Kanda Yabusoba

Founded in 1880, this shop is among the oldest soba restaurants in Tokyo. After 133 years of business, the restaurant faced tragedy when it burned down in 2013. The traditional wooden construction methods of Japan are prone to such misfortune. However, Kanda Yabusoba is now rebuilt and thriving! The owners decided to re-materialize their much-loved soba restaurant on the same spot it stood for so many years, using modern building materials without sacrificing the historic charm of the original building. The new establishment feels just like the old Meiji era dining hall it sprang up in place of. The noodles themselves are likewise unchanged — still the same beautifully thin, hand-cut soba that was served here since the beginning. They serve various styles ranging from the plain to the rich, such as their signature dish: soba topped with rare-cooked duck slices. A range of sides is also available, with duck soup and crispy tempura among the favorites.