After the COVID-19 pandemic, Kagurazaka was quieter than before. Yama Semi-san was no exception, with few customers on Sunday nights and fewer hall staff, making it a bit lonely. The menu has also been updated, with some old favorites like the long yam buckwheat flour tempura no longer available. However, new items have been added, and I was excited to try the corn tempura, which was served as a tempura fritter in the summer. The crispy tempura, when dipped in salt, brings out the sweetness of the corn. For dessert, I had the seasonal tempura set for 1500 yen, which included large shrimp, conger eel, zucchini, baby corn, and small eggplant - a luxurious selection of my favorite summer vegetables. I also love their plum wine. It's hard to find a place that serves this plum wine, so I hope they never remove it from the menu! Everyone is enduring a tough time, but hang in there!

After exiting the Ushigome Kagurazaka Station on the Toei Oedo Line and taking the A3 exit, go straight to the right. At the Kagurazaka intersection, continue straight ahead to find the restaurant on the right side. I tried the recommended Hire Tonkatsu (150g) Soba Set. The Hire Katsu, fried at low temperature, is tender with less fat compared to loin, making it light and delicious. The frying process is meticulous, focusing on the balance of breadcrumbs and temperature, resulting in a slow and thorough frying. The sauce options include Worcestershire sauce, tonkatsu sauce, rock salt, and shichimi, with wasabi served on the side. You can enjoy the original flavors first before dipping the tonkatsu in your preferred sauce. The set offers a generous portion of both tonkatsu and soba, with unlimited cabbage refills. You can choose between cold or hot soba, and I opted for the hot Hanamaki soba, made with domestically ground buckwheat flour and roasted seaweed that complements the soba broth perfectly. The set also includes pickles and soba soup. In addition to the Hire Tonkatsu, the menu offers Hire Kushikatsu, Loin Tonkatsu (150g), signature Hiretare Katsu Don, Loin Katsu Nabe, and Soba Shop's Katsu Curry. The restaurant also offers takeout options such as Tendon, Tare Katsu Don, Oyakodon, Seiro Soba, Duck Seiro Soba, Tempura 5 Variety, Tempura 8 Variety, and Dashimaki Tamago. I didn't try them this time, but there were limited quantities of Hokkaido Amadake 2023 Summer New Soba and Tochigi Moka 2023 Summer New Soba made from special order buckwheat flour. Both are limited to the day of visit. Overall, this is a recommended spot for tonkatsu and soba lovers, conveniently located near the station.

