Hello from Chiba City! Abiko City is located in the northwestern part of Chiba Prefecture, around the nose area if we were to refer to it as Chiba-kun. It has a population of 129,835 people (as of November 1, 2022) and flourished as a post town along the Mito Highway during the Edo period. Many cultural figures lived or had villas along the beautiful shores of Lake Tega. I'm being sent on a business trip to Tokyo again this month. While it can be exciting to visit different places, Tokyo's transportation system is just too complex. But on the bright side, once the work is done early, I have free time to enjoy (￣ー￣)ﾆﾔﾘ. So, I'm all pumped up for work! I finished by noon and decided to explore Tsukiji since I had some free time. The former Tsukiji market site has completely transformed...the area outside doesn't even feel like there's a pandemic, with crowds of people and many foreigners around. I made my way through the crowds and decided to visit Tsukiji Honganji Temple, a place I had never been to before. Then, the highlight of my day, a visit to Narutomi-san's place! While wandering around, I noticed that most good-looking restaurants had long lines, so I was prepared to wait, but surprisingly, there was only one person waiting on the outdoor chairs. And as soon as I sat down, two people came out from inside and I was seated right away (//∇//). I ordered the vegetable tempura and a carbonated barley drink from the table menu. A suit, drinking beer, felt a bit sinful but it might become a habit (laughs). The beer was Kirin Lager, served in a chilled glass, and there was no appetizer. The choice of a thin glass showed attention to detail. The soba was served in less than 15 minutes. The vegetable tempura arrived first, beautifully presented with various types of tempura, crispy and colorful. Then came the soba, said to be from Lake Mashu in Hokkaido, probably new buckwheat (*´﹃｀*). The soba was slightly firm, appropriately chilled, well-drained, and had a good texture, delicious! Especially the soba broth, it was exquisite (//∇//). It was flavorful but not too salty, with a strong dashi taste but no overpowering flavors, perfectly balanced. It might be my favorite soba broth ever. Even when diluted with soba-yu, the flavor remained intact. The soba-yu was also rich, and they brought it at the right time, showing their expertise (//∇//). I went to the restaurant with high expectations as it's one of the top 100 soba restaurants, and they exceeded those expectations, leaving me satisfied. There's no such thing as a bad restaurant among the top 100, after all. Thank you for the meal! m(_ _)m

I was hoping to have a hearty meal today for lunch since I was nearby and had a great experience last time. However, when I went to the restaurant, it was closed. I was really looking forward to having some delicious soba after a long time, so I'm quite disappointed. If you could please provide the business hours, it would be very helpful.

A soba restaurant located right next to the office of a client in Ginza. It's always crowded so I couldn't get in easily, but luckily this day I was able to get in smoothly. I had a beer to celebrate finishing work, along with some tempura. The attention to detail and dedication to their work was impressive. It was the perfect lunch at a cozy soba restaurant.

♡Weekday Lunch Visit♡ Seiro Large Portion for 1870 yen♡ It's best to line up before opening time to get in on the first round. The smoothness of the soba doesn't make it seem like it's 100% buckwheat! The dipping sauce is on the sharp side without sweetness. Ordering tempura might be the way to go here! The scallop tempura and corn tempura looked delicious♡ The owner works hard almost single-handedly in the kitchen, so there can be quite a wait even after entering. Please note that lunch payment is cash only.

I revisited Nagatomi after about 6 years and it was still popular as I remembered. The place was almost full soon after opening. The burdock tempura, which I hadn't had in a while, was delicious! However, when I placed my order, the receipt was handwritten and there was a mistake resulting in an overcharge of about 440 yen. After paying, I felt like I had been overcharged and upon checking the menu, I realized the error and brought it to their attention. They promptly refunded the overcharged amount, so it was not a problem. From now on, I will make sure to double-check the amount on the receipt before paying.

There is a Michelin Bib Gourmand soba restaurant in Yurakucho. It is only open during regular hours, so it can be quite difficult to visit. They post on Instagram every Sunday to announce their lunch service days, so checking Instagram is a must! Today, I visited because they were open for lunch. We arrived at 1 PM and there were 3 people ahead of us in line. I ordered the summer vegetable tempura soba. The dishes are all prepared by the owner alone, so the wait time is long. It's best to visit when you have plenty of time. The vegetable tempura was quite generous in portion, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, allowing you to savor the flavor of the vegetables. The noodles were very smooth, with a good chewy texture and excellent throat feel, making you want to slurp up more soba. Thank you for the meal! If I have the opportunity, I would like to try ordering a large portion or even two bowls next time!

