The capital of Japan, Tokyo is a destination with numerous unique cultural offerings, and its cuisine id one of its strongest staples. While enjoying the sights of this remarkable metropolitan city, it is highly recommended to explore the classic dish known as soba. Soba is defined as thinly cut noodles made of buckwheat flour. It can be savored either hot or cold - both should be tried at least once during your time in Tokyo. Check out these must-try soba restaurants in Tokyo and allow your taste buds to relish in one of the quintessential dishes of Japanese culture.
1. Yuan Yamori
Located in Tsukishima, Yuan Yamori is lead by the widely acclaimed chef Yamori himself. The restaurant has received one Michelin star for the standards it has set for the soba scene in Tokyo. Yuan Yamori offers a comfortable setting to enjoy a hearty and memorable meal. The soba served in the restaurant is made using the traditional method, whereby the noodles are made solely using buckwheat flour. You will need a reservation to get into Yuan Yamori, as the restaurant attracts many regulars and newcomers alike. Needless to say, a visit to this place will be a walk down the memory lane.
Yuan Yamori
Address: 3-9-7, Tsukishima, Chuo 104-0052, Tokyo Prefecture +81 3-6225-0633
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 6pm - 10pm; (closed on Sun & Holidays)
2. Ginza Sasuga Rin
Ginza Sasuga Rin is situated conveniently within a 5-minute walking distance from the Ginza-itchome station. It is found in the basement unit of an apartment building. Chef Dairin Arai works with a strong dedication to maintain the novelty of his restaurant. All soba made in the restaurant is hand-produced each day and has no additives at all. This gives his soba a particular scent and an organic texture, which keeps customers coming back for more. Ginza Sasuga Rin’s menu presents a one-of-a-kind desert called Rin’s Pudding. The pudding is made in a traditional Japanese method, while also having buckwheat seeds inside.
Ginza Sasuga Rin
Address: Japan, 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 1 Chome−19−12 銀座グラスゲートビルB１
Website: Ginza Sasuga Rin
Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 5pm - 11pm; Sat - Sun: 12pm - 9pm (closed on Mon)
3. Ueno Yabu Soba
Ueno Yabu Soba is one of the most important establishments related to the soba culture in Tokyo, with a history that reaches back over one-hundred years. The restaurant can be found within a 3-minute walking distance from the centrally-located Ueno station. Ueno Yabu Soba serves up a particular style of soba, called the Edo-style soba. It is highly recommended to try what is known as Seiro Soba, a dish that is served with a side of soup and tempura, duck, meat or veggies. Their extensive menu also is a good way of trying some snacks to accompany your traditional soba experience.
Ueno Yabu Soba
Address: 6 Chome-9-16 Ueno, 台東区 Taito City, Tokyo 110-0005, Japan
Website: Ueno Yabu Soba
Opening hours: Thu - Tue: 11:30am - 9pm (closed on Wed)
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4. Kanda Yabu Soba
Kanda Yabu Soba is within Tokyo’s Awaicho district and has been around for quite some time. The restaurant has been recently reopened after facing an unfortunate fire that burnt down the original establishment. The Kamo-san ban soba at Kanda Yabu Soba is presented with thick slices of duck that lay on top of the soba. Another item to try is the ten-seiro soba with crispy shrimp, accompanied by the cold version of soba. The menu changes seasonally - a winter item to try is the kaki soba, which has plump oysters and wakame seaweed. One of the oldest soba spots in Tokyo, the restaurant continues to make Edo-style noodles and continuously attracts a loyal customer base.
Kanda Yabu Soba
Address: 2 Chome-10 Kanda Awajicho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0063, Japan
Website: Kanda Yabu Soba
Opening hours: 11:30am - 8pm (daily) / (closed on Wed)
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5. Kyorakutei
Kyorakutei is tucked away in a neat fashion within Kagurazaka, Tokyo. The restaurant prides itself in serving hand-cut soba, also known as, teuchi. You can watch the grinder rotate throughout the day and can catch master soba makers making soba dough. There are two distinct types of buckwheat noodles offered at Kyorakutei. One is the regular soba with a nutty flavor, which is recommended to be savored with a cold dipping sauce on the side. The other is called juwari soba - the name given to noodles made purely and entirely from buckwheat. There are items to accompany your soba experience, such as grilled edamame beans and sake.
