The Best noodle restaurant in Japan: Abura Soba

My favorite noodle dish or all Time is Abura soba

Abura meaning oil and soba is a type of Japanese buckwheat noodle. This is basically ramen with oil instead of soup broth. I KNOW, sounds disgusting and unhealthy but please believe it is the complete opposite. Despite its name abura soba is supposedly healthier than ramen.

Soba is a completely different type of noodle from ramen so don’t confuse soba; A Japanese buckwheat noodle dish, with ABURA soba. Although, technically it’s made of soba noodles, the noodles are basically identical to ramen noodles except healthier.

The dish:

Abura soba is a noodle dish topped with various topping such as a poached egg yoke, meat, dried seaweed, green onions, sesame seeds, strips of bamboo etc. There’s a small amount of an oily favored liquid (Miso or Spicy) at the bottom.

You can add in extra diced onions from the tin can in front of you. They also have extra spicy sauce in the glass jar, but I don’t like it.

You must, however, add a spicy oil and vinegar (The red and clear likely tubes on the table) to your liking.

Mix well and then become completely addicted.

I’ve tried abura soba all around Tokyo but I can only vouch for ONE SHOP.

Shout to to Lily for introducing me to this place!

She Literally knows about every great place in Japan. Got a question? Hit her up, I’m sure she’ll be glad to help.

The name of the place is Abura soba. If you visit the one in Shibuya-city it’s located right outside of exit 16B just walk for about 1 minute and it will be the corner restaurant on your right side.

How to order

Can’t speak Japanese? NO prob! You don’t have to here! When you go in there will be a machine where you order.

There are only two types of abura soba: Original and Spicy Miso, please get the spicy one (lol) They have three sizes medium, large and extra large and all are the same price! Don’t get greedy and get the extra large because it’s actually “Trump voice” HUGE ! I can only finish a medium IF I haven’t eaten anything that day.

Steps for ordering from the machine

1. Put your money in the machine and pick a flavor (Top original, bottom spicy)

2. Pick the size small or big (From Left to right)

3. Pick the topping style. Style A (comes with an egg, YOU NEED THIS EGG) trust me, or B (Even more toppings mostly extra meat)

4. Give the little tickets to the cooks and don’t forget to get your change in the machine.

An any sized spicy Abura soba with topping style A costs me EXACTLY 1,000¥ or a little under 10 bucks. Seeing as in I’m usually full for the whole day after eating this, its worth it.

Shops website: Abura Soba Shibuya Branch

Locations : http://www.tokyo-aburasoba.com/shop/

Address Japanese : 東京都渋谷区渋谷3-18-10

Address English: Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, 3-18-10

MAP: http://goo.gl/maps/fXin0