The restaurant is located a short walk from stations such as Higashi-Nagasaki and Ekoda on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line, as well as Ochiai-Minami-Nagasaki on the Toei Oedo Line. It has been a leading force in the soba genre for quite some time. I love their soba and used to visit often. However, due to renovations, this visit was my first since the renewal. I arrived around 11 am on a Sunday and was able to enter the restaurant at the 11:30 am opening time with the second reservation. After signing in, I strolled around the town, and upon returning to the restaurant about 10 minutes before opening, there were already 7-8 groups waiting. The popularity is truly unwavering. This time, I opted for the regular seating at the counter. Despite the renewal, the counter seats were still available. I was torn between the 100% soba course, but wanting to savor their soba purely, I chose the regular soba with an additional order of soupless soba. First, the regular soba was served. The refreshing sensation and aroma are truly irresistible. The quality of the soba alone, with its fragrance and richness, remains top-notch. Then, the soupless soba, a countryside-style, showcased the restaurant's perfection. Whether with salt or dipping sauce, it was delicious. Unlike traditional robust countryside soba, it had a soft, hand-ground flavor. The soba broth, although light, paired exceptionally well with the dipping sauce. Throughout, the restaurant lived up to its reputation, offering a delightful experience with their superb soba. They also accept various payment methods, including credit cards and QR payments, providing excellent service. I would love to visit again.

Arrived at the shop on Mejiro Street five minutes before opening on a weekday, and joined a queue of one person (shop provided umbrellas). Inside, the decor is modern with a Japanese touch, and I sat at a counter with three seats made of natural wood. For the order, warm "nishin soba" was served first, accompanied by a separate plate containing half a pickled herring, kombu, and yuzu as toppings. I was surprised by the size of the herring in the soba! When I asked the owner about how to eat it, they said you can eat it as it is or put it in the soba bowl, according to your preference. I started with a sip of the soba broth, which is not strongly flavored with bonito flakes but is incredibly delicious. Next, the soba noodles arrived. The herring, with a soft texture, was added to the bowl, and the balance of the marinade was perfect. The soba had a moderate firmness, a chewy texture, and a smooth throat feel. The flavor of the herring blended well with the broth, not too strong but with a solid taste. Having grown up in Kyoto, where I often ate "nishin soba" at home, I recommend it to people from Kyoto. Unexpectedly, I encountered the best "nishin soba" in Tokyo.

【The Ultimate Lunch Edition of The Last Supper】I went to Handmade Soba Jiyu San Ochiai Minami Nagasaki Store!! It's been a while since I last visited. I tried the 100% soba course for ¥2500. The restaurant seems to have been renovated, as it's incredibly clean and has a stylish Japanese atmosphere. First, they serve seiro soba! The soba is sweet—so sweet! What's with this sweetness! It's delicious. It seems they've become even better than before!! Next up is warm nishin soba! The nishin is tender and fragrant, with a deep, gentle flavor! Oh, it's so delicious!! Why haven't I come here before!! It's the ultimate taste that I want to eat every day! It's even more delicious than before—this soba shop continues to evolve!! Grateful for the wonderful soba. Thank you for the meal!! Handmade Soba Jiyu San 03-3951-3397 3-1-4, Ebisumachi, Nakano-ku, Tokyo https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1321/A132101/13025978/

I just came this month, but I revisited the place aiming for the seasonal limited soba. Even during the Bon festival season, it's easy to feel relaxed, but I continue my soba life for health reasons. I arrived 10 minutes before opening, and there were already 6 people waiting. Today, it became fully occupied within 30 minutes of opening. Is it usually like this on weekdays? Since I'm refraining from shopping later, no alcohol for me. I want to sit and enjoy a drink, but I'll resist. Country-style soba: 1400 yen Cold tomato soba and Kaki-tama soba: 1700 yen The country-style soba here is especially delicious with its salt. The aroma is so strong that it brings out the distinctive flavor of the soba. For the slightly sweet soba dipping sauce, just dip the tip of the soba lightly. Really, just a tiny bit is enough. Today's delight is the cold tomato soba. It has thinly sliced beautiful tomatoes and pickled Manjushage peppers. The cold Kaki-tama sauce creates an exquisite bowl. The saltiness is well-balanced, truly a worthy limited edition. The cold soba's texture is perfect, not only in appearance but also in taste. I was thinking about trying a certain restaurant in Omotesando or Meguro after a long time, but they are on summer break. So, I made the reliable choice of Jyuu-san. Surprisingly, there are many soba lovers around me. I've started a soba club. Soba gatherings will increase for a while. Let's start with nearby places! It was delicious today too. As I left, there were 9 people waiting in line. It seems like it will take a while since everyone seems to be enjoying their drinks.笑

