Osoba no Kouga:Cool Noodles, Warm Heart, Tiny Masterpiece
Osoba no Kouga
We walked about 15 minutes from the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line “Nogizaka” station. However, when I checked the store’s official website, it stated that the nearest station is “Roppongi” station, which is about a 6-minute walk.
The town of Nishi-Azabu gives an impression of being filled with trendy restaurants and luxury car dealerships, and is often frequented by celebrities and somewhat shady figures. When I revisited after a long time, it remained just as I remembered. Near the Nishi-Azabu intersection is a symbolic place called “Gonpachi”. It’s just a 1-2 minute walk from there.
My visit was around 12:30 on a Sunday in September 2023. With temperatures nearing 35°C, there weren’t many people outside. There were only four customers lined up at the shop. I waited for about 10 minutes and was promptly seated.
It seems they don’t accept reservations. Probably.
Inside, the shop has a 5-seat counter and 12 table seats. It was quiet, with no background music.
The seat next to us was occupied by a handsome man and a beautiful woman, both around 30, who were very well-behaved.
Next to them was a group of four foreigners chatting happily in English. They were not overly loud, just lively.
I ordered the “seiro” in a large size, and my wife had the “sudachi soba” (cold).
- Seiro: JPY 950
- Large size: +JPY 450
- Sudachi soba: JPY 2,000
They had special seasonal menus like “sudachi soba” and “matsutake soba”, and a signature dish called “uni soba”. The uni soba was priced at JPY 4,500, and the matsutake soba was JPY 4,600. They’re a bit pricey but might be worth it for a memorable experience.
The wait time was approximately 10 minutes. Ordering tempura might take longer.
The “sudachi soba” was visually stunning. It was covered with around 25 slices of sudachi. The citrus aroma was refreshing, perfect for summer.
The soba, submerged in a cold, slightly soy-rich broth, wasn’t too much, making it manageable for even women to finish quickly. Perhaps paying an extra JPY 450 for a larger serving might be worth it.
By the way, the sudachi slices are edible, but people usually don’t eat them. I tried one and found the skin bitter, so I didn’t eat any more.
The seiro had a rich dipping sauce, possibly the richest I’ve ever had. The aroma of bonito was delightful. However, be careful not to dip the soba too much; otherwise, you’ll miss out on the soba’s flavor. Normally, you should dip about one-third of the soba, but in this restaurant, even less might be better.
A notable characteristic of this shop was the extremely small amount of wasabi provided. I don’t think it’s because it’s expensive or they’re being stingy. Perhaps, adding too much wasabi might overpower the soba’s flavor.
Since I ordered a large portion, the quantity was substantial. It felt like a sufficient amount even for an adult male.
The atmosphere wasn’t really for leisurely drinking sake. It’s probably best to drop by casually, eat quickly, and leave.
Osoba no Kouga
Address: 2-14-5 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku
Closed on: Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Business hours: 11:30 – 14:30 (Last Order 14:00), 17:00 – 20:30 (Last Order 20:00) Final entry at 19:45.
Note: All information in this article is accurate as of September 2023 and is subject to change.