I enjoyed dinner with my mom at “Soba Mae Ichimonji”✨. This is a brand new restaurant that just opened on Friday, July 26, and its convenient location right next to Korakuen Station is a big plus. We chose the 【Ichimonji】 course. The appetizer of cream cheese with smoked local pickles and lightly pickled edamame was particularly delicious. The potato salad was creamy and very satisfying. The sashimi platter was fresh, and the grilled nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch) was exquisite. We took a break with yam with wasabi pickles and enjoyed the crispy texture of the seasonal tempura. For the main dish, I selected the 100% buckwheat soba with the restaurant’s signature tororo dipping sauce, which was truly delicious. The aroma and texture of the soba were outstanding, and I was already very satisfied with just that. We finished off with refreshing melon for dessert✨. The all-you-can-drink options included refreshing drafts of Braumeister beer, Ichimonji highball, and sobacha highball, all of which were great. The orange wine was particularly delicious, and I would love to have it again. With a wide selection of local sake and side dishes that pair well with drinks, Ichimonji is also very appealing as a soba izakaya. I definitely want to visit again!

The soba izakaya located on the 5th floor of the Metro M building, directly connected to Korakuen Station. Although it's in a station building, it retains a proper izakaya atmosphere, offering a variety of seating options including counter seats, private rooms, and a large hall for parties, catering to diverse occasions. I visited on a weekday, and the place was lively with office workers coming in after work. The menu centers around soba, featuring original dishes using soba and a wide array of appetizers. The drinks primarily focus on sake, but there are also many other options like soba liqueur. 【What I ordered】 ⭐︎Recommended⭐︎ - Soba Tofu → A unique tofu that allows you to enjoy the aroma of soba. It's best enjoyed with salt, wasabi, and a dash of soy sauce. - Grilled Miso - Cream Cheese with Iburigakko (smoked grated daikon) - Sweet Dashi Omelette - Squid Salted Fish & Saketou (fermented fish paste) - Ham-filled Potato Salad ⭐︎Daisen Chicken Soba Tsuyu Kameyaki → The plump Daisen chicken is grilled to perfection and is absolutely delicious. - Handmade Grilled Tofu with Black Bean Natto ⭐︎Tempura Soba (Regular) → The soba is a carefully crafted 100% buckwheat. It has a strong flavor and pairs excellently with drinks. - Choice of dipping sauce: Signature tororo (grated yam) or curry. - Catalana (a type of dessert)

After a live performance with around 50,000 people, I headed to a sushi restaurant. I was able to enter smoothly since I left early. Other sushi places had long waits. The restaurant was nice and had a welcoming atmosphere. I opted for a simple choice of 100% soba noodles. The soba was smooth and had a chewy texture, which I really liked. The wasabi was quite refined; there was enough that it felt like they wanted you to try eating it plain, but I wished there had been a bit more. I'm not sure if they offered soba broth, and since I have a hard time speaking up, I left a bit unsatisfied, but the food was delicious! I was also intrigued by the Himi udon that was on the menu.

This time, I enjoyed the following items: ☆ A character salad with cabbage ☆ Sweet tamagoyaki (2 pieces) ☆ Grilled duck with green onions ☆ Tempura assortment (with an added shrimp) ☆ Pork aromatic soba ☆ Pork curry soba ☆ Soba-yu (thin) ☆ Shinshu natural apple juice ☆ Adult cream soda ☆ Buckwheat tea (hot) Ichimonji is located on the 5th floor of the Metro M Korakuen, directly connected to the station. The restaurant specializes in 100% domestic buckwheat noodles and offers a variety of small dishes that pair well with drinks, making it a great place to visit for a wide range of occasions. To start, I ordered the Ichimonji cabbage salad, which was mixed with a dressing made from mayonnaise and a traditional soy sauce (kaeshi). It had a crunchy texture and was delicious! The sweet tamagoyaki had a refined sweetness that I really enjoyed. I topped it with the grated daikon that was served alongside. The grilled duck with green onions featured high-quality duck that offered rich flavors with every bite. The combination with the green onions was exceptional and truly unforgettable! Next, the tempura assortment included shrimp, eggplant, and young corn, and since I could add one shrimp, I had it included! The presentation was beautiful, and the dish looked as tasty as it was. It was fried to a perfect crisp and served hot, which was fantastic. The shrimp was large and satisfying to eat! For the main course, I ordered the pork aromatic soba and the pork curry soba! The pork aromatic soba was packed with green onions and pork, allowing me to appreciate the flavor of the buckwheat noodles. The pork curry soba had a rich and addictive taste! Both dishes were filling and very satisfying. I was happy to have the soba-yu to enjoy as well. The adult cream soda came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, making it easy to drink and enjoyable! The staff were quick and efficient, and the restaurant's convenient location right by the station made it a great choice.

