Shinshu Matsumoto Hikariya's Authentic Soba at KITTE Marunouchi, Tokyo Station

On a scorching 36°C summer day, I went to Tokyo Station for an exhibition at the Tokyo Station Gallery. Wanting lunch at a place that didn't seem too crowded, I wandered aimlessly to the restaurant floor of KITTE. Seeing a relatively short line and feeling more like soba than rice dishes, I entered "Shinshu Matsumoto Hikariya" for the first time. I ordered the "Steamed Soba Noodles with Tempura Rice Bowl" and the "Large Prawn Tempura Steamed Soba Noodles." The 100% buckwheat noodles had an outstanding firmness, giving me the satisfying feeling of eating authentic soba. The tempura rice bowl was topped with a perfectly sweet sauce that made the rice go down well, and the two prawns were plump and springy. The prawn tempura on the "Large Prawn Tempura Steamed Soba Noodles" was incredibly crispy. The portion was quite generous, and I ended up feeling very full.

Shinshu Matsumoto Hikariya KITTE Marunouchi Store