Visited "Kagurazaka Okawaya" in Kagurazaka. It's a popular soba restaurant with a nostalgic charm in Kagurazaka. The restaurant is located just off the main street of Kagurazaka, where many charming establishments can be found. Amidst them, you'll spot a shop with lanterns and white curtains. It exudes a charming atmosphere, doesn't it? Inside, there are counter and table seats, and it seems there are also seats on the second floor. The interior blends traditional Japanese calmness with a contemporary sense, creating a comfortable space. As it's nighttime, we decide to order while enjoying some drinks. The staff are very friendly and accommodating. Here's the order: - Tamagoyaki (¥1320): I had already seen this on the website and wanted to order it. It comes with three nicely cooked large pieces of tamagoyaki. One bite reveals its fluffy texture and well-seasoned taste with a hint of dashi, especially delightful when paired with grated daikon. - Duck Roast (¥1320): The duck roast is rich in both lean meat and fat. Each bite offers a dense, flavorful experience. The seasoning is truly outstanding. It's so delicious that I ended up ordering more. - Butterbur Sprout and Cod Sprout Tempura (¥1210): Tempura made from butterbur sprouts with a pleasant bitterness. Served with salt, it makes a great accompaniment to drinks. It's crispy and satisfying. - Conger Eel Tempura Soba (¥2420): Crispy conger eel tempura served with dipping sauce. Two large pieces of conger eel tempura. It's quite satisfying. The soba noodles are traditional and smooth. We also ordered a refill of soba (¥770) and finished with a rich soba broth. Overall, it's a highly satisfying restaurant. Regardless of what we ordered, everything tasted delicious. The duck roast was truly exceptional. Other dishes also scored high on satisfaction. Moreover, the staff were always smiling and provided excellent service. This, coupled with the delicious food, enhanced the overall satisfaction. The cozy atmosphere inside made us feel relaxed. Payment was made by credit card, and the prices were reasonable, leaving us fully satisfied. It was incredibly delicious. We will definitely come back. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

Three longtime friends visited the restaurant. We arrived early and waited for 30 minutes, but soon a queue formed. Thankfully, we were early. We took off our shoes and sat at the counter together. Two of us are sake lovers, so we started with beer and switched to dry sake later. We ordered various dishes including raw chicken salad, simmered herring roe, scallop tempura. I had duck with vinegar sauce soba. The raw chicken salad was exceptionally tasty, and each dish seemed to surpass the previous one. The duck soba was outstanding, with thick, flavorful duck meat. It was so delicious that I shared some with my friends, who were delighted. They had eel tempura soba, which came with crispy fried eel bones and was also delicious. The eel was tender and fragrant. The soba noodles were good too, and the soba soup was satisfyingly tasty. I'd like to come back again during the new soba season. By the time we finished eating and left, there was already a queue forming due to its popularity. Thanks for the great meal!

I discovered an amazing soba restaurant near my place, even though I love salmon noodles. Around 12 o'clock on a weekday, there were three people ahead of me in line, so I waited a bit. But it was worth it! The interior of the restaurant has a traditional Japanese atmosphere with people wearing Japanese clothing. Cheers with a small bottle of Ebisu beer! I tried the Anago (conger eel) tempura with Shishito peppers, eggplant, and lotus root. It was crispy and the Anago was fluffy! The Duck Soba with large enoki mushrooms and generous slices of duck was incredibly delicious! I savored every bite. The soba had a smooth and delightful texture, made with soba flour from Ibaraki Prefecture that day. The Ebi-Ten Soba with impressive prawns was a treat with its bouncy texture. It was a truly delightful experience at this sophisticated soba restaurant. I'm glad I tried it! Thank you for the wonderful meal!

I arrived 30 minutes before the opening and was the first in line. When the store opened, there were about ten people in line, and not everyone could get in. I looked at the menu and ordered Toriwasa (chicken and vegetable tempura), Ebi-Ten Soba (soba noodles with shrimp tempura), and Okawari Soba (extra serving of soba noodles). The Toriwasa came out quickly and was delicious. The Ebi-Ten Soba arrived, and it was simply delicious. The soba broth was rich and had a nice texture. Thank you for the meal.

