Maki no Udon Airport Branch

Maki no Udon is one of the three major chains of udon restaurants in Fukuoka, and is famous for its “udon that does not decrease in quantity even after eating”. Among the 18 affiliated restaurants, centering on the Maki no Udon Kafuri Head Shop in Itoshima, the airport branch introduced here is known for its slightly different characteristics.

I will introduce the “unusual feature” later, but from the name of the store, I thought, “This is a perfect place to stop by before my flight home!” So I went to Maki no Udon Airport Branch for my last meal during my visit to Fukuoka in the spring of 2024. Well, although it was called “Airport Branch,” it was not really a place where one could “take advantage of the waiting time for a flight…”…

Maki no Udon Airport Branch is actually quite far from the domestic terminal….

Maki no Udon Airport Branch is not located inside Fukuoka Airport, but about 4 bus stops south of the domestic terminal. If you walked, it would probably take about 30 minutes to get to the restaurant. To say the least, it is far. However, I had the impression that the access from the airport is not so easy for a store with the name “Airport Branch”.

The Airport Branch is also quite large for an udon shop, with a total of 100 seats according to the Tabelog information. Most of the seats are tatami mats, which provide an environment where you can stretch your legs and take a relaxing break. Like the Kafuri Head Shop, it can be used as a drive-in restaurant.

Another interesting thing about Maki no Udon Airport Branch is that the airport branch is adjacent to popular restaurants such as Tempura Restaurant Hirao, famous for its Hakata tempura, and Drive-in Ikkosha, an affiliate of Hakata Ikkosha, famous for its tonkotsu ramen. The location is a little inconvenient from a tourist’s point of view, but is there some kind of synergistic effect whereby each of these popular restaurants attracts customers by gathering together? As such, this area may have some unexpected advantages for those who want to eat and walk around.

I was curious to know if a kettle with soup stock is served with Curry Udon, so I tried it at Maki no Udon Airport Branch.

Well, what I ordered this time at Maki no Udon Airport Branch was Curry Udon (with half rice, price 620 yen including tax). The reason why I chose Curry Udon is because I was wondering if a kettle with soup stock is served with it. I chose it for such a silly reason, but here is what actually arrived in front of me…

The kettle came with the udon. But if you look at the bowl, you will see that the curry roux is directly poured over the udon, and there is no soup stock. Then, how should I use this soup stock? I was a little puzzled. Yes, I visited the restaurant just after opening time again, but unlike at the Kafuri Head Shop, I was able to order soft noodles. Thanks to the store staff.

I don’t know if you can tell from the picture above, but the noodles are noticeably thinner than those at the two Maki no Udonbranches I have visited so far. Is this a special specification only for curry udon? Aside from that, this soft noodle was fluffy and marshmallow-like from the start, just as I had initially expected. However, now that I have tried the soft noodles, I think it would be better to let them absorb the soup stock and become marshmallows over time rather than to let them become marshmallows from the start….On the other hand, the curry roux on this udon tasted nostalgic, like school lunch curry, in a good way. Since the udon is covered with a generous amount of curry roux, there is no need to worry about running out of roux in the middle of the meal, and it seems to be enough to cover the cost of half a bowl of rice. So, as I thought about it while eating it..

I decided to collect all the roux as curry and rice without using the soup stock from the kettle, and to drink the soup stock as after-meal tea. I don’t know if this was the right choice, but if you’ve ever had Maki no Udon’s curry udon and thought, “It’s better to eat the roux with the dashi broth!”, please leave a comment below and tell me what you think.

【Bonus】Kashiwa Gohan (rice with chicken flavor), which was sold as a bento box at the Kafuri Head Shop (priced at 190 yen including tax). The flavor of the soy sauce broth is very simple, but the taste is very comforting. It would be delicious as an onigiri (rice ball) and eaten outdoors… The price is reasonable, and it is a good side dish when udon noodles leave you feeling a little unsatisfied.

Other menu items at Maki no Udon Airport Branch (prices include tax)

• Special udon 1090 yen
• Kamo Udon (duck udon) 660 yen
• Shrimp tempura (2 shrimp) 600 yen
• Chilled grated yam ucon 580 yen
• Kimchi udon 580 yen
• Udon with wild vegetables 550 yen
• Zaru udon 480 yen

You can watch airplanes take off and land from the observation deck… To get to Maki no Udon Airport Branch, transfer to Nishitetsu Bus bound for Kami-Umi from Fukuoka Airport Station on the Fukuoka City Subway Airport Line, the nearest station, and get off at Mushiroda bus stop.

Maki no Udon Airport Branch has an observatory…

From here, you can spend your time leisurely watching airplanes arriving at and departing from Fukuoka Airport. There is also a telescope, which can be used as one of the attractions when you are with small children, although you probably have to pay for it. Incidentally, the entrance to this observation deck is independent from the restaurant, so it can probably be used even if you do not eat or drink at the restaurant. For airplane fans, there may be a reason to come to this store for a different purpose than udon.

Now, here are the details of the restaurant…