Kamaage Udon Senmon Ten Moto: Artisan Kamaage Udon

Kamaage Udon Senmon Ten Moto (釜揚げうどん専門店もと) is a rare specialist dedicated to a single style of udon: kamaage. Here, thick noodles are handmade and boiled fresh for every order, then served steaming in their cooking water. This method preserves a wonderful warm wheat aroma and a chewy, slightly elastic texture that reviewers describe as mochi-like and unlike any other udon.

The star of the show is the plain kamaage udon, which reviewers recently paid around ¥880 for. Other highly praised variations include the nikujiru kamaage (served with a meat-juice dipping broth for ¥1,070–¥1,170) and the curry version. The crisp, light tempura is also a consistent favourite, especially the oyako-ten (a combination of chicken and half-boiled egg tempura for ~¥450) and seasonal vegetable tempura.

The primary drawback is the wait. Because every bowl is made to order, a wait of 10 to 30 minutes is standard, and can extend to an hour or more during peak times. A handful of reviews also mention occasional order mistakes or a dipping broth that felt a little thin, but these are exceptions.

A typical lunch costs between ¥1,000 and ¥1,999. In the evening, the restaurant shifts into an izakaya, offering small plates and a well-regarded sake list. Despite the potential for long queues, most visitors feel the exceptional quality of the noodles represents excellent value.

• Getting There: The restaurant is an 8-minute walk from Hiratsuka Station.
• Reservations: Walk-ins are the norm, but expect to queue. It's best to arrive early, as the shop may close if the noodles sell out for the day. Reservations are accepted.
• Payment: Cash or PayPay (QR code) only. Credit cards and other forms of electronic money are not accepted.
• Seating: 34 seats, including tatami and sunken horigotatsu seating.
• Children: The restaurant is family-friendly, with high chairs and other facilities available.
• Smoking: The dining area is non-smoking. A designated smoking area is provided outside.
• Parking: No dedicated parking is available, but there are paid parking lots nearby.