Tachigui Soba

Tachigui soba, a style of quickly slurping a bowl while standing at the counter, is a soba culture loved by the busy people of Tokyo. In a city that has enjoyed street stall soba since the Edo period, there are countless shops in stations and downtown areas, and the appeal is the speed, with a warm bowl arriving within tens of seconds of ordering. Classics include tamago soba, topped with freshly fried tempura over a strong broth.

Highlights

- The surprising speed, with a bowl arriving within tens of seconds of ordering - A strong, dashi rich broth in the eastern Japan style - A wide range of toppings such as mixed fritters and crown daisy tempura - A reasonable price of a few hundred yen per bowl

Enjoying the Seasons

On cold mornings a warm bowl heats the body and is handy as a pick before the commute. In summer many shops serve chilled soba or somen, so it can be used in any season. Some people even have their year end soba at a stand and eat shop, showing how rooted it is in daily life.

Access and Basic Information

- Many shops are inside major stations and on platforms - Some open from early morning and are convenient for breakfast - It is common to buy a meal ticket at a vending machine - Some shops are cash only, so bring small change

A Quick Tip

Soba or udon, warm or cold, and which topping. Look over the menu while waiting in line so you can decide quickly.