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    Soba-ya

    3.8 (1.7k reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Noodles
    Special Hours Closed
    Updated a few days ago

    Order Soba-ya Takeout or Delivery

    Soba-ya Photos

    SOBA-YA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    Reviews With Photos - Soba-ya

    Oyako Don
    Audrey I.

    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.

    Interior
    Renata G.

    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

    Lunch Special- Sake Ikura Don with Soba Noodles (cold)
    Lily L.

    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.

    Michael C.

    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.

    Una-Ju Lunch Special
    Ryan K.

    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.

    Lunch sets
    Megan Y.

    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.

    Kamo Nanban
    Dennis G.

    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.

    Ten Zaru
    Ally L.

    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

    kamo nanban
    Kei P.

    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.

    Sake Oyako Don
    Monica L.

    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!

    Seasonal menu
    Tiffany L.

    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.

    Their happy hour citrus shishito peppers
    Michelle L.

    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.

    Caroline W.

    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

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    18 days ago

    The best soba outside of Nagano city in Japan. A family staple for over 20 years. Our 14 year olds favorite restaurant in NYC.

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    Soba-ya Reviews in Other Languages

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    Mi

    Mi

    4.0
    (3 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    Had walked by a few times but a on post gym Trader Joe's run the pictures were enticing enough…read more Got a Lanzhou beef noodle combo with a drink and a lamb burger. The beef soup is clear and light and the noodles have a delightful texture, with a slight chew and good bounce. There's a good portion of braised beef as well. Tender but a bit fatty for my taste, but given the portion it's not going to kill you. Lamb burger ended up as overkill and will be consumed as leftovers but a quick sampling let me know that it's gamey and fatty with strong notes of cumin. Not a bad thing, but something to note for people that might not generally enjoy lamb or cumin. Black pepper beef rice bowl was solid too. Spice wise, you can calibrate accordingly but I'd recommended at least their regular spice level. Decent amount of tenderized but still chewy beef. Both dishes came with a salad of celery, carrot, cucumber, peanuts and seaweed strips in a light sauce. Couldn't quite figure out the sauce but it was lightly tart and refreshing. Space is clean and modern. Neutral wood, well lit. Service is friendly enough. If you dine in, you order at the kiosk and they'll deliver to your table. We had leftovers that they graciously packed up. Solid choice. I hope they stick around as they do bring a different cuisine to the area.

    first time trying chinese halal food and it did not disappoint!…read more had a mix of more common chinese dishes and uyghur dishes. got several of the popular noodle dishes and the bun. all were very flavorful!! service was fast. the portions were a bit smaller than I would've liked but still fairly filling. overall quite good and a good regular spot in murray hill.

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    Mi
    Mi
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    wagamama - Murray Hill

    wagamama - Murray Hill

    4.2
    (752 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    OMG-I just enjoyed one of the most delicious and flavorful Ahi Tuna Poke Bowls EVER!!! Run, don't…read morewalk to try this! It was so delicious. See my photos. The Ahi Tuna was the perfect and proper color it should be. The flavors were SPECTACULAR-WONDERFUL!!! NOTE: WAGAMAMA has added to their menu, since my last visit, so you now have a RAMEN SELECTION, and other yummy additions. I was too full from my spectacular Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl to try the Korean bbq Chicken Wings ($8.95) but, I will definitely be back to try them!! I'll post menu photos so you have an idea of the delicious food choices. (April 2026) My very first delicious bite of Ahi Tuna had a heavenly garlic flavor, it was wonderful, and the sweet green seaweed with rice only added to the wonderfulness. Vertical slices of cucumber, onion and scallion, also add deliciously to my wonderful Poke Bowl. Toasted sesame seeds, too. SIMPLY MARVELOUS!!! Remember to be sure to mix the poke bowl rice as you eat, so that you mix the rice with the yummy sauce that may accumulate at the bottom of the poke bowl. I usually eat a little while, THEN, mix the rice. This was so good, I had to eat, eat, eat, before I could stop to mix. LOL. That sweet green seaweed was so yummy!! A lovely mix of flavors...the garlic, the sweetness....I LOVED IT ALL SO MUCH!!!! When was the last time you enjoyed a dish so very much that you felt like standing up in the restaurant and telling everyone: THIS IS SOOO DELICIOUS!!!! Well, I felt like that, but I didn't stand up and tell everyone, but I did tell the manager, who happen to come to the table to ask how everything was. And I let him know how much I was enjoying the Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl. He explained why and how the tuna was so flavorful. We had a delightful brief foodie chat. What a joy!! The service is very nice here. I like the atmosphere too. And the music, which is cool; it does not interfere with thinking, or having a conversation. I really like it here . The women's rest room was very nice, and clean, with a Dyson Hand Dryer, so no paper towels on the floor. Yay! Helping our environment, too!! And I like the black and white wall paper, too. See my photos My last visit I enjoyed the Pad Thai, and the same non-alcoholic beverage, " Asian Mint Limeade", from the MINDFUL DRINKS area on the beverage menu. ($9.50) (April 2026). A nice treat! It does have a light carbonation (bubbles). This visit my delicious meal was from the BOWLS SECTION of the food menu, it was the AHI TUNA POKE BOWL ($17.95) (April 2026) With warm, and hot weather on the way, I know I will be enjoying this AHI TUNA POKE BOWL again...and again! If you love good food, good service, and a very cool environment, put this location of WAGAMAMA on your list ! (East side) LOCATED On THIRD AVE, at East 39th Street. There is OUTDOOR SEATING, too, with red umbrellas. See my photos. Enjoy yourself here. Totally delightful. There are several locations in Manhattan. I did not know that. So, the one I have dined at is ON THIRD AVENUE, at EAST 39th Street. Look for the Red Umbrellas outside, at the corner of East 39th Street and Third Avenue. Enjoy!!!