This is my first visit to Jiyu since its renewal. Lately, I've been exploring soba shops, but this one in Tokyo is my favorite. They'll be closed for summer vacation starting next week. I arrived 20 minutes before opening, determined, and made a note. By the time they opened, the first round of seating was already filled. There's very little shade, and the sun is intense. Be careful when lining up. The layout inside has completely changed. It was fine before, but now you can see the kitchen from the dining area. I debated whether to just have soba, but couldn't resist having soba and a drink at Jiyu. I hesitated between courses but went with à la carte. A Heartland beer for ¥700. Tamagoyaki for ¥800. Whale with plum dressing for ¥750. Seiro soba set for ¥2100, with an extra ¥300 for countryside soba. Water and azuki beans for ¥600. The beer tasted even better after enduring the scorching heat. The soba chips served with it were a fantastic snack. Simple, with salt and a scent of sansho pepper and shirasu. Perfect for home drinking. Next came the tamagoyaki. This is my go-to. Not too sweet, just a bit of soy sauce with grated radish. I'm delighted to have it again after so long. I always order the whale with plum dressing. It's a treat to enjoy the whale's fatty skin, balanced by the tart plum. It melts in your mouth every time. I started with the 100% soba. Enjoying the texture more than the aroma. Just a sprinkle of salt at first. The soba dipping sauce is on the sweeter side, so just a little. Then came the countryside soba. The aroma hit me right away! It was as good as I remembered, if not better. I almost asked for seconds. The seiro soba set with two servings is plenty. They give you more than other places. Lastly, I added water and azuki beans. Since this is my only meal today, I'll finish with this. Their water yokan is delicious. Not too sweet, with kinako adding richness. Oh, it was so delicious. I'm glad I came back after so long. In the 23 wards of western Tokyo, I haven't found a better soba place than this. The standard here remains unmatched. I'll save trying the oage soba for next time. It was just too hot today, so I passed on it this time. I'll revisit with nearby foodie friends for some soba and drinks. Oh, and remember, it's reservation-only at night, so be mindful of that. It was a fantastic lunch on this wonderful holiday. Thank you for the meal.

I arrived at 12:00 on Saturday without waiting. I tried the 100% hand-milled country-style soba and tamagoyaki (egg roll) at the first stop of my soba journey. The salt provided was coarse, making it a bit too crunchy when dipping the soba. I would have been happier with a finer salt. Thank you for the meal.

This is my second visit! I lined up before opening and was the first to enter. I had tamagoyaki (Japanese omelette), duck liver, sake, and tororo soba (two servings). The tamagoyaki was hot and freshly made, with a delicious dashi flavor that made me want to eat more. The duck liver was cooked at a low temperature, making it easy even for friends who don't like liver to eat, with no unpleasant smell, and it paired perfectly with sesame oil and salt! The tororo soba was exquisite. The soba itself was delicious, but when combined with the tororo and egg in this broth, it becomes silky smooth and delightful to eat!

A shop in Minami Nagasaki where you can enjoy authentic hand-ground soba. The soba is meticulously hand-milled, exhibiting the craftsmanship of the artisans, and it's incredibly delicious! However, they don't serve tempura, and since I personally love tempura soba, that aspect left me a bit unsatisfied. Also, the pricing for seconds and beyond starts from 900 yen, which is a bit on the expensive side both for my wallet and my stomach. The fluffy egg rolls are delicious and flavorful, but it stung a bit that two servings start from 1600 yen.

The atmosphere of the restaurant was calm and very comfortable. I had grated yam soba. The hand-ground soba was delicious with just salt sprinkled on it. Also, the egg omelette was tasty. It was fluffy and hot, especially enjoyable with soy sauce or salt.

○ Seiro (two servings) for 2,100 yen. Made with 100% buckwheat flour, it boasts a rich aroma and flavor even when eaten plain, ranking among the best I've ever tasted. Its grain-like fragrance fills the mouth, while the noodles have a slightly rough texture that readily absorbs the dipping sauce. They're thin, supple, and easy to slurp, with a satisfying chewiness that doesn't feel overly dense. Thanks to their shape, the surface tension aids in slurping up the sauce effortlessly. The sauce itself strikes a perfect balance between sweet and savory, leaving a lingering sweetness in the aftertaste. However, with the robust flavor and richness of the soba itself, it all harmonizes beautifully. Both the soba and the dipping sauce were incredibly delicious.

