Great Cheap & Delicious Soba Deal in Gaienmae on Ginza Line

In another installment of "Great places to eat in Tokyo for Super-Cheap" by me, Mike Rogers, connoisseur extraordinaire and one of Japan's top cheap-skate Gaijin experts on good tachi-gui (stand up and eat) soba shops, I'd like to introduce you to a shop named Shinetsu. This place is excellent!

Shinetsu, interestingly, is located right next door to one of the finest (and most expensive) Italian restaurants in Tokyo: Sabatini. I thought that was funny because a fine dinner with wine for two next door at Sabatini can easily run ¥25,000 yen!


Whereas Sabatini is great for what it is, so is Shinetsu! But, I reckon if you were going on an important date with that special someone or planning to do something stupid, like say, propose marriage, then Sabatini is probably a better bet.


Or, if you have a sense of humor, you could tell her that you are taking her "someplace special like Sabatini." (Right? It is like Sabatini as they are both near Gaienmae station exit #3)

This delicious meal with cold soba, inari sushi 

and tempura topping for ¥500!

Two people can eat excellent soba and toppings freshly made on the premises for ¥1,200 (the water is free and all-you-can-drink!)

And, as usual, a spotless kitchen is a must for me and you can see into the kitchen from the counter at Shinetsu. The tempura and all toppings are made on premises and the soba is very good quality for the extremely good price.

Don't bother going there right at lunch time between 12:00 noon and 1 pm on a weekday unless you want to stand in line.

Here's the address: 

Shinetsu Soba

Kita Aoyama 2-13-4 Tot Aoyama 1F.

東京都港区北青山2丁目13-4 ToT青山１F

Here's a map: http://yj.pn/bBNRd_


To get to Shinetsu Soba, take the Ginza line to Gaienmae. Exit 3. Thirty seconds walk. 

Great Soba Deal in Dai-Mon on Oedo Subway Line

In another installment of "Great places to eat in Tokyo for Super-Cheap" by me, Mike Rogers, connoisseur extraordinaire and one of Japan's top cheap-skate Gaijin experts on good tachi-gui (stand up and eat) soba shops, I'd like to introduce you to a shop named Rikka near Dai-Mon Station on the Oedo Line (Exit A4).


First off, be forewarned, after you exit the station, if you ask a local, "Where is Rikka?" They won't know. Because even Japanese people cannot read this name. In kanji it is 六花, which looks like it says, "Rokka" (six flowers)... But it says "Rikka." Why is it read this way? Heck, don't ask me! It just is. Lots of Japanese kanji are read in various and incomprehensible ways.


Do not question the ways of my people!


But, once you've traveled, endured and finally found this place, you'll be glad you did. It might be one of the best-kept secrets in the area!

I've walked by Rikka a few times at lunch hours and have seen a dozen or so businessmen lined up to get in. That's a good sign for decent food for a great price. 

When I saw the line of guys, I knew I had to try it. I mean, I had to try eating the soba, not the lining up part (been there, done that). Yesterday, I got my chance to go into the restaurant and try it out when it wasn't crowded.

Being a fair and wise connoisseur of fine cheap dining, I always want to compare the basic soba set. At Rikka, I ordered shrimp tempura soba. 

Shrimp, mushrooms and pumpkin tempura with

cold soba noodles (omori) for ¥550 (about $6.50 US)

When I placed my order, the cook said, "We are having the extra helping service now (omori). Would you like extra noodles for free?" 

"Wow!" I thought, "Sure! I answered." And they gave me the extra helping of noodles that usually would cost an extra ¥100 ~ ¥150 at most shops. I then asked the guy what time the extra helping service was from and he answered, "We are open from 7 am until 7 pm."

"Oh, no" I replied, "I didn't mean 'what are your business hours,' I meant, 'what time is the free extra helping of noodles service." To that the man smiled and said, "Everyday. From 7 am until 7 pm!"

Wow! What a great deal! I know that running these restaurants in this day and age in Japan is a tough business and it's hard to survive. Businesses have to do lots of extra things to get customers, but this is the first time I have ever heard of the extra helping of noodles (omori) service during all business hours!  

All sorts of soba sets that include a rice "donburi" dish 

(donburi is rice with meat, fish and vegetables on top). 

They are slashing the prices! Check that out!

A full healthy lunch for ¥390!? A Big Mac set costs ¥550! 

(Where can you buy a full meal for $4.66 US?)

This place is a great deal! These prices aren't lunch specials, 

they are available during all business hours!

I really do like these cheap but delicious soba shops. They are so cheap so I don't expect much, so when I bite into it and think, "This might be better than what I make at home!" Then I'm really happy with it. Rikka was delicious and for ¥500 it can't be beat.

Also Rikka passes the "Mike Rogers immaculate kitchen test" 

for cleanliness. The kitchen is open for you to see 

when you walk in the shop and it is spotless.

Most guys wouldn't take their girlfriend on a date to one of these stand up soba shops, but Rikka and Takamoto Seimenjyo are so delicious that she might forgive you for taking her to a place that doesn't have the atmosphere of fine dining but has great food... Heck, if you are married and on a budget and want to eat out, I wouldn't have trouble taking the wife there... By the way, Rikka does have seats too!

