I will definitely come back here

Zarusoba Kyosuke is in an outstanding location, right by Gokokuji Station and directly in front of Kodansha's headquarters. If you work in publishing or at a nearby office, you've probably seen it at least once. In fact, this isn't some buzzy new opening but a genuinely skilled soba restaurant that has been loved by locals for nearly 20 years. It built a reputation among soba lovers from the day it opened, and it has become a popular spot—busy at night with regulars enjoying drinks and small plates before their soba, and at lunch with businesspeople from Kodansha and other nearby companies. The soba I had for lunch this time was fragrant, thin-cut yet firmly chewy, and wonderfully smooth going down. Rather than competing on flashy impact, it has the classic deliciousness that makes you "want to eat it again." One bite was enough to understand why it has so many longtime fans. Lately I tend to chase only the new shops and places with lines that are trending on social media, but long-loved places like this have a real value that goes beyond trends. Thinking that this is a place Kodansha editors and creators have kept choosing for their daily lunch, I somehow felt like I'd touched a bit of that history. From a starstruck fan's point of view, it's also fun to savor it while imagining that "famous authors and editors may have eaten this same soba." If you can't decide where to have lunch in Gokokuji, this is a renowned restaurant you'll want to put at the top of your list. It may not be flashy, but it was a bowl packed with all the reasons it has been loved for so long.

Zarusoba Kyosuke (笊そば 蕎すけ) in Gokokuji. For lunch I had today's daily set meal (1,100 yen). You get soba, tempura, and takikomi rice at a great price. The tempura was white fish, crispy outside and fluffy inside. The takikomi rice was salmon rice. It had plenty of salmon, so this alone really gets your appetite going! The soba seems to be stone-milled at the front of the shop; it's on the thin side, but the thickness varied a little. Still, it had a firm texture and went down smoothly. The tsuyu also had strong saltiness and umami with restrained sweetness. Because of that, I think it was nice that you could taste the aroma of the soba. It's a small shop, so seats fill up quickly at lunch, and several people were waiting. I think it's a very satisfying lunch for 1,100 yen!

Taste… ★4 (simply delicious) Value for money… ★2 (isn't this way too pricey…?) Service… ★3 (hmm…) Overall: "Delicious but on the pricey side. Good for business entertaining." Visited on a Friday at 18:30. Got in without a reservation. It's a classy, stylish place, but the staff told us, "Just so you know, the food takes a while to come out." "How long?" "Hmm… I can't really say exactly…" "About an hour?" "No, not that long…" "About 30 minutes?" "…About… 20 minutes… I think…" That's not long at all, then! Anyway, we went in. It was a calm Japanese-style place that felt aimed at adults over 40. And the soba is delicious. It seems to be handmade, and I like that it's uneven. Both my cold soba and the hot soba my companion ordered had a broth with a strong dashi flavor. The otoshi of octopus and olives was tasty too. The little snacks were also good. But it's expensive. The one in this photo is grilled hanpen, palm-sized, for 600 yen. It came in 6 slices, so that works out to 100 yen per slice. Isn't that pricey? I don't mind soba and tempura being expensive, but this price for hanpen that's just been grilled... It's delicious, but the price range isn't suited to everyday dining. Well, I think it's a good place for when you feel like treating yourself a little~

A restaurant with delicious soba. As a noren-wake offshoot of "Okawaya" in Kudan-minami, it serves superb soba. A wonderful restaurant, from its à la carte dishes and sake to its atmosphere. Whether you're dining alone, with friends, as a couple, or with work colleagues, you can visit with peace of mind.