Maruse Shokudo

The aroma of dashi drifting from a piping-hot clay pot of nabeyaki udon is an immediate comfort for lunchtime appetites. Located in Nishikujo, Minami Ward, Kyoto, Maruse Shokudo is a neighborhood diner that has long offered udon, soba, and rice bowls at reasonable prices. Among the options is a hearty nabeyaki udon loaded with ingredients such as shrimp tempura and chicken, simmered in a flavorful broth that invites you to drink down every last drop.

The udon noodles are on the thinner side and pleasantly soft, yielding gently on the palate and catching the broth with ease. They pair naturally with the restaurant's plump, generously sized rice balls. Biting into warm rice accented with seasoned kelp and following it with a sip of hot broth is a simple, deeply satisfying midday combination.

The menu features an array of choices, from ginger-accented tanuki udon in thick starchy broth to savory-sweet meat udon and classic herring soba. Diners can also opt for a tempura rice bowl where shrimp and batter soak up savory sauce over rice, or a traditional dashi-infused chuka soba ramen, giving plenty of tempting options to deliberate over.

The dining room is modest, seating only a few tables, where solo diners and local regulars comfortably share table space during busy lunch hours. Since the shop operates only for lunch and udon noodles can sell out early, stopping by ahead of the peak rush is the best way to unwind over an unpretentious bowl of soup.