For more details, please visit the blog: https://tokyo-tabearuki.com/yamasemi-kagurazaka 1. Tokyo Tabearuki Record: Kagurazaka / Iidabashi Tonkatsu 2. What is Yamasemi in Kagurazaka? 3. How to get to Yamasemi in Kagurazaka, appearance, business hours 4. Menu and atmosphere at Yamasemi in Kagurazaka 5. Enjoying the Hire Tonkatsu Soba Set at Yamasemi in Kagurazaka 1. Tokyo Tabearuki Record: Kagurazaka / Iidabashi Tonkatsu Tonkatsu Kenjin in Iidabashi, Nari Kura, Kagurazaka - Managers have opened their own shops and are already causing a buzz! Tonkatsu Agezuki, Agezuki in Kagurazaka - A highly popular restaurant with a long line for the tonkatsu made from rare "Southern Island Pork" 2. What is Yamasemi in Kagurazaka? Yamasemi in Kagurazaka opened in May 2009. As of September 20, 2023, it has a rating of 3.49 on Tabelog and 3.8 on Google Maps. Originally, it seemed like an izakaya where you could enjoy soba, but now you can also enjoy tonkatsu. And the tonkatsu is supervised by that chef who has worked on many popular restaurants. Let me quote part of the PR TIMES article. Chef Masashi Saito, who has produced many famous restaurants such as Fritz, Shunkotei, and Ponchi Ken, listed in the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand, has supervised the tonkatsu menu at "Yamasemi Kagurazaka"! The tonkatsu, which evolves in style at each store, continues to focus on frying at a low temperature for a long time. At Yamasemi, we fry with a focus on the balance of temperature and breadcrumbs more than ever before. The Hire Katsu is especially recommended. Enjoy it with soba. It's amazing that it is supervised by Chef Saito, who has been listed in the Michelin Guide for 9 consecutive years, such as "Ponchi Ken". 3. How to get to Yamasemi in Kagurazaka, appearance, business hours Address: 1F, 5-31 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0825 6 minutes walk from Kagurazaka Station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line 10 minutes walk uphill from Iidabashi Station West Exit on the JR line 2 minutes walk from Exit A3 of Ushigome Kagurazaka Station on the Oedo Line Along Kagurazaka. Go from Kagurazaka and return to Iidabashi. Iidabashi is a bit far, but it's an easy-to-understand location as it's along Kagurazaka. Yamasemi Kagurazaka's appearance: A white noren with "Soba Tonkatsu" written on it. Yamasemi Kagurazaka's appearance: Today's companion is Q-chan. We met near the store around 7 pm after his work. [Yamasemi Kagurazaka's business hours] Mon-Fri 11:30-14:30 (L.O14:00) / 17:30-22:00 (L.O21:15) Sat, Sun, holidays 11:30-15:00 (L.O14:30) / 17:30-22:00 (L.O21:15) Closed: None 4. Menu and atmosphere at Yamasemi in Kagurazaka There were photos of special service sets at the storefront. It's rare to have soba sets for oyakodon, tarekatsudon, and katsucurry besides tendon. Yamasemi Kagurazaka's tonkatsu menu: We ordered the Hire Katsu and soba set. The menu also mentioned the same things as the article introduced at the beginning. I usually prefer loin katsu, but if Chef Saito recommends the Hire Katsu, I can't resist. The restaurant has 45 seats, according to Tabelog, and it's quite popular. There was also the sun sauce that you can find at Ponchi Ken on the table. It's a Worcestershire sauce with a strong umami flavor. It's nice to have dressing for cabbage. Pink rock salt was also provided. 5. Enjoying the Hire Tonkatsu Soba Set at Yamasemi in Kagurazaka We had a draft beer ===========

I am the baseball king Sitou! I put my life on pitching, gourmet food, and alcohol! How is everyone doing? Today, I came to eat tonkatsu with my friends! It's a restaurant that my friend said was delicious! The atmosphere inside the restaurant has a nice Japanese vibe, my friend said it's cool Japan, and I also thought I'm cool Japan! Today, I wanted to have tonkatsu and soba, so I'll stick to beer for now! First, beer, it has a refreshing taste and it's delicious! Restaurants that pour beer well are usually good, so I'm looking forward to it! I'm going to have the pork cutlet hot pot and warm soba. The warm soba is beautifully garnished with vegetables, and the taste of the soba and not too strong broth brings out the true deliciousness of soba. The richness of the vegetables and soba's flavor goes straight to your brain. The pork cutlet hot pot is incredibly delicious! The softness of the egg enhances the taste of the pork cutlet, and the melted fat's flavor is also incredibly delicious. It's quite a rich feeling. I also tried my friend's pork cutlet and cold soba. When I tried the pork cutlet, the deliciousness of the premium meat stood out first. The rich flavor of the fat on the edge of the meat is also very delicious! I tried various ways of eating it, but I also found that it's very delicious to eat it with sauce. The cold soba also has a wonderful texture and is delicious. The strong aroma of the soba is delicious on its own, and even with various condiments, it's incredibly delicious. The daikon radish grated on the side of the pork cutlet and various condiments also make it incredibly delicious. This is an amazing restaurant! It's a place where the joy of eating is heightened and I had a very comfortable time with the great atmosphere and staff. See you later!

