Oil soba is said to have originated from Musashino City's "Chin Chin Tei" or Kunitachi's "Sankou," which has become common knowledge. However, there is a shop that challenges this belief. In the nostalgic area of Ogu to Minowa along the Toden tram line, there is a place called Hokushin. The previous owner developed oil soba and has been serving it in this area since around 1960. While Chin Chin Tei, considered the most likely origin of oil soba, was established in 1957, it is unclear when they started serving oil soba. There is a possibility that Hokushin is the true origin of oil soba. The retro atmosphere of the Showa era is strong in this downtown area. It is full of infinite potential. I arrived at 12:40 on a weekday and there were three other customers, so I was able to enter without waiting. The exterior and interior of the shop exude nostalgia. It has a very rural vibe, reminiscent of a countryside setting. It's wonderful. Today, I ordered the oil soba for ¥550, which is cheap! Looking at the menu, all the dishes are affordable. *Note: No photography is allowed inside the restaurant. When I ordered the oil soba, the staff asked if I was okay with a lot of garlic and if it was my first time trying it. They also requested not to take photos. Two young men who seemed like regulars nearby asked, "Oh, we can't take photos here?" to which the owner replied, "Amateurs post photos on the internet, and then people come here based on those photos, and they're not always good." He said this with a laugh. Just to clarify, the owner has a refreshing personality, typical of a downtown guy, and is very pleasant. The dish was served in about 10 minutes. I eagerly dug in. The medium-thick curly noodles were chewy and had a nice bounce to them. They were soft but had a good elasticity, making them easy to eat and perfect for oil soba. I wonder if these are homemade noodles? The sauce was a soy-based one with a strong garlic kick. Despite the strong garlic flavor, it was surprisingly refreshing. There was also a hint of sweetness. I don't know if it's just my imagination, but this taste is probably what the original oil soba tastes like (laughs). The chashu was thinly sliced and soaked in the sauce, giving it a delicious flavor. Wow, this oil soba is delicious. They also provided soup to finish off the meal. It seemed to be a chicken broth-based soup, not overly strong in flavor, but still tasty. And all this for ¥550! The other dishes are also reasonably priced, and I don't think they've raised prices in a few years. This might be the original oil soba, and it was incredibly delicious, but I believe this is just a fantastic neighborhood restaurant in general. I feel lucky to have such a place within walking distance of my home! I will definitely be a regular here. Thank you for the meal.

No matter how many times I eat it, the oil noodles here are delicious. Well, the garlic is really strong, so if you have plans to kiss someone, it's definitely not a good idea haha. Mix the thick, chewy noodles with nostalgic ingredients and enjoy. I've been eating here for 50 years, and it's really delicious. As mentioned in other reviews, when the noodles are almost gone, they bring ramen soup. Pour the soup into the leftover sauce and drink it. I'm worried that the owner doesn't seem to be feeling well. I hope they stay healthy.

