Yamagata Prefecture

Enjoy Yamagata Soba! Introducing soba noodles and recommended restaurants that are unique to Yamagata

If you're looking for a trip to eat delicious soba, Yamagata Prefecture is the place to go

Yamagata Prefecture is the second largest consumer of soba noodles in Japan. As a soba-loving prefecture, there are many soba restaurants. Soba noodles, refined by the high-quality water and harsh natural environment, have given rise to many famous restaurants

So, this time we will introduce some delicious Yamagata soba and some recommended restaurants. We hope you will use this as reference for your trip

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

But what kind of soba is Yamagata soba? The answer is that it is soba that can be enjoyed in a wide variety of flavors

Yamagata Prefecture is made up of four basins, each with its own distinct food culture, and soba has likewise come to have a diverse culture

When you think of Yamagata soba, the first thing that comes to mind is country soba. However, Yamagata Prefecture is home to many delicious and distinctive types of soba, including ita soba, meat soba, and squid tempura soba

We will introduce you to the delicious soba noodles of Yamagata Prefecture and some recommended restaurants

What is Yamagata Prefecture's "Ita Soba"?

Ita soba is soba noodles that are evenly piled in a large rectangular wooden bowl, usually enough for two to three people

Ita soba is eaten mainly in the inland areas of Yamagata Prefecture, and is said to have originated from the time when soba noodles were served on a long board for a large group of people

Soba noodles are characterized by their chewy texture and strong flavor. The more you chew them, the more you can enjoy the flavor, and they have a different appeal from the smooth Sarashina soba noodles

Recommended restaurant for ita soba: Shojiya

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

The spacious restaurant seats about 80 people, and even during peak hours there is little waiting time, allowing you to leisurely enjoy delicious soba

Another popular dish is the Sarashina Aimori Ita Soba, which allows you to enjoy both thick, chewy Yabu soba and smooth, delicate Sarashina soba. The crispy tempura is also recommended

Soba Restaurant Shojiya ＜Information＞

  • Name: Soba Restaurant Shojiya Main Branch
  • Address: 14-28 Saiwai-cho, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, 990-0038
  • Phone number: 023-622-1380
  • Official URL: https://www.shojiya.jp/
  • Business hours: 11:00-16:00, 17:00-20:30
  • Closed: Mondays (or the following weekday if Monday is a public holiday)

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What is Yamagata Prefecture's "Niku Soba"?

Yamagata Prefecture's Niku Soba is a chicken broth soba noodle dish made with chewy chicken meat and spring onions. It originated in Kahoku Town, Yamagata Prefecture, and in recent years has become known as a B-class local gourmet dish

There are both hot and cold soba noodles, but the most popular and famous is the "cold meat soba." Originally it was served at room temperature, but as it became more popular, ice-cold meat soba also appeared. The range of variations is expanding even further

The attention to detail that goes into the meat and chicken used in the broth varies from store to store, but generally, most stores prefer to use parent chickens, which have a firm texture and a strong flavor

Recommended restaurant for Niku Soba: Issuntei

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

They use traditional chicken stock to create a richly flavored broth. When you mix it with chewy soba noodles and slurp it down, you'll be hooked

This popular restaurant has a constant stream of repeat customers from both within and outside the prefecture, so please give it a try

Another recommended dish is the sauce katsudon, where crispy fried pork cutlet is soaked in curry-flavored sauce

Issuntei Main Branch <Information>

  • Name: Issuntei main store
  • Address: 2-11-2 Yachisho Okatoko Oka, Kawakita-cho, Nishimurayama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture, 999-3513
  • Phone number: 0237-72-3733
  • Official URL: https://www.yachisoba.com/

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What is Yamagata Prefecture's "Geso Ten Soba"?

When talking about soba restaurants, tempura is a must. In Yamagata Prefecture, it is common for soba restaurants to include squid leg tempura in their tempura platters

The crispy batter encases moist and tender tentacles. Dip it in soba sauce and enjoy the luxurious taste

It's unclear why octopus tempura has become so popular in Yamagata, but the combination of soba noodles and octopus tempura is a perfect match. Why not give it a try?

Recommended restaurant for eating squid tempura soba: Sobadokoro Aoba

This restaurant is famous for its squid tempura soba noodles. It gained popularity after being featured on the TV program "Kenmin Secret Show."

The crispy fried octopus tentacles are soft and plump inside. They are delicious either eaten as is or dipped in the dipping sauce. Enjoy them together with the thick, chewy soba noodles until you're full

Soba Restaurant Aoba ＜Information＞

  • Name: Soba Restaurant Aoba
  • Address: 14-14 Aoba, Nakayama-cho, Higashimurayama-gun, Yamagata Prefecture, 990-0411
  • Phone number: 023-662-7077
  • Official URL: -
  • Business hours: 11:00-19:00
  • Closed: Wednesdays (or the following weekday if Wednesday is a public holiday)

Google Map

summary

This time we introduced some unique soba noodles that are unique to Yamagata, as well as recommended restaurants where you can try each one

Yamagata Prefecture is a soba-loving prefecture. This soba-loving culture has given birth to delicious and original soba dishes such as ita soba, meat soba, and tentacle tempura soba. Why not go and try some of these long-loved local dishes?

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