I visited Yamase-mi restaurant. I ordered the limited quantity matsutake mushroom and large shrimp tempura seiro, which were still available. The matsutake mushroom was large and had a firm texture. It came with dipping sauce and salt, but the salt was the best match for the matsutake. The large shrimp tempura came with dipping sauce as well, and they also generously included grated daikon radish. The soba noodles were made from new buckwheat from Hokkaido. Lastly, I had soba broth, which was thick and creamy! I drank it all up (laughs). It was delicious!

When I went to Kagurazaka, I always noticed this restaurant that was always full and sometimes had a line outside, which made me curious. I visited on a Saturday at 11:30 and even before opening, there were already 3 groups waiting, showing how popular it is. This place mainly serves soba and tonkatsu, and they offer a set where you can enjoy both soba and tonkatsu, which is perfect for those who are feeling a bit greedy. They also have appetizer tonkatsu and other side dishes, so it seems like it would be very lively during the evening hours. - Hire Tonkatsu Soba Set (¥1,760): This set is a luxurious combination of tonkatsu, soba, and a small bowl of rice. I chose the hire tonkatsu, which was slightly pink and juicy with plenty of meat juices, making it very delicious. It was so tender that you could drink it! You can enjoy it with sauce, Worcestershire sauce, or salt according to your preference. The rice that came with it was also satisfying. The soba can be chosen as cold or hot, and since it was a hot day, I chose the cold soba. The soba here is also authentic, with a smooth and refreshing texture. - Roast Tonkatsu Soba Set (¥1,760): The roast tonkatsu was also surprisingly tender! The hire was delicious, but the roast was also very tasty and satisfying. Since it's roast, it goes especially well with the sauce. The sweet and non-cloying fat content is evidence of using high-quality meat. It was amazing to enjoy delicious tonkatsu, scoop up the rice, and also have soba! This time, I had the soba set, but you can also order just soba or just tonkatsu. They also have roast katsu nabe, hire katsu nabe, katsu curry, and kushikatsu, so I want to try them all. #Kagurazaka Yama Semi - Type: Tonkatsu, Soba - Price: ¥1,000 to ¥2,000 (lunch) - Closed: None - Business Hours: 11:30-15:00 / 17:30-22:00 - Food Blog Rating: 3.49

This is a review of a restaurant called "Yamaseimi" in Kagurazaka. They offer fresh fish and soba noodles sourced directly from the producers, with options like sashimi platters, tempura rice bowls, and soba noodles served with hot or cold dipping sauce. They also have a limited quantity of 100% buckwheat soba noodles. The soba noodles come with a thick and creamy soba broth, which was a unique experience for me. The set menu costs 1500 yen, while the sashimi and soba set costs 1980 yen. It's a great place to enjoy for lunch or dinner, and the combination of sashimi and soba noodles pairs well with drinks.

The restaurant is reminiscent of the popular Menchikatsu restaurant, Ponchiken, with a crispy coating and juicy tender meat. There are many great side dishes and a wide variety of drinks available. It's a great place to enjoy a leisurely drink. Kagurazaka has many famous restaurants, but some are a bit overrated, so this place is a welcome find.

Today was hot and humid, perfect weather for soba noodles. We started with a few appetizers and finished with soba noodles. The restaurant was cool inside, so I realized halfway through that warm soba noodles might have been nice, but I still wanted to eat cold soba noodles. It was delicious.

Located along Kagurazaka Street, you will find Soba and Tonkatsu Yamasemi. Soba and tonkatsu, an interesting combination, right? The interior of the restaurant extends deep into the back, with a straight counter at the back and 5-6 tables in the front. The 5 types of service sets available all day offer a good amount of food and a sense of value. The Service Set C (1,500 yen including tax) includes a well-fried fillet cutlet. The curry has a Japanese-style flavor with a hint of pepper. The soba dipping sauce has a mild sweetness and is easy to enjoy. The wasabi provided is the commercial type. The tonkatsu comes with cabbage, as expected. This is a casual spot where you can easily satisfy your hunger with a crispy meal.

