Tabelog ratingZaigoudon Honke Waraya is one of Kagawa's best-known udon houses, selected for the Tabelog Udon KAGAWA "Tabelog 100" in 2024. Its signature is kamaage udon: noodles served hot straight from the boiling pot in a wooden tub, sized for two up to a whole family. The dipping broth comes in an enormous, heavy gourd-shaped flask. The dining room is a thatched-roof farmhouse moved here from Tokushima and listed as a registered cultural property, a minute's walk from the Shikoku Mura open-air museum.
Nearly every reviewer praises the springy, very chewy noodles. The cold zaru (on a bamboo tray) and bukkake (broth poured over) have the firmest bite. The dashi, strongly flavoured with iriko (dried sardines), is a recurring highlight, and some reviewers drink it like soup. Tori-ten (chicken tempura) and seasonal hamo (pike conger) tempura are often singled out. Reviewers also mention the handsome room, warm staff and fast service.
A minority found the noodles ordinary by Kagawa standards or the kamaage too soft. Some found the tempura oily at busy times and the karaage dry. A few said the broth turns salty as the noodles soak it up, and the big flask is awkward to pour.
Most guests spend ¥1,000–2,000 at lunch or dinner. Between 2024 and 2026, reviewers paid around ¥630 for regular zaru udon, ¥800 for tori-ten and ¥350 for inari-zushi. One paid ¥940 for a small udon, and the family-size kamaage tub was ¥3,600.
Value is good. Portions are huge, with the regular size filling most people, and the large is about 1.5 times bigger. Prices run slightly above typical Kagawa udon shops, which some reviewers called touristy.
- Access: 4 minutes' walk from Kotoden-Yashima Station (Kotoden Shido Line), 12 minutes from JR Yashima Station (Kotoku Line). It sits at the entrance to the Yashima Driveway, with a steep slope out front.
- Booking: reservations are not accepted. Walk in and join the queue. Expect 40–60 minutes on weekends and holidays, though the line moves fast. Weekday mornings often have no wait.
- Ordering: meal-ticket system. You order and pay at the counter before being seated.
- Payment: credit cards (JCB, AMEX), electronic money and PayPay accepted.
- Hours: the listing gives daily 9:30–17:30. Some reviewers report Tuesday closures, so check before visiting.
- Seats: 160 at tables. There are two semi-private rooms for 8, one with chairs and one with tatami.
- Children: welcome.
- Smoking: non-smoking. The smoking area is near the entrance.
- Parking: 200 cars and 5 buses.
- Language: a Korean menu is available, and some staff speak English.
- Take-out: available.
- The broth flask is very hot and heavy, so pour carefully.
