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I've walked past Soba-ya many a time, always intrigued by the decorated storefront of Michelin Guide stickers. Today, I finally tried them out. There was luckily no wait for a Saturday lunch walk-in. We ordered the oyako don to share, which was lackluster; that's unsurprising though given that this is a soba establishment. The soba was barely pedestrian though. The noodle texture was tough, perhaps a sign that it needed more time boiling? And, the tempura don that accompanied it was simply standard with no bells or whistles. I've had better tempura at a myriad of other places, namely Okiboru down the street. Either way, Soba-ya addresses any soba hankering, and the service is decent. Probably wouldn't return though.
Glorious soba spot for lunch! First, the space is very zen..chill music playing, low lights, wooden decor. The perfect escape from busy NYC streets. And the food..can't say enough good things. I got a lunch combo of soba noodles and salmon don which comes with green tea and chef's choice appetizer. You have a choice of cold or hot soba. I went for cold noodles and it came with dipping sauce which was perfectly made - not too sweet, not too salty. The raw salmon was very buttery and melted in my mouth with every bite. Chef's appetizer was sad and tiny but still nice for variety. Overall left very satisfied and relaxed. Highly recommend. Also! They're a multi-year Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient..that's foodie street cred
I was able to get a table on the weekend by walking in around 2 with no wait. I got the dipping noodles which were delicious, the stuffed squid which was ok and the drinks were good. The service was nice and fast. The happy hour was on the weekend too which was nice. Its was good food and I would go back to try some other things.
Delicious eel, high quality udon, and fantastic bang for buck. The entire set was very affordable and filling; I could barely finish it. Great ambiance as well. Want to go back soon!
Came here for the lunch special with a couple of people and it was very enjoyable. It did take a while to be seated as the weather was super nice this day and everyone seemed to be out. Once seated, everyone in the table got a lunch special, specifically the Sake Ikura Don and they really liked it. The only complaint was the rice texture was a little on the softer side. I got to Unagi Don which had a much better and chewier rice texture so I really enjoyed mine. All of us did get the cold soba with our rice dishes as well and the soba dip was very flavorful and the soba noodles had a nice texture. There was a decent amount of seating in the store which was nice because we needed the cold soba on this hot day.
It was a spring chilly but sunny morning. I met up with some friends in the city. We weren't particularly hungry but were in the mood for a late lunch. Something light. I arrived at the location around 12:45PM. The line was pretty long and the place isn't massive. Despite the business, I didn't feel overwhelmed or anything. The flux was pretty good, though. Within half an hour, we were seated and given glasses of water. Simple decorations, yellow light, and wood accents line the walls. We pretty quickly found the lunch specials which last every day. I ordered the unagi don but my company got the two other options too. You really can't go wrong with any of them. The eel was grilled. The taste is like a light fish in flavor with some type of glazed barbecue sauce. The sticky rice added good bulk to the meal. The buckwheat noodles were chewy and mild. After dipping in the cold broth, they had a bouncy, salty bite. It paired well with the rice. The lotus root and sweet potato added some variety. Can't really describe what I was eating on the lotus root but it tasted kinda sesame-y and seaweedy. Pretty yummy side dish. The sweet potato was very potato-y. Somehow coated your mouth in a mildly-sweet sweet potato flavor. The for the cost, this place was pretty great. Certainly, can understand the Michelin guide evaluation in recent years.
Came here on a saturday around 12:30 PM. It wasn't very busy, so we were seated immediately for a table for 2. We both ordered a lunch set with cold soba noodles, one with grilled eel and one with salmon sashimi and roe. My favorite bite was the grilled eel, which was very flavorful and tender. The salmon sashimi tasted very fresh. I found the cold soba very refreshing, with a good texture. They weren't the most flavorful though, and I found the whole meal to be a little too carb heavy. I found the lunch deal to be pretty good, with the whole meal coming out to be $30 post tip and tax. Not the best japanese food I've had in the city, but very solid.
