Kibi, the chuka soba shop from Kanda, was another place I’d wanted to try for a long time. It’s the kind of classic chuka soba that ordinary folks have loved for generations, and I was curious what it would actually taste like.
The sign
The basic setup
Unusually, they give you umeboshi. Very Japanese.
Classic chuka soba
The broth is made from pork bones, chicken bones and soy sauce. No off-smells, and nicely balanced. A clean style with nothing superfluous. This is what classic chuka soba tastes like. Not many places do it this well. But, as you’d expect with an old-school style, it lacks punch.
Noodles
Thin, curly noodles. The classic kind.
Even though they’re all called ramen, chuka soba and tonkotsu are practically different dishes. Some older guys love the classic style, while young people go crazy for the new wave. If you prefer clean flavors to rich, greasy ones, this place has a lot going for it, but if you don’t really care either way, it’s hard to recommend it specifically. They have plenty of other things on the menu besides chuka soba, so it’s a good place to go when you’re tired of the new-wave style.