I was reading a review of Hanayamasho Soba by My Reviewer and decided to visit based on their selection of ingredients. Although the season has changed, I trusted their sense of selection. I arrived 25 minutes before opening and there were already 3 people waiting. About 10 minutes before opening, they came to take our order. We were seated a few minutes past 11:30, and then waited about 10 minutes for the first tempura to arrive. But since it was mentioned that they only cater to those with time to spare, and I had the information from the reviewer, I waited patiently. We had: - Tempura corn - Roasted duck - Scallop tempura - Summer vegetable tempura The tempura corn is priced at 1,650 yen per piece, slightly higher compared to the 1,000 to 2,000 yen price range for soba, but it was absolutely delicious! Sweet! Corn dishes are available everywhere this season, but this one was of high quality, comparable to high-end restaurants. I thought, if this quality is available at this price in a soba shop, then this is more than enough. The roasted duck was a favorite of my companion, and although I wasn't as enthusiastic, it was also delicious! The soba and soba-yu (soba water) were delicious, and I couldn't help but slurp it all up. This place seems like it would be enjoyable even at night. However, the staff seemed a bit inexperienced, they brought dishes to the wrong table and we had to ask multiple times for water or tea, which was a bit frustrating after waiting outside in the heat.

Tokyo expedition third edition, 5th store. I visited for the 69th stop of my 2023 soba tour on a weekday afternoon. The location is about a 5-minute walk from Tsukiji Station on the Toei Oedo Line. It is also within walking distance from Shinbashi Station. I arrived a little before the opening time. There were already about 3 groups waiting, but I was able to get in on the first turn. I started entering the store a little after the opening time, and it took a bit of time for the orders to be taken. I ordered the Summer Vegetable Tempura Soba. The soba noodles had a slightly sweet finish. The tempura of summer vegetables had a variety of items, including ginger, eggplant, shishito pepper, baby corn, lotus root, burdock, asparagus, shiso leaf, tomato, and zucchini. It was nice that the dipping sauce was chilled.

I had heard from a gourmet acquaintance that there was a delicious soba place, and it was indeed true that the best recommendations come from reliable sources. The soba was really delicious. They served chilled sake in vintage Baccarat glasses, and the tempura soba was exquisite. I definitely want to go back again soon! Thank you for the wonderful meal!

I went for lunch on a regular day. It was a good idea to go early. There was already a line before the store opened in the hot weather. As mentioned in the guidance, the service is relatively slow, so I think it's best to line up 2-30 minutes before opening to aim for the first round. Make sure to go when you have plenty of time. If you go for the second round, you might end up waiting for 2 hours due to the line and waiting for your meal. Today, I came for the corn tempura that I saw on Instagram. When I ordered it, I was told it would take an hour to be served, so I decided to leisurely wait while having the simmered conger eel and steamed dishes first. The simmered conger eel arrived in about 30 minutes. It looked cool and beautiful with a summer-like appearance, and it was very delicious. I took my time enjoying it. I wanted to have a beer, but I was hungover, so I passed on it, haha. The steamed dish arrived after 50 minutes. The dipping sauce was slightly spicy and flavorful with a good dashi taste. After 60 minutes, the long-awaited corn tempura arrived. It was easy to eat as it was already shredded, and it was exquisite with the sweetness of the corn enhanced by salt. I am satisfied. Thank you for the meal! I have no other intentions, but the part-time staff seemed inexperienced, as they couldn't get the water to flow and missed some orders, so I hope they'll be okay. Also, be aware that only foreigners are not allowed to enter, so be careful. There are various thoughts, but I have not included them in the evaluation.

I was planning to go earlier than the opening time, but ended up going for the second round. Despite the hot weather, I waited for about 1 hour and 10 minutes even on a weekday! I should have gone earlier to get in on the first round. It wasn't mentioned that they are closed on weekends, so I checked their Instagram for information, which was helpful! The tempura was especially delicious.

On a hot Monday, I felt like eating soba again and visited the soba specialty restaurant "Narutomi" located 2 minutes from Tsukiji Shijo Station A3 exit on the Oedo Line. I arrived at the restaurant at 13:20, just before the last order at 13:55. There were 5 people waiting outside when I arrived, and I joined the line. After 5 minutes, the 5 people in front of me were seated inside the restaurant. I managed to get a seat on one of the 3 chairs placed outside. I was given a menu and asked to wait for a while. At 13:36, along with one other person behind me, I entered the restaurant where there were already 8 customers seated. I took a seat at the counter where there were 4 seats available. The restaurant was quiet with effective air conditioning. I quickly ordered the following items: - Vegetable tempura soba: 1,980 yen - Medium-sized beer (Yebisu): 990 yen Total: 2,970 yen The beer was a bit expensive, but I was thirsty after descending the long stairs of the Oedo Line in the heat. The beer arrived promptly and was cold and refreshing, although the Yebisu flavor seemed a bit diluted. I noticed they also had an option for tempura eel soba for 2,420 yen, but I was in the mood for vegetable tempura today. I hesitated between that and the bukkake soba, but I decided to go with the soba noodles this time since I had a good experience with them at another restaurant recently. After 6 minutes, a cylinder-shaped container with a pouring spout filled with soba dipping sauce, a soba cup, finely chopped green onions and wasabi for seasoning, and chopsticks were placed in front of me. The restaurant owner and a female assistant were working in the kitchen, and another staff member was serving customers. The owner carefully selected and prepared the soba noodles from a wooden box. The tempura was also being fried by the owner, who meticulously coated the vegetables with flour using a brush. After 15 minutes of ordering, a generous portion of vegetable tempura arrived first on a large plate. It included green beans, asparagus cut in half, seasonal bamboo shoots, cherry tomatoes, vertically sliced burdock root, zucchini, thick slices of lotus root, shiitake mushrooms, and stacked large shiso leaves. Shortly after, the soba noodles arrived on a sieve. The menu mentioned that the soba noodles were made from a blend of domestically sourced ingredients from Ibaraki and Hokkaido, and were 100% hand-cut. I slurped the soba noodles, enjoying the fragrant dashi broth with a hint of bonito. The soba noodles were firm and had a satisfying texture, showcasing the owner's skill. I dipped the vegetable tempura in the accompanying salt and enjoyed the sweet and crunchy bamboo shoots, the tender and sweet cherry tomatoes, and the flavorful zucchini. The thick lotus root slices had a unique sweetness, and the asparagus provided a pleasant crunch and taste. However, the burdock root, when eaten towards the end and slightly cooled, lost its texture. It's best to eat the burdock root while it's still hot. The tempura was delicious, and paired well with the refreshing soba noodles. Before the last order, a few regular customers also arrived, but by this time, some menu items were already sold out. Nevertheless, this quiet time before the last order seems to be a hidden gem where you can enjoy your meal without waiting in line. I look forward to trying the bukkake soba next time, as it seems like a good match for this soba restaurant. Thank you for the meal!