Quick wait of 10 minutes and sat at the bar. It was 94° outside today so I knew cold soba was going to hit the spot. I got the seasonal special Uni Ikura soba and it was phenomenal. All of the ingredients were top quality and very fresh. Servers were very kind and pricing was fair. Definitely will come back again sometime soon.
I've been dining at Sobaya for over 20 years, and it remains one of the East Village's most consistently excellent Japanese restaurants. Longevity like that does not happen by accident--Sobaya continues to deliver on authenticity, quality, and service year after year. On our most recent visit, we ordered several longtime favorites: the agedashi tofu, which arrived silky-soft with a delicate, crisp coating in a deeply savory broth; chicken karaage that was juicy and well-seasoned; and the kamo nanban, featuring sliced sautéed duck and scallions in a rich, comforting hot broth. We also shared the Ten Zaru, with perfectly cooked soba noodles alongside crisp jumbo shrimp and shishito tempura. Every dish was balanced, thoughtful, and clearly made with care. Service is always excellent--attentive without being intrusive, knowledgeable, and genuinely welcoming. It's the kind of place where you feel taken care of whether you're a regular or a first-time visitor. Sobaya is owned by Bon Yagi (Shuji Bon Yagi), a key figure in shaping the East Village's "Little Tokyo" and a restaurateur known for championing authentic Japanese cuisine beyond sushi since the 1980s. That philosophy shows here. This is a restaurant focused on craftsmanship and tradition rather than flash. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate, with a calm, Japanese-inspired design that works just as well for a quiet dinner as it does for a business lunch. Prices are reasonable for the quality, especially given the homemade soba and udon. If you're looking for authentic Japanese comfort food--especially expertly prepared soba--Sobaya is a New York classic that continues to earn its reputation.
Cozy place with good amount of space that it doesn't feel like a squeeze. Service was friendly, quick and efficient :) Agedashi tofu was a bit firmer than we normally have but still yummy Cold tempura soba set felt pretty big, lots of noodles ~ the tempura was nice and crispy and the shishito pepper was just the right amount of smoky Katsu Don hit the spot, so warm and the rice was nice and flavorful ~ the egg and onions are always a fav, pork katsu was good too, would've wished it was a little bit crispier
Had a bit of a wait on a Saturday but not too bad! Inside is a bit small but has a nice clean cozy vibe. Tried the salmon rice bowl and the cold soba noodles with duck Service was very quick and efficient! Loved the quality of the salmon and soy sauce and rice! The umami of the duck broth was great and the texture of the soba as well. I wish the duck had been more tender but overall a great meal!
This is a cozy soba spot in Noho. We came on a weekday evening and it got busy by 6:30pm. The food was decent. I liked the citrus shishito peppers which were $7 as part of the happy hour special until 6pm. I got the sutamina for $23 (Fried Chicken & garlic, Scallions in the broth w/ Hints of Yuzu Citrus Flavor) and really enjoyed the citrus broth! Between both these items, the portion was small and not entirely filling. However, the servers were attentive and friendly so that's the plus.
It was pretty tasty and definitely had a pretty Japanesey vibe when you first enter. The restrooms are pretty and the inside is very clean. We ordered 1 soba and three udons to share among 5 people. The food took about 20-35 mins to get our food. It was good, def not bad food. I did enjoy the ambiance. However the food was really expensive, about $126. The waiter was hovering around making sure that we tipped the amount she wanted, even when another customer was flagging her down. Not sure if it's because of New york prices or it was just expensive in general. It's great if you want some nice ambiance and pretty good food, but definitely not if you want to save a few dollars.
