What is your favorite noodle dish?
Ramen, soba, udon, somen, pasta... there are indeed many types of noodles.
I think it’s a tough choice to decide which noodle is the best, but when it comes to soba and udon, I believe your preference is clear.
Whether you prefer soba or udon is likely influenced greatly by the food culture of your area.
As it is said, "soba in the east, udon in the west," Kurashiki, which belongs to western Japan, has overwhelmingly more udon shops than soba shops.
Did you know that there is a rare soba shop in Kurashiki, which is known for its udon?
I visited "Bichu Soba Yabu," located along the Kurashiki River in the center of the Bikan Historical Area.
A vertically long structure that is integrated with the neighboring shop
"Bichu Soba Yabu" (hereafter, Yabu) is located south of the Ohara Museum of Art, along the Kurashiki River.
The area where Yabu is located has many dining establishments, with udon shop "Teuchi Udon Oonishi" and café "Sabou Minatoya" on either side.
The shop has been renovated from an old house, and what’s very interesting is that part of the building is integrated with the neighboring shop.
The building facing the street is a row house, connected in a continuous manner.
Teuchi Udon Oonishi, Sabou Minatoya, and Yabu are all located in the same building.
I have previously visited these three shops, but I had no idea they were in the same building since there are walls separating the shops.
What is common among the three shops is that they all have a long and narrow structure like an eel's sleeping place.
From inside the building, it is not apparent, but the part that continues to the back is a separate building from the neighboring shop.
By the way, the space behind the kitchen used to be a residence.
Yabu has been family-run since its establishment, and it is said that they used to live in the residential part.
Currently, the residential area has been renovated, and more seats have been added.
Noodle menu
A soba shop with an interesting structure also has a menu that piques curiosity.
As I flipped through the menu... wait, there are also many udon options?
With this, even if you come in a group, both soba lovers and udon lovers can enjoy their favorite noodles without compromise!
While udon is also a point of interest, since this is a soba shop, I will mainly introduce soba.
While I was pondering which soba to choose, the staff recommended the Inaka soba, so I decided to order it.
Inaka soba
Inaka soba is cold soba. It is topped with grated daikon, bonito flakes, green onions, seaweed, and a raw egg.
The staff recommended eating it dipped in the sauce.
Yabu's Inaka soba is refreshing, with plenty of aromatic condiments. Enjoy the changing flavors as you eat.
This is a dish you want to eat smoothly during the hot season.
Shinoda maki soba
Another recommendation was the "Shinoda maki soba," which is a bit different.
Have you heard of Shinoda maki?
Upon researching, it seems there are various types, such as "fried tofu stuffed with meat" or "vegetable-only versions."
Yabu's "Shinoda maki" contains mochi inside sweetly seasoned fried tofu.
While eating Shinoda maki soba for the first time, I thought, "If I can have both fried tofu and mochi at once, isn't Shinoda maki a great deal compared to just fried tofu like in kitsune soba or just mochi like in chikara soba?"
Shinoda maki soba is warm soba with two pieces of Shinoda maki.
Even one piece of Shinoda maki is quite filling, making it a perfect menu for those who are hungry.
Recommended side menu "Yabu-meshi"
In addition to noodles, the side menu "Yabu-meshi" is also recommended.
It is rice cooked with the broth used for soba.
It is served wrapped in real bamboo leaves. Recently, real bamboo leaves have become quite rare.
You often see plastic bamboo leaves, but real ones are a rarity!
Some customers even take it home because it is so unique.
The rice used is glutinous rice Himenomochi from the Ashin area in Okayama Prefecture and white rice Komaru from Mabi in Kurashiki City.
Since it contains glutinous rice, the texture is chewy. It has a nice aroma of dashi.
This is a simple takikomi gohan (seasoned rice) without any ingredients, allowing you to fully enjoy the umami of the dashi.
Rich Toppings
There is a wide variety of soba and udon menus, and there are 9 types of toppings available.
By adding toppings, you can further customize your noodle dish to your liking.
| Topping | Price (including tax) |
|---|---|
| Raw egg | 55 yen |
| Grated daikon radish | 110 yen |
| Shinoda | 165 yen |
| Mountain yam | 165 yen |
| Wild vegetables | 220 yen |
| Meat | 330 yen |
| Shinoda roll | 330 yen |
| Tempura (3 types) | 330 yen |
| Tempura (6 types) | 605 yen |
Tempura
Tempura is also available as a topping.
Don't you want tempura with your soba or udon?
▼Tempura (3 types)
The tempura (3 types) includes shrimp, perilla, and pumpkin.
It's nice that you can add toppings to any noodle you order.
Shinoda Roll
The Shinoda roll introduced with the Shinoda soba is also available as a topping.
You can add it to your favorite menu for an additional 330 yen (including tax).
If you're curious about the Shinoda roll, be sure to try it.
At "Bichu Soba Yabu," even if there are soba and udon fans in the group, you can enjoy your favorite noodles without compromise.
With a rich variety of toppings, you can enjoy a bowl tailored to your preferences.
Yabu has been family-run since its establishment, and currently, the second and third generations are working together.
I spoke with Hiroko Eto, the second-generation owner and manager.
Data on Bichu Soba Yabu
| Name | Bichu Soba Yabu |
|---|---|
| Address | 5-30 Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-422-1386 |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Sundays and holidays) |
| Regular Holidays | Irregular holidays |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation Availability | Yes Reservations not accepted during busy periods |
| Seating | 48 seats, Number of tables: 13 * The number of seats has been reduced from usual due to measures against the spread of COVID-19 |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
| Website | Official Instagram |
