[Yamagata Prefecture] Enjoy Yamagata soba! Introducing soba noodles unique to Yamagata and recommended restaurants

I want to go on a trip to eat delicious soba! For those who think so, Yamagata Prefecture is a recommended area.

Yamagata Prefecture's consumption of soba ranks second in the country. As a prefecture that loves soba, there are many soba shops. The soba that has been refined through high-quality water and a harsh natural environment has given birth to many famous restaurants.

So this time, we will introduce delicious Yamagata soba and recommended famous restaurants. We hope you will use it as a reference for your travels.

What are the characteristics of Yamagata soba? If you want to eat delicious soba, go to Yamagata Prefecture!

By the way, what kind of soba is Yamagata soba? The answer is ``soba that allows you to enjoy a wide range of flavors.''

To begin with, Yamagata Prefecture has four basins, each with a different food culture. Similarly, soba has come to have a diverse culture.

When you hear about soba in Yamagata, the first thing that comes to mind is inaka soba. However, Yamagata Prefecture is home to many delicious and unique soba noodles, such as plate soba, meat soba, and geso tempura soba.

We will introduce Yamagata Prefecture's delicious soba and recommended famous restaurants.

What is “Ita Soba” in Yamagata Prefecture?

Ita soba is soba noodles that are evenly distributed in a large rectangular wooden bowl. It is usually served with 2 to 3 servings of soba.

Ita soba is mainly eaten in the inland areas of Yamagata prefecture. It is said that the origin of this dish is that in the past, soba was served on a long board to a large number of people.

Soba is characterized by its strong body and chewy texture, and often has a strong soba flavor. The more you chew, the more you can enjoy the flavor of soba, which has a different quality from the smooth Sarashina soba.

Recommended restaurant where you can eat soba noodles: Shojiya

Founded in the Edo period, it continues to operate as the oldest soba restaurant in Yamagata. It is a pure Japanese-style building located about 15 minutes walk from JR Yamagata Station.

The spacious restaurant seats about 80 people, so even during peak hours, there is little waiting time. You can enjoy delicious soba slowly.

"Sarashina Aimori Ita Soba" is also popular, where you can enjoy both the thick and firm Yabu Soba and the smooth and delicate Sarashina Soba. We also recommend the crispy tempura.

INFORMATION
  • Name Soba Restaurant Shojiya Main Branch
  • URL https://www.shojiya.jp/
  • Address 14-28 Saiwai-cho, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture
  • Business hours 11:00-16:00, 17:00-20:30
  • Closed on Mondays (if Monday is a holiday, the next weekday)

What is “Niku Soba” in Yamagata Prefecture?

Niku Soba from Yamagata Prefecture is a type of soba made with chicken stock and has chewy chicken and green onions. It originated in Kahoku Town, Yamagata Prefecture, and in recent years has become well-known as a B-class local gourmet dish.

There are both hot and cold soba noodles, but the most popular and famous is ``cold meat soba''. Originally, it was cold to room temperature, but as it became more popular, thoroughly chilled meat soba also appeared. We are also expanding the range of variations.

The focus on the chicken used in the meat and soup varies from store to store. In general, many restaurants prefer to use parent chicken, which is chewy and has a strong flavor.

Recommended restaurant where you can eat meat soba: Issun-tei

This is one of the most famous meat soba restaurants in Kahoku Town.

We are particular about using traditional chicken broth to create a soup with a strong flavor. When you slurp it up with chewy soba noodles, you'll be addicted to the flavor.

This is a popular restaurant with many repeat customers from inside and outside the prefecture. Please give it a try.

Another recommended dish is the Sauce Katsudon, which is a crispy fried cutlet soaked in curry-flavored sauce.

INFORMATION
  • Name Issuntei main store
  • URL https://www.yachisoba.com/
  • Address: 2-11-2 Yachishooka, Kahoku-cho, Nishimurayama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture
  • business hours
  • Regular holiday

What is “Geso Ten Soba” from Yamagata Prefecture?

When it comes to soba restaurants, tempura is a must. In Yamagata Prefecture, tempura of ikageso (squid feet) is standard in the tempura at soba restaurants.

The lightly fried batter encloses the moist and soft geso. Eating it dipped in soba soup gives it a luxurious taste.

It's not clear why gesoten is so popular in Yamagata, but the combination of soba and gesoten is a perfect match. Why not give it a try?

Recommended restaurant where you can eat Gesoten soba: Sobadokoro Aoba

Geso Tenzaru Soba is famous. This shop gained popularity after being introduced on the TV program "Hijitsu no Kenmin SHOW".

The crispy fried Gesoten is soft and fluffy on the inside. It is a delicious dish that can be eaten as is or with dipping sauce. Enjoy it with the thick and chewy soba until you're full.

INFORMATION
  • Name Soba Restaurant Aoba
  • Address: 14-14 Aoba, Nakayama-cho, Higashimurayama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture
  • Business hours 11:00-19:00
  • Closed on Wednesdays

summary

This time, we introduced the unique soba noodles unique to Yamagata and recommended restaurants where you can enjoy each type of soba.

Yamagata Prefecture is a prefecture that loves soba. A culture that loves soba has given birth to delicious and original soba noodles such as plate soba, meat soba, and tempura soba. Why not come and try the local food that has been loved by the locals for a long time?

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