    I would rate this a 4.5 instead of a 4 but Yelp doesn't do half ratings lol…read more Yesterday, I was around the neighborhood and noticed Wagamama while wanting lunch. I remembered i liked my experience going to one in London in 2024 and decided to go. I love how attentive the wait staff are, a little too attentive. A waitress, she had long hair and a nose ring, approached me when I was just glancing her way during eating. I didn't need anything, but I appreciate the favor. That same waitress gave me my receipt too early like she wanted me to leave ASAP. This was right before I asked to look at the desserts after I finished my meal. A "Would you like some dessert?" would have be appreciated. Cedrick, my principal waiter, was phenomenal. He decided to take care of me after no one was at the hosting desk for 5 minutes after I arrived. I had the chicken potsticker ramen and it was delicious! The potsticker was seasoned very well: my favorite part. To drink, I had the Asian Arnold Palmer and it was a cute drink! Only downside is the sweetness was not even distributed through the drink, even after I mixed the drink. Even though I had an issue with the service, I saw how caring they were (he looked like a manager now) to a family that came after me with organizing their seats and getting a baby chair. I just wished they gave me the same respect instead of rushing me out the door.

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    wagamama - Murray Hill
    wagamama - Murray Hill
    wagamama - Murray Hill

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    Shuya

    Shuya

    4.6
    (62 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    This is now going to be one of my go to spots in this neighborhood (in addition to Nom Nam)! I came…read morehere for dinner without a reservation on a Friday night, and I had a great meal and experience. It's not too big inside, but the tables are decently spaced out. There is also bar seating. It's a bit tricky figuring out what to do with your coats since the chairs aren't really meant to hang winter coats on, but there is a clothing rack in the back that someone can help you with. Everything is ordered via your phone using Toast Tab which was convenient since you didn't have to wait for your server. There was also happy hour when we arrived (6:15pm) so we ordered two hand rolls ($5 each). We ordered the chirashi bowl and the shoyu ramen. I thought the portion sizes were good and I loved the texture of the noodles in the ramen as well as my selection of fish. For dessert, we ordered the hojicha pudding which was delicious as well.

    My friends and I were on our way to Little Alley, a Shanghainese restaurant that's been a Murray…read moreHill mainstay for years when we pivoted to Shuya because we peeped their sign saying they billed themselves an "omakase noodle restaurant." We were guided toward the back, past white marble tables with beautiful mustard colored velvet chairs to the long countertop facing the open kitchen. We scanned QR codes to pull up the menu, and despite no omakase noodle offerings to be found, decided to stay because the menu options they did have sounded too good to pass up. Of course they had classic shio and miso ramens, but they also had a duck tsukumen, a red snapper ramen, a black truffle ramen, and the dish I set my sights on-- the uni mazemen. There were also lots of appetizers and a long list of high end onigiri featuring proteins like scallop lemon shio, A5 wagyu ponzu, and bluefin chutoro on offer. This place was the real deal. Our group shared the tebasaki wings-- so crispy and so flavorful, I could have inhaled a whole plate of these. The salmon, ikura, and apple appetizer that was served in a glass chalice was superb but even better was the bluefin tuna avocado sashimi with wasabi. That one was a winner across the board. And then my uni mazemen, which really stole the show. There was a very generous portion of uni that mixed with the savory sauce and al dente ramen noodles perfectly. This dish was rich, unctuous, and fresh and definitely delivered in value, though it was double the price of most other noodle bowls. Uni is a delicacy. Having just returned from a second trip to Japan I can say this place is really as good as any restaurant I visited in Japan, and it's right here in Murray Hill. These Murray Hill bros are lucky.

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    Shuya
    Pudding
    Pudding
    Shuya

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    Soba-ya - japanese - Updated July 2026

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