I went to Otsuka after a long time and had lunch at my favorite standing soba noodle shop, "Mitou-an". Mitou-an is a standing soba noodle shop run by Nogawa Men Gyogyo Co., Ltd., mainly targeting government offices, and it offers high-quality soba noodles that surpass local soba noodle shops. It is located a 2-minute walk from JR Otsuka Station, in a small alley in the Sun Mall Otsuka shopping street. There is a ticket machine in front of the shop, and without it, it looks like a local soba noodle shop. The interior of the shop has only 7 counter seats, and the shop has been working hard to maintain the same prices without raising them even before the COVID-19 pandemic. The most popular menu item at this shop is the "Sliced Duck Soba (300g)" for 630 yen (tax included), with a large serving (400g) for 680 yen (tax included). They are particular about the duck and use "Zao Shinzan Bamboo Charcoal Water Duck". Even just the soba noodles alone are satisfying, with "Mori Soba 350g" for 500 yen (tax included) and "Mori Soba Large Serving 450g" for 600 yen (tax included) with generous portions. The biggest charm of this shop is that they serve their homemade soba noodles, cut with a knife on-site, at standing prices. Today, when I ordered the large serving of duck soba, it was served about 3 minutes later. The large serving of duck soba, with only duck dipping sauce, is simple, but the 400g of soba noodles served in a large sieve is very filling! The handmade 80/20 soba noodles cut finely on-site are uneven, like hand-made, with visible Hoshi spots in some places, which adds to the authentic feel. When you first taste the soba without dipping anything, the aroma of the soba comes through your nose. The soba noodles have a good texture and a great throat feel, comparable to hand-made soba noodles. It's also nice that the duck meat, which is thick for this price, is plentifully included. The rich dipping sauce with the well-seasoned duck meat adds flavor and richness. When you dip the finely cut, chewy soba noodles into the duck-flavored dipping sauce, it's as delicious as a high-end soba noodle shop! The soba water is placed in a pot on the counter. When you see this well-seasoned pot, you feel the reality of eating at "Mitou-an". After finishing the soba noodles, I poured plenty of soba water into the remaining duck dipping sauce and enjoyed a luxurious duck soba soup! Whether you eat the "Sliced Duck Soba Large Serving", "Tempura Rice Bowl Set Large Serving", or "Duck Soba Large Serving" at this shop, you will be amazed by the wonderful cost performance every time you eat here! It was a very satisfying lunch experience.

This shop was one of the places I had been wanting to visit for a while. I finally found the opportunity to visit. The homemade soba noodles were very thin and glossy. They had a great texture and were very delicious. The dipping sauce was a rich broth with chopped duck, which was also tasty. The portion size was quite generous, but I finished it quickly because it was so good. I would love to visit this soba restaurant again. Thank you for the meal.

Soba restaurant hopping, third stop. By the third stop, my stomach was quite full. I searched for a Mori Soba that I could eat smoothly and found this shop. I arrived at a shop called "Tachigui Soba" with no waiting after 2 PM. I was surprised by the high quality of the soba. If this shop were nearby, I would visit frequently. Thank you for the meal.

I went to Soba restaurant Mitouan, which is a little hard to find about 4.5 minutes from Otsuka Station South Exit. They have a counter where about 8 people can sit, not just standing. The tempura is fried quickly after you order, not pre-made, which is great. They also serve soba broth, which is a nice touch.

I had been eating pasta and ramen every time I went to work recently, so I decided to visit this restaurant after a long time. I arrived at 11:45 am and there were three empty seats at the counter. However, when I looked at the ticket machine, I was shocked to see that the prices had gone up! Normally, I always eat the kakiage soba extra large for 680 yen, but now it was 730 yen, a 50 yen increase! Well, it's still cheap though! The kakiage is always served piping hot, but today it felt even hotter than usual. It's always delicious here! Despite the price increase, I will come back again!

I visited for lunch on a regular day. I won't go into the history or trivia of knife-cut soba, but in conclusion, it was delicious. As the title suggests, the texture was great. The soba noodles are thinly cut, which pairs well with their firmness. However, the only downside was that I tried the recommended minced duck soba, and while the dipping broth was hot and tasty, when I dipped the soba noodles in it, the firmness was lost. Although I wanted to dip the noodles generously in the delicious duck broth, the texture changed, so I had to eat it by lightly dipping the noodles like in regular zaru soba. Additionally, the dipping broth was quite salty, so maybe that was intentional. Personally, I felt it was a bit of a waste in terms of balance. Next time, I want to try the simple zaru soba. The photo shows a regular portion, but I think those who eat a normal amount should opt for a large portion. Most male customers were ordering the large portion.

This is my first visit. I had heard about this place before. I ordered the tempura rice bowl set. The service was quick. The soba and tempura were tasty, but nothing exceptional. If there were places like Koso Soba or Yude Yaro nearby, I might hesitate a bit!