The restaurant is directly connected to Korakuen Station, making it super accessible! I was in the mood for a refreshing soba noodle dish that evening, so I visited with a friend for dinner. We started with grilled Ooyama chicken marinated in soba tsuyu (soba dipping sauce). The chicken was beautifully charred and absorbed the gentle umami of the tsuyu, making it juicy. The flavor unfolded in my mouth wonderfully. Next up was a potato salad generously loaded with ham. As the name suggests, it had an abundance of ham, which paired perfectly with the creamy potato salad. It was simple yet so delicious that I couldn't stop eating it. Then we had a mixed tempura platter, which included shrimp and seasonal vegetables, all encased in a crispy batter. The aroma of the freshly fried tempura was irresistible. It was so good that I ended up ordering another shrimp tempura. The hot shrimp tempura was just fantastic! The highlight of the meal was the ten-soba-dai-zaru seiro (large zaru soba). The plate of soba, meant for 3-4 people, was devoured by the two of us. The flavor of the buckwheat was rich, and the texture was firm. We chose the simple mori tsuyu this time, which wonderfully highlighted the natural aroma and sweetness of the soba, perfectly matching with the dipping sauce. Honestly, I felt like I could have eaten more because it was so delicious. I also had a taste of my friend's tempura rice bowl (tendon). The crispy tempura soaked in the sweet and savory sauce melded beautifully with the white rice, making it a satisfying dish. It was filling, yet I enjoyed every bite without getting tired of it. To wrap up the meal, we had homemade pudding for dessert. It was surprisingly smooth, and when I spooned it, it melted in my mouth. It had a texture so light it felt like I could drink it, with just the right amount of sweetness. I was completely satisfied after the meal. Although we were too full to try it this time, the menu also featured nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch), which I definitely want to challenge next time. The private rooms were also a charm, allowing us to relax and enjoy our meal while chatting with my friend. The quality of the dishes was high, and there wasn’t a single miss. It was a wonderful place that I would love to visit again!

