Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on May 2012

For homemade noodles so long and thick that you could use one to escape from Mordor, Taka (1-7-20 Jindaiji, Mitaka-shi; www.taka-udon.com) is where this kind of gem is usually located—deep in a nondescript suburban area. In this case, 15 minutes’ walk from Chuo line station Musashi-Sakai. Taka’s massive interior, replete with tatami and table areas, is decorated with bizarre objects, leafy plants, and games for kids. But the real star is the udon, served in a set for ¥1,000. Nabe yaki udon comes in at ¥1,250, and chili-miso nabe udon for ¥1,050. Warning: the omori is damn big.