3 months ago
Super easy to get seated at around 2pm on a Saturday. Ambiance is on the darker sight of lighting but cozy. Food was prepared fast and service was good. Got the every day lunch special which included hot green tea and Sake Oyako don: Very fresh pieces of raw salmon over sushi rice. Also had ikura, ginger, and a slice of lemon. Hearty and tasty. For 24 bucks in the middle of the city, it's a great deal for the quality. Cold Soba: Soba noodles had a great chew. Dipped in a typical soy based sipping sauce. Comforting and good. Chef's choice appetizer: this was Japanese sweet potato and daikon. Both were well seasoned and balanced the meal out well. I think the lunch deal is great value but not sure if coming for dinner would provide the same value for cost. read more
I've walked past Soba-ya many a time, always intrigued by the decorated storefront of Michelin Guide stickers. Today, I finally tried them out. There was luckily no wait for a Saturday lunch walk-in. We ordered the oyako don to share, which was lackluster; that's unsurprising though given that this is a soba establishment. The soba was barely pedestrian though. The noodle texture was tough, perhaps a sign that it needed more time boiling? And, the tempura don that accompanied it was simply standard with no bells or whistles. I've had better tempura at a myriad of other places, namely Okiboru down the street. Either way, Soba-ya addresses any soba hankering, and the service is decent. Probably wouldn't return though. read more
Glorious soba spot for lunch! First, the space is very zen..chill music playing, low lights, wooden decor. The perfect escape from busy NYC streets. And the food..can't say enough good things. I got a lunch combo of soba noodles and salmon don which comes with green tea and chef's choice appetizer. You have a choice of cold or hot soba. I went for cold noodles and it came with dipping sauce which was perfectly made - not too sweet, not too salty. The raw salmon was very buttery and melted in my mouth with every bite. Chef's appetizer was sad and tiny but still nice for variety. Overall left very satisfied and relaxed. Highly recommend. Also! They're a multi-year Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient..that's foodie street cred read more
I was able to get a table on the weekend by walking in around 2 with no wait. I got the dipping noodles which were delicious, the stuffed squid which was ok and the drinks were good. The service was nice and fast. The happy hour was on the weekend too which was nice. Its was good food and I would go back to try some other things. read more
12 days ago
Came here for the lunch special with a couple of people and it was very enjoyable. It did take a while to be seated as the weather was super nice this day and everyone seemed to be out. Once seated, everyone in the table got a lunch special, specifically the Sake Ikura Don and they really liked it. The only complaint was the rice texture was a little on the softer side. I got to Unagi Don which had a much better and chewier rice texture so I really enjoyed mine. All of us did get the cold soba with our rice dishes as well and the soba dip was very flavorful and the soba noodles had a nice texture. There was a decent amount of seating in the store which was nice because we needed the cold soba on this hot day. read more
It was a spring chilly but sunny morning. I met up with some friends in the city. We weren't particularly hungry but were in the mood for a late lunch. Something light. I arrived at the location around 12:45PM. The line was pretty long and the place isn't massive. Despite the business, I didn't feel overwhelmed or anything. The flux was pretty good, though. Within half an hour, we were seated and given glasses of water. Simple decorations, yellow light, and wood accents line the walls. We pretty quickly found the lunch specials which last every day. I ordered the unagi don but my company got the two other options too. You really can't go wrong with any of them. The eel was grilled. The taste is like a light fish in flavor with some type of glazed barbecue sauce. The sticky rice added good bulk to the meal. The buckwheat noodles were chewy and mild. After dipping in the cold broth, they had a bouncy, salty bite. It paired well with the rice. The lotus root and sweet potato added some variety. Can't really describe what I was eating on the lotus root but it tasted kinda sesame-y and seaweedy. Pretty yummy side dish. The sweet potato was very potato-y. Somehow coated your mouth in a mildly-sweet sweet potato flavor. The for the cost, this place was pretty great. Certainly, can understand the Michelin guide evaluation in recent years. read more
