When you travel far for sightseeing or business, you want to try the local ingredients and dishes, right?
Different regions have different ingredients and food cultures.
Isn't that what makes each area unique?
And don't you want to thoroughly enjoy the local specialties?
There is a perfect place to enjoy the flavors of Kurashiki in the Bikan Historical Area.
That is "Toraiya Honpo."
It is a restaurant that focuses on dishes made with ingredients unique to Kurashiki or Okayama Prefecture.
Among them, the specialty "Kibi Soba" features completely original noodles from Toraiya Honpo.
The noodles are made from Takakibi, a grain produced in Okayama Prefecture, and the unique texture and flavor that can only be experienced at Toraiya Honpo are its charm.
Let me introduce Toraiya Honpo, a restaurant that is thoroughly committed to "local flavors."
Toraiya Honpo is a restaurant where you can enjoy local dishes made with ingredients from the Kurashiki area
Toraiya Honpo is a Japanese restaurant located in the Bikan Historical Area.
It is situated along "Anniversary Street," which runs north and south on the east side of the Kurashiki River.
Kurashiki Ivy Square faces this road.
Toraiya Honpo is a restaurant that focuses on local dishes and sake, with the main feature being the original noodles called "Kibi Soba."
The name Toraiya comes from the fact that it is operated by TRY Co., Ltd., and it uses auspicious characters for "try."
Note that the character "來" in Toraiya Honpo is an old form of "来."
The central part of the character "來" has two "人" (people).
However, on the signboards of Toraiya Honpo, the character "來" is intentionally represented as "人" and "入" (to enter).
This expresses the desire for more people to come to Kurashiki.
Toraiya Honpo has a town house-style exterior that evokes the history of Kurashiki.
Inside, there are table seats, providing a spacious and relaxing atmosphere.
There is also a second-floor seating area, which can accommodate large groups.
In the back space, there is also "Igusa-ya Hanamune," which is also operated by TRY Co., Ltd.
Additionally, near Toraiya Honpo, there are "Toraiya Honpo Bekkan" and "Jizake-ya," both operated by TRY Co., Ltd.
The specialty "Kibi Soba" is a new sensation original noodle made from Takakibi
"Kibi Soba" is the signature dish and specialty of Toraiya Honpo.
It uses Takakibi (sorghum) grown in Okayama Prefecture, and it is a completely original noodle from Toraiya Honpo!
Originally called "Takakibi Men," it was renamed "Kibi Soba" for clarity, as many customers referred to it as soba.
However, even though it has "soba" in its name, no buckwheat flour is used at all.
Takakibi may be an unfamiliar ingredient.
It is a grain that has been cultivated in Japan for a long time and is also known as "Morokoshi."
▼ Takakibi
The yellowish Kibi (millet) is a different type called Mochikibi (glutinous millet).
▼ Takakibi is characterized by its very high nutritional value.
The "Kibi Soba Set," which includes Kibi Soba and "three types of condiments," is a menu item (1,000 yen excluding tax).
Kibi Soba is available in "cold" and "hot" varieties.
I tried the "cold" Kibi Soba.
▼ Kibi Soba is served in a basket, similar to zaru soba or zaru udon.
You dip the Kibi Soba into the accompanying dipping sauce to eat it.
Additionally, the following condiments and side dishes were included.
- Chopped green onions
- Wasabi
- "Three types of condiments" (tororo, chopped nori, deep-fried tofu)
▼ The thickness of Kibi Soba is similar to that of soba.
However, the color is completely different from soba, and Kibi Soba has a deep reddish color.
Upon closer inspection, the noodles have speckles (hanten) like whole grain noodles.
These are the grains of Takakibi.
Additionally, Toraiya Honpo is particular about its dipping sauce.
▼ The predecessor of Toraiya Honpo was a udon shop, and the secret sauce that has been used continuously since then serves as the base.
I slurped the Kibi Soba.
It has a very chewy texture.
It has a unique texture that feels like it pushes back slightly against your teeth.
It is different from both soba and udon, offering a new texture.
It is completely different from cold noodles or somen, as well as Chinese noodles.
It has a rather addictive flavor.
Since it uses the grain Takakibi, I thought it might have a more "grains-like" taste, but it is not grainy at all and is very easy to eat.
