I heard there was a hidden soba gem in Gotanda, so I went to check it out. I’ve lived in Tokyo for a long time and figured I knew most of the good places, so it really surprised me that a spot this good had completely escaped me.

It’s a little way off from Gotanda, but in this day and age finding a place is a breeze. Here’s your search term: 五反田 遊庵

Maitake tempura soba

The soba noodles were a revelation. Top that with perfectly fried tempura and there’s really nothing more to say. Even the price is more than fair.

Shrimp tempura soba

It had been a while since I enjoyed soba this much. I was so grateful to the person who told me about this place.

Tamagodon

I ordered a mild rice dish too, and honestly, everything here is perfect no matter what you order.

It doesn’t have the upscale feel of the famous downtown soba houses that charge around 2,500 yen a bowl, but it has the atmosphere a soba place should have. If you love soba, it’s worth the trip out here.

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