I highly recommend that, if you are in the area, that you try out Rikka. If you do, you'll be quite pleasantly surprised at the quality, taste and price. Try it and see for yourself. 

To get to Rikka, take the Oedo Line to Dai-Mon Station (Exit A4). Exit the station, turn left and walk up the street. About 350 meters.

Rikka 六花
URL: http://tachiguisoba.jugem.jp/?eid=82 (Japanese)

Minatoku Shiba Oo Mon 1-3-6

港区芝大門１−３−６

Tel: 03-3433-6058
Business hours: 7 am ~ 7 pm Mon. - Fri.
Closed Sat. Sun. and holidays

Map: 

Awesomely Delicious Udon in Kamiyacho, Tokyo!

I found the one of the best places to eat udon in Tokyo. It is near Kamiyacho station on the Hibiya line. It is very cheap but extremely delicious. The restaurant is named "Takamoto Seimenjyo." It is a udon specialist restaurant. I've been there three times and was impressed every time with the quality of the food, the taste and the very good prices!

View of the front of the restaurant

Fried Squid and udon with inari (sweet rice ball)

¥620 (about $7.40) for a delicious & healthy meal. 

Can't be beat for the price and tastes delicious!

The basic bowl of udon is ¥280 (about $3.20 US)! That's amazing! 

Show up after 1 pm every weekday and you get a bowl of rice free of charge!

This place ROCKS! 

Takamoto Seimenjyo tel: 03-3438-3788

Address: 東京都港区虎ノ門3-20-3

Toranomon 3-20-3 Noah's Ark Toranomon Bldg.

Access: Go to Kamiyacho station. Exit 3. Walk up the stairs and exit the station. There's a convenience store at the top of the stairs on the left. Walk just past it and turn left walking down the busy street towards Atago Hills. The restaurant is on the left past the Starbucks about 200 meters from the station.

Business hours: Open Weekdays from 8 am ~ 10 pm

Saturdays from 10 am ~ 8 pm

Closed Sundays and holidays

Traditional New Year's Eve in Japan

New Year's Eve in Japan is called, "Oomisoka" and the typical Japanese family will get together and eat what is called "Toshikoshi soba" at night.

2011 is the Year of the Rabbit

Toshikoshi soba is much like regular soba except the noodles are longer - and I eat them sitting down - not like my usual "Tachigui soba" (standing and eating soba).

The custom of Toshikoshi soba was started in Shimo-Kitazawa in Tokyo during the Edo period about 150 years ago.

The reasons for eating soba on New Year's eve are generally thought of as:

a) One strand of soba is long so eating it represents a long life

b) Soba is easy to cut so biting off one strand of soba represents cutting off the last year and the misfortune that came along with it. 

b) One more reason is that, long ago, craftsmen who used silver and gold for making art and wares would have to gather up the gold and silver dust from the floors of their shops. Raw soba was used like a sort of putty to pick up the gold dust. Once the dust was picked up, the soba was boiled or cooked and the gold and silver dust were easily separated from the soba.   

Some families will eat the soba while listening to the bells ringing in nearby temples all around Japan. The bell ringing on New Year's Eve is called, "Joya no Kane" and the bells will ring 108 times before midnight. In Buddhist religion, the bells ringing 108 times represent all 108 of human desires. By ringing the bells once for each desire, we can cleanse our hearts and souls and head into the new year free and clean from our worldly desires that keep us from the higher ground.

Toshikoshi soba and crab... Ummmm!

I wish you all could share in a taste of our soba and enjoy health and a long life. But, since our technology hasn't gotten advanced enough for me to send you soba over the Internet, here is a photo of Toshikoshi soba for New Year's Eve Dec. 31, 2010 and here's a video of the bells ringing:

Enjoy!

Also, as I mentioned, 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit. Here's some info on that for you!

If you are interested in Feng Shui and how you can use the ancient Chinese art of design and decoration to increase your luck and happiness in 2011, read this.

For Chinese Horoscope:

General predictions for the Year of the Rabbit


The year of the Rabbit is traditionally associated with home and family, artistic pursuits, diplomacy, and keeping the peace. Therefore, 2011 is very likely to be a relatively calmer one than 2010 both on the world scene, as well as on a personal level.


Conversely, nations will also become more insular and increasingly lock down their borders to protect against the "other". However, 2011 will also see new art movements projecting a distinct national identity taking the world by storm. Shrewd and creative new business partnerships will also form to the benefit of all.


Rabbits who thrive on delicate business dealings are best suited to navigating the year ahead. Those compatible with the Rabbit — the Sheep, Dog and Pig in particular — will also find 2011's circumstances inspiring them to greater personal happiness and professional success.


Others will suffer, by degree, depending on how flexible they are to the world mood. Those who have cultivated careful negotiation skills (or, perhaps more importantly, can sniff-out and swiftly dodge dangerous situations!), may attain similar good luck enjoyed by rabbits and those compatible with them in 2011.


For more specific information and learn more about what the omens are for your future in the New Year, check out Your Chinese Horoscope for 2011 and find out what else the animals of fortune predict for you in 2011.

Happy New Year of the Rabbit 2011!