2023.02.08 (Wed) Cloudy First visit 12:41 Entered the shop, No customers before, 1 customer after, 12:48 Served Tanmen: 550 yen I visited seeking Tanmen and entered the shop, seated at a 4-person table near the entrance. I confirmed "Tanmen" on the menu and placed my order verbally. Immediately, the owner placed a glass of water and a paper towel on the table. The table condiments included soy sauce, vinegar, chili oil, shichimi pepper, and pepper. An ashtray was also provided for smoking. There was a TV in the raised seating area showing TCN Rakugo Hour. (Seating was not possible due to the space occupied by the TV.) The Tanmen was served in about 7 minutes. I asked for permission to take a photo of the Tanmen when it was served, but the owner politely declined with a smile. (Of course, I gave up on taking a picture of the Tanmen as per the owner's request.) The noodles were thick curly wheat noodles with a soft texture, slightly chewy. Ingredients: pork, cabbage, bean sprouts, carrots, onions, spinach. The pork and vegetables were stir-fried before being simmered in the soup. The pork was small pieces of pork shoulder, tender and delicious without any unpleasant smell. The cabbage was thickly cut and had a light crunchy texture. Bean sprouts, carrots, and onions were soft and easy to eat, having absorbed enough heat. The spinach was very soft and well-cooked. The amount of vegetables was about 200g, and it was not lacking. The soup had a cloudy appearance with a salty taste. The broth was made from pork bones, chicken bones, and aromatic vegetables, enhanced with seasoning for a strong umami flavor. It was quite salty with a good amount of oil, giving it a rich taste. There were coarse ground black peppers settled at the bottom of the soup, but the flavor and spiciness of the pepper were not prominent. I finished the noodles and ingredients but left most of the soup due to its saltiness. I settled the bill with the owner and left the shop. Overall, the noodles and ingredients were satisfactory. The soup was bold with its strong saltiness and oiliness. The affordable price was also a plus. The owner's customer service was very polite and attentive. He even asked if the soup was too salty while I was drinking it, showing his consideration. The cleanliness of the shop... I would like to try Champon and Gyoza next time. Thank you for the meal.

Old-fashioned Chinese restaurant in town. Ordered gyoza for 350 yen and abura soba for 550 yen. Despite the recent high cost of ingredients, the prices have remained the same as before. The gyoza had a little less filling, but was juicy with the moisture from the vegetables and fat from the meat. They recommended using their original gyoza sauce, which already had chili oil mixed in. It was delicious and complemented the gyoza well. Tasty, but loaded with garlic, so be careful! The abura soba has apparently been around since shortly after the war, with the previous owner of the current shop owner collaborating with a nearby liquor store to perfect the abura soba sauce. Also packed with garlic and ginger, the sauce is mixed into the noodles. It's a bit different from the typical abura soba, but very delicious. The elderly shop owner, who has been feeling under the weather lately, closed the shop at 1:25 PM. It seems that the closing time has been moved up. However, the satisfaction of the meal for only 900 yen is amazing.

When you come here, the only choice is the set of abura soba (oil noodles) and gyoza. Depending on how hungry you are, you can order one more dish. This time, I ordered the leek and liver stir-fry. The beer is only available in bottles and it's self-service, which is funny. It was a hot day, so the foam disappeared quickly. The gyoza here is one of the best I've ever had. I haven't had abura soba anywhere else, but this one with lots of garlic is delicious. The dipping sauce after eating is also tasty as part of the set.

In Arakawa Ward, Nishiohku, there is a Chinese restaurant called "Hokushin." This is my second visit, and the old-fashioned charm remains unchanged. To be honest, this is not a particularly clean restaurant, just to be clear. Last time, I tried the Cantonese noodles and was shocked by the delicious taste and the atmosphere of the restaurant. However, this time I found something interesting on the menu. I ordered the "Katsu Don" dish, but the owner said they couldn't make it today. So, I decided to go with the "Tan Wantan Men" instead. This dish is a combination of Tanmen and Wantan noodles, priced at 750 yen. The cute meat-filled Wantan noodles, combined with the rich pork bone broth and the deliciousness of the vegetables, created an exquisite soup. Just like the Cantonese noodles, the preparation of the vegetables was excellent, enhancing the deliciousness. Hokushin is truly a hidden gem. It was delicious! Just a heads up, there is a slope towards the back, so be careful when sitting at the counter. Next time, I will try the original "Abura Soba" that they are known for, but before that, I will order the Katsu Don again. Thank you, Hokushin, for the delicious meal!

At the restaurant called "Kitachin" in Nishiogikubo, they serve a delicious dish called "Abura Soba" which some claim to be the original version. It is a type of Abura Soba that packs a punch with garlic. The dish comes with a side of broth that you pour into the remaining sauce to finish off the meal. They also offer a version with ginger instead of garlic. With a nearby coin laundry and the delicious food, it might just become a regular spot in our rotation.

