Hienadz Vardanyan 
When you think of Japanese cuisine, you should be thinking about soba. Not simply the quick stalls in the metropolitan area where you can stand and devour your noodles.
You might be surprised by how many Michelin star soba restaurants there are in Tokyo.
If you are traveling through Japan’s capital, then finding a soba restaurant may be for a special occasion.
Perhaps it is the final night of a well-deserved holiday, a birthday, or simply ticking something off your bucket list.
In this article, we look at the Michelin star soba restaurants in Tokyo so you can dine in style whilst still enjoying some delicious soba. Let’s check out these 2 best soba in Tokyo.
Tamawarai (玉笑)
The first Michelin star soba restaurant in Tokyo we are going to talk about is Tamawarai.
Tamawarai currently has one Michelin star and they probably serve the best soba in Shibuya, Tokyo. Some of the best restaurants in Tokyo are found down a quiet backstreet and this is certainly one.
Known for the fragrant and chewy noodles it serves, they come with their own ratio of 85% buckwheat and 15% wheat flour.
You can be rest assured that the dishes served by the restaurant are carefully selected by the owner and are authentically Japanese.
That includes the soba, which comes with a rich aroma as well as plenty of character and depth.
This is a small, intimate, and low-lit restaurant with only 14 seats which are split into seven counter seats, a table of four, and two tables of two.
You should soon be impressed by the exterior, which presents a very modern restaurant with a clean, plain white background.
This could be mistaken for a contemporary Japanese home but be assured you will be eventually welcomed into a seat. The interior maintains a minimalist vibe and is finished with traditional Japanese decor.
Its popularity with celebrities is one guarantee of high service and exceptional food in a luxurious setting which is ideal for a high-flying celebration.
Patience is also merited as this is a venue that could leave you waiting for at least two hours for a table.
Once you get seated, you can relax in the calm and relaxing atmosphere that encourages peaceful and stylish dining.
One of their most celebrated dishes is Arabiki seiro soba, which is soba noodles served in a bamboo steamer giving the noodles a chewy, delightful texture with the flavor spreading across your taste buds with each bite.
Delicious on its own but well complemented by the refreshing soup.
You should also be impressed by the soba and tofu which comes in a bowl of soba noodles that is chilled and then topped with creamy and homemade tofu presented with a pile of bonito flakes.
Alongside the bowl is some soy-based sauce to liven up the dish. This is truly one of the best soba in Tokyo that you will not forget in a hurry.
If you enjoy tempura with your soba, we would also recommend the Tenseiro, which presents soba in a lighter texture.
The chef will only use the freshest ingredients for all his dishes and will prepare both hot and cold Japanese soba in a traditional style by using Japanese grinding techniques.
What also helps is having a field in Tochigi prefecture where the soba is grown and cultivated, harvested by hand, and then sundried in the traditional fashion.
Store Information
- Tel: +81354850025
- Business Hours:
- From Tuesday to Friday – Lunch 11: 30-15: 00, Dinner 18:30 – 21:30
- Saturday – 11: 30-20: 00
- Sunday -11: 30-17: 00
- Regular Holiday: Sunday
- Directions and Access: 5 minutes walk from subway Meiji Jingumae Harajuku Station Exit 7
- Address: 5-23-3 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Yuan Yamori(由庵 矢もり)
The next Michelin star soba restaurant we are going to look at is Yuan Yamori.
If you want to watch the soba being ground before your very eyes then Yuan Yamori is one of the few places in Japan to do so.
The restaurant follows a reservation system to ensure that the soba noodles are made as fresh as possible according to the arrival time of the customer.
There is a capacity for 10 eating visitors, which includes six counter seats and then a private room for four.
The restaurant only uses homemade flour to make their soba noodles which is reassuring and enhances their production process.
No machinery is used as the noodles are prepared by hand using four stone mills of materials and weight.
The sobazukushi course is highly recommended, which is a course where every dish, including the appetizers and desserts, is made with soba noodles.
You will be able to try soba from regions all over Japan and some of their dishes are a little out of the ordinary but always unforgettable.
When it comes to taste, there is subtlety at Yuan Yamori as you can expect a mild taste in their noodles which is complemented by a sensation of different flavors.
Alongside their soba noodles, all their foods are made with healthy, fresh ingredients.
This means no fried food on the menu, you will not find any tempura to be served so bear that in mind for a suitably clean eating experience.
Yuan Yamori looks to the past for its inspiration, creating an artisan feel for soba noodles yet evoking the Edo period in their crafting.
For instance, the juwari soba should come with a closer feel to that of nihachi when it is being swallowed. Tiny details like that where the buckwheat flavors are combined and the soba made from various milling methods.
You can also benefit from a hard-to-find menu that includes dated seasonings such as irizake and a simmered miso in a dipping sauce
The restaurant is renowned for its owner who leaves the vast majority of visitors with an experience that they will fail to forget.
The hospitality at Yuan Yamori is also part of the experience and they will go out of their way to give you the best dining time possible.
That the restaurant received its Michelin star only 18 months into its existence goes some way to demonstrate how unforgettable the food is, and why you should make a reservation.
It is one of the best Michelin star soba restaurants in Tokyo.
Store Information
- Tel: +81362250633
- Business Hours: 18:00～19:30
- Regular Holiday: Sunday and National Holidays
- Access: A 5-minute walk from Tsukishima Station on the Toei Oedo Line.
- Address: 3-9-7 Tsukishima, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
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