soba-ya

A last minute text from L (who we haven't even contacted for ages-- maybe 7 years?) coupled with some scrambling, hasty text messages, and quick decisions, KM, her cousin J, L, and I dragged ourselves out to NYC for KP's birthday party. To gear up for the party, we stopped by Momofuku, saw the wait, and retraced our steps back to Soba-ya where the wait was...just as long (and worst of all-- longer than promised).

By the time we sat down, we were ready to eat a horse but settled for some soba instead. Amongst us we got Tororo Soba (cold soba with grated raw sweet potato, shown), two Kinoko Soba (hot soba with a sliver of duck), and a Tem Don (shrimp & vegetable tempura rice bowl). The noodles themselves had a great bite and chew. On the other hand, Tororo is not something I've had before, and it's probably not something I'll have again unless very persuasively persuaded. Also on the same hand, there were a few muttered breaths about the stinginess of the duck meat in the Kinoko Soba. Back onto that other hand we were on before the other hand (this is getting confusing), I'd still go back for other soba (or udon) fixes...if I'm ever in the neighborhood again.


soba-ya: Japanese Noodle Restaurant
229 East 9th Street
b/t 3rd & 2nd Avenues