I visited the restaurant after calling in advance at the same day and arrived by 18:30. It's advisable to call ahead if you plan to go in the evening as they operate on a reservation basis at night. They charge for appetizers and drinks. I opted for the grated yam soba without egg, which is freshly grated on the spot. Soba is served without dipping sauce initially. The 100% buckwheat soba has a strong flavor and a satisfying texture, and the grated yam topping makes the soba exceptional. Highly recommended for those who love grated yam soba. This is a place I'd like to visit again and recommend to friends. I'll rate it ⭐️5 stars on Instagram. (On Tabelog, it would be 4 stars or above). I only give 5 stars on IG to places I truly love and would revisit and recommend to friends. IG: taiwan_natural_you

Every time I eat it, it tastes different! The grated yam soba was incredibly delicious. I ordered a slightly smaller portion and added extra noodles. I went on the weekend, but if you go right when they open, you can get in without waiting. When I left the restaurant, there were a few groups waiting. I want to go again!

I had a great experience at the handcrafted soba restaurant, Jiyu Sansan. The atmosphere was pleasant, and the staff were incredibly friendly, providing excellent service. I ordered the fresh soba, and it was both voluminous and delicious. The noodles had a smooth and chewy texture, making the dining experience enjoyable. I would love to visit this restaurant again, and I highly recommend others to give it a try!

Tokyo Soba Expedition Part Two. Visiting the first of the top 100 soba shops, the 30th on my soba journey in 2023. It's been a month and a half since my last Tokyo expedition. This time, I'm determined to revisit a shop I couldn't make it to last time due to scheduling conflicts. The location is about a 10-minute walk southwest from Seibu Ikebukuro Line's Higashi-Nagasaki Station. The shop is situated along a major street just beyond the residential area. I arrived 10 minutes before opening. Despite it being a Sunday, there were only three groups waiting, and I managed to get in on the first round. The exterior of the shop is simple and modern without being too flashy. The interior is also calm, with three counter seats and three tables spaced generously. I ordered the grilled miso soba, grated wasabi on a board, chilled sake (soft and mild), and a serving of hand-ground country-style soba. The grilled miso soba had a beautifully arranged presentation, with crispy soba kernels in a slightly sweet white miso. Both the chilled sake and hand-ground country-style soba had a delightful texture, and the country-style soba came with spicy daikon radish instead of wasabi. The compatibility with the Tokyo-style slightly spicy dipping sauce was excellent. As it's located in a residential area, it might be a bit challenging for those from outside the prefecture to reach, but if you're looking to enjoy soba in Tokyo, it's definitely worth a visit.

Today, I went to a soba restaurant called Jiyu-san in Higashi-Nagasaki with some friends. I've always wanted to go there, and we were able to make a reservation. It's about a 10-minute walk from Higashi-Nagasaki Station and also accessible from Shin-Egota Station in about 10 minutes. The appetizers were really luxurious, perfect for snacks and drinks. Everything was delicious, but I especially liked the tofu and imitation crab. The tamagoyaki (sweet rolled omelette) was fluffy and just how I like it, and the duck roast was flavorful and amazing. Gon-ta Zenmai was a first for me, and both zenmai (fiddlehead ferns) and grilled miso paired exceptionally well with sake. The pickles served as appetizers were tasty, and I couldn't resist getting seconds. We shared three types of soba: country-style soba, seiro soba, and homemade oage soba. Although they were all delicious, the country-style soba was the winner! The texture and aroma of the soba were superb. Despite having tried soba with salt a few times, it's the first time I found it truly delicious. Overall, everything was tasty and cozy, and we ended up staying for about 3 hours. Extremely satisfied! Thank you for the wonderful meal! ♥︎

