This was perhaps the best noodle place I’ve been to this year. This find could not have been possible without Naman, who gave me the Michelin guide for xmas. Surprisingly, Soba-Ya is about a 5 minute walk away from campus, but I’ve never paid attention to it. It’s right next to St. Marks and it’s easy to miss if you’re not paying attention.
Regardless of how it was found, Patrick and I arrived at 11:55, five minutes before opening time. There was already a small waiting line. Within 20 minutes of being seated, there was already a wait! The place wasn’t huge, but it probably had around 25 tables.
We came here because I really wanted udon. Whenever I’m sick, I always crave udon. They offer two types of noodles- udon and soba. Udon is thicker whereas soba is thinner. At Soba-Ya, they’re both handmade and that’s their speciality. They don’t serve sushi. I ordered the Yasai, which is plain udon with mixed vegetables and mushrooms in a light broth. The taste was very plain and simple, but the sweet bean curd that came with it made it much more flavorful. Patrick ordered a lunch special, Sake Mizore Soba, which came with salmon on top of rice with salmon roe. His dish was huge and he seemed to enjoy it.
I really liked the decor. It was modern Japanese with lots of wood and ceramics along the walls. There’s a tiny bar in the restaurant where you can also eat your meal. Of course, they also have many varieties of sake.
I would definitely come back to this place again. They have a great website, equipped with flash and a full menu. If you’re unsure about the menu items, they have a variety of pictures that’ll help you decide.
MENU
229 E. 9th St.
New York, NY 10003
Near Second Ave.
See Map | Subway Directions 
212-533-6966
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Posted in Greenwich Village, New York City, Top Picks in NYC
