Today, I took a day off from work and visited a delicious soba restaurant called Teuchi Soba Jiyu San, located near Higashi-Nagasaki Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line.The restaurant is about a 10-minute walk from the station, situated along the road. I arrived at 11:20 AM, ten minutes before the 11:30 AM opening, and signed my name and party size on the waiting list. It was quite busy today due to the heat, and I was the seventh group in line. We waited in front of the restaurant until it opened, and when the owner hung the noren (curtain) and called my name, I was directed to sit inside.I waited for about 1 hour and 10 minutes for my turn during the second round.Although there are four chairs lined up, the space is quite cramped when they are pushed together, making it uncomfortable to wait for a long time while being in close proximity to others. It’s better than waiting outside for an hour in the rain or extreme heat, but I wish there was a bit more space between the chairs. I understand the restaurant wants to accommodate as many people as possible.I was seated at the counter, which was quite spacious. A wet towel and chopsticks were provided.The restaurant is run by a couple. After looking at the menu on the table, I had a hard time deciding but eventually chose the Jyu Course with Inaka Soba and a small serving of soba with tororo (grated yam), along with a craft beer.First, my beer and a small serving of fried soba were brought to me. The craft beer was from Tamamura Honten, a collaboration called DOGFISH HEAD x OXBOW x SHIGA KOGEN / Kind of Gold, with an alcohol content of 8%. It was fruity, smooth, and delicious. The secret to its great taste is the proper cleaning of the glass.The soba with tororo (small serving) was served next, and I was told to mix it well. It looked beautiful with soba grains, tororo, mozuku seaweed, nori, and wasabi on top. After mixing it as instructed, I enjoyed the cold, smooth texture, combining the flavors of yam tororo and the acidity of the mozuku with the nutty taste of the soba grains. It was a perfect dish for the hot season—absolutely delicious.The soba was served from the seiro (bamboo tray). This soba is made with 100% buckwheat. First, I tried it plain, and the shine was remarkable as I lifted it with my chopsticks. The texture was excellent, and I couldn’t help but admire its deliciousness. Next, I dipped it in the coarse salt provided on the table, which was also good. I also tried it with the dipping sauce, which was fantastic. It had no overpowering soy sauce smell, and the balance with the dipping sauce was just right. The smooth texture made it delightful.After finishing, I was offered more Inaka Soba, and I was recommended to try it with ume salt. This soba was cut a bit thicker. I first tried it plain again, enjoying the aroma of the soba grains. When I dipped it in the ume salt, the natural sweetness of the soba was enhanced. I also tried it with the dipping sauce, which was wonderful—so delicious.I ordered a second round of craft beer.A small serving of nishin soba was brought to me next. This warm soba came with simmered nishin (herring). The sweetness of the nishin complemented the soba beautifully. The soba paired well with the broth, and the seasoning of the nishin was not overpowering, allowing the broth to shine through.After that, the sobayu (soba water) was served. It was very hot, and I poured it into a small cup, adding the leftover broth and green onions. It was thick and delicious.The set included a dessert of mizu azuki (sweet red bean jelly), served with hojicha (roasted green tea). It was much finer than regular mizu yokan, with no graininess from the azuki beans. It surpassed the level of traditional wagashi (Japanese sweets). This is definitely a dish you must try.Everything was delicious. It was a great meal. The atmosphere was cozy, and both the owner and his wife provided excellent service. I would love to visit this restaurant again if I have the chance.Dishes:- Jyu Course (cold seiro soba, warm small nishin soba, mizu azuki)- Inaka Soba- Soba with tororo (small serving)Drinks:- Craft Beer (Tamamura Honten DOGFISH HEAD x OXBOW x SHIGA KOGEN / Kind of Gold): 2 cupsFeatures:- Table and counter seating- Spacious- Luggage storage available- Waiting list for busy times (outside before opening, inside after opening)- A comfortable place for solo diners- No parking available (coin parking nearby)Total: JPY 7500
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