腰(こし)がある

こしがある
expression
chewy; firm; al dente
food
1. chewy; firm; having a good bite; al dente
Describes noodles, mochi, or other starchy foods that have a pleasantly firm, springy texture — not soft or mushy. A desirable quality in Japanese noodle culture.
このうどんは腰(こし)がある。
These udon noodles are nice and chewy.
腰(こし)のある麺(めん)が好(す)きです。
I like firm, chewy noodles.
讃岐(さぬき)うどんは腰(こし)が強(つよ)くて、歯(は)ごたえがいい。
Sanuki udon has a strong chewiness and great bite.

Usage

腰(こし) here refers to the "body" or "backbone" of the noodle — its resilience and springiness. The opposite is 腰(こし)がない (soft, lacking firmness). Variations include 腰(こし)が強(つよ)い (very firm) and 腰(こし)のある麺(めん) (firm noodles, using the attributive form).

Common collocations

Cultural note

Firmness (腰(こし)) is considered a key quality indicator for udon and soba. 讃岐(さぬき)うどん from Kagawa Prefecture is famous for its strong 腰(こし). The concept is similar to Italian "al dente" for pasta.

general
Added 2026.3.22 18:55 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
18500/18607_koshigaaru