The soba izakaya located on the 5th floor of Metro M Korakuen, directly connected to Korakuen Station, just opened in July this year. It offers 100% buckwheat soba and grilled nodoguro (blackthroat sea perch). There’s a wide variety of sake available, so I made a reservation to visit with my sake-loving friend. The interior is chic and stylish, with a monochrome theme, featuring counter seating, table seating, and spacious private rooms, making it suitable for dates or girls' nights out. We were seated in a private room. While à la carte options are available, the course menu is especially attractive, starting from 5,500 yen for courses with all-you-can-drink options. We opted for the most popular course at 6,500 yen, and added a 2,000 yen upgrade for all-you-can-drink premium sake. The selection was astonishing, with twelve varieties, making it a strong recommendation for sake enthusiasts! We kicked off with a toast using lemon sour and Braumeister beer. The course began with the **first appetizer**, which featured three small dishes typical of a soba shop; then we had **salad** with summer vegetables; next was a **sashimi platter**; followed by **grilled nodoguro**; then a **light appetizer** of wasabi pickled yam; and **tempura** made with seasonal ingredients; rounding off with **soba**, where we chose the signature tororo (grated yam) dipping sauce; and finally a **dessert** of fruit. The appetizers were edamame pickled lightly, smoked daikon cheese, red and white kamaboko (fish cake), and sake lees wasabi. Each dish paired well with our drinks, making the experience more enjoyable. The smoked daikon cheese was particularly delicious. The salad featured a generous serving of ham in potato salad. The sashimi included fresh tuna and aori ika (bigfin reef squid), with the aori ika being exceptionally good. Then we were served the grilled nodoguro, one each, which was a delightful surprise. It was tender, beautifully fatty, and delicious! My friend cleaned their plate very neatly. The wasabi-pickled yam provided a nice crunchy texture with a sharp kick from the wasabi, making it another great companion to our drinks. The 100% buckwheat soba was served with our chosen dipping sauce of tororo, and we enjoyed its smooth texture and delightful aroma. The accompanying tempura included shrimp, bell pepper, and zucchini, all crispy and delicious with salt. For dessert, we were treated to a frozen katirana (custard dessert), featuring a beautifully caramelized top and a refreshing chill. As for the premium sake, we shared several varieties: Fukui Kuroyanagi, Tochigi Hououbitan, Nara Kaze no Mori, Aichi Kurashibito Kuheiji, Iwate Suisen, Kyoto Nichinichi, and Mie Saku. The bottles were served right in front of us, and we could ask for photos alongside them. They provided helpful explanation cards, making it easy to understand each sake. We found ourselves enjoying it a little too much! There were even soft drinks available, including Yokohama Cider—something I didn’t know originated from Yokohama, despite being from there myself! All in all, the food was fantastic, the course meant no need for sharing, and we got to enjoy grilled nodoguro and 100% soba with all-you-can-drink premium sake! I was thoroughly satisfied with the experience. The staff were friendly and attentive as well. With such convenient access, I highly recommend this place and would love to visit again.

I had potato salad and soba with a moonview dipping sauce. Everything was very delicious, and the prices were relatively affordable, so I definitely want to visit again! It was my first time trying the moonview dipping sauce with soba, and the texture was great and very tasty! The draft beer was from a rare brand called Kirin Braumeister, and it was really good! I will definitely go back!

I visited "Ichimonji" at Soba Mae, which is conveniently located directly connected to Korakuen Station. It truly fulfills the concept of "casual luxury." Here’s what I had: ✅ Appetizer: A trio of soba shop appetizers. The "lightly pickled edamame" has soba grains mixed in, providing a refreshing and perfectly balanced salty flavor. The "soba tofu" is best enjoyed simply with wasabi and salt, highlighting the strength of its ingredients. Lastly, the "smoked daikon" features a captivating smoky aroma and satisfying crunch. ✅ Potato Salad: This potato salad also includes soba grains, adding a delightful crunch. It’s innovative yet familiar in flavor. ✅ Sashimi: The sashimi platter featured two kinds: squid and tuna. The squid had an excellent balance of sweetness and chewiness, pairing beautifully with plum paste. The tuna also offered a robust flavor that emphasized its freshness. You can mix and match garnishes, making it even more enjoyable. ✅ Grilled Dish: Grilled "noburo" (a type of fish). The fish is rich with fat around the neck, and as you bite into it, the melt-in-your-mouth umami spreads across your palate. Each bite brings a sense of indulgent happiness. ✅ Side Dish: Yam with wasabi pickles. This dish featured a wonderful contrast between the creamy texture and the crunchy bite of the yam, enhanced by a sharp wasabi kick that increased anticipation for the next dish. ✅ Tempura: Seasonal tempura with plump shrimp, sweet bell pepper, and eggplant. The crispy batter made the quality of the ingredients stand out. It captured the essence of the season beautifully and made it hard to stop eating. ✅ Soba: Choose your own ten-grain soba. For my choice, I went with "tororo" (grated yam), and the aroma and texture of the soba were remarkable—a must-try for soba lovers! ✅ Dessert: Catalana. This dessert features a perfect contrast between its coldness and the fragrant caramelized surface. I was very satisfied with this well-balanced course, especially for 6500 yen including drinks. There’s a selection of unique beverages like yuzu fruit liquor and soba tea, making the cost-performance ratio impressive. It was great to enjoy in a private room. I was looking for a nice place after a concert at Tokyo Dome, and I found this spot, which is perfect with its private room and good price for the overall quality of the soba and dishes. I liked it so much that I've already been back multiple times, and I’ll probably go again!

