Chukasoba Nishino: Quiet Alley, Bold Broth, One Slurp to Love
Chukasoba Nishino:Quiet Alley, Bold Broth, One Slurp to Love
Located about a 5-minute walk from Hongo-sanchome Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line. This station is the nearest one to the University of Tokyo. The shop is situated on a quiet alley just off the main road, and it has a serene atmosphere that’s easy to overlook as you pass by.
Judging from the ambiance of the shop, it seems that reservations are not possible. Since the shop can only accommodate up to 3 people inside, the 4th person and beyond will have to wait outside. There are no numbered tickets, so waiting outside is the way to go. On hot summer days or cold winter days, it might be a bit challenging. Since it’s a residential area, it’s better to avoid smoking while waiting.
I visited around 2:25 PM on a Sunday. Some information I found mentioned that the last order for lunch was at 2:30 PM, so I hurried. There weren’t any people lined up in front of the shop; there were 3 people waiting inside. After waiting for about 5 minutes, there was a turnover of people, and I was able to enter the shop.
Near the entrance, there’s a ticket vending machine that only accepts cash. Credit cards are not accepted.
While buying the ticket and waiting, seats became available quickly. The total wait time was less than 10 minutes. As a result, it might be a good strategy to go towards the end of the lunch hours.
- Chinese Soba: JPY 960
- Szechuan Pepper Soba: JPY 960
- Plate of Wonton: JPY 360 (2 pieces of meat, 2 pieces of shrimp)
As the name of the shop suggests, they call ramen “soba” here. Since it was written that the Chinese Soba is recommended for first-timers, it’s probably the best choice for those visiting for the first time. The ticket vending machine has Japanese only.
The contents of the wonton include meat and shrimp, and you can choose various combinations of 1 to 3 pieces each. I went with my wife, and we each ordered 2 pieces of meat and 2 pieces of shrimp to try the different types.
The interior of the shop has only around 10 counter seats. Although it seems like many regulars come alone, they don’t seem to chat familiarly with the shop owner. However, it’s an atmosphere where newcomers can also be accepted normally.
It’s best to go with 1 or 2 people. If you have more than 4 people, it might be a bit chaotic for both seating and eating.
The Chinese Soba, served in about 5 minutes, has an old-fashioned and cute “naruto” (fish cake) in the center that catches your eye. The soup is very clear and transparent, with a taste you can drink all of. It’s undeniably delicious.
What surprised me the most was the noodles. They are thin and have a smooth surface. The texture was like spaghetti. It was a unique texture that I had never experienced in ramen before.
As I was eating, more and more customers came in. Although it was well past 2:30 PM, it seems they accept customers until around 3:00 PM. However, if you go right at 3:00 PM and assume you’ll be able to get in, you might be disappointed. So, for the lunch hours, I think it’s better to go by 2:30 PM.
Eat quickly and leave quickly.
Chinese Soba Nishino
Bunkyo-ku, Hongo 3-30-7
Closed: None
Business Hours: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Note: All information in this article is accurate as of July 2023 and is subject to change.