A Back-Alley Udon Shop in Zushi I’d Wanted to Try for a Long Time
Now that the weather has turned chilly, I find myself craving a bowl of warm udon.
Tucked away in a back alley in Zushi, there was an udon shop I’d been curious about for a long time. It’s the place with a big lantern that reads “Udon Nikusui” hanging out front: “Udon Sakaba Zakuro.” This time I went in and had the nikusui with tofu.
Charm #1: The Big “Udon Nikusui” Lantern Is Your Landmark
The shop is on a back alley near Kameoka Hachimangu Shrine. The address is 5-1-12 Zushi, Zushi City, on the first floor. It’s about a 1-minute walk from Zushi-Hayama Station on the Keikyu Zushi Line, and about a 3-minute walk from JR Zushi Station. (Source: Gurunavi)
As you walk into the alley, you’ll see a white lantern with big characters reading “Udon Nikusui.” That’s your landmark. Beside the entrance, there was also a handwritten “Lunch Menu” sign and a notice reading “11:30 AM–11:00 PM, open every day and going strong!”
That lantern caught my eye every time I walked past. I finally got to go in!
Charm #2: Meat-Packed “Niku Udon”
What I had was the niku udon (meat udon, 980 yen).
It was generously filled with meat, and piled on top was a good amount of what looked like tororo kombu (shaved kelp). It was a bowl that warmed me from the inside on a cold day, and it was delicious.
By the way, the words “nikusui” are also on the shop’s sign. According to the menu board out front, nikusui is “niku udon without the udon,” and instead of udon it comes with rice topped with a warm egg. The nikusui with tofu was 930 yen (the price at the time of my visit).
The shop’s introduction says the udon is “completely original noodles,” made by asking a noodle maker directly for the firmness and thickness they want, and that the broth is a clear, Kansai-style broth. (Source: Gurunavi) Next time, I’d like to try the nikusui that’s also written on the lantern.
*Prices are from the time of my visit. Please check the shop’s Instagram or Gurunavi for the latest information.
Charm #3: A Calm Interior with a Showa-Era Feel, Easy to Enter Alone
The interior had a calm atmosphere, with a hint of the Showa era still lingering. According to Gurunavi, there are 36 seats, including counter seats. The wood-toned Japanese-style interior was reportedly created by the owner together with a designer. (Source: Gurunavi)
I sat alone at the counter. Because the shop is a little way down the alley, I had wondered, “Might it be hard for a woman to go in alone?” But it was completely fine.
I was a little nervous before going in, but once inside it was so comfortable that I felt at ease.
Charm #4: A Pub at Night, and Udon That Seems Perfect After Drinks
By day it’s an udon shop, and by night it’s an izakaya (Japanese pub). Drinks were lined up along the counter, and I thought it must be a perfect place for a final bowl after a night of drinking.
Gurunavi says the dishes use seafood delivered directly from Sajima Fishing Port in Yokosuka, along with Kamakura vegetables and Kyoto vegetables, and that the shop has a carefully selected lineup of local sake. The menu also had “finishing udon and rice” options. (Source: Gurunavi)
The lunch menu also included cold udon, rice bowls, rice with toppings, and small side dishes, in addition to the warm udon. Niku udon is 980 yen, niku udon with tofu is 1,120 yen, and nikusui with tofu is 930 yen (from the menu board out front at the time of my visit).
Notes for Visiting with a Baby or Kids
Gurunavi says “children welcome.” The menu board out front also listed a “kids’ udon.” (Source: Gurunavi)
Whether strollers can come inside, and whether it’s okay to bring a baby, are unconfirmed. The shop is down an alley, and according to Gurunavi it is completely non-smoking inside (with a smoking area outside). If you plan to bring children, it’s safest to check with the shop beforehand.
Information for Dog Owners
Whether dogs are allowed inside, and whether there is terrace seating, are unconfirmed. Also, the shop has no parking lot (per Gurunavi). If you’re thinking of heading out with your dog, we recommend checking with the shop first.
Access Information
- Name: Udon Sakaba Zakuro (listed on Gurunavi as: Niku Udon × Shukou Zakuro -zakuro-)
- Address: 5-1-12 Zushi, Zushi City, Kanagawa Prefecture, 1F
- Hours: 11:30 AM–11:00 PM (last order 10:00 PM; last drink order 10:30 PM)
- Closed: Irregular closing days (please check the shop’s Instagram for the latest information)
- Access: 1-minute walk from Zushi-Hayama Station (Keikyu Zushi Line) / 3-minute walk from Zushi Station (JR Yokosuka Line)
- Parking: None
- Seats: 36 (counter seats available)
- Phone: Unconfirmed (the number listed differs depending on the source, so please check the shop’s Instagram or Gurunavi)
- Payment: Credit cards, transit IC cards, PayPay, and more (per Gurunavi; may change)
- Reservations: Online reservations available via Gurunavi
- Instagram: @udonsakaba_zakuro
- Source of information: Gurunavi
Hours, closing days, and prices may change. Please check the shop’s Instagram or Gurunavi for the latest information before you go. The niku udon I had was 980 yen at the time of my visit.
Summary: A Warm Bowl in a Zushi Back Alley on a Cold Day
“Udon Sakaba Zakuro” is an udon shop by day and an izakaya by night, on an alley a 1-minute walk from Zushi-Hayama Station. The meat-packed niku udon was just right for this time of year, as the weather gets colder.
It has an atmosphere that’s easy to enter alone, so please stop by for lunch on a day when you want to warm up.
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