I had an early dinner at Ichimonji, which is directly connected to Korakuen Station and just a short walk from Tokyo Dome. I made a reservation for 4:30 PM, but the restaurant was lively, likely due to the concerts at the Dome. While they had course options, we ordered a la carte as follows: - Pork Shabu-shabu (1,980 yen) with additional vegetables (990 yen) (the picture shows two servings) - Deep-fried Daisen Chicken (880 yen) - Potato Salad with plenty of ham (660 yen) - Regular Soba (660 yen) with dipping sauce (275 yen), moon-viewing tororo (770 yen), and duck dipping sauce (880 yen) - Duck Nanban Soba (1,600 yen) Overall, the food came out quickly, and everything was delicious! The pork shabu-shabu featured thick slices of pork, making it quite satisfying. Eating it with green onions and garlic chives combined the sweetness of the dipping sauce with the deliciousness of the pork, making it very flavorful. Adding vegetables made it enjoyable to the very end. The fried chicken was hot and crispy, and the potato salad was loaded with ingredients. The soba, made from 100% buckwheat, had a strong soba aroma, and with various dipping sauces, I ended up trying three kinds. In the end, I preferred the standard dipping sauce, as it brought out the flavor of the soba the best, but the duck meat in the warm duck nanban soba was also incredibly tasty. The sweetness and umami from the duck infused into the broth, resulting in a delightful flavor. I felt the dipping sauces were quite bold, possibly crafted to pair well with alcohol. The restaurant also offers a rich selection of sake and has natural wines that pair wonderfully with Japanese cuisine, so I enjoyed a glass of wine that complemented the meal beautifully. With its great access, a lively atmosphere, and versatility for quick visits as well as more substantial meals, I think it’s a very user-friendly restaurant! Instagram: @miogourmet_8 https://instagram.com/miogourmet_8?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

I used this place for a farewell party at work. The carefully prepared dishes were served in beautiful dishes, which was very visually satisfying. Since I can't eat a lot, the portion sizes were just right, and I felt full after the soba noodles at the end. I would recommend this restaurant for adult gatherings.

I went to a soba restaurant with a large group of friends, and although I would have preferred another restaurant, I had to go along with the choice. I ordered the tendon (tempura rice bowl) set, and I was looking forward to the 100% buckwheat soba. It arrived shortly after, and I started with the tendon. The tempura was more like fried chicken with a heavy batter. The rice seemed to have a high moisture content and was noticeably tough. I tried to shake it off and turned to the soba. Eating it without dipping it in sauce at first, it was delicious, but I wondered if it was truly 100% buckwheat, as it didn’t have the rough texture I expected. It seemed to lack the unique character associated with 100% buckwheat, which might be due to the grinding process. The dipping sauce didn't suit my taste either, and since this was my first meal in Tokyo, I felt a bit disappointed. I enjoyed being with my friends, but… I hope for a better experience at the next restaurant.

■Visit Time/Day: Around 7:30 PM on Thursday ■Crowd Situation/Vacancy: The private rooms seem to be fully booked ■Payment Method: ■Availability of Items (for Takeout): - I had a course meal that included soba. 【Ichimonji】《With 2-hour all-you-can-drink》All-inclusive for 6,500 yen. Highlights include “nodoguro” (blackthroat seaperch) and “juwari soba” (100% buckwheat soba). Each dish is perfectly served for one person, so there’s no need to share, which makes it easy. The nodoguro was delicious!! It was simply grilled with salt.

