【Revisit】I visited the renowned soba restaurant "Zabou" in Nishi-Hachioji for lunch this time. We didn't have a reservation, but since it was a weekday afternoon, we were seated right away. It's great that even at lunchtime, you can order side dishes besides soba. Here's what we ordered: - "Dashimaki Tamago" / ¥990 - "Three Appetizers" / ¥1,320 - Whitefish tofu - Persimmon, turnip, and eringi mushroom salad - Deep-fried and Hachioji-grown green onion in broth - "Small Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura" / ¥1,210 - "Duck Soba" / ¥1,980 - "Sobagaki Zenzai" / ¥935 The soba was, of course, delicious, but I'm always pleasantly surprised by how tasty the tempura, appetizers, and dashimaki are. Thanks for the wonderful meal.

I revisited this restaurant because I couldn't forget the taste from my previous visit. Despite waiting in the scorching heat for about an hour, the moment I tasted the tempura udon, all the exhaustion vanished. The soba noodles were impeccably made, with no wasted space, and the tempura was delightfully crispy, with a rich shrimp flavor. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

The seasonal menu has changed since last time, featuring a creamy roasted green eggplant and a kombu-marinated sea bream with vegetables. The quality remains exceptionally high. Everything was truly delicious. The contrast in texture between the outer and inner parts of the spicy soba, combined with the harmony of the spicy radish and sauce, was a knockout. For the sake, I wanted something with a strong sake flavor, so I chose the Junmai from Kamiki. I couldn't resist ordering from coarse-ground buckwheat noodles to a second serving of cold soba. It was the perfect holiday!

On a day when I could make a detour to Nishi-Hachioji, I finally visited Soba Zaboro-san. Despite it being my first visit, I ended up trying something unusual – the Shirogane pork and tomato dipping soba. Sometimes, you know, it happens. On the menu, there was a special item listed: "Akagi Natsushin Soba," made by grinding summer soba from Gunma Prefecture's Akagi using an electric stone mill and sifting it with a 50-mesh sieve. The aroma was refined, and the soba cutting was neatly done, giving a sense of aesthetic continuity in taste. The dipping sauce had a lively flavor with the acidity and umami of tomatoes, and the balance of the broth was just right. I also ordered soba soup separately, and the balance between the dipping sauce and the broth was perfect! It was delightful! Soba Zaboro-san had a nice atmosphere inside, with many couples on dates. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

Had errands in Hachioji on Sunday. Wondering what to eat for lunch, I came across a place during my search and decided to check it out. Two groups were waiting at 13:30. I opted for a bit of luxury and ordered the coarse-ground tempura soba. Today's special was "Kitawase" soba from Akagi, Gunma. The soba had a delightful flavor, and the tempura was filled with small shrimp. Thanks for the delicious meal!

I had been curious about this restaurant ever since seeing it continuously chosen as one of the top hundred stores online. The interior is a calming Japanese-style atmosphere, very cozy and inviting. There are two types of soba noodles available: regular and coarse-ground. On my first visit, I tried the coarse-ground soba, and on the second visit, since they had run out of what my husband wanted, I ordered the small shrimp and vegetable tempura soba. The coarse-ground soba allows you to fully appreciate the texture and aroma of the buckwheat. By lunchtime, around 1 o'clock, it seems to become quite popular and might sell out. My husband seemed to really enjoy the coarse-ground soba and even ordered seconds. The regular soba has a smoother texture compared to the coarse-ground one. It's slightly chewier, which I liked as I prefer firmer noodles. The tempura included three small shrimp, along with Japanese mountain yam, lotus root, burdock, eggplant, and two other vegetables that I couldn't quite identify, but they were all deliciously crispy. After the meal, they served soba jelly which also had a delightful buckwheat fragrance. It's only my second time visiting, but the place always seems bustling with customers, indicating its popularity. Since I visit after my medical check-ups, I'm already looking forward to my next visit!