Came here on a saturday around 12:30 PM. It wasn't very busy, so we were seated immediately for a table for 2. We both ordered a lunch set with cold soba noodles, one with grilled eel and one with salmon sashimi and roe. My favorite bite was the grilled eel, which was very flavorful and tender. The salmon sashimi tasted very fresh. I found the cold soba very refreshing, with a good texture. They weren't the most flavorful though, and I found the whole meal to be a little too carb heavy. I found the lunch deal to be pretty good, with the whole meal coming out to be $30 post tip and tax. Not the best japanese food I've had in the city, but very solid. read more
5 months ago
Quick wait of 10 minutes and sat at the bar. It was 94° outside today so I knew cold soba was going to hit the spot. I got the seasonal special Uni Ikura soba and it was phenomenal. All of the ingredients were top quality and very fresh. Servers were very kind and pricing was fair. Definitely will come back again sometime soon. read more
I've been dining at Sobaya for over 20 years, and it remains one of the East Village's most consistently excellent Japanese restaurants. Longevity like that does not happen by accident--Sobaya continues to deliver on authenticity, quality, and service year after year. On our most recent visit, we ordered several longtime favorites: the agedashi tofu, which arrived silky-soft with a delicate, crisp coating in a deeply savory broth; chicken karaage that was juicy and well-seasoned; and the kamo nanban, featuring sliced sautéed duck and scallions in a rich, comforting hot broth. We also shared the Ten Zaru, with perfectly cooked soba noodles alongside crisp jumbo shrimp and shishito tempura. Every dish was balanced, thoughtful, and clearly made with care. Service is always excellent--attentive without being intrusive, knowledgeable, and genuinely welcoming. It's the kind of place where you feel taken care of whether you're a regular or a first-time visitor. Sobaya is owned by Bon Yagi (Shuji Bon Yagi), a key figure in shaping the East Village's "Little Tokyo" and a restaurateur known for championing authentic Japanese cuisine beyond sushi since the 1980s. That philosophy shows here. This is a restaurant focused on craftsmanship and tradition rather than flash. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate, with a calm, Japanese-inspired design that works just as well for a quiet dinner as it does for a business lunch. Prices are reasonable for the quality, especially given the homemade soba and udon. If you're looking for authentic Japanese comfort food--especially expertly prepared soba--Sobaya is a New York classic that continues to earn its reputation. read more
Cozy place with good amount of space that it doesn't feel like a squeeze. Service was friendly, quick and efficient :) Agedashi tofu was a bit firmer than we normally have but still yummy Cold tempura soba set felt pretty big, lots of noodles ~ the tempura was nice and crispy and the shishito pepper was just the right amount of smoky Katsu Don hit the spot, so warm and the rice was nice and flavorful ~ the egg and onions are always a fav, pork katsu was good too, would've wished it was a little bit crispier read more
Had a bit of a wait on a Saturday but not too bad! Inside is a bit small but has a nice clean cozy vibe. Tried the salmon rice bowl and the cold soba noodles with duck Service was very quick and efficient! Loved the quality of the salmon and soy sauce and rice! The umami of the duck broth was great and the texture of the soba as well. I wish the duck had been more tender but overall a great meal! read more
8 months ago
This is a cozy soba spot in Noho. We came on a weekday evening and it got busy by 6:30pm. The food was decent. I liked the citrus shishito peppers which were $7 as part of the happy hour special until 6pm. I got the sutamina for $23 (Fried Chicken & garlic, Scallions in the broth w/ Hints of Yuzu Citrus Flavor) and really enjoyed the citrus broth! Between both these items, the portion was small and not entirely filling. However, the servers were attentive and friendly so that's the plus. read more
2 months ago
It was pretty tasty and definitely had a pretty Japanesey vibe when you first enter. The restrooms are pretty and the inside is very clean. We ordered 1 soba and three udons to share among 5 people. The food took about 20-35 mins to get our food. It was good, def not bad food. I did enjoy the ambiance. However the food was really expensive, about $126. The waiter was hovering around making sure that we tipped the amount she wanted, even when another customer was flagging her down. Not sure if it's because of New york prices or it was just expensive in general. It's great if you want some nice ambiance and pretty good food, but definitely not if you want to save a few dollars. read more
9 months ago