It's surprisingly easy to get lost at Tokyo Metro Korakuen Station since it's directly connected. Anyway, after exiting the ticket gate, I headed to the 5th floor and found my way. The interior of the restaurant is very stylish, featuring both counter seats and private rooms, making it suitable for occasions that aren't too casual. 【MENU】 ◎ Ichimonji Course - 6,500 yen (tax included) - Appetizers: Three kinds of appetizers typical of soba restaurants - Salad: Summer vegetable salad - Sashimi: Assorted sashimi (squid and bluefin tuna) - Grilled dish: Salt-grilled "nodo-guro" (blackthroat seaperch) - Interlude: Yam potato with wasabi pickles - Fried dish: Seasonal tempura - Soba: 100% buckwheat soba - Dessert: Watermelon 【Drinks】 - Ichimonji Highball - Mitsui no Kizuna - Yuzu Liquor Soda → 2-hour all-you-can-drink included, all for 6,500 yen (tax included) This course, featuring the restaurant's signature dishes like "nodo-guro" and 100% buckwheat soba, is definitely a must-try! From the appetizers, I was drawn into the world of Ichimonji. This time, I added 2,000 yen (tax included) for an all-you-can-drink option featuring 12 types of premium local sake, ensuring that the drinks wouldn't run dry. The Ichimonji Highball, in particular, is highly recommended. Made with soba shochu, it looks clear, but the flavor is rich and pairs perfectly with the food. I feel fortunate to have had many opportunities to eat "nodo-guro" this year, and it never gets old—each bite is delightful. The quality is consistently high, living up to expectations and even exceeding them. The 100% buckwheat soba, accompanied by tempura this time, was incredibly satisfying. I truly think the person who paired soba with tempura is a genius. It was a lovely Ichimonji course! 【Standard Drinks】 - Draft Beer (Brew Meister) - Lemon Sour - Highball - Various types of whiskey - Ichimonji Highball - Buckwheat Tea High - Uron High - Plum Wine - Seasonal Fruit Wine - Sweet Potato Shochu - Barley Shochu - Buckwheat Shochu - Various Soft Drinks 【Premium Sake (5 types) + 1,000 yen (tax included)】 - Deva-zakura - Hidakami - Hakurakusei - Gakki Masamune - Houou Mitaka 【Super Premium Sake (12 types) + 2,000 yen (tax included)】 - Kuro-ryuu - Suisen - Kaze no Mori - Mitsui no Kizuna - Hi Hi - Zaku - Joushijin Kuheiji - Natural Wine (white) - Natural Wine (orange) Thank you for reading to the end! I aim to make delicious foods look even more appealing and communicate that through my reviews, so I hope you'll visit again!

Right: Director Otomo (with his permission). Left: Me. I'm embarrassed to show my face~ m(__)m Director Otomo’s notable films include "Rurouni Kenshin," "March Comes in Like a Lion," and "Legend of the Butterfly." TV dramas: "Churasan," "Ryomaden," etc. I visited the soba restaurant "Ichimonji" for the first time! I made a reservation (private room). The party was to promote the movie "Treasure Island," set to be released in the fall of next year! Based in post-war Okinawa, the story draws from the brilliant novel "Treasure Island" by Junjo Shinjo, which depicts truths not recorded in history. Shinjo dedicated seven years to writing this novel, passionately stating, "I wrote it to change the world." The work, depicted with overwhelming intensity, calls on us, living in a peaceful era, to reclaim our living emotions. It unanimously won the 160th Naoki Prize from the judges, as well as the 9th Yamada Futarō Prize and the 5th Okinawa Bookstore Award, achieving a prestigious triple crown. This highly energetic masterpiece "Treasure Island" is being adapted into a live-action film featuring actors Satoshi Tsumabuki, Suzu Hirose, Masakazu Kubota, and Eita Nagayama. I'm looking forward to the movie release!! Location: 5F Metro M Korakuen, 1-2-3 Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo. What we ordered at "Ichimonji": - **Appetizers**: Three types of soba restaurant appetizers 1. Lightly pickled edamame: I’m so happy it comes with the pods~ 2. Soba tofu: Elegant with a soba flavor! 3. Green cheese and iburi gakkō: Great texture! - **Salad**: Summer vegetable salad with soba grain potato salad—a nice accent! - **Sashimi**: Sashimi platter of tuna and squid—both were fresh! The squid had superbly fine knife work—amazing! - **Grilled Dish**: Salt-grilled 'Nodoguro' (black throat perch)—it was incredibly delicious—top-notch! - **Interlude**: Yamato (Japanese yam) with wasabi pickles—tasty! - **Fried Dish**: Seasonal tempura—crispy and yummy! - **Soba**: Choose your dipping sauce with "10 Buckwheat Soba"—super delicious—I’d like a second helping (laughs). - **Dessert**: Extremely rich "Catanara" (a type of dessert)! Drinks: Brown Meister, Kaku Highball, Imo Shochu, Ichimonji Highball, AKABU, NO6 S-Type, Hōrioki, Oolong tea x 2. The staff, including the manager and female servers, were polite and made a great impression. The atmosphere was comfortable! If you have a chance, definitely visit! Restaurant Name: Soba Mae Ichimonji Nearest Station: 2-minute walk from Korakuen Station Closed: Irregular holidays Hours: Daily from 11:00 - 23:00, last order for food at 22:00 and drinks at 22:30 Smoking: Non-smoking throughout the restaurant.