Furthermore, the compatibility with tororo is excellent.
While you can pour tororo over the soba and soak it in the dipping sauce, the recommendation from Toraiya Honpo is to add tororo to the dipping sauce and then dip the soba into it.
The thickness and flavor of the tororo mellow the taste of the dipping sauce, creating a different flavor experience.
By the way, the deep-fried tofu served alongside is from Yamazaki Tofu Shop located in the Chayamachi area of Kurashiki City.
It is thick and satisfying to eat.
For the hot kibi soba, the dipping sauce is heated in a small pot using solid fuel.
You dip the soba into it and eat.
The "Kibi Zen" set with Kibi Soba and local cuisine is also recommended
What is recommended along with kibi soba is the "Kibi Zen" (1,600 yen excluding tax).
Kibi Zen features kibi soba as the main dish, and you can choose your favorite from three local dishes to set with it, making it a great deal.
You can choose one dish as a base, but by paying an additional fee (600 yen excluding tax), you can enjoy two or more dishes.
The available local dishes are as follows.
- Three pieces of Mamakari sushi
- Shimotsui octopus rice
- Chiyagyu beef mini bowl
All of them look delicious, making it hard to choose.
▼Mamakari Sushi
The "Mamakari" is a fish commonly eaten in Okayama Prefecture.
It comes as a set of three pieces of sushi made with marinated mamakari.
▼Shimotsui Octopus Rice
Shimotsui, located in the southeastern part of Kurashiki City, is a port town known for its abundant octopus catch, making octopus a local specialty.
Thus, octopus rice is a local dish from Shimotsui.
▼Chiyagyu Beef Mini Bowl
In the upper reaches of the Takahashi River flowing through Kurashiki City, in the Chiya area of Niimi City, a brand of wagyu called "Chiyagyu" is produced.
It is a high-quality wagyu with a long history, said to be the root of wagyu, and has a small production number.
The grilled Chiyagyu is placed on rice and topped with a special sauce.
▼Shimotsui Octopus Tempura
The octopus, a specialty of Shimotsui, is made into tempura.
▼Takakibi and Brown Rice Mixed Grain Rice
The takakibi used in the kibi soba is mixed with brown rice to make this multigrain rice.
Original souvenir products are also on sale
At Toraiya Honpo, in addition to the dining menu, they also sell takeout and souvenir products.
You can also purchase takeout and souvenir products without dining in.
▼Kibi Soba Dried Noodles
The "Kibi Soba Dried Noodles" were created in response to customer requests to enjoy kibi soba at home.
▼Takakibi Mochi
The "Takakibi Mochi" is a rice cake made with takakibi, as the name suggests.
The surface of the mochi is kneaded with takakibi, giving it a dark color.
The mochi is chewy and sticky, filled with plenty of smooth red bean paste.
It has a smooth texture and a refined sweetness, making it very easy to eat.
▼Amazake Jam
The "Amazake Jam" is a collaborative product with Shiragiku Brewery (Otemon Shiragiku) in Takahashi City.
It is made by combining sake lees, ginger from Okayama Prefecture, and kibi sugar.
You can enjoy it by spreading it on bread or mixing it with milk to make amazake latte, offering various ways to savor it.
Toraiya Honpo is committed to food unique to Kurashiki City or Okayama Prefecture, using original kibi soba made from locally sourced takakibi and local cuisine.
We interviewed the representative director of TRY Co., which operates Toraiya Honpo, Kusudo Tomio.
Data of Toraiya Honpo (とらいや ほんぽ)
| Name | Toraiya Honpo (とらいや ほんぽ) |
|---|---|
| Address | 6-21 Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-427-0122 |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM (Last order at 7:00 PM) |
| Regular Holidays | Monday If a holiday falls on Monday, they will be open and closed the following day |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation Availability | Yes |
| Seating | 45 seats total ・1st floor: 5 tables for 4 people ・2nd floor: 5 tables for 5 people |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Childcare | Strollers are allowed Children's utensils available |
| Barrier-Free | Wheelchair accessible (1st floor) |
| Website | Toraiya Honpo (とらいやほんぽ) - Bikan Historical Area, Kurashiki |