This is a residential area about a 10-minute walk from Nishi-Ojikata-bata Station and Oji Station in Arakawa-ku. I felt like having Chinese food during work and ended up here at the Chinese restaurant "Hokushin." The atmosphere is a bit rugged... or rather, quite intimidating. But since I had come this far, I mustered up the courage and entered. The interior of the restaurant gives off a vibe like actor Takakura Ken might have a meal here after being released from prison. There is a slope from the kitchen to the exit, so be careful not to slip (haha). Looking at the clear menu on the counter, I started to feel hopeful. The orange menu items seemed promising. The owner, who seemed like a regular, was very polite and made me feel comfortable. The table menu had a variety of items (I actually didn't notice the pork cutlet rice bowl). I was intrigued by the "Tan Wantan Men," but as it was my first time at this Chinese restaurant, I decided to go with the "Cantonese Noodles" for 700 yen. Wow, it looks delicious! The glossy simmered pork bone soup with a rich aroma made me take a sip. The savory taste of the meat, the sweetness of the vegetables, and the good fragrance were all present. The finely chopped squid, thick and fluffy carrots, and sweet Chinese cabbage were evidence of careful preparation. The onions and wood ear mushrooms added a nice touch to the dish. The thick noodles coated in this deliciously rich soup were just perfect... in other words, it was extremely delicious! I devoured it in no time. Upon further research, I found out that Hokushin is said to be the originator of "oil soba." The mysterious Hokushin in Oji seems to have a lot to offer. I will continue my investigation thoroughly. Thank you for the wonderful meal. ☆

I visited a Chinese restaurant called "Hokushin" around 11 am on a certain day in October 2019. It is located about a 10-minute walk from Tabata Station, just off the main street. The interior of the restaurant looks quite old, with only one customer inside. I sat at the counter where an older man seemed to be running the place by himself. I ordered the "Shanghai-style Yakisoba" for ¥750. It was served after a 10-minute wait. The dish was not very large, with slightly thick noodles cooked with seafood and vegetables in a salty sauce. The noodles were quite soft and the saltiness was strong. The quality of the ingredients was average for a typical Chinese restaurant. The squid and shrimp had a satisfying size. Honestly, the worn-out atmosphere of the restaurant did not really stimulate my appetite. However, the restaurant offers decent Chinese food at a reasonable price. Their specialty seems to be the oil noodles, so I would like to try that next time. Personally, I would recommend a renovation of the interior for this Chinese restaurant.

I had oil soba and gyoza. It was delicious with a lot of garlic, and had an addictive taste. The toppings were bean sprouts, naruto, menma, and thickly sliced chashu, keeping it simple. Mixing the thick noodles in was really tasty. I got full with the gyoza. Thank you for the meal.

The shop has a quite old-fashioned appearance with sliding doors that rattle when opened. The menu is simple and cheap, with a wide variety of options. The slim man silently prepares the food. Two pairs of regular customers arrived later. I ordered soy sauce ramen and gyoza. I was surprised by the soy sauce ramen! The soup had a film on top, probably to keep it from getting cold. It reminded me of the old Men-Men in Sumida. The taste was very delicious, unlike any soy sauce ramen I've had before. It wasn't too salty and had a unique flavor that was addictive. There seemed to be a special touch with garlic stir-fried at the bottom. It's really delicious. The best in this neighborhood!

Since then, I have been there several times and realized that the boiled dumplings are the best.

I went to Hokushin for the first time. It's like a ramen shop in town, but it says "Gyoza House". I didn't eat gyoza this time. Among the various menu options, I had the abura soba for 550 yen. It had a strong taste with a good amount of garlic. They asked me, "How do you want the soup? Do you want it in the beginning, later, or halfway through?" I decided to have it added halfway through. When I added the soup halfway through, it gave a slightly different flavor. Overall, the taste is rich but not overpowering. It was crowded as it was lunchtime. There was only one man handling everything. I'll go again next time.

It was a traditional soy sauce ramen. It was light, so I drank all the soup too.