【Date and Time】Visited on a weekday at 7:30 PM by myself. 【Reservation】Made an online reservation a few days in advance. The restaurant was nearly full, doing great business! It's definitely advisable to make a reservation. 【Location】Directly connected to Korakuen Station. It's nice that you can get there without getting wet on rainy days! 【Interior】Counter seating and private rooms. The completely private rooms make it great for group gatherings! Since I was alone, I sat at the open counter. It was exciting to watch the chefs at work. 【Order】Cheers with a draft beer! They have a wide variety of sake categorized into sweet, dry, and umami flavors, allowing you to choose according to your preference. My orders were as follows: - Ham-loaded potato salad: There's plenty of ham, but the vegetables are abundant too, making it truly a “salad.” The flavors of the ingredients stand out and it was delicious. - Grilled duck and green onion: Tender and moist. It had just the right amount of fat, allowing me to enjoy the sweet taste of the fat. The green onion was a good accent! - Steamed soba: I was happy to see they offer half-and-half portions! There are seven types of dipping sauces to choose from, and I chose the signature tororo. The tororo itself was flavorful, making it delicious!! The steamed soba had a rich aroma. 【Service】The staff was quick and friendly in their responses. 【In Conclusion】The satisfaction level of the soba for the final dish was high! -------------- Instagram: somako_16. I appreciate follows and comments on both Instagram and Tabelog! Exploring around Hamamatsucho, Tamachi, and other areas in Minato Ward. I also post about gourmet spots nationwide. --------------

Directly connected to Ikebukuro Station and perfect for rainy days! You won't get lost, and this restaurant had incredible food! This time, we requested an all-you-can-drink option and a special course menu. Here’s what was included in the course: ● Appetizers: "Three Types of Soba House Appetizers" - Lightly pickled edamame (with sansho pepper) - Tofu infused with soba - Duck meat The combination of edamame and sansho was surprisingly delicious! It was a wonderfully new discovery! ● Salad: "Potato Salad" It was very tasty! ● Sashimi: "Assorted Sashimi" - Kanpachi (amberjack) - Tuna Both were thick and extremely satisfying. The freshness of the sashimi was outstanding! ● Grilled Dish: "Salt-Grilled Nodoguro" Such a luxurious item! Grilling a whole fish with plenty of salt is something special. The nodoguro was exquisite—fluffy, juicy, and the skin was crispy and delicious. ● Intermission: "Wasabi-Pickled Yamaimo" Super refreshing, with a subtle wasabi flavor that lingers delightfully. The gentle aroma and taste were incredibly delicious! ● Fried Dish: "Seasonal Tempura" - Shrimp - Eggplant - Maitake mushrooms - Bell pepper - Zucchini The vegetable tempura was really delicious, especially the bell pepper, which was sweet and delightful! The freshly fried tempura paired perfectly with the soba, creating a fantastic experience. ● Soba: "Choose Your Dipping Sauce Ten Types of Soba" You could select your preference beforehand, like tororo (grated yam) or tsukimi (with a raw egg). I went with the classic tsukimi! The rich yolk was really tasty! I was also thrilled to enjoy the soba yut, a warm water made from the soba, at the end! ● Dessert: "Seasonal Fruit" It was a rich cheesecake. I was really comforted by this generous serving of cheesecake! The drinks were all-you-can-drink, allowing us to try various options. We started with a beer toast. This place serves "Brau Meister," which is hard to find elsewhere, but it was really easy to drink and delicious! They also have carefully selected natural wines. I ordered an orange wine, which was incredibly stylish and unique. It’s a Portuguese wine with a refreshing citrus flavor like summer oranges. You definitely need to try this! For a non-alcoholic option, I ordered soba tea. It was so delicious, and I was thoroughly satisfied! I highly recommend this restaurant! All the dishes and drinks were absolutely fantastic, and I would love to come back again.

