The atmosphere at this restaurant is very homely, with no other customers present. The place is filled with children's toys and tricycles. An elderly man is sitting at a table, sipping tea and watching TV intently. An elderly woman is making soba noodles. The daughter is taking care of her children inside the restaurant, while the grandchildren are playing freely. I lost my appetite for some reason, so I ordered the mori soba for 450 yen. It took quite a while for it to arrive in a sieve. The soba noodles were around 55 in quality, lacking in flavor and with lukewarm water. The dipping sauce had no bonito flavor, was lacking in sweetness, and was too salty. Even though it's in the same Asakusa area and the same chain as another restaurant, why is there such a difference in quality? It seems that if you don't separate business from personal life, the taste suffers as a result.

【Reason for Visit】Today, I was wandering around the area looking for a place to have lunch. There weren't many dining options in this neighborhood, so I randomly entered a restaurant. 【Visit Time】September 7th (Friday) around 11:05 AM. 【Number of Customers】0 people. 【Ordered Dish】Tamago-don (egg rice bowl). 【Reason for Ordering】I actually wanted to have sukiyaki-don, but they weren't serving it at the moment, so I decided to go with the tamago-don. 【Preparation Time】About 10 minutes. 【Side Dishes】Miso soup, pickles, soy sauce. Now, let's dig in. 【Eating Experience】The tamago-don had too much fire in it, making the texture a bit mushy. The egg flavor, richness, and sweetness were all weak, and there was too much tamago-negi (diced egg), so the egg didn't stand out as the main ingredient. The sweetness of the tamago-negi was decently brought out. The kamaboko (fish cake) wasn't thinly sliced, lacking a unified texture accent. The seasoning was a bit too sweet, with the sweetness of sugar overpowering and becoming a bit cloying. The dashi (broth) didn't have a strong presence, and the sweetness of sugar was too dominant, making it a bit heavy. The rice was of normal firmness, fluffy and somewhat freshly cooked. The miso soup seemed to be leftovers from yesterday, overcooked and quite salty. It lacked the aroma and flavor of miso due to being boiled too much. The pickles were homemade, crisp and refreshing, with the spiciness of red chili pepper adding a nice accent. Overall, the meal at "Owariya Soba Restaurant" was just okay. Thank you for the meal.

Taito Ward is a soba restaurant in Imado, located north along the Sumida River from Asakusa, which seems suitable for everyday use. I was driving to a work site on this day, and it happened to be around lunchtime. I was looking for a lunch spot around Nihonbashi, but couldn't find a parking space, so I ended up getting closer to the work site. Then, I found a space where I could park my car, and there was a soba restaurant there - a stroke of luck. I parked the car and immediately went inside. It was 1 pm on a weekday, with about 7-8 customers already there. More than half of them were drinking alcohol. Perhaps due to its location, it seems to have the atmosphere of a "local gathering place." However, there were no women present. Many people were quietly drinking from noon, so there wasn't the lively atmosphere of a lunch spot. It may feel like there is a heavy air hanging around, but the atmosphere is not unpleasant. Inside the restaurant, there was a kerosene stove with a kettle on, creating a cozy scene. I looked at the menu and ordered the warm soba called "Torinamban Soba." The slender hostess was brisk and efficient. In the kitchen at the back, there was a kind-looking owner, typical of a traditional soba restaurant in the downtown area. Now, it took about 15 minutes for the soba to be served. It would have been nice if it was within 10 minutes, but... I sprinkled shichimi (seven-spice blend) on the soba. The soba was warm, with a firm texture and delicious taste. The soy sauce-based dipping sauce was rich, almost overpowering the aroma of the soba. There was plenty of green onions as a condiment, and yuzu zest was also included for a refreshing touch. And since it was "Torinamban," there was plenty of chicken in it, satisfyingly so. Additionally, a serving of cold tofu was provided as a service. If it wasn't for driving, I would have wanted to have a beer with it. The warm soba softened a bit towards the end, but it still had a firm texture, so I could finish it without getting tired of it. The portion was reasonable, and I was full by the end. There were simple snacks available, probably because many people were drinking during the day. If the transportation was more convenient, like trains or buses, I would also like to try having a beer and snacks at this place.

I visited a certain event on October 31, 2015 and used this restaurant for lunch. It was past 1:00 pm, but the restaurant was about 80% full. Although there were tatami seats available, we requested a table seat. Most of the customers around us seemed to be locals. I overheard someone saying "I'll have less soba," but my wife and I ordered the Tempura Soba. The soba we were served was quite a large portion, which was great since I love soba. The meaning of the earlier order became clear now. The tempura also included two large shrimp. The elderly owner, who seemed to be an Edo-style woman from the downtown area, was very talkative. She seemed to be running the restaurant with her son in the kitchen. It reminded me of the nostalgic feeling of going to a soba restaurant with my grandmother when I was young. It's nice to relax in this kind of restaurant. The prices are also on the cheaper side, so it's a good option for a casual meal.

In 2015, the first "Asakusa Tendon Theater@"!! Asakusa's 'Owariya' is not just at the Kaminarimon gate! It also exists at the intersection of Imado-nichome. Although not part of the same chain, it is a local shop loved by the local residents. The simple and solid wooden interior exudes a nostalgic Showa era vibe. The oil stove adds to the warm atmosphere. However, honestly, there is a lack of overall cleanliness. There seems to be a raised tatami seating area at the back of the shop. Tempura Rice Bowl - 1100 yen ★★★ A tempura rice bowl with two large shrimp tempura! It comes with miso soup, pickles, and cold tofu. The tempura batter is thick and hearty. Unfortunately, the flavor of the shrimp is weak and lacks aroma. It's the fate of frozen shrimp, but a bit more aroma would be nice. The sauce has a dark color but lacks both sweetness and spiciness. It has a traditional feel, not overpowering the shrimp or rice. If the shrimp had a more savory flavor, the sauce would surely complement it better. As a result, the miso soup is too salty, the pickled cabbage is mild and easy to eat, and the cold tofu unexpectedly stands out. Honestly, as a "tempura rice bowl," it lacks presence and is not very distinctive. It is a good dish to have with soba or other items. It is truly a product without a strong character or uniqueness. Tempura batter thickness: ▼▼▼▼ Thick and wild batter. Sauce richness: ▼▼▼▼ Dark in color but light in flavor. Sauce viscosity: ▼▼▼ Normal viscosity. Sauce sweetness: ▼ Not sweet or spicy! Sauce absorption: ▼▼▽ Less on the rice side.