Hyperlocal Tokyo

This popular restaurant always has a long queue. With limited seating and only 4-person tables, it seems like they don't seat solo diners together, so the turnover rate is slow and the line moves very slowly. I had the tempura soba. Both the soba and tempura were delicious, making the wait worthwhile.

It must have been 20 years since I last visited. I never forgot this soba restaurant. I was first brought here by the president of a business partner, and since then I've brought my mother and even visited on my own. This time, after about 20 years, I found my way back to the restaurant, though I had to wander around a bit. It was exactly the same, which was a relief. It was a weekday, well past lunchtime, but the place was still packed. Among the diners, I saw Korean and American tourists, people I wouldn't have encountered here in the past. Watching them enjoy their meal, I took a sip of beer and relaxed. I had been walking around all day, so the soba was delicious and comforting. Next, I ordered the 'Unsui Soba'. It came in a small bowl, beautifully topped with grated daikon radish and grated yam. The soba was completely hidden! The bowl was also refreshingly cold. I added the dipping sauce a couple of times, adjusting the flavor as I went. The combination of grated yam and daikon radish made for such a smooth texture, I practically slurped it down! The taste was impeccable, and the atmosphere and tranquility of the restaurant made for a truly wonderful experience. I'll definitely bring my mother here next time.

## About the Restaurant * The exterior and interior have a good, old-fashioned feel that blends in well with the streets of Asakusa. * The size is small and cozy. (One large table, two tables for up to four people. It's unclear if there's a counter). * Payment appears to be cash only. * There seems to be a lot of regular customers. ## Customer Service The customer service was too focused on regulars and not good. I visited on a Sunday afternoon in June 2024 around 4 PM and sat near the entrance. There were regular customers (a group of about four people, including a small child) already there, and: * They were so engrossed in conversation with the regulars that they didn't notice me when I called out to order (despite my clear voice and the small size of the restaurant. It took about three calls before they finally noticed). * They didn't secure the path for the stroller even though they knew it was coming in and out (I was near the entrance and it bumped into me. It dampened my anticipation. I wish the staff had prevented it). * When I left, they saw off the regulars but not me, a first-time customer. And so on. During my stay, several other regulars came in, and overall, they seemed to be more focused on chatting than anything else. It's fine to prioritize regulars to some extent and engage in conversation and communication, but they should fulfill their roles first. I had high expectations based on other reviews, but I was very disappointed. *Note: The restaurant wasn't crowded when I visited, and there was only one staff member, but they seemed experienced and should have been able to handle things properly. ## About the Soba * Order: Tempura Zaru Soba (¥2,200) * Tempura: Shrimp, eggplant, onion, green pepper * Both the tempura and soba were delicious. * However, it wasn't mind-blowing or delicious enough to make up for the aforementioned dissatisfaction. * It took about 20 minutes for the food to arrive even though it wasn't crowded. *Note: I also ordered cold sake (¥850). ## Other * Menu prices are inclusive of tax. * No rice dishes. * Besides soba, there are a few appetizers like “ita-wasa” (sliced radish with wasabi) and alcohol (beer and sake). * There are a few soft drinks available. * No wasabi for soba condiments. ## Overall Even considering the location, the restaurant is a bit overpriced for the quality of food served. I wouldn't recommend it.

A soba noodle restaurant in Asakusa, Tokyo called 'Nagaura'. It's always crowded, so it's best to make a reservation or be prepared to wait. I ordered the grated yam soba. Waiting for the soba to arrive while sipping on sake is a blissful experience. I took a bite of the soba mixed with the grated yam, followed by a sip of sake. It was delicious. After finishing the soba, I poured hot soba water into the bowl, added a generous amount of chili pepper powder, and enjoyed it with more sake. It was surprisingly good. It was a delicious meal! 😋

The food and atmosphere were five stars, but the service... well, it's a restaurant in a tourist area, so I guess you can't expect much. When we had to wait because it was full, the way they told us was vague, and even I, who don't expect excessive friendliness, found it a bit off-putting. I guess it's just one of those things you find at old, established restaurants in Kyoto, so maybe it's fine for some people.