The workplace is near Ikebukuro (close to Sunshine), but I sometimes feel like going to this store in Otsuka. It's even better when the weather is nice! We arrived at 11:40 with two people. There was only one customer before us, which is rare, but by around noon, the place was full and there were a few customers waiting. I really think the cost performance is good! I haven't eaten anything else in years, just this! The extra-large mixed tempura soba for 680 yen! The tempura is always crispy and delicious, and the contents vary depending on the season. (It's always delicious though) I personally like the taste of the dipping sauce too! The tough-looking old man is just part of the charm!

I visited during my lunch break at work. The small shop has less than 10 counter seats, but it's conveniently located right in front of the station and offers lunch for under 1000 yen. I ordered the large portion of kakiage tsuke soba for 750 yen after some consideration at the ticket machine. The dish was served in about 5 minutes. It was delicious! The thin soba noodles had a refreshing texture, and the warm dipping sauce was rich and flavorful, making it easy to eat even with a hangover. The size of the kakiage was just right, and the combination with green onions, mizuna, and naruto was incredibly tasty. I finished it in no time. This place is now one of the best lunch options in Otsuka. It was delicious.

Recently, I have been frequenting the area known as the northern part of the city and have had more opportunities to search for lunch and coffee shops. I came across a modest-looking restaurant that caught my eye and decided to visit. I ordered a tempura bowl set from the ticket machine and entered the restaurant. They had taken thorough safety measures. It was nostalgic, but it was surprisingly rare to see a soba restaurant where you can see the kitchen. When the tempura bowl arrived, I couldn't help but sigh at the way the soba noodles were curled. It was just as I had hoped. I quickly dipped the soba in the sauce, not like in rakugo, just on the backside, and slurped it up. Delicious. Next, I decided to generously dip the soba in the sauce without pretending, and it was still delicious. The tempura was crispy, and the sauce was naturally sweet. I couldn't stop eating, and in the end, I scraped up every last bit. I finished off the remaining soba, and then diluted it with soba broth (laughs). I will definitely be visiting again. Thank you for the meal.

I used it after returning from a diplomatic trip. I tend to choose soba for lunch on weekdays, and I tend to choose mountain toppings. The noodles were thin, had a beautiful color, and were smooth. The grated yam had a strong flavor and I was impressed by the use of nori. The duck soba and tempura looked delicious, so I will try that next time. There are only about 8 seats at the counter, so it seems to fill up quickly at lunchtime.

I went to Mitouan Otsuka store. It was just after opening and there was only one customer ahead of me, so I was glad it was not crowded. I ordered the Kakiage Seiro (tempura over cold soba) in large size for 680 yen. The delicious taste at this price point is really impressive. The noodles had a good texture, and the tempura was freshly fried. I especially liked that the green onions were thinly sliced into rings as a garnish.

Today's restaurant is "Mitouan Otsuka Branch." I ordered the "Kizami Duck Soba" after staring at the ticket machine outside. The atmosphere inside the small counter-only shop is not like a typical stand-up soba shop. There is a sense of dedication in the soba and overall experience. It's on the border of being a stand-up soba shop. Thank you for the meal.

It's been a while since I went on a lunch tour in Otsuka. I heard that Kaccharu Batcharu will stop their lunch service this month, so I decided to visit. This was the third stop of the day. It had been 7 years since my last visit, but I remembered how delicious the duck soba was, so I ordered it. It cost 580 yen and you get 300 grams of soba with a rich duck broth. The soba was thinner and more delicate than I remembered. It felt a bit fragile when eaten on its own, but dipping it into the duck broth made it taste amazing. Mito-an is still as delicious as ever. I didn't dilute the soba broth with soba water, instead, I drank it all to replenish the salt lost in the scorching heat. Next time, I'll try the grated yam soba for 680 yen or the small kakiage-don or tempura-don for 380 yen.

Tororo Seiro for 680 yen Located in front of Otsuka Station, this soba restaurant has a counter-only seating arrangement. You can purchase your meal through a ticket machine at the entrance. The recommended dish is duck, but I chose tororo (grated yam). Although the price is not cheap for a station soba, it is rare to find a soba restaurant with a ticket machine in this town. The atmosphere inside is quite nice. They drain the soba in a large gold sieve. The soba is served in a wide seiro (bamboo steamer) with tororo soup and a whole raw egg on the side, which was a surprising addition. The soba is quite thin and short, making it easy to pick up. It doesn't have much aroma, but the portion is generous. The tororo soup is on the sweeter side, and the wasabi is of average quality. For 680 yen, the tororo soba is worth a try, but overall, it didn't exceed my expectations.

I tried the Kakiage Seiro (mixed vegetable tempura on cold soba noodles) at Mitouan Otsuka store, located a 3-minute walk from Otsuka Station South Exit in Tokyo. I saw this place on YouTube and decided to give it a try. I arrived before 2 p.m. and there were no other customers inside except for one. I ordered at the ticket machine outside, handed the ticket to the staff, and in less than 10 minutes, my soba was served. The freshly fried tempura with onions, corn, and carrots was delicious. The noodles were thinly cut, with occasional thicker pieces adding a unique touch. The broth was neither too sweet nor too spicy, just a standard flavor. Considering the price, I was quite satisfied with the quality and quantity. Thank you for the meal!

