"Udon Suki" is a hot pot dish from Osaka that allows you to fully enjoy "udon." Simple yet delicious, "Udon Suki" is loved by locals as a heartwarming local B-class gourmet dish.

Let's explore the characteristics and appeal of udon suki.

Characteristics of Udon Suki

The "suki" in "udon suki" contains the meaning of a farming tool called "suki," and like "sukiyaki," it refers to a dish that is simmered in a shallow pot.

In a typical hot pot dish, udon noodles are enjoyed at the end of the meal, but in udon suki, udon noodles are added to the pot from the beginning and enjoyed as the main dish along with other ingredients such as meat, seafood, and vegetables. The ingredients are added to the broth in order, and the udon noodles are enjoyed after they have absorbed the flavor, which is what makes it so appealing.

Udon suki is different from nabeyaki udon, which also uses udon noodles. Nabeyaki udon is simmered for a short time and served hot, but udon suki is simmered slowly, allowing the flavors of the ingredients and broth to seep in thoroughly. It is seasoned with dashi made from bonito flakes, salt, light soy sauce, and a small amount of mirin, giving it a light Osaka-style flavor. The taste, which brings out the flavor of the ingredients, is the true joy of udon suki.

Udon suki uses smooth, thick udon noodles. Simmered with other ingredients, it brings out a luxurious flavor. In addition to the standard ingredients such as chicken, shrimp, and conger eel, you can enjoy seasonal ingredients such as bamboo shoots and wakame seaweed in spring, conger eel in summer, and matsutake mushrooms in autumn. Colorful in appearance, it is perfect as a special day meal to gather with family and friends.

The History of Udon Suki

"Udon Suki" was invented by the owner of "Mimiu" in 1930. In 1924, "Mimiu" started a new journey as a noodle specialty restaurant, inheriting the traditions of "Mimiu-ro", a traditional Japanese restaurant that had been in business for 200 years in Sakai, Osaka.

This dish, which consists of chicken, shiitake mushrooms, fish cake, eggs, etc. simmered in a lightly flavored broth, was influenced by nabeyaki udon and Chinese enamel pots. It was also made into a shabu-shabu style dish, and the culture of eating it around a hot pot with family and friends spread.

Around 1933, a charcoal-heated pot called "entatsu" was used, and there are stories of how difficult it was to adjust the heat. There was a time during the war when food was scarce and udon and soba were in short supply, but in 1952, it was revived as an Osaka specialty. To preserve the traditional taste even today, each store takes two hours to make the dashi stock and is particular about using carefully selected ingredients from the region.

"Udon Suki" is a name that was trademarked by Mimiu in 1960, but it has come to be recognized as a common dish and continues to be loved by many people as a hot pot dish, especially in Osaka.

Tourist spots in Osaka

There are many tourist spots in Osaka where you can enjoy udon suki. This time, we will introduce three popular tourist spots in Osaka.

Osaka Tenmangu Shrine

Osaka Tenmangu Shrine is a shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, widely known as the god of learning, and is affectionately known locally as "Tenman's Tenjin-san." It was founded in 949 at the request of Emperor Murakami, and the current shrine building was rebuilt in 1843. It is especially famous as a sacred place for students to pray for success in exams.

Within the grounds of Osaka Tenmangu Shrine is the "Daishogunsha" shrine, where Michizane prayed before heading to Dazaifu. After Michizane's death, seven pine trees glowed, and Emperor Murakami, hearing this, built a shrine and enshrined Michizane. This is the origin of Osaka Tenmangu Shrine.

In addition, the Tenjin Festival, one of the three major festivals in Japan and one of the three major summer festivals in Osaka, is held every July. It features fantastic fireworks and Shinto rituals, and is crowded with many worshippers.

Nakanoshima Park

Nakanoshima Park is Osaka's first park, established in 1891. It stretches across 1.5 km2 and covers an area of 11.3 ha between the Dojima River and the Tosabori River. Located in the center of the city, it is loved as a lush oasis.

The park has a rose garden with 3,700 rose bushes of 310 varieties in full bloom, and the magnificent flowers can be enjoyed especially in mid-May and mid-October. At the end of the year, the park is also lit up, attracting many visitors.

In addition, Nakanoshima Greenway is lined with zelkova trees and camellias, providing a beautiful landscape along with the sculptures. The scenery, which harmonizes with historical buildings such as the Central Public Hall and the Prefectural Nakanoshima Library, has been selected as one of the "100 Best Greens in Osaka," making it a place where you can experience nature and culture at the same time in the city.

Tennoji Zoo

Tennoji Zoo opened in 1915 and has a history of over 100 years. The zoo covers an area of about 11 hectares and is home to about 1,000 animals of 170 species.

Particularly popular is the "ecological exhibit," which recreates the zoo's natural habitat, where visitors can observe penguins, sea lions, and animals from the African savanna zone living as if they were in the wild.

In addition, there are various events you can enjoy, such as "meal time" and "snack time" where you can see the lively animals up close, and guided tours where you can learn about the charms of animals together with the zookeepers. Night zoo and seasonal events are also popular, and the zoo continues to be loved by families and animal lovers.

How to get to Osaka

There are various ways to get to Osaka. If you are travelling by plane, Itami Airport (Osaka International Airport) is popular as it has many domestic flights and has excellent access to Osaka city. If you are heading from Itami Airport to Osaka city, we recommend using a limousine bus. The travel time and fare of the limousine bus may be subject to change.

Limousine buses heading to Osaka city depart every 10 to 15 minutes. The fare to Osaka Station (Umeda Station), Namba Station, and Abenobashi Station (Tennoji Station) is 650 yen for adults and 330 yen for children. It is convenient because you can choose from pick-up and drop-off locations around Osaka Station, such as Osaka Marubiru, New Hankyu Hotel, Herbis Osaka, and Hotel Hanshin.

There is also a direct limousine bus to Universal Studios Japan. The fare is 940 yen for adults and 470 yen for children. It takes about 40 minutes to get to Universal Studios Japan.

We also recommend taking a leisurely drive to Osaka. Find the best way to get there.

Location of Osaka Prefecture

summary

Udon Suki is a luxurious dish that you can enjoy to the fullest while sitting around a hotpot with family and friends.

In Osaka, various stores offer udon suki with different seasonings and ingredients, so it is recommended to try them all and compare them.

If you visit Osaka, be sure to try udon suki.

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