Greased Up On Some A-BU-RA SOBA

Location: 3.5

Wait Time: 2.5

Atmosphere: 4

Price: 4

Taste: 4.5

Let's talk about soba.  I like soba. You like soba.  You come to Japan, you eat soba. Then you come here, and you never go to another soba place again. 

東京麺珍亭本舗 (とうきょうめんちんていほんぽ For those of you who haven't mastered basic kanji! ) is a quick 5 minute walk from Waseda, but if you want to eat and get back for a third period class, you damn well better run.  Its reputation proceeds itself, but unfortunately we found ourselves waiting a solid 20 minutes to get in and get eating.  Our badass buddy Bill was late for his Role-Playing class. Kinky. 

The place is pretty small, even by Japan standards.  We’re talkin’ 10 seats max, in a line of 20 people…do the math, but use a calculator.  Once you get in though, you feel home.  Nice counters, a squeaky-clean kitchen, and a crew that know how to make a fine bowl of noodley deliciousness.  A standard bowl will run you 600 yen. Spoiler alert? Worth it.

You get your noodles, then you’ve got some choices to make.  Oil? Vinegar? Garlic salt? Hot pepper?  We’re fuckin’ smart, here’s what we did.  Start with the standard noodle. Add some oil, taste. Add some vinegar, taste.  Add some garlic, taste.  Add some pepper and prepare for a to have the soba law laid down on your meager little taste buds.  I can only describe this masterpiece as unlike anything I’ve had before in Japan.  Thick, firm noodles complimented by fusion of flavors that makes sweet sweet love to your tongue and goes down leaving you full but ready to come back?  That’s what’s up.

THE VERDICT 


The Bearded One: Overall I give 東京麺珍亭本舗 4 out of 5 beards. Eat it.


The Beardless One: 珍亭 will kick your hungry stomach's ass all the way back to wherever it belongs. The thick noodles and thick sauce will plumet down into your stomach like that messenger who went to see Leonidas in Sparata who demanded too fucking much from Leonidas (who was 300 lbs of muscle and 6 feet 24 inches with a ten pack) and then had the balls to look at the Queen. Yeah, you know what happened to him. That shit is going to happen to you when you devour a bowl of beastly 大盛り ABURA SOBA. I give this noodle 4.5 out of 5 beards.