Great soba. Highly recommended.

Had lunch on Aoyama-dori in Yao for the first time in a while. This shop has quite a capacity, but even past noon it was almost fully booked. We were seated after waiting a few groups. The lunch menu mainly flows into choosing 'udon' or 'soba' as a set with tempura, katsu, kamameshi, etc. Also, you can choose warm or cold according to your preference. This time, I ordered the 'Lunch Tempura Bento (1,254 yen including tax)' which I personally thought was the best value on the menu with 'cold soba'! The cold soba was a slightly unsatisfying amount, but it went down the throat smoothly and was perfect for a hot day. Inserting crispy tempura there raises the sense of satisfaction. The kayaku gohan (seasoned rice) has a comforting, gentle taste infused with dashi. It's good to eat as is, but breaking the side-dish onsen tamago a little bit or eating it together with the tempura is also another pleasure. You need to be careful that the parking lot is somewhat narrow and payment is cash-only, but the interior has a calm Japanese atmosphere and we were able to enjoy a leisurely lunch.

+1

The kamameshi contains shiitake mushrooms, carrots, and konjac. If you don't mind those things, I think it's delicious. It's a taste I like. The soba is of course delicious too. At other shops, soba water (sobayu) has a thick texture, but at this shop it felt smooth and watery.

The tempura bento had a volume comparable to a set meal with kayaku gohan, soba, tempura (kakiyage, shrimp tempura, burdock root, pumpkin), a side dish of simmered kiriboshi daikon, onsen tamago, and pickles. Unfortunately, the dashi broth was so-so 😓🙏 And what bothered me was that all the staff seemed frantic, dealing with customers like 'clearing them out?' and felt impatient. Serving the food, as soon as they put it on the table they quickly turned their backs and left haha. There's no politeness. The fast tempo of footwear scraping bothered me. They weren't walking haha It wasn't a busy time slot, yet they looked busy haha Inside it's Japanese-style, but I think jazz was playing, and unlike the atmosphere it wasn't calming. 7/7/2025

+3

First time using it. Hesitated on giving 5 stars for the food. Katsutoji Set Meal ¥1287 Delicious. Is the soba 100% buckwheat (juwari)? The seasoning is also gentle. Tender tenderloin. Fluffy eggs. Price is normal. Inside is surprising, traditional folk house style, and there is even an iror (sunken hearth). High vaulted structure up to the ceiling, and the beams are huge. Folk crafts are also retro. The faucet and sink in the restroom are stylish. Looks like about 50 people can fit inside. There are private rooms in the back. About 10 cars can be parked in the parking lot. Located along a arterial road. What's unfortunate is there are a few stone steps up to the entrance.

+3