On a Sunday evening in Tokyo there’s honestly nowhere to go except Western restaurants. I guess the message is: don’t go out on a Sunday night, stay home with your family. But my friend wanted soba, so we made a point of going out. It’s tucked away in a corner of Shirokanedai and really far from the subway station. It has good reviews and a Michelin star, but unless you live nearby, I wouldn’t go out of your way for it.
Sake
Like Kyorakutei, this is a soba place where sake is the main event. The menu doesn’t list many snacks, but if you order the course the variety seems to jump. I’ve forgotten the name of the sake; it was decent, but the selection isn’t very big.
Cup
Sake cups are fun too. I’d like to collect them if I ever have the chance and the means. Maybe in about 10 years?
The otoshi.
Chawanmushi came out. Clean and delicate.
House-made tofu
You top it with the condiments and drizzle soy sauce over it. Light and mild, and very high quality. Just the tofu alone makes the sake go down easily.
Simmered asari clams
Since there weren’t many snacks, we ordered a bit of everything. The cooking is very good. The problem is the prices are a bit much for casual ordering…
Sake no. 2
Tamagoyaki
Tamagoyaki at a soba shop is a little different from the sushi-shop kind. Think of an ordinary rolled omelette; again, it’s a great match for sake.
Kamaboko
Fish cake that’s nice and bouncy when you bite into it. Small portion and pricey, but fine as a drinking snack.
Tororo
I actually wanted to order tenzaru soba, but they said they didn’t have it, so I went with tororo instead. I’m not particularly fond of tororo, but this tororo is delicious. Not too gooey, fresh and clean. Definitely the kind of place Michelin would like.
Soba to finish
The soba was a good level. Tasty, but not especially remarkable. Still, in just four meals I’ve completed the must-dos of this Tokyo trip: soba, sushi, French and eel, so I should be happy with that.
Soba-yu
We finished with a cup of tea and headed back to the hotel.