Last week, I tried Taiwan-style mixed noodles and the strong flavors of garlic and chives kept me awake all night and gave me a stomach ache. I wanted to see if this was different from oil noodles, so I visited a chain restaurant near my workplace on Saturday. I had been avoiding it because I thought it might not be suitable for women, but I finally decided to give it a try. The conclusion was that it was a bland noodle dish... Taiwan-style mixed noodles win. The noodles, the sauce, even when I added vinegar and chili oil myself, and the unlimited onions, it still couldn't compare to the strength of Taiwan-style mixed noodles. It was just a monotonous dish. To make matters worse, the air conditioning was broken... What a disappointment!!

It's a weekend night visit, I worked overtime in Kinshicho and had a meal before going home. I ordered: - Abura soba (oil noodles) regular size for 820 yen - Special topping B for 340 yen - Small beer for 380 yen I tried to sit at the counter in front of the kitchen, but it was too hot. The air conditioning seemed to be malfunctioning. Abura soba comes in regular, large, and double sizes for the same price. It may seem cost-effective to young people at first glance, but the cost seems low. Well, it was just delicious. Thank you for the meal.

After drinking and feeling a little tipsy on my way home, I unexpectedly stumbled upon the main branch of Abura Soba. I couldn't resist going in. As usual, I had a bowl with plenty of onions, chili oil, vinegar mixed seven times, and yuzu pepper. I ate it all in one go, feeling guilty, but the next day, I found myself craving it again.

Tokyo Abura Soba Sohonten in Kinshicho is still bustling as ever. All male customers on the day I visited. With prices ranging from regular to large to double portions all at 880 yen, it's great for when you want to eat a lot. The toppings include char siu, bamboo shoots, and green onions. You can add special seasonings like onions, vinegar, and spicy oil to mix in as you like. Adding some spice halfway through really boosts your appetite. It was a delicious meal!

It's a chain, but my favorite place for abura soba. When I looked it up, it seems to be operated by the same company as the tsukemen place "Yasubee"! This time, I added toppings of sesame and green onions, along with a half-boiled egg. With the half-boiled egg, the flavor becomes milder. It's also good without it!

The fact that you can enjoy a large portion, W size, at the regular price is truly amazing. Being able to choose between minced garlic and grated garlic as toppings made the dish even more delicious. If I had to point out one thing, I would suggest that the oil noodles should come with a soft-boiled egg or a half-boiled egg as it is a common expectation.

Opened on March 9, 2023. Purchase a meal ticket from the ticket machine. The noodle menu consists of only two options: "Abura Soba for 880 yen" and "Spicy Miso Abura Soba for 980 yen". Noodles come in regular, large, or double portions at the same price. Although not listed on the ticket machine, the regular portion is 160g before boiling. There are condiments available on the table and at the ticket machine, all free of charge. On the table: chopped onions, chili oil, vinegar, pepper, and spicy seasoning. At the ticket machine: grated garlic, chopped garlic, and yuzu pepper. For this visit, the following buttons were pressed: Abura Soba W Size 980 yen, Special Topping A 180 yen, 3 Water Dumplings 200 yen, Crushed Raw Garlic W 0 yen, Yuzu Pepper 0 yen. It is recommended to add chili oil or vinegar to the noodles while they are still hot to prevent sticking. There was a significant amount of oil at the bottom of the bowl. The menu claims that Abura Soba has two-thirds of the calories compared to ramen, but this seems highly doubtful. The standard toppings included 3 bamboo shoots, 3 slices of chashu, and chopped seaweed, which seemed lacking in quantity. The chashu was thinly sliced, which made it easier to mix with the noodles. The Special Topping A included a soft-boiled egg and green onions with sesame seeds, which was reasonably priced at 180 yen. The noodles were medium to thick in size, and the sauce lacked flavor, with a slightly strong spicy taste that overpowered the noodle's flavor. The noodles were said to contain a special layer called the aleurone layer within the wheat, but it seemed like the seasoning did not do it justice. The dish had a monotonous taste, even after adding chopped onions and yuzu pepper throughout. Although the W size noodles may have been worth the price, the 980 yen seemed expensive considering the lack of a soup base and small amount of toppings. There are 56 Tokyo Abura Soba shops listed on Tabelog, with an average overall score of 3.05. This may be due to the high markup on the cost of ingredients.

