We want to spread the culture of soba in Kurashiki.
With that in mind, “Trattoria Homemade Soba Takenoya” opened in October 2016.
Stylish and chic, yet somehow warm and welcoming, this is a place where you can enjoy soba casually.
In a 150-year-old traditional house with white plaster walls, enjoy a delicious soba lunch served in beautiful tableware.
We introduce a restaurant where you can discover the deliciousness of new soba, created with a commitment to “what makes Takenoya unique” while carrying on the flavor of local soba.
The information provided was current when this article was published in March 2022. Please note that it may differ from current information.
A 150-year-old traditional-house trattoria overlooking a garden that changes with the seasons
As you walk through Kurashiki Ichibangai from JR Kurashiki Station, an entrance appears in the wall of an old mansion. It has the feel of somewhere special.
On the right is “Trattoria Homemade Soba Takenoya,” and on the left is the Japanese restaurant “Takenoya Bettei.”
The exterior of “Trattoria Homemade Soba Takenoya.” This atmospheric building was renovated from a 150-year-old traditional house.
The spacious garden between “Trattoria Homemade Soba Takenoya” and “Takenoya Bettei.”
When we visited in March, it looked a little bare, but we hear that cherry blossoms and satsuki azaleas bloom in spring, creating a beautiful scene.
At night, a lantern welcomes you with its gentle light.
The “Take” in Takenoya’s name is represented by a motif of take-nawa (bamboo rope), inspired by the phrase “utage mo takenawa,” meaning that a banquet is at its height.
This sign carved into white wood was apparently handmade by a customer.
The symbol, with two or three concentric circles around the “Take” character in Takenoya’s name,
“May connections spread outward in ever-widening circles, with Takenoya at the center.”
That is the sentiment behind it. It’s a simple and lovely design.
By the way, if you’re driving, there is a dedicated parking lot just after turning left at the Kurashiki Ichibangai sign.
A relaxing Japanese-modern interior with jazz playing
Soft jazz fills Takenoya’s interior, where gentle light streams in.
The decor is unified in subdued tones, but the warmth of the wood keeps it from feeling dark.
Table seating by the window. It’s incredibly stylish, yet somehow so comfortable.
The garden is clearly visible from the tables.
We hear you can see cherry blossoms, azaleas, autumn leaves, and even snowy scenery in winter.
There are lots of old tools and cute little objects around the counter.
This antique treadle sewing machine brings to mind the NHK morning drama series “Carnation.” Amazingly, it still works.
The “Take” logo is clearly visible on the denim fabric. The attention to detail is stylish.
It wasn’t sewn on the antique machine, but the staff aprons were so lovely that we asked to take a photo. I want one!
Besides the aprons, the placemats, coasters, and noren (traditional shop curtains) are all made of denim.
Kurashiki City’s Kojima district is known for denim. We hear they went to a local denim factory, bought a large piece of fabric, and made them.
The second floor of Takenoya has tatami-room seating divided into three rooms. It’s a reassuring choice for families with small children.
It can be used for a wide range of occasions, regardless of age or gender, such as a baby’s first-bite ceremony or a 60th-birthday celebration.
Takenoya’s lunch menu: a variety of flat, thin, and thick noodles
Before opening Takenoya’s menu, take a look at the menu covers, too. They’re lovely.
The lunch menu is made of white wood, the dinner menu of denim, and the drinks menu of leather—each uses a different material.
There are 17 kinds of soba for lunch. The selection ranges from Italian-style soba in thin or thick noodles to soba in a thick sauce.
There’s the pleasure of choosing, “Which soba should I try next…?” and it’s easy to see why there are so many repeat customers.
Of course, they also serve authentic seiro soba. By the way, juwari soba is available only at dinner.
Another specialty is the famous wariko soba from Izumoya, Takenoya’s soba mentor.
Izumoya was a renowned soba restaurant that had been beloved for many years near Takenoya.
Though it closed to the regret of many, Takenoya has carried on its flavors, faithfully recreating Izumoya’s soba broth as well.
Apparently, the owner of Izumoya still visits Takenoya once a month to check the flavor.
Thick noodles with a broth-and-rice set: “Wagyu Beef Soba.”
“Hot wagyu beef soba with a broth-and-rice set.” ¥1,518 (tax included).
This hearty set features hot soba topped with plenty of wagyu beef, served with rice blended with 18 grains and house-made pickles.
The broth, made from domestic beef Achilles tendon, gives off a rich, luxurious aroma.
It’s so clear, you’d never think it was soba broth. There’s no beefy smell at all.
A hint of sweetness comes through, followed by the rich, full-bodied flavor unique to beef.
The thick noodles have a satisfyingly chewy bite and pair perfectly with the broth!
The soba has a firm, springy texture, making this bowl more satisfying than it looks.
Here’s the treat to look forward to after finishing the noodles. When you see these condiments, you’ll want to…
That’s right—make it ochazuke-style!
The slightly sweet broth goes surprisingly well with the 18-grain rice. It’s a recommended way to enjoy it.