This restaurant specializes in tonkatsu and soba noodles. I tried three different kinds of tonkatsu, all of which were delicious. The soba noodles with sesame sauce were particularly tasty. The soba noodles themselves had a slightly mild aroma.

Arrived at the restaurant with two friends around 12:15 on the weekend. It was full, but we managed to get a table near the entrance. We ordered the weekend special set of tonkatsu (with rice) x2 and tororo soba for 1500 yen each. The food arrived in about 10 minutes. We started by finishing the cabbage salad with dressing, then poured sauce over the tonkatsu, finished the rice, and enjoyed the soba with dipping sauce and grated radish. The tonkatsu was light and not greasy, but the soba was a bit dry. The soba broth was flavorful and delicious. It was quite a filling meal and we left satisfied.

I heard about a soba restaurant that serves delicious curry on social media, so I tried their katsu curry bowl and soba set. The curry had a spiciness that hit first, which was different from what I had imagined from a soba restaurant, but the katsu in the curry bowl was very tasty. I heard that they were open until 3:30 pm, but it turned out they closed at 3:00 pm, so it became a rushed lunch.

Today I visited a popular restaurant near the Gokoku-Kagurazaka subway station, called "Kagurazaka Yamasemi". The three main points of this place are: 1. Convenient location just 2 minutes from the Gokoku-Kagurazaka station, offering authentic freshly made soba noodles by skilled craftsmen every day. 2. A wide variety of side dishes and sake typical of a soba restaurant. 3. Recently introduced tonkatsu that surprisingly tastes delicious. When you enter the restaurant, you are greeted by a traditional Edo atmosphere with a surprisingly spacious interior featuring counter and table seating. The place was already bustling with customers when I arrived slightly late for opening. I ordered the Fillet Tonkatsu (soba set: 1700 yen) and eagerly awaited its arrival. The soba noodles were served cold, and I started by enjoying their unique texture and aroma. The dipping sauce was rich and flavorful, perfect for cooling down on a hot summer day. After savoring half of the soba noodles, I moved on to the Fillet Tonkatsu. The pink fillet with a hint of meat juices glistening under the lights looked tempting. I tried it first without any sauce, and then with a touch of mustard. The crispy and tender texture, along with the juicy meatiness, made it a delightful experience. The meal also came with a bowl of rice, which was a tempting addition despite my initial intention to keep the meal light. The combination of crispy tonkatsu and fluffy white rice was irresistible. The shredded cabbage with a refreshing shiso dressing complemented the tonkatsu perfectly. To finish off the meal, I enjoyed the soba broth mixed with the dipping sauce, a comforting and flavorful way to end the dining experience. Overall, the meal at Kagurazaka Yamasemi was a delightful experience, showcasing the skills of the chefs and the authentic flavors of traditional Japanese cuisine.

[Arrival Time] 11:30 [Entry Time] 11:30 [Crowdedness] Surprisingly spacious [Impression] I ordered the lunch limited hire tonkatsu and soba set. The hire tonkatsu was tender and delicious. The soba had a nice chewy texture.

I visited the restaurant for lunch around 1 pm and the counter was almost full. Many people were dining alone. They serve soba and tonkatsu! I chose the soba & tonkatsu set. I also ordered the freshly fried horse mackerel. The crispy horse mackerel was crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. It came with a lemon wedge, which I recommend squeezing over it. The tonkatsu, rice, and soba set was very filling, and during lunchtime, it was quite cost-effective. I ordered the fillet and loin tonkatsu, and both were delicious. The fillet was moist and tender without being dry, while the loin was not greasy or heavy. The soba had a good chewy texture and was smooth. Overall, it was a substantial meal, but the combination of soba and tonkatsu was perfect, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Thank you for the meal.