A new ramen shop recently opened and I visited it right away. It was very crowded on the first day, but it seems to have calmed down after a few days. The tsukemen is delicious, but it seems like something you can find anywhere without any unique characteristics. In the past, mayonnaise used to be free at many places, but now it seems to come with an additional charge. If it's going to cost 880 yen for this, I'd rather spend my money at other ramen shops that are working hard to stand out.

A restaurant opened on March 9, 2023, near the south exit square of JR Kinshicho Station, where many eateries are lined up. Specializing in Abura Soba, it has arrived in Kinshicho as well. I ordered the Abura Soba with special toppings (double portion), which doesn't change the price even with the double portion (320g), so I didn't hesitate to order it. I also added the recommended toppings by the staff (green onion sesame seeds + half-boiled egg). It was quite a generous portion, so it was a bit of a challenge to mix in the vinegar or chili oil. The regular toppings alone were delicious, but the green onion sesame seeds added flavor and the half-boiled egg added creaminess. If you opt for the double portion, it might be better to add toppings for flavor variation. I also tried the Spicy Miso Abura Soba with special toppings (regular portion). Since I wasn't sure about the spiciness level, I went for the regular portion (160g). As expected, the spiciness from the chili peppers was strong, so if you're not a fan of spicy food, it's better to avoid it. Adding the chopped onions provided on the table enhances the flavor. Thank you for the meal.

Located near the station with plenty of coin parking available, this chain restaurant with 49 locations in Japan offers a choice between regular and spicy ramen. Upon arrival, I chose the regular ramen for a promotional price of 500 yen. I exchanged my ticket for a seat and was served my ramen within 5 minutes. The bowl contained chashu, menma, seaweed, and green onions. Following the instructions, I mixed the oil and vinegar around the bowl. The ramen was delicious and satisfying, especially for the price. With the option to add chili oil for extra flavor, I thoroughly enjoyed this budget-friendly and tasty meal.

I usually don't prefer eating oil noodles, but when it's only one coin, I have to go! Although I couldn't go for lunch in March due to busy work, I was frustrated, so I visited at night. Hmm, as expected, there were 8 people waiting even on a weekday night, thanks to the extra information shared online in front of Kinshicho Station. I waited for about 20 minutes and finally got inside. The operation was smooth. It's a chain store after all. I tried the regular oil noodles campaign price of 820 yen → 500 yen. You can increase the size for the same price, of course. Is there a table at the back too? But even at the counter, there are thoughtful things like hangers for jackets and storage for belongings, which is impressive. However, to be honest, the oil noodles were just average. It felt like something I would make at home when there's nothing to eat, with a casual sauce and pasta or udon boiled in a hurry. I personally feel a bit resistant to eating it at a restaurant. Well, it's okay for 500 yen, but I don't think it's worth the regular price. Kasugatei in Kinshicho has its own unique charm, and the now-closed Junk Garage in Morishita, which was affiliated with Rokurinsha, had a unique personality. It would be interesting if they brought out more individuality, but this place gives off a more orthodox oil noodles vibe, tasty but lacking in uniqueness. It might be good for a first try. They seem to have a focus on the noodles, but noodles that are not rinsed in cold water tend to get sticky without soup. Also, having oil noodles for dinner in a large size, I ate too much, but I think it might be a bit unsatisfying for lunch. I might go one more time with the topping coupon I received, as the promotion period is long. I'm putting my evaluation on hold.

"Oil soba (regular size)" and "Special Topping A"

I had the oil ramen (regular size). The noodles were chewy and the flavor was lighter than I expected, making it refreshing. I enjoyed adjusting the taste using the condiments on the table and finished the meal happily. Thank you for the meal.

It was delicious.