisfies curry lovers as the curry is so thick that you cannot see the udon noodles. The ramen is also popular. It is about XNUMX minutes on foot from Ise Kawasaki Merchant Hall.
Address: 1-6-60 Funae, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
Fukunoya has been serving Ise Udon since the early Showa period (XNUMX-XNUMX) and is known for its generous amount of sauce, which is rare for Ise Udon. It is made by combining locally produced tamari soy sauce with dashi stock made from dried bonito flakes, kelp, and other ingredients, and left to sit until it is mild enough to drink without peculiarity. The homemade noodles, which are made every morning for that day, have a fluffy surface but are very firm. Fukunoya's special Ise Udon is made from water that has been adjusted to suit the characteristics of the noodles made from carefully selected ingredients. It is open until XNUMX p.m., so it’s perfect for a bowl after taking a bath nearby. It is a XNUMX-minute walk from the Ise Kawasaki Merchant Hall.
Address: 3-2-1 Kawasaki, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
This is the closest shop to Futami Okitama Shrine. Maruhama, which focuses on thick and soft Ise Udon, also offers a set of Ise Udon with a mini bowl of rice. The “salt ice cream” made with “Iwato salt,” a Futami specialty, is also popular. There is also a souvenir shop on the premises, so it is a good place to buy souvenirs and gifts.
Address: 569-14 Futami-cho Chaya, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
Menkoro Iseya is located in the Ise Sea Paradise Ise Meotoiwa Shopping Plaza, adjacent to Meotoiwa. The Ise Udon is made using noodles from a long-established noodle factory, and have a thick, nostalgic flavor. This is a great place to relax and eat after a fun day at Ise Sea Paradise. It is also shopping street where you can buy souvenirs, experience things, and have fun all day long.
Address: 580-13 Futami-cho E, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
