{"id":2777,"date":"2026-01-15T09:00:54","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T00:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goodie-foodie.com\/en\/?p=2777"},"modified":"2026-01-13T10:51:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T01:51:12","slug":"what-is-himokawa-udon-how-to-eat-25028","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goodie-foodie.com\/en\/what-is-himokawa-udon-how-to-eat-25028\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Himokawa Udon? How to Eat Japan\u2019s Ultra-Wide Flat Noodles"},"content":{"rendered":"

What Is \u201cHimokawa Udon\u201d?<\/h2>\r\n
\"What<\/picture><\/div>\r\n

\u201cHimokawa udon\u201d is a type of flat udon noodle that originated in Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture. The noodles are at least 1.5 cm wide, and some can reach nearly 10 cm in width. They have traditionally been used in a local Gunma dish called okkirikomi.
\r\nAs for the origin of the name, there are various theories, including that it derives from \u201cImokawa udon,\u201d the root of kishimen noodles, which gradually became corrupted over time.<\/p>\r\n

How to Order<\/h2>\r\n
\"How<\/picture><\/div>\r\n

At Himokawa Udon Kiryu Ikebukuro, you can choose from four styles: \u201chimokawa,\u201d regular \u201cudon,\u201d an \u201caigakari\u201d option that lets you enjoy both, and \u201cyakan-style kama-age udon,\u201d where zaru-style noodles are served as hot udon.<\/p>\r\n

\"How<\/picture><\/div>\r\n

This time, we went with the classic choice: \u201c7 kinds of green onions dipping pork broth\u201d paired with \u201chimokawa.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

An order sheet is placed on the table, so simply circle the items you want and hand it to the staff.<\/p>\r\n

Enjoy Himokawa Udon Your Way<\/h2>\r\n
\"Enjoy<\/picture><\/div>\r\n

After about a 15-minute wait, the himokawa udon arrives!<\/p>\r\n

The himokawa udon at this restaurant measures about 11 cm in width, making these noodles exceptionally wide. Freshly made, the udon glistens beautifully with a silky sheen.<\/p>\r\n

There\u2019s no single correct way to eat himokawa udon, but here are a few recommended ways to enjoy it!<\/p>\r\n

Way #1: Quickly Dip the Noodles into the Pork Broth<\/h3>\r\n
\"Way<\/picture><\/div>\r\n

First, generously coat the noodles with the pork broth and enjoy them boldly.
\r\nYou\u2019ll savor the chewy texture of the noodles and their smooth, slippery mouthfeel.<\/p>\r\n

Way #2: Soak the Noodles and Fold Them<\/h3>\r\n
\"Way<\/picture><\/div>\r\n


\r\nAnother recommended method is to soak the noodles in the broth and fold them as you eat. The folds hold the broth, so when you take a bite, the flavorful soup\u2014packed with the umami of green onions, pork, and other ingredients\u2014bursts into your mouth.<\/p>\r\n

If it feels a bit difficult to eat, try tearing the noodles into bite-sized pieces in the broth.<\/p>\r\n

Way #3: Add Green Onions and Condiments<\/h3>\r\n
\"Way<\/picture>\"Way<\/picture><\/div>\r\n

Add the green onions served on a separate plate or sprinkle in some shichimi chili pepper from the table to change up the flavor.
\r\nThe added aroma will further stimulate your appetite.<\/p>\r\n

Bonus: Squeeze Some Lemon<\/h3>\r\n
\"Bonus:<\/picture><\/div>\r\n

If lemon is provided, squeezing it over the noodles adds a refreshing twist.<\/p>\r\n

Tempura: The Perfect Side Dish<\/h2>\r\n
\"Tempura:<\/picture><\/div>\r\n

Tempura is the perfect accompaniment to udon. At this restaurant, there are more than 10 varieties, including pumpkin and shrimp tempura, all made without eggs.<\/p>\r\n

This time, we chose the most popular item: maitake mushroom tempura!
\r\nTwo palm-sized pieces come with each order, making it a hearty and satisfying choice.<\/p>\r\n

\"\r\nEnjoy<\/picture><\/div>\r\n

Dip it into the pork broth to soften it slightly, or enjoy it simply with salt\u2014however you like.<\/p>\r\n

The ways to enjoy ultra-wide, flat \u201chimokawa udon\u201d are endless. Use the tips introduced here as a guide and explore your own favorite way to enjoy this unique noodle dish!<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cHimokawa udon\u201d is a Gunma Prefecture specialty known for its strikingly wide noodles. Faced with its impressive appearance, many people may wonder how to eat it. That\u2019s why we asked Himokawa Udon Kiryu Ikebukuro Branch to share their tips on the best ways to enjoy this unique noodle dish!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":2780,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[55,56],"class_list":["post-2777","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-slug_articles","tag-how","tag-what"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodie-foodie.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2777","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodie-foodie.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodie-foodie.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodie-foodie.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodie-foodie.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2777"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/goodie-foodie.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2777\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2781,"href":"https:\/\/goodie-foodie.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2777\/revisions\/2781"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodie-foodie.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2780"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodie-foodie.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2777"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodie-foodie.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2777"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodie-foodie.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2777"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}