In the back alleys of Kagurazaka, there's a genuine soba noodle joint called Okawa. Inside, there are tables up front and a counter at the back. ◆ Toriyama Aoi (¥700 + tax) - They use real wasabi. ◆ Tamagoyaki (¥900 + tax) - Not too sweet, just the right amount of saltiness, with a fluffy texture. ◆ Seiro (¥1,000 + tax) - Firmly made, has a satisfying texture. The dipping sauce has a subtle sweetness, which I liked. ◆ Otoshi (¥500 + tax) - Simmered konjac and sweet potato tempura. ◆ Ebisu Beer (small bottle, ¥600 incl. tax) - Each dish is made with care, and the seasoning is spot on. It's a favorite spot of mine.

In Kagurazaka, I often visit different soba restaurants, but I was also curious about "Ookawa-ya". It's another authentic soba restaurant with a really cool and sophisticated atmosphere! The handwritten menu is also very stylish... Although I didn't order this time, just reading through their menu with items like "Tennuki", "Kamonuki", and "Itawasa" gives off a very knowledgeable soba vibe. And the soba I actually had was exceptionally delicious, showing its true value with their specialty soba dishes. It's made with 80% buckwheat flour, with a great aroma and texture! The dipping sauce, served with a strong bonito flavor, slightly spicy, makes it an indulgent experience, sip by sip... I also had various side dishes like shredded daikon with green onions, grilled shiitake mushrooms, and tempura corn. The portion sizes are just right, making it friendly to both the stomach and the wallet. Hmm, looks like I've found another soba spot to love! Next time, I definitely want to try the shrimp and conger eel tempura!

It was my first visit for lunch. Luckily, I didn't have to wait long and was seated right away. I ordered the shrimp tempura soba, eel tempura soba, and tsurumurasaki (Japanese mountain vegetable) ohitashi. The tempura was crispy and delicious, and the eel came with bone senbei (crackers) on the side! It was finely sliced, making it easy to eat. There were two shrimp, so I shared them with my companion! The soba noodles were thin and had a smooth texture. It was very tasty! I started with the ohitashi, and the soba broth arrived first, allowing me to savor the flavors slowly. The tempura came a bit later, and I could enjoy it leisurely with salt and tempura dipping sauce. While eating, the soba noodles were served, and the timing of ordering additional items was perfect! It felt like a small course meal, and I could enjoy my meal at a relaxed pace! Next time, I want to come in the evening, enjoy some drinks, and have a good time!

Kagurazaka Ookawaya: A restaurant located in Kagurazaka, awarded as one of the top 100 soba restaurants on Tabelog in 2022. The restaurant has a calming atmosphere with a wood-based interior. I tried the Ebi-Ten Seiro for 2530 yen. The soba was smooth with a good chewy texture and went down smoothly. The tempura included not only two pieces of shrimp but also eggplant, shishito peppers, and young corn. The crispy, plump shrimp tempura was delicious. I finished with the thick, rich soba-yu broth, which was so tasty I drank it all. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

In Kagurazaka, there are several renowned soba noodle restaurants, and by visiting "Ookawa-ya" this time, I've pretty much completed the tour. They open at 11:30, and I arrived around 11:20 on a holiday, managing to slip in just before the first seating filled up. Since the seating is limited, I recommend arriving early. The interior is very stylish and clean. It was a wonderful atmosphere filled with the enjoyment of tasting delicious soba noodles in Kagurazaka. Since it was lunchtime, I refrained from drinking alcohol and stuck to just one appetizer. Based on prior research, I ordered the popular "Ten-seiro" and "Kamo-seiro" soba noodle dishes. The freshness of the chicken in the "Torowasa" dish was impressive, and the tempura was of high quality for a soba restaurant. The fragrance of the duck soup in the "Kamo-seiro" was captivating even as it was being served. Above all, the sweetness of the soba noodles left a lasting impression. It was a delightful and enjoyable time, but personally, I think "Sorakutei" and "Kuzuryu Soba" might have an edge as soba restaurants in Kagurazaka. This is purely my personal impression. Ratings: Food 3.5 (Torowasa 3.5, Ten-seiro 3.5, Kamo-seiro 3.5), Ambiance/Service 3.5, Price around 3,530 yen.