Kyorakutei
Address: Japan, 〒162-0825 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Kagurazaka, 3 Chome−6 神楽坂館１階
Website: Kyorakutei
Opening hours: Tue: 5pm - 8:30pm; Wed - Sat: 11:30am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 8:30pm (closed on Sun & Mon)
6. Tokyo Dosanjin
Tokyo Dosanjin was founded by Eiji Watanabe, with a vision of transforming the classic soba restaurant, which tends to be fast-paced. Instead, he wants to offer a much more serene setting to the guests. Thus, only two portions of soba are made at a time to maintain the strong and lasting reputation the chefs have established. The menu has the regular soba noodles and the inakasoba noodles, which tend to be thicker. They elevate the soba experience by serving a specially-made broth that is topped with slices of sudachi. Everything at Tokyo Dosanjin is made fresh, with ingredients gathered from a nearby farm.
Tokyo Dosanjin
Address: Japan, 〒153-0042 Tokyo, Meguro City, Aobadai, 3 Chome−19−8 B1F
Website: Tokyo Dosanjin
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 11:30am - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm (closed on Mon)
7. Osoba no Kouga
Osoba no Kouga is one of the hidden gems within the Nishi Asabu area. This small and intimate spot gathers a particular crowd, especially those that search for a more authentic culinary experience. It is an example of simplicity combined with tradition. Osoba no Kouga has been charming the community for over 20 years and continues to be a desired spot. There are counter seats with diffused spotlights, where you can watch the soba masters at work. The restaurant is ideal for both lunch and dinner. Its menu features cold or warm soba, served with various types of protein. The sea urchin soba bowl is a crowd favorite and is worth a try.
Osoba no Kouga
Address: 2-14-5 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku Tokyo
Website: Osoba no Kouga
Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 11:30am - 3pm, 5pm - 9pm; Sat: 11:30am - 6pm (closed on Sun & Mon)
8. Kanda Matsuya
Kanda Matsuya is one of the oldest soba spots in Tokyo that continue to impress its guests and has been in service for over 100 years. The atmosphere of the restaurant is truly an intimate one, where customers sit in a packed room also known as a sobaya. Located in the Kanda district, it can be reached after a short walk from the Awajicho, Kanda, Akihabara, or Ogawacho stations. The handmade soba noodles are basic yet delicious. You can enjoy them either in cold or warm versions. It is also recommended to give some of the side dishes a try.
Kanda Matsuya
Address: 1 Chome-1-13 Kanda Sudacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0041, Japan
Website: Kanda Matsuya
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 11am - 8pm; Sat: 11am - 7pm (closed on Thu & Fri)
9. Nagasaka Sarasina
Nagasaka Sarasina takes pride in being one of the few places that have dived deep into the craft of making soba noodles. The doors of the restaurant have been open since 1780, where freshly handmade noodles are served up daily. Nagasaka Sarasina proudly features the sarashina soba, also known as the high-class soba. You take purchase dried soba from the restaurant and try to recreate the magic in your own kitchen. There are three types of soba noodles to choose from. The first is the gozen soba, which has a transparent appearance. The second is the kikouchi soba, which presents a remarkable aroma. The third kind is the tahee zaru soba, which is known for its unique texture.
Nagasaka Sarasina
Address: Subway Bldg. B1, 1-1-2, Nishi Sinjyuku, Shinjyuku-Ku, Tokyo
Website: Nagasaka Sarasina
Opening hours: 10:30am - 10:30pm (daily)
10. Honmura An
Honmura An, previously located in New York, has moved to the Roppongi area of Tokyo. The restaurant takes pride in being a slow-paced establishment, instead of being one of the usually packed and fast-paced soba restaurants. The spacious interior of the Honmura An allows for a sense of comfort to settle in, while you sit back and let the meal unfold before your eyes. There are various appetizers to try, such as the Tori Tango and chicken meatballs. One of the most popular dishes is the plain chilled soba served with a cold dip. The noodles are made from a perfectly calculated mixture of buckwheat and wheat.
Honmura An
Address: 7 Chome-14-18 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo 106-0032, Japan
Website: Honmura An
Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 12pm - 2:30pm, 5:30pm - 10pm; Sat - Sun: 12pm - 2:30pm, 5:30pm - 9:30pm (closed on Monday)
Savor the best of soba
The soba establishments mentioned above combine relaxing and exciting atmospheres along with a delicious set of noodles known as soba. With our carefully curated culinary guide, you can stroll the streets of various districts in Tokyo and enjoy uplifting meals. Eating soba is one of the ways in which Japanese culture and history can be explored. Visiting a soba restaurant is more than simply having a meal, it is experiencing a craft that has become embedded in daily life.
History
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