It must be the 31st of December when the biggest number of Soba bowls is consumed in Japan. It has been a long tradition in Japan since Edo period to have a bowl of Soba at the end of a year, hoping our healthy long life, like the noodle shape.
Even apart from the wishes at the end of year, soba is a popular menu among us as healthy meal through the year.
Yabusoba in Kanda is one of the best known Soba restaurant in Tokyo with over a hundred year history from 1880. On the 31st of December, a long que of people for having the tradition would not be ended during the restaurant's opening hours.
The fine old building and the garden must be also another attraction along with the simple but high quality noodle.
The most popular and typical menu is a combination of Seiro soba(soba on square shape steamer plate) and Tentane(pan fried dumbling with shrimps).
Restaurant name: Yabusoba
Address: 2-10 Kanda Awaji-cho, Chiyoda-ku,
Website: http://www.yabusoba.net
*********** UPDATE 22 February 2013 *********
On 19th Feb 2013, fire was broken out from Yabusoba restaurant and almost a third of the building was burned. Obviously the restaurant is close now and no information for re-opening is published so far.
We wish the historical restaurant restored and back to operation near future!!
Link for news about the fire "130-year-old noodle restaurant in Tokyo catches fire"
http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20130220p2a00m0na011000c.html
Alternative restaurant, traditional soba noodle shop near Yabusoba
http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2011/12/soba-noodle-at-kanda-matsuya.html
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