If you’ve kept up with this blog, you know how much I love soba noodles! Here’s a quick guide to a few of the best types of soba in Japan!
Kake (Hot) Soba w/Eggplant – Ginzan
Soba noodles with eggplant are perhaps the rarest type of soba you’ll find in Japan, but certainly one of the best. It’s easy on the teeth with soft ingredients throughout, from steamed eggplant cut into slices to boiled okra vegetables.
This particular restaurant, Izu no Hana, is located in Ginzan hot spring village. You can select from a variety of hot (kake) or cold (zaru) soba noodles, with the eggplant option as the shop’s specialty.
Kake (Hot) Soba w/Tempura Prawn – Nagano
Next, we have the classic tempura prawn soba, perhaps the most common type of soba noodle dish you’ll find in Japan. Consisting of a hot broth and large battered prawn resting on a bed of buckwheat soba noodles, it’s the perfect dish to stay warm during Japan’s winter season!
You can typically find kake soba with tempura prawn anywhere in Japan, as it’s a staple item of the soba noodle category. This particular restaurant I experienced (the name escapes me) is located in the snowy mountains of Nagano prefecture, a short walk from Snow Monkey Park.
Zaru (Cold) Soba w/Tempura Assortment – Osaka
Last but not least is my personal favorite, zaru soba with tempura assortment. This dish consists of a cold broth with a side of wasabi which can be mixed into it as preferred. It also comes with cold noodles resting on ice cubes to keep it fresh and a stacked pile of battered…well…everything!
This is no exaggeration as you’ll find this heap of fried goods comprising tempura prawn (as usual), tempura eggplant, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spring onion, leaves, and even egg! Located in the heart of Osaka in the humble town of Nishinari, this restaurant is called Gohanya Homare and is run by a super-friendly elderly couple.
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