We arrived about 10-15 minutes before happy hour ended and the server was nice enough to get us a happy hour menu and get our order in. We got a cocktail and a few appetizers from HH and we ordered a few of their soba and udon dishes. The food was delicious and the tempura was all fried with perfection. The presentation of everything was lovely and their service was great. Our water cups always were filled and our dishes were cleared quickly. read more
6 months ago
This place was recommended to us by a local shop owner, said this was his favorite place to go when it was cold and rainy. I came here on a Saturday night, wait wasn't terribly long, maybe 15 minutes. I tried the kamo nanban (duck soba) per my friend's recommendation and it definitely hit the spot. The broth was savory and umami without being too rich. The noodles were chewy in a good way, and the duck was tender and juicy. The atmosphere was warm and cozy, even sat at the bar. The staff was quick and friendly. Would definitely come back next time it's a little gloomy outside. read more
1 year ago
Food tasted decent and felt that the lunch pricing special was fair and had great portion sizes Of the things we ordered I thought the udon was better than the soba The soba did not taste as fresh this day but I'm sure it is better on other days! The interior is well decorated and has cute booths that you can sit at for your meal read more
This place was very delicious and had a wide variety of food and drinks. I got the chicken katsu don which was very delicious. The egg was well cooked and flavorful and the portion size was very filling. We were a large party and the waitress handled us all very efficiently. The restaurant itself had a very classy vibe that also felt very authentic. read more
Lunch sets here are the way to go. The special mini lunch set (offered daily dine in) means you get to have both the mini donburi rice bowl (I got the salmon) and also hot or cold soba. It was very good but not remarkable. The agedashi tofu was crispy on the outside and on the firmer side. The seaweed salad was refreshing with sesame dressing and had multiple different seaweeds (not the overly sugary kind). The service was a tad bit slowed but mostly because it was a very busy lunch time on a holiday but friendly overall and accommodating when we wanted to switch seats to a quieter corner. A relaxed casual ambience with booths and small L-counter and some tables. Overall a solid place, but not super memorable. read more
9 months ago
The ambiance truly captures the essence of an authentic Japanese restaurant. I was impressed by the food--it was delicious and the portion sizes were very generous for the price point. Additionally, the service was excellent; the staff was attentive, kept our table clear, and ensured we had everything we needed throughout the meal. read more
1 year ago
Sobaya is a beautiful restaurant that is so serene and peaceful inside. I love the interior decoration they had going on, and I love a lunch special even more. Sobaya's lunch special comes with your choice of rice bowl, your choice of soba or udon (hot or cold), and select chef's appetizers for $24. They also have an assortment of specials depending on what day of the week you visit. I decided on the tempura rice bowl and hot soba. I thought it was a good amount of food, but I actually thought the price was a little expensive. I'm on the fence a bit considering the area, but even $22 would have felt more suitable I think for the special. That said, I really enjoyed the tempura which had this wonderful crunch to it. The batter was light and didn't feel heavy in my stomach at all. The soba noodles were delicious and plentiful. The broth was flavorful but veered slightly salty in my opinion. All in all I think this is a solid spot for anyone craving Japanese and specifically soba noodles! Would love to try the udon at some point! read more
2 months ago
5 months ago
10 months ago
I was walking in NYC on my way to Tonchin, but then came across Soba-ya, checked their menu, and decided to try it out. I was looking forward to try their homemade soba noodles. The interior reminded me of a cozy Japanese restaurant. I ordered the Sake Oyako Don set with cold soba noodles. The set had a great presentation. The cold soba noodles had an interesting texture and consistency, not quite what I was expecting. They were a bit more firm and felt like plastic. Not sure if I had a bad batch? Also, for $24 the soba noodles portion could have been a bit more. But surprisingly the star of the set is the donburi. The sushi rice was flavorful and paired well with the salmon and salmon roe. Overall would rate Soba-ya as a 3.5. read more
10 months ago