I've always wanted to visit RODEO in Naka-Meguro, where reservations are a must if you want an early time slot. Since I had plans to go to Ginza, I made a reservation about a month in advance this time. The restaurant has a stylish and cozy atmosphere. There were three of us, so we were seated at a table, and to start, my husband and I had highballs while our daughter had a blood orange juice for cheers! We were served a starter of Inca Wake-Up Potato Chips with Truffle Salt. Delicious! From the daily recommendations, we ordered the Chilled Corn Soup, Flying Fish Carpaccio, my daughter had the Caciocavallo cheese, while my husband and I had the Grilled Oysters. For meat, we ordered deer and beef fillet and the restaurant's recommended meat sauce pasta. The chilled corn soup was served in espresso cups, rich, sweet, and delicious! My daughter's excitement was rising. The flying fish carpaccio was also served in small plates but of high quality! After having the oysters and Caciocavallo, we ordered some dishes we were curious about before the main course arrived. Mushroom Omelette with Truffle, Long Green Chili Peppers, Grilled Offal, and a bottle of dry white wine! The mushroom omelette was sliced with truffle in front of us, and the mushrooms were delicious! The main meat dishes were also delicious. The recommended pasta was a voluminous dish with thick pasta boiled for 20 minutes, topped with crumbled hamburger steak, sauce, and cheese! The grilled offal seemed to have garlic butter? The surface was crispy and fragrant, and the fat melted in the mouth, very delicious. The final touch was curry! It was a bit like demi-glace, about 3-4 mouthfuls in quantity. There was attention to detail in the ingredients, each dish was of exquisite quantity and high quality, and the service from the staff who served us was excellent. I think it's a really good restaurant for enjoying delicious food while having a few drinks. However, whether we ordered too much or not, as a middle-aged couple, we ended up feeling a bit heavy in the stomach.

I used to often eat soba in Ikebukuro, but recently my go-to place, "Wau," closed down, and I became a soba refugee. After a few years, I finally went to Jiyu-san. It's a bit over 2,000 yen by taxi from Ikebukuro station, and the nearest station is Higashi-Nagasaki. I wonder if it has changed or relocated since my last visit. It seems less charming than before, but still a very clean and beautiful restaurant. Reservations are required for dinner. They serve a snack set for 1,500 yen per person as a cover charge, and you need to order a drink as well. No problem at all, it's a welcome policy. I had a Heartland beer in a small bottle, and the snack set arrived promptly. It included boiled carrots and cold tofu. Both had explosive natural flavors and were delicious, but considering the 1,500 yen cost, I felt like something more could be included. As usual, there were no tempura, and adult snacks dominated. Anyway, the must-try here is the zenmai soba miso. This place might have my favorite soba miso. I finished with a standard seiro. Due to the quite spicy soup base, dipping about a third of the soba is enough. It enhances the fragrance of the soba, and it was just a high-level dish. The sake was Tsurumaru, I think? It was a brand of hot sake and tasted refreshingly delicious! Drinking and eating cost a bit over 5,000 yen for one person. If you consider the round-trip taxi fare of 4,000 yen, it's a bit pricey to go without hesitation.

Soba itself is better than any other restaurant in Tokyo. They offer a wide variety of side dishes that are delicious, making it perfect for enjoying with alcohol. Personally, it's disappointing that no matter when you go, there's a limited selection of sake, and it's always the same. But maybe that's just how soba restaurants are.

On Saturday, I waited for about 40 minutes. The style was to write your name on a paper at the entrance of the shop and wait. The shop was not very spacious, with only a counter and about three tables. I could sense the sophistication and attention to detail in the interior and tableware. Despite being busy, the staff's calm and reassuring service made me feel at ease. The soba had a gentle flavor, and I ended up drinking all the broth. Since the portion was small and not enough, we ordered two servings of rolled omelette. It was fluffy and very delicious. I'd like to try using it at night next time.

This is my second visit, and it's been a while since I last came, so I almost forgot how good it tastes. The food is undeniably delicious, but I wanted to recall what made it so special. As a result, it was delicious. I already knew it would be, but it truly is delicious. I ordered both the country-style soba and the seiro soba. The soba noodles were delightfully chewy, and I savored them with both salt and soy sauce. If I had to choose just one, I think I'd go with the country-style soba, but both are really delicious. There was someone enjoying Japanese sake alone, and I got the impression that everyone was having a good time. The tableware is also lovely, creating a great atmosphere to enjoy the soba, and even the soba broth comes in a beautiful bowl.笑

Despite not being in a prime location, the restaurant was packed with a wait time of about 20 minutes. The exterior and interior had a modern Japanese feel, with lighting, tableware, and tables creating a relaxing atmosphere. With around 10 seats, it felt both cozy like a family-run place and upscale. Their dishes, including tamagoyaki, grilled miso, steamed dishes, and hand-ground soba noodles, were all delicious, conveying a sense of dedication and perfection. There's no need to go into further detail—it was just that good.