Lunch [Top 100 Soba Restaurants in Japan 2022] ■ Cold Soba with Burdock Tempura and Green Onion Tempura ¥1,540 (tax included) Located in Tsukiji, the soba restaurant "Narutomi" that has also been awarded a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide. Closed on weekends and holidays. Visited around 13:00 on a weekday. Was informed upon entering that it would take some time. Ordered the "Cold Soba with Burdock Tempura and Green Onion Tempura". It arrived in about 18 minutes. Served in a tastefully designed bowl, topped with burdock tempura, green onion tempura, soba noodles, and garnished with green onions. The burdock tempura is thinly sliced and each piece is distinct. The batter is light and thin, allowing the flavor of the burdock to shine through. The green onion tempura retains its moisture and freshness. The soba noodles, made from 100% buckwheat, are finely cut. They have a satisfying texture and are delicious. The broth is rich in bonito flavor, with just the right amount of saltiness. Added some thick soba broth to finish the meal. I would like to try the seasonal "Sansho Pepper Soba" next time.

I ordered the roasted duck soba with spicy daikon radish and it was delicious! The soba noodles were thin and had a good texture. The spiciness of the daikon radish complemented the flavor of the soba perfectly. The soba kiri (noodle cake) was also chewy and tasty. The presentation was cute and I enjoyed the attention to detail in the dishes. The service was a bit slow, but I would love to come back for a rematch. Unfortunately, I couldn't try the tamagoyaki (rolled omelette) this time due to the crowd.

I visited around 11:20 on a weekday. They were still preparing, with about 5 people waiting in line. After a short wait, I was seated and ordered the vegetable tempura soba. It included tomato, taranome, burdock, baby corn, lotus root, and shiitake mushrooms, all of which were delicious. The vegetables were sweet with a nice texture, and the tempura was fried perfectly. The soba had a rich flavor, among the best in Tokyo, and even the soba water was exceptional. A sophisticated soba restaurant with top-notch flavors in Tokyo.

On weekdays, within walking distance for lunch, I went to a famous soba restaurant. The soba noodles were shiny and smooth, with a flavorful broth that had just the right amount of sweetness. I ordered burdock tempura and vegetable tempura, which were crispy and delicious. However, the service was extremely slow! Everything took a long time, and it took 45 minutes from ordering for the soba and tempura to arrive. It was lunchtime, so I had to eat quickly as I didn't have time to relax. I wouldn't recommend it for those who don't have time to spare. But the people behind me seemed to be enjoying Japanese sake and tempura for lunch, which seemed like a wonderful way to spend their time.

On this day, I had some wonderful soba in Higashi Ginza. The highlight was the "soba with flower sansho pepper," which is not commonly seen elsewhere. Served with thinly sliced hiragi (flatfish), it was truly delightful! The soba was flavorful, made with mountain-grown soba from Ibaraki Prefecture and Mashu soba from Hokkaido, with a gentle bonito dashi broth. The flower sansho pepper added a stimulating touch, but the soba itself had a strong presence, making it a fantastic dish! Here is what I ordered: - Boiled bracken fern with sesame dressing - Simmered fried tofu with Fushimi red pepper - Tempura of new onions from Uwajima (half portion) - Tempura of young bamboo shoots - Soba with flower sansho pepper and hiragi (flatfish) The lineup of soba dishes was impressive, and I couldn't resist the delicious choices. Despite some delays in serving, if you have the time, this is a wonderful soba restaurant to visit! Thank you for the meal.