A slippery texture! Five attractive hegisoba in Niigata area
2024-04-17
Those who are well versed in Japanese soba may know of "hegisoba ", which is rarely heard of outside of Niigata. It is one of the soba varieties born and developed in Niigata Prefecture, and is a local delicacy commonly eaten in the region. "Hegi "is the vessel that serves as the identity of hegisoba. "It is said that the name comes from the verb hagu ", which means to peel, and as the name implies, a wooden board is used. It is like "colander ", in which "colander "is replaced by "hegi ". The soba is made with a smooth buckwheat paste, which is then arranged like a beautiful woven fabric. It is a local soba with a unique taste and appearance. In this issue, we have selected five popular soba restaurants in Niigata Prefecture that offer hegisoba. Please have a look.
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Kojimaya Sohonten
"The long-established "Kojimaya Sohonten ", which was featured in the Michelin Guide Niigata 2020 "as a restaurant offering high quality hegisoba, is a famous restaurant with a history of over 100 years. However, it is by no means an imposing presence, and its reasonable prices and hospitality welcome everyone from locals to tourists, from young people to families including the elderly.
Many soba shops have a waterwheel for grinding flour as a symbol of the store. When you approach Kojimaya Sohonten, you are greeted by a waterwheel large enough to be recognized from a distance. It has a great impact, in a good way, and accentuates the presence of the famous store. Upon entering the store, you will find a warm Japanese-style space. The earthen walls of the interior are made of "funori ", a material used as a binding agent for hegisoba. The attention to detail as a hegisoba noodle shop can be felt in every detail of the building. The entire building is made of zelkova wood in the style of an old private house, creating a very relaxing atmosphere.
Kojimaya Sohonten's signature menu item is "Tenhegi ". One serving of this dish is 1628 yen including tax, and comes with tempura such as shrimp and vegetables. The slippery texture of the soba is the essence of Kojimaya Sohonten's soba. The crispy tempura is also very popular, and is the first thing you should order when visiting the restaurant for the first time. A single serving of hegisoba is reasonably priced at 880 yen per person including tax. You can enjoy the real taste of soba at a reasonable price. Seasonal menu items are often offered, so repeat customers will never get tired of this restaurant.
As a renowned hegisoba noodle restaurant, it exudes pride in every part of the restaurant. The fact that many customers, whether locals or tourists, have praised the wait staff for their hospitality is the best proof of this. Furthermore, to keep the unique food culture of using fenori for soba alive today, an exhibit titled "The Story of Hegisoba "is placed in the display corner at the entrance of the store. Along with photo panels and actual old folk tools, it introduces the history of the development of hegisoba.
<店舗情報>
Store name：Kojimaya Sohonten, Headquarters
Address: 758-1 Nakayashiki, Tokamachi-city, Niigata 948-0135
Phone number: 0120-4545-81
Official website: https://kojimaya.co.jp/cotton field
"Wataya ", which was served by the Emperor's family during the Showa period (1926-1989), is now also loved by people as a famous restaurant with a history of over 100 years in business. It is important to note that they not only serve freshly made soba noodles at their stores, but also develop other products such as dried noodles that can be enjoyed at home. The attitude of always pursuing new styles while inheriting tradition conveys a passionate desire for as many people as possible to know the charm of hegisoba.
The head office is located in Ojiya City, a scenic area rich with nature, including the Shinano River, river terraces, and lush greenery. The present building of the head office, built in 1971, has not changed since its establishment. The nostalgic store, which still retains the atmosphere of the time when it was founded, welcomes visitors with an air of dignity befitting a long-established soba noodle shop.
Basic hegi soba starts at 935 yen per person. Tempura, which is made with the finest ingredients at a good soba restaurant, is also popular. A more popular menu item at the restaurant that is worth noting is "Kamo Nanban Tsuke Soba "for 1,386 yen per person. This new style of cold soba is served with hot dipping sauce, and the aroma of the duck wafts through the air as soon as it arrives. The soba can also be served as soup by adding sobayu (buckwheat water) at the end. Other limited-time-only menus challenge various tastes, such as "seafood kimchi jigae soba "that actually existed in the past. The restaurant is bringing a new twist to hegi-Soba with its innovative ideas. Be sure to check it out when you visit the restaurant.
Wataya has developed a raayu that at first glance seems far removed from soba. Its name is "Midori no Rāyu ". The main ingredient used is "Kagura Nanban ". It is a chili pepper with a round shape like a bell pepper. They say they use large, well-grown ones that are unique to the Ojiya Shioya area, which is closed off by four meters of snow in midwinter. Its concentrated bright green color and refreshing spiciness make it a perfect match for hegisoba. You can enjoy it at the store, take it home or have it delivered.