Visit Difficulty: ★★★☆☆ - "Fillet Pork Cutlet with Soba Set" (1,760 yen) - "Pork Loin Cutlet (150g) with Soba Set" (1,760 yen) - "Mashed Tsubugai with Wasabi" (660 yen) [Report] [Recommended Points] - For those who want to try famous tonkatsu from a renowned restaurant - For those looking for a calm izakaya in Kagurazaka Managed by Chef Motojiro Saito, who has produced famous restaurants featured in the Michelin Guide and Bib Gourmand like Shunkotei and Ponchiken, "Yamase" is located on the main street of Kagurazaka. The sliding door has a bit of history, with a male-to-female ratio of 7:3 and an age range of 40-50, slightly on the higher side. However, the casual style makes it easy for anyone to enter. Key points of emphasis: - Soft meat fried slowly at low temperatures - Perfect balance of temperature and breadcrumbs - Soba set handmade by artisans is a great deal - Not only tonkatsu and soba, but also sake snacks and other dishes can be enjoyed Ordered one set each of Fillet and Pork Loin soba sets. While waiting, I studied the menu. The variety of dishes like Fillet Tare Katsu and Oyakodon, as well as sashimi, were very appealing! Being able to customize the soba set is great for those looking to boost their stamina together. The dishes arrived in about 10 minutes. When you pour the special green shiso dressing on the cabbage, the refreshing juiciness bursts out! There are two types of tonkatsu sauce, original and Worcestershire. I had the beautifully pink-fleshed Fillet. From the moment it was brought to the table, a slightly sweet and fragrant aroma filled the air. The taste of the meat with a substantial bite and the crispy, light coating is indescribably delicious. The Pork Loin also has little fat and is not at all heavy! When you choose the soba set, the 150g portion is just right. The soba at Yamase uses stone-ground buckwheat flour and is handcrafted by artisans. I chose the cold soba for a summer feel. The smooth throat sensation is unforgettable. I was worried if I could finish it all with rice, but it was no problem! Since I still had room in my stomach (quite rare for a tonkatsu restaurant!), I ended with the "Mashed Tsubugai with Wasabi." This is a perfect appetizer for sake! The wasabi does a great job here. Kagurazaka is unexpectedly a fierce battleground for tonkatsu restaurants, but I happened to find a great one here!

It's been a while since I had a tooth pulled, especially one of my back teeth. Still feeling the effects of the anesthesia in my gums, I decided to have some soba for dinner. After leaving the dentist in Iidabashi, I walked up the slope in Kagurazaka. Since the soba place I really wanted to go to was closed, I settled for another place where the counter was empty and people were enjoying drinks. I usually prefer 80% buckwheat soba, but I was intrigued by the catchphrase "smooth and easy to swallow" for the 100% buckwheat soba, so I ordered it for 990 yen. They asked if I wanted hot tea or cold water, and I chose hot tea, which turned out to be really hot. I was also tempted by the tonkatsu, kaki fry, and aji fry on the menu, but this time I stuck with the soba. The 100% buckwheat soba that arrived was indeed smooth and had a great flavor. The soba broth was thick and rich. Overall, I enjoyed the soba and found it to be reasonably priced. On my way out, I asked for a glass of water without ice and took a painkiller before leaving. I wonder if the anesthesia is starting to wear off now.

Visited with friends on July 13th. The overall quality of the food is high, and despite the relatively large size of the restaurant, it's understandable why it's always full. The all-you-can-drink option is also great value. The dishes are meticulously prepared, and the tamagoyaki (omelette) and tempura are delicious. The tonkatsu we ordered at the end was also quite tasty.

I had a weekend and holiday limited lunch set meal. It included 4 pieces of pork cutlet, rice, pickles, and a choice of cold or hot soba, and since it was hot, I chose cold soba. The pork cutlet was tender and delicious. The person I went with ordered the pork skewer cutlet set meal, and I shared a bit with them. It was moist and tasty. The price was reasonable at 1,500 yen for a tonkatsu lunch, but the portion might be a bit small for men. We sat at a table, but the counter in the back was spacious and had a nice atmosphere. The restaurant was busy with a constant flow of customers, and the staff seemed busy. Thank you for the meal.