Started tackling Tokyo's major soba restaurant, which had hardly been vandalized... As I prefer regional excursions, I still have about 25 soba restaurants to go. Made reservations by phone about 10 days ago. Taking off shoes upon entry. 1st floor: Straight counter: 6 seats, Tables: 4 seats (no need to take off shoes here). 2nd floor: Private rooms? Slightly noticed the smell of fried food upon entering... Managed by a male owner and two female assistants, totaling three staff members. Ordered: - (Excluding tax) ① 500 yen: Appetizer (okara) ② 880 yen: Fried eggplant with grated ginger ③ 1210 yen: Tempura of kelp-grown oysters ④ 1100 yen: Soba noodles 1100 yen: Ponzu sake (Fushimi, Sawaya Matsumoto Gohyakuman-goku: Junmai) *Alcohol order required for dinner... Below are impressions of the dishes: - ①: Elegant starting dish... Contains sakura shrimp. - ②: The true test of a soba restaurant's skill is its appetizer. This (i.e., skillful use of dashi) is delicious, and I believe good appetizers mean good soba. - ③: Oysters are from Senpoushi, considered the best in Japan. Slightly concerned about the softness of the batter, but it's still high-level for a soba restaurant's tempura. - ④: Worried before trying the new soba, but both aroma and flavor (from the first bite...) are excellent. Made with summer soba from Rankoshi (next to Niseko). Clever move... Boiled for about 20 seconds. Broth: Strong bonito dashi, thick soba broth: Thick and smooth.

On a weekend night in Kagurazaka, I had the pleasure of visiting a delicious soba and sake restaurant. Starting off with beer and assorted pickles, we indulged in refreshing dishes like vinegar-miso eggplant, irresistible clam soup, crispy sakura shrimp tempura that paired perfectly with sake, and duck dishes before the main soba course. With sake flowing smoothly, we enjoyed until we were pleasantly tipsy, then finished off with a serving of soba. Once again, it was a delightful dining experience, leaving me in high spirits tonight.

I visited for lunch on July 21, 2023. I arrived 30 minutes before the opening. The restaurant is tucked away a bit from the main street in Kagurazaka. Kagurazaka seems to have hidden gems in these alleyways, which is fun. The dishes all seem to be elegantly portioned. The cold soba noodles are particularly refined, so I think men could probably have two extra servings. I had the herring soba, and the broth was delicious! Since the herring is served separately, it's also great to order some sake for a snack. I'll definitely visit again. Thank you for the meal! Next time, I'll come with my family.

Counter and two small tables, I love cozy places like this. Today, my partner and I visited with our baby. We left the stroller outside and entered the shop after taking off our shoes. Couldn't resist ordering the "toriwasa" (770 yen), a must-have tempura dish when visiting a soba restaurant. Since this place only offered "anago tempura" (1,500 yen), we ordered that along with a "seiro" (1,100 yen), a small bottle of chilled sake, and two extra servings of delicious soba (770 yen each). The toriwasa was perfectly moist and tender, and the tempura, including shishito peppers, eggplant, and baby corn, was a great deal. It was crispy and fluffy, just perfect. The soba had a nice chewiness and a smooth texture, with a delightful aroma. The total came to 7,920 yen, but it was worth it for such a fantastic lunch. I'm already thinking about coming back for dinner next time. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

I arrived around 11:15 before the store opened and managed to get seated on the first round. The service seemed relatively prompt. The soba noodles are quite simple but release a delightful aroma with each bite. They are smooth in both appearance and texture, with a satisfying chewiness. What surprised me was the soba broth; when they increase the soba-to-water ratio, it becomes drinkable like tea. Additionally, I ordered the shrimp tempura, which had a crispy batter and was delicious.

I visited the second restaurant of my third Tokyo expedition, the 66th soba spot in 2023, on a Sunday afternoon. It's quietly tucked away in an alley about a 5-minute walk from Kagurazaka Station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line. We arrived around 1 p.m. and had to wait about 20 minutes as there were three groups ahead of us. We were the last lunch customers as they close at 2 p.m. The menu is simple and true to a soba shop, with no rice dishes available. Since we arrived late, they had run out of shrimp tempura. We ordered the eel tempura soba and the chicken and wasabi soba. The soba had a subtly green and glossy finish. Personally, I found it slightly undercooked and lukewarm. The broth was light for Tokyo standards and tasted somewhat diluted. The tempura was neatly arranged, and it was interesting to see eel bone senbei served alongside. The interior is small with only a counter and one table for four, so there might be a wait, making it advisable to come with some extra time.

