Hyperlocal Tokyo

Stepping through the charming entrance, you'll find a cozy atmosphere with counter seats by the window and several tables. The lunch set is a great value, offering a selection of small dishes, tempura, rice cooked in a pot, and a choice of steamed rice or buckwheat noodles. This experience left me wanting to return for dinner and enjoy the 'soba mae' (buckwheat noodles served in a traditional style) as the name suggests, accompanied by some sake.

A true soba noodle restaurant in Kinshicho. The low, narrow sliding door at the entrance is intriguing, as if you were entering a tea room. ▪ Food & Taste Most people order the 1,350 yen lunch set. The tempura is of high quality, comparable to a specialized tempura restaurant, and the ingredients are piping hot, which is excellent. However, the portion size is unfortunately small. Half a kisu (whiting), half an okra, and half a small eggplant. The soba noodles are thin, firm, and short. The pork and mushroom rice is a sticky rice, as expected of a炊き込みご飯 (takikomi gohan, a type of rice dish). ▪ Ambiance & Service The interior is skillfully designed in a Japanese style, with just the right amount of brightness. The layout of the tables and the counter by the window is unique. The counter is particularly comfortable. It's deep, with ample space between seats, and the luxurious chairs are very comfortable. Overall, it's a bit of a strange restaurant, almost as if it should be a tempura restaurant rather than a soba noodle restaurant.

I visited for lunch. The soba noodles were flavorful, and the tempura was crispy while still retaining the moisture of the vegetables, making it a perfect match for the strong dipping salt. It was incredibly delicious and I highly recommend it, but I was disappointed to find black mold on the bamboo basket. **Pros:** * Flavorful soba noodles and delicious tempura for 1250 yen. Excellent value for the quality. * The tempura consists of three items: seafood and two vegetables. I recommend eating it with dipping salt. * The soba condiments are scallions and wasabi. The scallions are thinly sliced and have a mild bitterness, which is nice. **Cons:** * It was very hot during the summer day, but they served hot tea without asking. * There was black mold on the bamboo basket. I thought it was a pattern and tried to scrape it off with my fingernail, but it came off... It must be a problem with storage or cleaning. It's a shame. * The portions are small, so if you want to eat a lot, you might want to order a large portion for an additional fee.

Komatsu @ Kinshicho On a weekend just before the third state of emergency was declared, I wanted to enjoy some good sake with soba noodles, so I made a reservation and visited. As usual, I started with a glass of beer, taking a sip to quench my thirst, and enjoyed the complimentary fried soba noodles and soba grains cooked in a delicate broth. For my soba pre-dinner, I ordered the usual, the springy and delicious board wasabi, fresh horse sashimi, firefly squid in a vinegar sauce, and grilled bonito. Each dish paired perfectly with the sake, and I continued to enjoy cup after cup of Kikumasamune barrel-aged sake. After thoroughly enjoying the soba pre-dinner, I finished with a hearty bowl of soba noodles dipped in a rich duck broth, bursting with the juicy flavor of duck. The duck meat in the broth was excellent, but the carefully prepared soba pre-dinner dishes and the sake made for a truly high-quality soba and sake experience, leaving me in a very good mood this evening. I also introduce various soba noodles on Instagram and my blog! Please search for the URL in my profile or "Soba-ya de Joki-gen".

This is a stylish soba noodle restaurant! The atmosphere is great, and the service is very calm and relaxing, making it one of my favorite places. They offer both set menus and individual dishes for lunch. In the evening, they also have some light snacks, which is lovely! They are open for New Year's Eve soba, so definitely check it out! My personal top recommendation is the duck seiro. It comes with three large pieces of charcoal-grilled duck in a delicious broth! The accompanying yuzu pepper is also incredibly delicious!