Hello. Today I visited Kagurazaka. It is a city where my late aunt used to live, so I look out over the scenery of Kagurazaka with deep emotions. Even in the bright sunlight, I feel that it is a wonderful city full of emotion. I was a bit interested in a nearby alpaca shop and felt like going out, but I noticed a charming tonkatsu and soba restaurant. The inside is spacious and the shop is beautifully decorated with wood. The friendly atmosphere and the natural ambiance reminded me of "Cool Japan." When I entered, a lovely lady greeted me and recommended the soba and tonkatsu set, so I decided to try it. I chose the cold seiro soba for the soba. For the tonkatsu, I chose the loin cutlet. They served me cold tea, which was very thoughtful and made me happy. I thought the lady was very kind-hearted. The soba was smooth and delicious. It had a unique texture and a rich umami flavor, which was very good. The dipping sauce was also delicious, and it made the soba even more enjoyable. The flavor of the condiments was rich and deep. It was truly exquisite when paired with the soba. The tonkatsu had a thick loin and a crispy coating, which complemented each other very well. The fluffy fat was sweet, and when eaten with the proud sauce brought by the staff, the incredible deliciousness spread, making it irresistible. It is said that good tonkatsu should be eaten with salt, and indeed, the deliciousness was brought out to the fullest. The cabbage had a special dressing and was very delicious. Even when eaten with grated radish, the variety of flavors was enjoyable. I thought both the service and the food were excellent. Especially the tonkatsu was one of the best meat dishes I have had in a while. Having two major specialties is amazing in itself, but both the soba and tonkatsu were at the top level in Tokyo in terms of flavor. I could clearly understand that a lot of passion is put into the cooking.

Called the teacher in Kanda and decided to have lunch in Kagurazaka. We spotted a restaurant produced by Chef Motojiro Saito serving tonkatsu. We climbed up the hill, passed by Mr. Kawagawa, and found a quaint restaurant with lanterns similar to Mr. Kawafune's favorite. As we arrived just before 12 pm, the place was already packed with people lining up. The menu offered various styles of tonkatsu, such as Fritz, Shunkatei, and Ponchiken, each evolving in its own way. We decided to go for the soba set, as we were not very familiar with soba, and opted for the Roast and Fillet set to share. The soba portion was generous with a nice aroma, priced at 1700 yen. The soba broth was rich and inviting for refills. The Roast and Fillet, fried at a low temperature, had a crispy coating, and the pink rare fillet was a delight. The Roast, if similar to Ponchiken, might be made from the Mexican three-element pork. The tonkatsu sauce was delicious, and we couldn't resist ordering the Okayama oyster with tonkatsu sauce. The Premium Roast was not available at the time. The tonkatsu was a great value for a quick lunch. Fritz, originally located in Akasaka, had moved to Kanda and was now known as Ponchiken. The chef, who trained at Shunkatei, opened a Western-style wine restaurant in Koishikawa called Youshoku Wine Fritz. Shunkatei, known for its Western-style cuisine incorporating French and kaiseki techniques, is run by Chef Motojiro Saito at Shizuoka's Shunkatei and Mejiro's Shunkatei. While Ponchiken is a tonkatsu restaurant, everyone raves about their curry. The Michelin Guide Tokyo Bib Gourmand regular is highly recommended. When we visited Ponchiken for tonkatsu, we were told that their curry was delicious. Although we wanted to try the Fillet, we ended up with the Special Roast. The Roast tonkatsu at this restaurant is made from Mexican three-element pork for the Upper Roast and Okinawa pork for the Special Roast, so the breed is different. The one-piece Fillet was made from Okinawa pork. Additionally, you can add a small portion of curry with plenty of minced meat for an extra 400 yen.