I visited "Sobamawari Ichimonji" located on the 5th floor of "Metro M Kōrakuen," which is directly connected to Kōrakuen Station. It's very convenient for access and is open continuously from lunch to dinner! On this day, the weather was bad and I had a lot of luggage, so the location was a big help. They offer affordable lunch menus and a wide variety of snacks. You can enjoy a casual drink before finishing off with soba. First, I ordered a drink — an alcoholic version of Shinshu apple juice. Wow, this apple juice is exceptionally delicious! I also sampled a few snacks: - Pickled edamame - Iburigakko with cream cheese - Sweet rolled omelet - Large shrimp with mango and mayonnaise sauce The sweet rolled omelet, with its rich dashi flavor, was comforting. The pairing of iburigakko and cream cheese was a guaranteed delicious combination. The shrimp was incredibly large, not just plump but almost bursting! The mango’s sweetness added a refreshing touch and made for a satisfying dish. For the main course, I opted for the tempura seiro soba served with duck dipping sauce. It’s interesting that you can choose from several types of dipping sauces (each incurs an additional charge). The duck sauce came with four pieces of duck slices and plenty of green onions. The soba, even made from 100% buckwheat, was not crumbly and had a rich flavor. The tempura assortment included shrimp, pumpkin, eggplant, zucchini, and young corn, providing a satisfying variety. I enjoyed them with salt and dipped in the sauce for different flavors! Here, you can casually enjoy a drink at a soba restaurant, which is a nice touch. There are also private rooms with doors, allowing for a relaxing time. I'm sharing gourmet information on Instagram! Please feel free to follow me at @yumikohappylife.

Directly accessible from Korakuen Station, Metro M Korakuen features a calming interior and offers private room usage. Here’s a breakdown of the dishes I ordered: - Soba shop's pork shabu-shabu - Zosui (rice soup) - Sweet rolled omelette - Osan chicken fried - Large prawn with mango mayonnaise sauce - Assorted tempura - Half serving of seiro soba (cold soba) - Handmade pudding - Ichimonji Highball (buckwheat shochu "Kizan") - Houou Bita yuzu sake - Banshu Ikko sake - Kinkenichi sake - Kamikawa Taisetsu sake - Adult cream soda The soba shop's pork shabu-shabu allows you to enjoy premium pork and local vegetables in a soba broth that’s really delicious! The flavor of the soba soup reflects the expertise of the soba house, and it was simply delightful! To top it off, I had the zosui with egg, finishing the meal in a tasty way. The sweet rolled omelette came in two pieces, which was just the right amount—perfect for someone who loves sweet flavors! The Osan chicken fried is crispy and juicy—so delicious! The tempura assortment came with vegetables and prawns, which I enjoyed with salt. The large prawn with mango mayonnaise sauce was a surprise; who knew mango and mayonnaise would pair so well together? It had a nice tang to it! For the seiro soba, I got to choose the dipping sauce, and I went with the famous "tsukimi torotoro." The aroma of the soba was divine, and it went down easily and smoothly. For dessert, the handmade pudding with tea leaves and a caramel sauce was exquisite! Overall, everything was delicious—from the soba to the shabu-shabu, fried dishes, and desserts. They also offer drinks such as the namesake highball and sour, along with sake and wine.