Pour plenty of soba broth over it and enjoy every last bite.
“Soba with mozzarella, eggplant, and tomato sauce,” served with flat noodles
This is the flat-noodle “Soba with mozzarella, eggplant, and tomato sauce.” ¥1,628 (tax included).
A complete change of pace: this is a trattoria-style soba set. Apparently, it’s a lunchtime favorite, especially among younger diners.
The flat soba noodles, like tagliatelle pasta, are generously coated in tomato sauce.
The red tomato sauce stands out beautifully against the white and blue Hasami ware. The dish itself is part of the enjoyment.
Soba and tomato sauce—a combination I’ve never tried before. I can’t wait!
The flat soba noodles are chewy, with a much firmer bite than I expected.
They feel denser and more compact than pasta.
The rich, sweet tomato sauce and the deep aroma of the soba make this so delicious you can’t stop eating.
The trattoria-style soba comes with salad and bread. The butter oil for dipping the bread was delicious.
Homemade soba tea pudding and galettes: soba in every dessert
Lunch sets come with dessert. And of course, it’s a soba-based sweet!
This is the “Takenoya special dessert galette,” a crepe made with buckwheat flour.
You can switch to a galette for an additional ¥300 with lunch. And just look how beautiful it is…
I’ve never seen a galette plated so beautifully. It’s almost too lovely to eat!
The lightly moist galette is topped with ice cream, syrup, and colorful fruit.
The regular dessert also includes your choice of homemade soba tea pudding or homemade soba tea ice cream, along with Dattan soba tea and homemade soba cookies.
The soba tea pudding is wonderfully soft, with an elegant sweetness. It’s a dessert with the fragrant, roasted flavor of soba tea.
Spring seasonal special: “Sakura shrimp kakiage and sakura-cut soba”
This time, they kindly showed us their cherry-blossom-season special, “Sakura shrimp kakiage and sakura-cut soba.”
Please contact the restaurant for details about the serving period.
The set features a large kakiage fritter packed with sakura shrimp and pink-colored soba.
Wow, what a beautiful cherry-blossom pink! This soba is so lovely, it almost seems a shame to eat it.
The soba is made with sarashina flour (a white flour made by milling the innermost part of the buckwheat grain), with cherry leaves kneaded into the dough.
Apparently, many fans look forward to the cherry-blossom soba. I want to go try it, too!
Buy Your Favorite Tableware! Hasami Ware and Masking Tape
Near the register, there is also a space selling Hasami ware, pottery made in Hasami Town, Nagasaki Prefecture.
Hasami ware has a 400-year history and is now beloved for its stylish, modern tableware that is perfect for everyday use.
Takenoya uses Hasami ware mainly for its lunch service.
Customers asked them to sell the tableware, too, so they started offering it in the shop.
The Hasami ware from “natural69,” a Nagasaki Prefecture pottery studio that Takenoya still visits to buy its wares, is especially known for its beautiful indigo blue. The patterns are cute, too.
Apparently, the lovely combination of this indigo blue with denim was the deciding factor. It makes you want to buy some!
These little birds are my personal favorite. I love the smoothness of the porcelain.
Does this little plate look familiar? It’s the small dish used for the condiments served with dashi rice.
It’s nice to be able to buy a plate you like.
This masking tape was developed jointly with the pottery studio natural69.
Featuring patterns from nine pieces of tableware, this original masking tape is available exclusively at Takenoya and natural69.
Spend a Wonderful Time with Someone Special. A Place You’ll Want to Visit Again and Again
While reporting this story, I found myself thinking of so many people I’d love to bring to Takenoya.
That person would surely like this soba; that one would probably love this dish.
Whoever you bring, they’re sure to be delighted, and you’ll have a wonderful time together. I think a place that makes you feel that way is truly special.
Neither Japanese nor Western, this charm is simply what makes Takenoya Takenoya.
From the soba itself to the tableware, interior, and even the background music, everything reflects the thoughtful attention to detail that defines Takenoya.
Connections between people grow around Takenoya, and those people come back to visit.
Like its emblem, Takenoya’s network of connections continues to grow.
In April 2019, “Takenoya Nakasho Branch” opened, followed by “Takenoya Bettei” across the street in July 2021. The Kurashiki soba restaurant “Takenoya” continues to attract more and more attention.
Trattoria Jikasei Soba Takenoya Information
| Name | Trattoria Jikasei Soba Takenoya |
|---|---|
| Address | 3-18-18 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-441-2983 |
| Parking | Available 12 spaces |
| Hours | Lunch: 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Dinner: 5:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. |
| Closed | Wednesday |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted |
| Seating | Counter: 12 seats Tables (seats 4): 4 Tatami rooms (seats 4): 7 |
| Smoking | Entirely non-smoking |
| Restrooms | Western-style toilet |
| Website | Okayama and Kurashiki Sightseeing | Creative Japanese Cuisine | Trattoria Jikasei Soba Takenoya |
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