Ramen, ramen, ramen. Everybody loves ramen these days, including us. However, it’s important not to forget about soba. While in Tokyo Japan, we had some excellent soba at Matsugen in the Ebisu neighborhood.
We arrived at the comfortable, upscale restaurant at an odd time, so we were the only diners. In other words, it was the perfect time to eat noodles in Tokyo.
Lunch at Matsugen
Beer
After we were seated, we ordered draft Sapporo Kuro Rabel beers and perused the comprehensive menu that went well beyond soba. Prices were reasonable.
We both opted for the Matsugen Soba since it sounded interesting in a “best of” kind of way, which turned out to be a good choice for sampling this Japanese food staple.
Soba
We were served the hand-made soba noodles in beautiful pottery bowls along with savory sauce on the side. As expected, each noodle was uniformly constructed. Firm yet delicate, the noodles were made by hand as they have been for over 150 years.
The nuttiness of the buckwheat noodles stood up to the flavorful Japanese toppings that included yam, shisonori, scallion, egg, sesame, okura, wasabi, cucumber, yoga, bonito and Jew’s mallow. That’s a lot of goodness for 1,160 yen or approximately $12.
We dug in and decided that ramen is definitely not the only noodle game in town.
As we enjoyed the meal, other diners trickled in, and the buzz picked up. We made our way to the bottom of the bowls and thought we were done, but then the waiter brought us broth to pour in our bowls so that we could enjoy the remaining flavors in a different way. So delicious.
We later learned that we could have ordered more noodles for the broth. At least we’ll know for next time.
After ending the meal with some soba tea (Mindi) and French white wine (Daryl), we left the stylish restaurant with full bellies and a new respect for soba.
Matsugen is located at Japan, 〒106-0045 Tokyo, Minato City, Azabujuban, 3 Chome−11−12 仙台坂オークヒルズ 1F.
Plan Your Tokyo Stay
Important Update
Many restaurants have revised their hours and menus due to COVID-19. Some may close, either temporarily or permanently, without notice. Be sure to check this restaurant’s website for updated information before your visit.
Stay Connected in Tokyo
You’ll want WiFi on the go for mapping, translating menus and posting Instagram stories. Click here to arrange a pocket WiFi unit that you can pick up at the airport.
The pocket WiFi is a great option if your mobile phone is locked and you want to stay connected. Click here to arrange a SIM card if your phone is unlocked.
Hungry for Ramen in Tokyo?
Check out our article about Tokyo’s Ramen Street.
About the Authors
Daryl & Mindi Hirsch
Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on the 2foodtrippers website and YouTube. The married Food and Travel content creators live in Lisbon, Portugal.
frannytravels
Tuesday 7th of May 2013
So yummy! Thanks for sharing :D