An exquisite soba dish with a subtle fragrance of buckwheat flour. The noodles are smooth and easy to eat. The tempura is crispy and delicious. I'd like to try their specialty dishes next time. Note that the seating is limited, so be mindful of that.

The tempura was amazing. The shrimp tempura was even better than at a tempura specialty restaurant. It was so delicious that I also ordered extra conger eel tempura. The vegetable tempura that came with it was generous. The tempura was plump and very delicious. The soba itself was a delicate soba with almost no outer skin, close to white.

After visiting the grave, I went to a soba restaurant. I ordered coarse-ground soba with grated radish and a tempura bowl with a dipping egg. The soba was fluffy yet firm, with a chewy texture and a noticeable coarseness. It was served in a generous portion with plenty of shaved bonito, green onions, dipping sauce, soba broth, salt, and other condiments of your choice! The soba had a delightful fragrance, and the thin slices had a satisfying texture. The broth was mildly sweet, and given the coarse grind, salt was the perfect choice! The tempura included young corn, Moroccan green beans, eggplant, and small shrimp – all crispy and substantial. Finally, there was soba tea jelly with a gentle sweetness of black honey, providing a refreshing and delightful conclusion. It was a delicious meal!

Visited at lunchtime. The restaurant was spacious, and the atmosphere was very pleasant. I don't usually eat soba, but the soba here was absolutely delicious. The tempura was crispy and delightful. Dessert was included and also very tasty. The prices were a bit on the higher side.

Arrived at 1:20 PM on Saturday. Thought I wouldn't have to wait much longer, but there were already six people ahead of me. Saturdays seem to be less busy closer to 2 PM. Opted for the warm soba as I enjoy soups, but in hindsight, I should have gone for the cold one to fully savor the soba's flavor! The rolled omelet was just average, nothing too impressive. The dessert, a buckwheat soba jelly served at the end, was slippery and tricky to catch with a spoon, making it quite amusing. It truly encapsulated the taste of soba. This was uniquely delicious and stood out. The tempura shrimp side dish was different from the usual, being spherical in shape with stylish crispy toppings scattered on top. Inside the sphere, there were about 5 to 6 bite-sized shrimp. While traditional tempura shrimp is good, this innovative approach was equally delightful.

【July 1, 2023】It was a steamy day, so I felt like having some soba noodles. I headed to the top spot in Hachioji city, where the crowd kept coming and going. I ordered the specialty: Soba noodles with small shrimp tempura. The dish included 3 small shrimp tempura and 5 kinds of vegetables: young corn, eggplant, onion, Moroccan green beans, and zucchini. The tempura was crispy and delicious, and the soba noodles were perfectly drained with just the right thickness of broth. It was a delightful experience with tasty food and friendly service.

West Hachioji, voted the number one city to live in. A renowned restaurant in West Hachioji. Although I frequent this place quite often, I recently had my first daytime drinking experience here, on a weekday. It was a wild move, considering how scorching hot Hachioji gets in the summer. Arriving by train for an evening party, and feeling laid-back since the afternoon, we got carried away in the heat, enjoying the deliciousness of the beer to the fullest. It was fantastic. Usually, I stick to soba, but this time, we went all out with Italian-Japanese fusion, appetizer platters, and thick rolled omelets. For closure, we had the unique soba with pork and tomato, which might not be recommended for first-timers. The regular soba here is incredibly delicious, so I highly recommend it. I also love their duck nanban. I'll share some thoughts through photos.