<店舗情報>
Store Name：Wataya Main Store
Address: 2-3-34, Honmachi, Ojiya-shi, Niigata 947-0021
Opening hours: Weekdays 11:00-15:00 (LO14:30) Saturdays and Sundays 10:45-20:00 (LO19:30)
Closed: Mondays (once or twice a month)
Parking lot: 15 units (unavailable)
Phone number: 0120-255-120 / 0258-82-2258
Official website: https://www.watayasoba.co.jp/
Echigo Hegisoba Restaurant Ikiya
One of the best places in Niigata City that serves hegisoba noodles with a special attention to detail is surprisingly located in a shopping mall "DeKKY401 ". "Echigo Hegisoba Restaurant Ikiya "is a soba restaurant that serves hegisoba noodles made with the finest ingredients. Despite the easy accessibility, the soba served here is a gem, carefully prepared from scratch with the finest ingredients. It is a luxury to be able to enjoy this gourmet specialty for lunch or dinner while shopping.
What is particularly noteworthy about the soba served at Ikiya is the carefully selected ingredients. Even looking at only the main ingredient, buckwheat flour, you can tell that the individual characteristics of each ingredient used in the combination have been carefully evaluated. For example, the restaurant's main ingredient is Hokkaido buckwheat flour "Kitanowase ". However, apart from that, they also use a combination of home-grown buckwheat flour from Sado Island. When determining the variety, they are very thorough in selecting good quality seeds that are grown in the same environment as the 300 meter altitude where they grow their own soba. This shows how carefully they treat their ingredients.
Ikiya shines with its accessibility, but the good thing is that it is reasonably priced, making it an easy choice for a quick lunch. One serving of hegisoba is reasonably priced at 870 yen. In addition, there is a great variety on the menu to cater to a wide range of customers. For example, "Tonjiru Tsuke Soba "uses Murakami Yotsuba Pork, one of Niigata's brand-name pork, and the sweetness of the pork that overflows from it is a hit with many regular customers. We also offer a variety of other items reminiscent of a familiar teishoku-ya, such as "Curry Soba ". Why not stop by and try it for yourself?
<店舗情報>
Name：Echigo Hegisoba Restaurant Ikiya
Address: 1F DeKKY401, 4-12-20 Kamiaomi, Chuo-ku, Niigata-shi, Niigata 950-0973
Business hours: 11:00-16:00, 17:10-21:00 (L.O. 20:00)
Closed: New Year's Day, 1st, 3rd, and 5th Wednesdays of the month (in accordance with the holidays of "DeKKY401 ")
Phone number: 025-282-7288
Official website: https://www.ikiya2013.com/
Ganso Ojiya Soba Kakunoya
Ojiya, known for its high-quality soba, has a number of excellent hegisoba noodle stores. Among them, "Kadoya (Kadoya) "is considered to be as famous as the already introduced "Wataya ". Kadoya's soba and tempura have attracted a strong fan base, so much so that many locals recommend Kadoya as the first place to go if you ask them. Whether it is summer heat or New Year's Eve, their thirst-quenching hegisoba is the best.
The combination of popularity and location naturally attracts many people in search of delicious food. It is common to see a line of customers waiting in line even when the restaurant is open, so it is recommended that you allow some time for your visit. The interior is simple and elegant, with a Japanese taste that evokes the warmth of wood. Counter seats and tables are available, but as is typical of soba restaurants, many tatami rooms are arranged.
As a soba restaurant and izakaya (Japanese-style pub) loved by the community, it offers a wide variety of hot and cold soba and udon noodles, as well as a la carte dishes. Of course, the quality of the hegisoba goes without saying. The volume of the dishes is also very generous, so you are sure to be very satisfied with your order. You can also enjoy a la carte dishes with sake until the soba is served. The udon noodles are just as good as the soba. They are so particular about their udon that they are even planning to open a restaurant specializing in udon. It is a must-try when you return to the restaurant.
<店舗情報>
Store name：Nakanoya Yuzawa Honten (in front of East Exit Station)
Address: 2-1-5 Yuzawa, Yuzawa-cho, Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata Prefecture
Business hours: 11:00 - 20:00
Closed: Thursday
Phone number: 025-784-3720
Official website: http://www.umaisoba.com/summary
These are five particularly popular soba restaurants in Niigata Prefecture. You can see that many of these restaurants have inherited their traditions as well as their history, and are well loved and protected by the local people. Soba is a precious gourmet food that can be enjoyed throughout the year, as it goes well with seasonal ingredients in each of the four seasons. Even if you live in another part of Japan, you should try hegisoba when you visit Niigata.
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