Tanukiya Honten is located at 2-2-1 Higashikomatsu, Kita-ku, Okayama City, and is a famous udon restaurant that has been loved by local Okayama people for many years. The restaurant uses a self-service system, where you boil the noodles yourself, choose your favorite toppings, and pay at the end. This style is the secret to enjoying udon smoothly even during busy lunch hours, and is one of the reasons why it is popular with local customers.

Tanukiya's udon is characterized by its unique texture, which is chewy yet firm, created by boiling the noodles in a pressure cooker. And what brings out the best in the noodles is the deep broth made with Rishiri kelp (from Rebun Island, Hokkaido), bonito flakes (from Kochi and Kagoshima), and dried sardines (from Kumamoto and Kagawa). Free condiments such as green onions, tempura scraps, grated ginger, and kelp are available, so you can customize your dish to your liking.

This udon can be considered Okayama's "soul food," and is a must-try for tourists. It's a great value for money, as you can enjoy freshly made noodles and specially made broth at a reasonable price. It gets particularly busy during lunch time, but the turnover is fast, so you won't have to wait long.