Around 12:30 on Sunday, I decided to step into this place located about a 10-minute walk from Nishi-Hachioji Station. The entrance ambiance was already impressive, making me hesitate a bit due to its stylish vibe. The place was about half full, so I easily found a seat. It's a cozy spot with no counter, just tables. I ordered the Coarse-ground Buckwheat Soba for ¥1,210 and patiently waited. It was served promptly. I was delighted to find that they served Tartary buckwheat tea. The soba, made from domestically grown buckwheat from Miyoshi-cho, Saitama Prefecture, was recommended to try first with just salt. And indeed, when I followed that advice, the aroma of the soba wafted up, and it tasted absolutely delicious! Seriously, it was fantastic! It was also delicious when dipped in the broth. Just as I was finishing, they brought soba-yu at the perfect moment, and then they mentioned that a Japanese sweet was coming—Warabi mochi? Kuzu mochi? It was amazing with the honey, simply outstanding! Thank you for the wonderful meal. I'll definitely be coming here whenever I'm around this area! ^^

The location is not particularly good, about a 7-8 minute walk from Nishi-Hachioji Station. There is a parking lot with three spaces on the opposite side of the road. There are also several coin parking lots nearby. It's fortunate to have 100 famous shops in the local Hachioji. Despite waiting in line during the hot summer, it's a place worth trying. This is a specialty soba restaurant. In the June season, how about trying soba with young ayu simmered in plum sauce? The sweet and sour simmered young ayu is tender from head to bone, a dish that lets you feel the season. Eating it with the accompanying pickled plum enhances your appetite. Now, it's time for soba. Today, I chose the cold soba with tempura. The tempura included shrimp tempura, young corn, eggplant, and green beans. Whether with tempura dipping sauce or salt, both are excellent, and the shrimp's firm texture is just as expected. As the season changes and your stomach weakens, soba is the best choice. It's a moment when you feel fortunate to be Japanese. It's also good for preventing heat-related illnesses. The soba broth is rich but smooth. When you have the soup with soba water, the deliciousness of the soba soup becomes more pronounced. For dessert, there's soba water-made jelly with a refreshing taste, combining the sweetness of brown sugar. It feels like it neutralizes the oil from the tempura.

Delicious. Quite crowded. Wait times are a bit lacking. The interior is clean with a nice atmosphere. The service is polite and attentive. The soba itself is slightly lacking in aroma but still tasty. The tempura is lightly fried and delicious.

Visited around 11:35 on a national holiday. Although it was just after opening, I was the fifth group, and it was quite crowded. Due to the nature of soba, the turnover rate wasn't very high, and I was seated at 12:35 after waiting for exactly one hour. I had already decided on my menu, opting for the "Tempura Soba" (tempura consisting of shrimp and two types of vegetables). My companion chose the "Small Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura Soba" (three small shrimps and five types of vegetables), opting for coarse-ground soba. About 10 minutes later, our dishes were served. **Tempura Soba:** The soba noodles were served in a sieve, with a decent portion size. The tempura consisted of about 10 shrimp tempura pieces, each the size of a banana prawn, along with several types of vegetable tempura. First, I tried the soba noodles. They were thin, reminiscent of Edo-style soba, slightly moist, with a good smoothness and texture. However, the flavor of the soba itself was barely noticeable, but the texture was good with a satisfying bite. Next, the shrimp tempura was delightfully crispy on the outside, with succulent shrimp inside. Eating it with salt brought out its exquisite flavor. The vegetable tempura included eggplant, bamboo shoots, and mountain vegetables, all with a crispy texture and well-drained oil, which was delicious. After the meal, we were served soba broth and a sweet treat made with soba, though the broth was standard and the sweetness didn't reflect the flavor of soba but resembled black sugar. **Small Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura Soba:** The soba was served on a sieve, with what seemed like slightly less volume due to the coarse-ground soba. The tempura consisted of three shrimp and a variety of vegetable tempura, including finely sliced carrot tempura. The coarse-ground soba had thicker, rougher noodles compared to regular soba. However, the flavor was honestly indiscernible. I wondered if my nose was congested, but my companion shared the same sentiment. While the shrimp tempura in the Tempura Soba style was undoubtedly delicious, the finely sliced carrot tempura was quite tasty. **Overall impression:** Firstly, if you don't get in right at opening, you'll likely wait for an hour, so it's advisable to arrive with ample time. As for the soba itself, I compared regular soba with coarse-ground, but neither had the distinctive aroma of soba; it was frankly disappointing. The tempura was quite tasty, and if they offered tempura rice bowls, I'd consider returning, but given the one-hour wait and the quality for the price, I probably won't revisit. The fact that my experience differed greatly from others who praised the place could mean that either the soba wasn't up to par that day or my palate and sense of smell are unrefined. It's good for others to be aware of such varied experiences. Thank you for the meal.