The other day, I ate at Toranomon's Togesoba, which is known for having the best taste in standing soba, and it was truly delicious. It inspired me to want to try and compare other standing soba places with high taste ratings. One place that immediately came to mind is here. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is like a small izakaya, the prices are on the higher side, and all seats come with chairs, so it's a bit questionable to call it standing soba, but it has been featured in standing soba guides and standing soba selections, so it can be classified as standing soba. Normally, when you think of standing soba, kakesoba (soba with broth) is the standard, but here the soba quality is so high that the tsukesoba (dipping soba) is the signature dish. Are there any other standing soba places where tsukesoba is the main menu item? I visit this place a few times a year because I like it. I arrived on a weekday at 4:50 pm, with only 2 customers inside, so I was able to enter without waiting. Today's order: Kizami duck soba for ¥580 and tempura for ¥180. Let's dig in. As always, the soba is delicious - flavorful, fresh, with a firm texture and a smooth throat sensation. It's on the level of eating at a proper soba restaurant, not a standing soba place. The duck dipping sauce is also delicious. The duck broth is rich, the broth has a moderate amount of oil, and the seasoning is just right, blending perfectly with the duck broth. Both the soba and the dipping sauce are so delicious that it's hard to believe this is standing soba. Finally, I finish by drinking the soba broth, which is a perfect balance of duck broth and seasoning. There's no way the soba broth isn't delicious. I gulped it down. The tempura was noticeably smaller in size this time, and the thickness seemed thinner than before... Perhaps they reduced the size due to increased costs? There hasn't been a price increase, so they may have reduced the size to maintain the cost. Also, today's tempura had a slightly off texture. I understand that they usually serve light and crispy tempura, but today's tempura was a bit hard and sticky. Anyway, Mitouan is truly wonderful! It should be more famous and praised as a standing soba restaurant. Thank you for the meal.

There is a soba restaurant located about a 5-minute walk from JR Otsuka Station South Exit, always crowded with customers. This time, I decided to check it out. There is a ticket machine next to the shop, offering various menu items with soba as the main focus. Their recommended dish is the "Chopped Duck Soba". I was curious about the taste, so I decided to try the large size this time. The large size here is a whopping 400g, a quantity I have never eaten in soba before. Will I be able to finish it or not... The interior of the shop has only counter seats, and it is a very small shop that can accommodate about 10 people. An elderly couple manages the kitchen with perfect coordination. After about 10 minutes, the Chopped Duck Soba is ready. The aroma of duck broth is enticing, and it looks very delicious. I immediately started eating. The soba noodles, although not looking like 400g, are very fine and have a beautiful color. They are very satisfying to eat. When dipped in the sauce, the rich flavor of duck broth and the smooth texture of the thin soba noodles go very well together. You can also enjoy the aroma of the soba, and the refreshing aftertaste is very pleasant. This is truly delicious. The Chopped Duck Soba usually comes with large pieces of duck meat, but the chopped duck meat is juicy and full of flavor, which is more than enough. I got so absorbed in eating that I finished it cleanly without realizing it. It doesn't feel like there was 400g of soba at all. This taste is definitely addictive. At 680 yen for this volume, it is a very reasonable price that satisfies both the body and the soul. Finally, I finished with soba-yu (hot water used to rinse the soba bowl), and I thoroughly enjoyed the delicious soba. It's no wonder this place is so popular. I visited during lunchtime, but the turnover rate is fast, so I was able to enjoy my meal without waiting long. I would definitely want to visit again. If you ever go to Otsuka, be sure to check out this highly recommended restaurant. It was really delicious. Thank you for the meal!

I visited around 12 pm on Saturday. It was a popular restaurant with a wait for 4 people. Only counter seats were available. I ordered the most popular sliced duck soba. The soba was soft, and the thickness of the noodles was uneven, lacking firmness. However, the duck broth was incredibly delicious. It's a shame that the noodles weren't to my liking, given how tasty the broth was.

There are few soba restaurants around Otsuka Station, or it feels like there are none other than this one. This shop is located straight ahead from the south exit, cross the tram tracks and look to the right where a sign saying "soba" is displayed. The shop has a long history. The Kizami Kakiage Tempura Soba costs 600 yen. The soba is delicious, and the dipping sauce is served hot. It was perfect for a cold day, but next time, I want to try the Zaru Soba.

Visited before 3 pm on Saturday. The next day after drinking, soba is always a stable choice. All soba shops were closed, but luckily managed to enter this one just before closing time. Purchased a tempura soba set (780 yen) from the ticket machine at the entrance. The atmosphere of the restaurant is old-fashioned and nice. There are about 7-8 counter seats. - The soba noodles are thin and uneven, providing a enjoyable texture. The aroma of the noodles is also nice. The portion of noodles is quite generous. The dipping sauce is not too strong, with a mild flavor. - The tempura soba set is essentially 280 yen if you subtract the price of the soba. The tempura ingredients include green pepper, pumpkin, and shrimp. The amount of rice is just right as it is not too much. The tempura is crispy and well-cooked. The tempura dipping sauce is slightly sweet and light. Considering the price, it is satisfying. I might try the minced duck soba next time. Thank you for the meal.