Katsu curry for 950 yen. I recently read an article that said, "Katsu curry is only eaten at soba restaurants" because of the broth. Interesting, right? Despite the rain, I went to this place near a client's location. It was around 11:45 AM, and there were 6 customers already there with more coming in later. It seems like there are limited dining options in the area, considering the popularity even in this weather. The interior had tables and a raised seating area, giving off a typical soba restaurant vibe. The menu was diverse, with ramen also available. I decided on the katsu curry, which was served in an oval plate. I like this shape. The breadcrumbs were a bit coarse, making the coating easy to come off, but the meat was tender and blended well with the curry. The curry was slightly loose and sweet, with pork and onion as toppings, and plenty of sauce. The curry, katsu, and rice were all hot, which was a good thing. As it cooled down, the curry became even looser, perhaps due to starch paste mixed with broth. This might be the reason why soba restaurants are particular about their curry. It was a delicious katsu curry with a deep sweetness rather than spiciness. Towards the end, more customers came in, and someone ordered "moyashi soba." I was confused at first, thinking it was soba with bean sprouts on top. I checked the menu again and realized it was a type of Chinese-style soba with bean sprouts. Interesting discovery! Enjoyed the meal.

Recently... I often hear people say that the ratings are too lenient! Yes, that's true... In the past, there were no set rules and ratings were usually between 3.0 and 3.5 stars, but lately, it's common to see ratings of 3.5 stars or higher. To all the staff members of the restaurants I reviewed before, I sincerely apologize. I'm sorry. But, I do this for stress relief, so I'm sorry if my ratings are inconsistent. Originally, this was just a personal memo, so I apologize. Sorry. 17:17 - "Kinoko Oroshi Soba" for 900 yen 17:21 - The presentation looks delicious! But... the broth is served separately? Do I pour it over the noodles or dip them in? When I asked, they said, "It's up to the customer's preference." I'm a bit uncivilized, so I'll pour it over. After mixing everything up, I'll save the broth to enjoy later. Let's dig in... Oh? Delicious! It tastes good. I don't understand complex flavors or scents, but it's tasty. I can enjoy it leisurely. I can relax and savor it. Bon appétit! Thank you very much. 3.04 stars out of 5, from 2 reviews.

Located in Ikebukuro Honcho, the nearest station is Kita-Ikebukuro... I think? It's a bit difficult to access by car because it's on a one-way street and you can't enter from Kawagoe Kaido. It's a local soba shop a bit far from Shimo-Itabashi, Kita-Ikebukuro, and Ikebukuro stations. I visited this place on my way home from work. From the outside, it looks bright and quite clean. I had the duck soba for 850 yen. The soba is quite white, like a refined soba. It has a mild flavor, thin and slightly firm, with a good texture! Yes, the soba here is delicious!! The duck broth is slightly thick with green onions and duck. The duck slices are thin but there are plenty of them. The slightly sweet and salty broth with the duck flavor is delicious. There was a hint of fat floating on top. The combination of soba and duck broth is really good, the rich broth mixes well. On a cold day, the deliciousness is doubled. This soba shop around here is similar to Nagomisoba, I think. Although the character of the broth is completely different. I was sad when Akagi in Ikebukuro Nitchome closed, but I'm glad there is a delicious soba shop nearby (laughs). I'll definitely stop by again on my way home! Besides soba, they also have a variety of rice dishes, and it seems like you can just order soba as well. There are families dining here and also people using it for drinking, and you can also quickly have dinner like me.

When you cross the Kawagoe Kaido from Ikebukuro, you'll find Ikebukuro Honcho. In this area, there are few legitimate soba shops. This shop also serves soba and alcohol at night. The "Mori Soba and Kalbi Don Set" (¥1,000) is recommended. The soba here has a rich flavor, and the soba water is also delicious with minimal impurities. The soba noodles are thin and white, made by using only the inner part of the soba grain, resulting in a white color. The soba has a normal level of firmness, and the soba broth is well-balanced with soy sauce without an overpowering bonito flavor. The wasabi here is quite potent, so be careful not to put too much. The Kalbi Don is made with thinly sliced marinated beef on top of rice, sprinkled with white sesame seeds. It's a tasty mini-donburi. Just be cautious when alternating between oily dishes and soba, as the oil may float on the soba broth. This shop offers delicious soba in the Ikebukuro Nishiguchi area, where legitimate soba shops are scarce. It's a bit far, but worth a visit for a change from the usual standing soba shops near the station.