【Atmosphere】▷ A chic and sophisticated modern interior ▷ A calm space with gentle lighting and the warmth of wood ▷ Private rooms available for a quiet and relaxing experience 【Recommended Occasions】▷ Ideal for important business meetings or negotiations ▷ Perfect for dates or special anniversaries ▷ When you want to spend a leisurely time 【Highlighted Menu Items】▷ Ebi Tempura Soba (Regular) (2,640 yen) A luxurious soba dish that comes with four large, plump ebi tempura. The crispy batter and smooth soba work together perfectly. ▷ Duck Soup (880 yen) A rich dipping sauce infused with the deep flavor of duck. The slightly sweet broth pairs remarkably well with the soba, offering a luxurious taste. ▷ Soba Tofu (660 yen) A dish with a mellow texture and the delightful taste of buckwheat. It pairs well with wasabi or rock salt, providing a nostalgic flavor. ▷ Cabbage Salad (660 yen) A refreshing salad with crunchy cabbage. The flavorful dressing is impressive with every bite, making it perfect as a palate cleanser. ▷ Soba Tea (550 yen) A fragrant soba tea that fills your mouth with its toasty aroma. It harmonizes well with both meals and post-dining relaxation, offering a calming experience. ▷ Dessert Cream Soda (880 yen) A vibrant cream soda topped with plenty of ice cream, adding a visual delight. It adds sweetness and refreshment after a meal, bringing a smile to your face.

On the 5th floor of Metro M, there's a famous conveyor-belt sushi restaurant that usually has a long line, so I decided to skip it today. Recently, a popular sandwich shop closed down, and as I walked past its walls, I discovered a soba restaurant. I was drawn in by the sign that read "Fish Bowl," and decided to give it a try. The shop features a noodle-making machine called "Mentsuru," which extrudes the soba noodles that are then dropped directly into the boiling water. The way the chef operates this machine is skilled and shows the finesse of a craftsman. The lunch menu is only available as sets, with combinations like: - Tempura bowl - Fish bowl - Tempura, rice + - 100% buckwheat cold soba - 100% buckwheat hot soba. Today, the fish bowl was a "Salmon and Shirasu Two-Color Bowl," so I ordered that. The lunch set included the fish bowl and 100% buckwheat cold soba. To my surprise, the salmon was not served as sashimi but in flakes. This unexpected twist made me wish for mayonnaise, but since it wasn't available, I added soy sauce. The shirasu were boiled, and the combination of shirasu and salmon flakes was novel for me, making it quite enjoyable. The rice was a bit hard, so I had to be careful not to rush my eating. Rice is a matter of personal preference, so I can see why some people might like it this way. The soba had a good chewiness and a nice texture. The dipping sauce was relatively light, with a restrained sweetness and saltiness. The wasabi was mild, making for an overall subtle and refined soba dish. Thank you for the meal! Next time, I’ll go for the tempura bowl. I felt like I wanted something with bolder flavors, or perhaps I will come back at night for drinks.

At Soba Mae Ichimonji, you can enjoy high-quality Japanese dishes and soba noodles at reasonable prices! The noodles were wonderfully smooth, and I was thrilled to see four generous shrimp tempuras on top! The Ichimonji Highball made with soba shochu was also delicious and paired very well with the snacks. Thinking back on the shrimp tempura soba, it was so refined and easy to eat that I regret not ordering a second helping! Haha. They also have a course with all-you-can-drink option for around 5,000 yen, which I think would be a great idea to try. The staff were friendly with lovely smiles, making the atmosphere very comfortable. The restaurant is located on the 4th floor of the same building as Korakuen Station, making it easy to get to and from. Thank you for the meal! ◆ Sweet Dashi-Maki Tamago (2 pieces) / ¥600 ◆ Long Yam with Wasabi Pickle / ¥600 ◆ Red and White Kamaboko with Sake Lees Wasabi / ¥600 ◆ Green Onion and Shirasu Salad / ¥600 ◆ Roast Duck and Green Onion / ¥1,500 ◆ Shrimp Tempura Soba (Regular) / ¥2,200