If you haven’t been to Soba Yakko, it’s easy to walk past the little timber-framed entrance. But if you have been before, you won’t be able to walk past without stopping in for some of the excellent 100% buckwheat soba noodles. Just a few minutes’ walk from Gakugeidaigaku station, Soba Yakko opened in 2016 with a welcoming blend of homeliness and sophistication. A long wooden counter runs the length of the open kitchen, and the noodles are made by hand in the compact room at the front of the restaurant. If you look closely, you’ll see the soba-grinding mill and the different-sized rolling pins.
¥The soba menu includes both hot and cold noodles ranging from ¥990 to ¥1,430. Try the nito soba (¥1,430), a bamboo plate topped with chilled soba and two dipping sauces – classic tsuyu made of soy sauce and dashi, and goma (sesame). We also love the oroshi soba (¥1,050), a bowl of chilled noodles in tsuyu broth, topped with a mound of freshly grated daikon and bonito flakes; it’s refreshing and satisfying.
The buckwheat comes from different prefectures depending on the season, so you’re always assured of fragrant noodles. Appetisers like sakura ebi kakiage (small prawn) tempura, pickled cucumbers and sashimi yuba (creamy tofu skin) start from ¥400 and pair excellently with Soba Yakko’s list of craft sake.