01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
When lifted from the bamboo basket, the chilled soba here shows clean bite and elastic snap. The slightly slender noodles carry the assertive dip effortlessly, whether served simply as mori soba with chilled tsuyu or dipped into grated yam with tsuketoro soba. The presentation is unpretentious, keeping the texture of the buckwheat at the center.
For heartier appetites, the set combinations and rice bowls provide plenty of substance. The popular katsudon set features thick pork loin simmered in a dashi-rich sauce typical of classic soba houses, paired with a portion of noodles nearly the size of a standard serving. Comforting staples like curry nanban scented with shaved bonito and slow-simmered pork offal stew (motsu nikomi) round out the neighborhood noodle-shop repertoire.
True to its billing of drinks and drinking fare, Yanagawa-ke also offers a thoughtful collection of seasonal plates and sake. Options include fragrant grilled thick tofu (atsuaage), crisp seasonal vegetable tempura, and cream cheese combined with persimmon and narazuke pickles. Labels from across Japan—such as Urakasumi, Hirotogawa, and Kikuhime—make it easy to linger over drinks before finishing the night with a cool basket of mori soba.
A 3-car parking area on the property provides convenient access off Doshida-dori. With both regular tables and raised tatami seating, the dining room allows guests to settle in comfortably, whether for a filling lunch set or an unhurried evening pour.
