The number one soba restaurant in Tokyo on Tabelog is in Asakusa. It is a handmade soba specialist called Daikokuya, a place I had tried a few times but always gave up on because the line was so long. This time I went right before opening and just barely got in.
The front entrance
Apparently the place really does have a long history. It was already packed when I got in, and with an elderly couple handling both the serving and the cooking by themselves, I think it took over an hour for the food to actually arrive.
Tempura seiro soba
Everyone was ordering the tempura seiro, so I went with that too. The tempura itself is at a top-restaurant level, but probably because the serving took so long, it came out cold. No matter how well it is fried, once it goes cold there is not much point. I suspect this is a problem that comes from being too popular.
The handmade soba noodles
The handmade noodles are certainly good enough to be in the conversation for Tokyo’s number one, but they came out a bit clumped together. Even for slow service, I did not know it could be this slow. I have no idea how a place like this gets such a high score on Tabelog. Every so often the old lady would forget an order, the old man would grumble something at her, she would snap back.. and that kept going on and on. She is kind, but maybe they could hold off on the marital spats while there are customers around..
The menu board they have used since the Showa era
The atmosphere of the place is really nice.
Inside the restaurant
If it were not for the service issues, this would be a place worth visiting even at the high prices.. but it seems to be a case of a place ruined by too many people crowding in. If you really want to eat here and enjoy it, I think your best bet is to arrive about 30 minutes before opening and be the first one in. From the second group on, I could not vouch for the service.