Hyperlocal Tokyo

This soba noodle restaurant is located in front of Meiji Jingu Shrine. It's a slightly edgy two-story building, just a five-minute walk from the station's intersection down a side street. There's a ticket machine outside where you purchase your meal, then hand it over at the counter inside, and they bring it up to the second-floor seating area. The seating area has a stylish and cool vibe. I finally felt the 'Bad Neighbor' ramen influence here. There's a large table in the center, a counter along the wall, and about 15 seats in total. I ordered the salt duck tsukemen with extra meat and egg tempura rice, which I'd been eyeing on social media for a while. It took about 10 minutes after handing over the ticket for the food to arrive. When it was placed in front of me, I was surprised by the extremely thick noodles, which didn't look like soba at all (laughs). They felt substantial in my hand, but when I put them in my mouth, they were surprisingly chewy and quickly softened, releasing a soba aroma! It was refreshing. The dipping sauce was a seafood-based broth made with five types of dried bonito. It had a sweetness from the soy sauce, but it was also quite salty! However, the thick noodles balanced it out perfectly. The subtle hint of yuzu was a nice touch. The soba bowl came with a condiment that tasted like harissa, a slightly spicy and flavorful paste! Adding it to the dish brought a new dimension to the Japanese flavors. The salt duck was incredibly tender and juicy! It had a subtle ducky flavor, but it wasn't noticeable when dipped in the soup. The egg tempura rice was amazing! The fried egg was perfectly soft and runny, and the sweet sauce made the rice incredibly delicious. My personal favorite part was the variety and quality of the table-top toppings! Each one was carefully selected and delicious, and they were placed near each seat so you could try them whenever and however much you wanted. I highly recommend trying the egg tempura rice with the chili and chives. Apparently, there's often a line during lunchtime, but I went around 4 pm on a weekday and there was no wait, and the restaurant was relaxed. I recommend going then.

Drawn in by the duck meat and extra-thick soba noodles, I visited for lunch. Arriving around noon on a weekday, there was a line of about six people. The turnover was relatively fast, and I was seated sooner than expected. I ordered the duck meat extra + egg tempura rice. The portion size was decent, and the soba noodles weren't too heavy, making them relatively easy to eat. The serving dishes were beautiful, making the presentation very appealing. The roast duck was well-seasoned with salt and very tasty. The soba noodles were a rustic, thick style, quite firm and with a bit of a floury texture. The broth was initially just the right saltiness, but as I dipped the noodles, it started to feel a bit thin. I felt that a slightly stronger flavor would have been better. *There were condiments on the table, including seaweed, wakame, scallions, tempura scraps, and chili pepper, which was nice for changing the flavor of the broth. The egg tempura was freshly fried, with a sweet sauce that was just right. It was like a half-boiled egg fried in tempura batter, and it was delicious. The restaurant has a kitchen space on the first floor and all counter seating on the second floor. The interior has a chic and stylish atmosphere with a black-themed counter. When I visited, there were many female customers, including several women dining alone, so it seemed very welcoming for solo female diners. I'll definitely visit again if I'm in the neighborhood.

I finally visited this restaurant that I'd been eyeing on social media! The thick buckwheat noodles were quite impressive when I saw them. For a moment, I wondered if I could finish them all, but once I started eating, the noodles were so easy to eat thanks to their springy texture. Before I knew it, I had finished the whole bowl! And the egg rice was absolutely delicious! The egg was so soft and the seasoning was perfect. I definitely want to eat it again!

BASO, a soba noodle restaurant produced by a terrible neighbor. It's located near Omotesando Station, Meiji Jingumae Station, and Harajuku Station. ★Salt Duck Tsuke SOBA with Extra Meat & Egg Tempura Rice 1880 yen ★Stewed Pork Belly Tsuke SOBA 1250 yen ★Tempura (Shrimp and Fried Onion) 350 yen The salt duck was a low-temperature cooked, moist, rare char siu with a satisfying texture. The stewed pork belly was well-seasoned, tender, and very filling. The noodles were thick, chewy, and had a good bite. They were made by Nogawa Seimen and had a smooth texture and a nice flavor. The broth was a blend of five types of dried bonito (from the Seto Inland Sea): mackerel, sardine, bonito, katsuobushi, and mackerelfish, along with dashi from Nihonbashi and a rich soy sauce. It was light and refreshing. It also had yuzu, which added a fragrant and refreshing touch. The tempura was a crispy, sweet and spicy, deep-fried shrimp and onion mix. The egg tempura was a soft-boiled egg that was deep-fried, like a fried egg, and had a crispy, new texture. The condiments on the table were luxurious, including seaweed (from Yamamoto Noriten), garlic chives, wakame, tempura scraps, and nine-leaf green onions, all available for unlimited use. There were also limited-time menu items that looked delicious!

I visited a restaurant that's been all over social media! While they're known for their duck soba, I was in the mood for chicken tempura, so I ordered that. The beautifully presented soba completely changed my perception of the dish! It was so delicious and healthy that I'll probably choose soba over ramen from now on. The noodles were thick and flat, making for a very satisfying meal. The condiments on the table were also unlimited, so I could change up the flavor and never get bored. It fit perfectly into the stylish streets of Omotesando! You might have to wait in line depending on the time of day, but it's definitely worth the visit. It's a great restaurant. ☺️ I highly recommend it.