For lunch on this day, I went to "Soba Zabou" to have soba noodles. The restaurant is an 8-minute walk from the north exit of JR Nishi-Hachioji Station, and I arrived around 11:15, being the first customer. There is a waiting area next to the entrance (covered), so I sat on a bench and waited. The bench had heating, which was quite a pleasant touch. At 11:20, they opened a bit early! The seating area had 2-person tables x 4 and 4-person tables x 3. I was seated at a 2-person table. I ordered the weekday lunch course (available until 2 PM), "Shun-ko of the Day" and here's what it included: - Appetizers - Spicy soba kaki (soba cracker) - Tempura - Soba noodles The appetizers consisted of three items: - Tomato and rapeseed blossom salad - Soba-miso-flavored broad bean and pea salad - Simmered dish of new potatoes and burdock The spicy soba kaki was fried in a way that envelops the soba cracker, providing a delightful aroma and texture. It paired well with the spicy radish on top. The tempura and soba noodles were served together as I requested. The soba noodles had a smooth texture, and the dipping sauce was a perfect match with its sharp and spicy taste. Condiments like wasabi, green onions, and grated radish were provided. The tempura comprised four items: butterbur sprout, sweet potato, lotus root, and shrimp. They were served with salt and tempura dipping sauce, complementing the perfectly fried and hot tempura. Then came the soba tea, with a slightly thick and clear consistency, rich in flavor. It was quite enjoyable. For dessert, there was a sweet treat - jelly with black sugar drizzle. When chilled, it had a smooth and slippery texture. It was a delightful meal!

I debated between duck and something light, but I chose the "Oroshi Soba with Spicy Daikon (¥1320)" to refresh my mood. The soba noodles are thin, yet have a good firm texture. The broth is robust, which complements the sharpness of the daikon perfectly. The soba tea jelly dessert was a delightful surprise, with subtle soba fragrance and elegant black syrup. It was a pleasant unexpected treat. It was a weekday lunch, so no wait, but the place was nearly full. It's a bit risky. Looking around, I wondered what was written on the wallpaper; it had many kanji characters, reminding me of a scene from a movie. They also sell sake cups; if I came here at night, I might end up drinking too much. That's the kind of place it is!

Here is a review from visiting a restaurant during a weekday lunch break as part of a tour of notable establishments. Since reservations weren't available for lunch, I arrived 10 minutes before opening and managed to get in after the first group of three customers. Inside, the place had a stylish Japanese ambiance with around 15 seats. I ordered the "Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura Soba." The soba itself was fragrant with a good texture, and the dipping sauce was of decent quality. Additionally, the set included three shrimp tempura pieces, assorted vegetable tempura, allowing you to try a variety of flavors, which I highly recommend. For dessert, there was a unique soba jelly, reminiscent of high-quality mochi, which also had a delightful taste. I'll definitely visit again when I'm in Hachioji. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

Soba Hundred Renowned Shops. We parked in one of the three parking spaces in front of the shop, arrived as soon as it opened, but it was already packed with people. We tried the "Ten-Asari" for 2475 yen and the "Small Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura Soba" for 2200 yen. The "Ten-Asari" was a bit pricey. It took over 30 minutes for our order to arrive, but the tempura, especially the shrimp tempura, was delicious, and the soba had a nice firm texture. Finally, we had a refreshing soba tea jelly for dessert.