Hyperlocal Tokyo

I had a large serving of 100% buckwheat soba noodles. The 'ita soba' (buckwheat noodles served on a wooden board) here has thick, chewy noodles that are very satisfying. It costs ¥900. You can get a large serving for an additional ¥200. Their recommended dish is the Zao Cold Chicken Soba for ¥1,000. It's located on the basement level of a building. The restaurant isn't very big. It's very popular, so even right after opening, it gets crowded quickly. If you're going for lunch, it's best to go early.

I stopped by wanting to try Yamagata soba. This time, I had the Zao Cold Chicken Soba, and the firm, chewy soba noodles went well with the sweet broth. It was delicious. They also had Yamagata specialties for drinking, which I enjoyed. Especially the 'dada-cha' beans, which were fresh and sweet. They were delicious.

◾️May 2024 Visit I visited this place after a friend recommended it. It's located in the basement, so it's easy to miss if you don't know where to look. It's a Yamagata soba restaurant that has been selected as one of the top 100 soba restaurants in Japan. At night, it was mostly men enjoying appetizers and drinks, but they also offered single dishes, so I ordered the Inaka Ita Soba (countryside flat soba noodles) as a single dish. Inaka Ita Soba - ¥900 The soba noodles were black, unlike the white Soba noodles, and a bit thicker. They had a good bite and a smooth texture. It's perfect for when you want a hearty soba meal. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

【Ginza】"Yamagatada" (Yamagatada) I recently visited this soba noodle shop located just a short distance from Higashi-Ginza Station and Ginza-itchome. It has been selected as one of the "Tabelog 100 Best Restaurants." Here, you can enjoy "Tsutai" (cold) meat soba, a specialty of Yamagata Prefecture. The restaurant is located on the basement floor, accessed by stairs, and has a cozy space with mainly table seating. I visited during lunchtime, and the menu was simple with only a few options. I ordered the "Zao Cold Chicken Soba" (¥1,000). (+¥200 for a large portion) Customers kept coming in, and it seemed like there were many regulars. After waiting about 10 minutes, my order arrived. The thick soba noodles had a good chewiness, and the chicken was firm and chewy. The soup, infused with the flavor of rich broth, was absolutely delicious. This is the taste... As I have relatives in Yamagata, it brought back nostalgic feelings. It's fantastic to be able to enjoy this taste in Tokyo, and even in Ginza, at an affordable price! I will definitely visit again.

Drawn in by the words "Yamagata Soba," I entered for lunch. Located in the basement of an old building, it has a slightly intimidating feel. Prices range from 900 to 1500 yen. The soba is a hearty, rustic style with a good bite, very simple and delicious. The portions seemed generous. They are also open for dinner, and the appetizers had a distinct Yamagata feel. A hidden gem in the fiercely competitive Ginza dining scene.