| 並木薮蕎麦（台東区） Namiki Yabu Soba (Taito-ku, Tokyo) Asakusa／Soba  One of the three Yabusoba families, it is known as a restaurant frequented by the writer Shotaro Ikenami. Lunch:￥1,000~￥1,999 Dinner:￥1,000~￥1,999 |
Asakusa is one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Tokyo and Japan, visited by many tourists from home and abroad.
Namiki Yabusoba” is one of the three Yabusoba restaurants in Asakusa.
This time, we report on Namiki Yabusoba, one of the “Yabusoba Gosanke”.
Please refer to the official website and the Google map at the bottom of this page for information on business hours, holidays, and reviews.
Famous restaurant featured in the popular manga “Oishinbo
I first visited Namiki Yabusoba in September 2012.
I dropped by on my way back from visiting the Tokyo Sky Tree, which opened in May of that year, with my family.
Namiki Yabusoba is known as one of the “Yabusoba Gosanke” along with Kanda Yabusoba and Ikenohata Yabusoba (closed in 2016), and is also known as the restaurant featured in the popular manga “Oishinbo” that I used to love to read.
Menus are not on the desks, you order by looking at the notice board.
I didn’t get the gist of it on my first visit, but back then, Namiki Yabu Soba did not have a menu on the table, but rather a list of dishes hanging on the wall to order (these days, it seems that a menu is available).
I ordered a large portion of tempura soba (cold), but was told that “we don’t have a large portion” and it was a regular portion (menu prices as of September 2012).
Namiki Yabusoba’s soba sauce is said to be the spiciest in Tokyo
Namiki Yabusoba’s soba sauce is said to be the spiciest in Japan.
When I actually tasted it, it was indeed spicy, but I felt an indescribable mellow aftertaste in the spiciness.
The soba noodles were of course delicious, but the tempura was also very tasty.
The tempura was small in size, but the shrimps were so plump that when I dipped them in the spicy sauce and put them in my mouth, I had an indescribably happy moment.
About Namiki Yabusoba
Namiki Yabusoba is a long-established restaurant located in Kaminarimon, Asakusa, established in 1913.
The first generation of the restaurant was established in Kyobashi at the end of the Meiji era (1868-1912). Shortly thereafter, in 1913, the restaurant was established at its current location on Namiki-dori Street, which leads from Kaminarimon.
It is known as one of the “Yabu Gosanke” (the three famous Yabu families) along with Kanda Yabusoba and Ikenohata Yabusoba, and was a favorite of writers Shotaro Ikenami and Hitomi Yamaguchi, as well as rakugo storyteller Shincho Kokontei.
When I visited in 2012, there was not a single foreign customer, but now it seems that many foreigners visit the restaurant.
Although it is a long-established buckwheat noodle restaurant representing Japan, it is a place where first-timers can enjoy simple and attentive service that only Edo can offer.
When it comes to soba in Asakusa, I would name Namiki Yabusoba first.
Access, Reviews
For access to Namiki Yabusoba, hours of operation, regular closing days, reviews, etc., please see the Google map below.
