Tanukiya
A 30+ year-old self-service udon shop beloved in Okayama. Famous for its dashi broth made from carefully selected ingredients: Rishiri kombu from Hokkaido, katsuobushi from Kochi and Kagoshima, and niboshi from Kumamoto and Kagawa. Thick straight noodles made by foot-kneading are chewy with excellent bite. High ratings on both Google (4.38, 138 reviews) and Tabelog (3.67, 523 reviews).
Google Reviews 4.38 (138), Tabelog 3.67 (523). Premium-dashi udon from under 500 yen — true everyday dining. Broad support from regular locals to tourists. Many say 'I had no idea Okayama had such excellent dashi udon.'