【#Okawa-ya / Kagurazaka】Price Range: ¥6,000 Just a 1-minute walk from Kagurazaka Station⭐️ Foodlog Rating: 3.74 Renowned soba shop in Kagurazaka, listed among the top 100 soba places. A place for those who enjoy drinking, especially a minimum of one serving of sake is recommended. The interior boasts an upscale atmosphere with a counter, and the tempura and other side dishes are delicious. The recommended soba is the duck seiro. Recommended for solo diners: ★★★◉ Kagurazaka Okawa-ya 03-3269-5011 6-25 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1309/A130905/13197727/#Kagurazaka #KagurazakaGourmet #KagurazakaDinner #Soba #Top100SobaPlaces #GourmetInstagram #TokyoGourmet #TokyoGourmetClub #TokyoGourmetTour #GourmetGram #ConnectWithFoodies

Kagurazaka Station, about 2 minutes from either exit 1a or 1b, leads you down a quiet alley, then turning left, you'll find a serene house where you remove your shoes upon entering. With two floors, the first floor boasts a counter and two tables with two groups of customers ahead of me. I took a seat at the end of the counter. First up, I ordered: - Sapporo Lager in a medium-sized bottle for 820 yen, served with salted beans, surprisingly tasty. - Chicken Wasabi for 770 yen, moist and rare inside with a clean wasabi kick, accompanied by well-packed roasted seaweed. - Anago Tempura Soba for 2530 yen, a whole eel accompanied by burdock, eggplant, and broccoli, served with eel bone senbei. The eel senbei was delicious! The soba noodles were neatly cut and had a satisfying texture, followed by a thick soba broth. Overall, everything was delicious! This place seems perfect for enjoying soba with drinks. I'm curious about trying more dishes here. Now, onto the drinks menu. While I enjoy sake, having shochu would be a pleasant addition for me. Of course, this is just my personal preference, and I believe they choose drinks that complement their dishes. The second floor has private rooms and also exudes a charming atmosphere. I'd like to visit here at night as well. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

At lunch during Golden Week, there was a family 30 minutes before the restaurant opened. After I finished eating, there were 3 to 4 groups waiting in line. I enjoyed the taste of the eel tempura soba; the noodles were to my liking, and the broth was delicious. ★★★★ The tempura with eel, broccoli, and burdock was all tasty, but the eel tempura was the best I've ever had. ★★★★★ Service was average. The atmosphere was good despite being close to the station, although there were rainwater buckets at the entrance and the restaurant's premises seemed cramped with a slightly troublesome garbage area. However, it was well cleaned, and the interior had a calm ambiance. ★★★ Cost performance was appropriate. Some may feel the portion size is small, but for someone with a small appetite like me, it was just right. Overall rating is 3.8, but I gave it a 5 because the eel tempura was the best I've ever had.

We enjoyed Japanese sake with gentle small dishes and soba noodles. There weren't many types of sake available, and there were no highballs, so we only enjoyed sake. We quietly enjoyed the meal with seasonal tempura and gentle Kyoto vegetables. We finished with the highlight, soba noodles. Overall, the portion was smaller than expected, but we ended it healthily at about 80% full. It's just the right amount for going to another place afterwards.

"Soba Hyakumeiten. On Thursdays at 12:40, the seating rate was around 50%. The restaurant has two table seats and counter seats. I decided on the 'tsuke-tororo soba' after looking at the menu outside, so I sat down and placed my order. Just as I finished ordering, a woman at the neighboring table paid her bill and left. It felt a bit off, so I wondered if the food wouldn't be that good, but then I overheard the owner and a customer at the counter, who seemed to be friends, passionately discussing fishing and specifically about using earthworms as bait, which somehow made sense. About 5 minutes later, the 'tsuke-tororo soup' and a small cup of soba broth arrived. I was instructed to use the soba broth with the cup. After a while, the soba arrived. The noodles were firm and had a good texture. The tsuke-tororo soup had a strong viscosity with a rich egg yolk and was delicious with the nori seaweed; it felt like the tsuke-tororo you would expect from a high-end soba restaurant. I wonder if the egg yolk was quail egg? It's rare to see such a rich quail egg yolk. The soba broth was also thick and creamy. As suggested, I mixed the remaining tsuke-tororo soup with the soba broth in the cup, and it was still rich. The total bill was ¥1,650 including tax, and since it was prominently stated that cards couldn't be used on the table, I paid in cash."

On a weekday evening after work, I stopped by. A friendly woman greeted me and seated me at the counter. Here's what I had: a small bottle of "Ebisu" beer, "Ayaka" sake, "Shiragiku Masamune" sake, followed by "Unohana" dish. As appetizers, I had firefly squid with udo vinegar miso, bamboo shoots, sweet-style omelette, duck loin, and "seiro" buckwheat noodles from Ibaraki Prefecture. The refillable "seiro" noodles seemed a bit pricey, but everything before the soba was delicious, and the soba itself was fragrant, sweet, and very tasty.