Service was well done for a 5 top on a busy Saturday night. Food was just fine though. Maybe I am used to NY Style ramen from other restaurants but there was nothing special about the food for me. My ramen was filling and delicious but it wasn't the kind of flavor style i was excited to eat. I don't plan to be back unfortunately. read more
1 year ago
I really enjoyed Sobaya! All of the food was simple yet flavorful and the udon/soba are fresh made in the restaurant. Based on reviews I read, the portions are adequately filling but not over the top or lacking by any means. Service was standard, and seating is quite tight since the location is small. There was no wait to eat around 8:30pm on a Tuesday night. read more
My friend and I came here on a Thursday evening - they don't take reservations but we were promptly seated. This is my first time but my friend highly recommended this place. We shared a sashimi platter, eel over rice and cold soba noodles with aged tofu. Everything was delicious! I especially love that the tofu has some wasabi inside! What a nice kick! The outside is beautiful, I felt like I was transported to Japan. I will be back! read more
1 year ago
They have a decent lunch special here where you choose an entree, hot/cold soba or udon, with appetizer for $24. I was craving fresh soba noodles and apparently its on the michelin guide. I thought it was the right amount of food, pretty solid. read more
Quick service and noodles have a nice bite that you don't always find in soba! I got the cold chirashi. The tempura was on the smaller side, slightly greasy which made the broth oily. The other toppings were also on the sweet side. A surprisingly spacious restaurant with plenty of not fight seating. We were able to walk in as a group of 6 and get seated right away (though it was a weeknight) read more
3 months ago
Came here with my friend. It's a wonderful soba place that doesn't accept reservation. The place was already bustling when we entered. They put us in the back near the kitchen. We started off with the tamago, which they forgot about so we had to ask again but they did eventually bring it out. It was worth the wait though. For entree I got the tempura soba and she got the tempura udon. Both were delicious and she wanted to finish it, but couldn't. I did eat all of mine. The soba looks like a lot but when you start eating it, it's not a whole lot and one person can it quite quickly. When you dip it in the dipping sauce it's refreshing in a way. The tempura was some of the best tempura I've ever tasted - crunchy, crispy, not soggy, and not oily. Usually I peel the fried part off but this time I didn't - that's how good it is. This restaurant is right next door to another great Japanese restaurant and across the street is a sake speakeasy. I would definitely recommend this place if you're looking for simple Japanese cuisine. Get there early though because it doesn't take reservations. read more
Came to Soba-ya for a quick lunch during an extremely cold day, the decor is very traditional and we saw the chefs teaching trainees of soba making, which is really cool. The service is quick and efficient. The shrimp tempura warm soba set is decent, very light and crispy tempuras, soba's texture is on point but the soup tasted less than ideal. It did warm me up though at least. The salmon don is good, the fish was fresh. The cold soba is refreshing comparing to the warm soba. read more
1 year ago
Ahh, to have a real wasabi grated in front of you is kinda rare and therefore precious in this part of the world. A juwari soba deserves an authentic wasabi. But frankly my unsophisticated palate couldn't tell the difference between a 100% buckwheat soba and one that was not. But the wasabi made a difference. And the Tempura was my next favorite. Plump shrimps coated with perfectly seasoned batter. It went so well with my soba. Both of their dipping sauce for the tempura and soba were one of the best I've had, especially the soba one. Yes, you're right - credits to the authentic freshly grated wasabi! read more
Food: The freshly made soba and udon noodles were delicious and perfectly cooked. The balance of flavors in both dishes was impressive. Cost: The prices were reasonable, especially considering the quality of the ingredients and the preparation. Environment: The restaurant had a pleasant atmosphere, with plenty of seating. However, the popularity of the place might lead to wait times. Service: The service was efficient and friendly. The food was served promptly. Uniqueness: Making their own noodles sets this restaurant apart. The freshness of the noodles was evident in the taste and texture. I would definitely be coming back if I'm in the area or craving good soba. I personally find the winter time to be the best time to go out and enjoy some soba and udon! read more
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