Shinshu Soba no Kusabue - Decent choice for Soba in Nagano JR Station

Shinshu Soba no Kusabue

First meal of my first ever Japan trip! Although this wasn’t my first choice for Shinshu Soba, I chose to dine here because my first choice (Bocchi) was close on that day. Too hungry and tired (flight from Singapore to Tokyo and then shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano), so my second choice will be more than good enough!

Kusabue Set - Grated Yam Shinshu Soba no Kusabue — **Kusabue Set - Grated Yam**
Shinshu Soba no Kusabue

Kusabue Set - Grated Walnut with Sobayu Shinshu Soba no Kusabue — **Kusabue Set - Grated Walnut with Sobayu**
Shinshu Soba no Kusabue

Kusabue Set - Grated Yam with Sobayu Shinshu Soba no Kusabue — **Kusabue Set - Grated Yam with Sobayu**
Shinshu Soba no Kusabue

Kusabue Set - Walnut Ohagi Shinshu Soba no Kusabue — **Kusabue Set - Walnut Ohagi**
Shinshu Soba no Kusabue

Kusabue Set (¥1500)

One of their signature sets, wife ate this and she is quite satisfied with it.

The set comes with soba, 2 types of sauce (grated walnut and grated yam), walnut ohagi, and picked vegetables.

Soba: Decent taste, medium thickness with al dente bite to it.

Dipping Sauce:

Grated Walnut - Strong yet with a sweet flavour to it, wife’s favourite out of the 3 (if I include the standard dipping sauce into the equation)
Grated Yam - Very smooth and refreshing taste when eating (slurping) the soba

After adding Sobayu: Taste like miso soup in addition to their flavour notes prior to adding Sobayu.

Of course, not only this restaurant has these 2 types of sauce, but it’s quite uncommon to find it in most soba shops and they also do it pretty good, I will say it’s the highlight of this restaurant.

I also quite like the walnut ohagi, glutinous rice mixed with soybean flour and then coated with walnuts and sugar. Got a firmer bite compared to mochi, and with the walnut and sugar bits. If put in Singapore food context, it is similar to Muah Chee but just substitute the peanuts to walnut bits and also comes in a much bigger piece and firmer bite.

Rating: 3.25/5

Ebi Tenzaru Soba (Jou) Shinshu Soba no Kusabue — **Ebi Tenzaru Soba (Jou)**
Shinshu Soba no Kusabue

Ebi Tenzaru Soba (Jou) - Tempura no Moriawase Shinshu Soba no Kusabue — **Ebi Tenzaru Soba (Jou) - Tempura no Moriawase**
Shinshu Soba no Kusabue

Ebi Tenzaru Soba (Jou) - Ingredients (grated radish, spring onion, and wasabi) to mix with dipping sauce Shinshu Soba no Kusabue — **Ebi Tenzaru Soba (Jou) - Ingredients (grated radish, spring onion, and wasabi) to mix with dipping sauce**
Shinshu Soba no Kusabue

Ebi Tenzaru Soba (Jou) - Dipping Sauce with Sobayu Shinshu Soba no Kusabue — **Ebi Tenzaru Soba (Jou) - Dipping Sauce with Sobayu**
Shinshu Soba no Kusabue

Ebi Tenzaru Soba (Jou) (¥1650)

This is the set I ordered, but compared to wife’s set it is pretty lackluster.

Tempura: Cold and not crunchy anymore, especially so when you bite into the shrimp which is just like a cold piece of rather hard meat.

Soba: Decent taste, medium thickness with al dente bite to it. (Same as the set above)

Dipping Sauce: Simple clean taste, nothing bad but nothing to shout about either.

After adding Sobayu: Taste a bit like miso soup.

Overall, the soba part is ok, but tempura is meh. Just order the Kusabue set to be honest, unless you really want some tempura and don’t mind it coming cold.

Rating: 3/5

Menu Shinshu Soba no Kusabue — **Menu**
Shinshu Soba no Kusabue

Took photos of the English menu, and also on one the page with a guide on how to eat Soba Noodles and usage of Sobayu.

Handmade Soba Noodles Shinshu Soba no Kusabue — **Handmade Soba Noodles**
Shinshu Soba no Kusabue

Promotional menu at the entrance Shinshu Soba no Kusabue — **Promotional menu at the entrance**
Shinshu Soba no Kusabue

Overall

It is a decent place for Shinshu Soba, especially the Kusabue Set (actually this is the main point for this restaurant) which is quite good.

Very central location in Midori, which is the mall connected to Nagano JR station, and the restaurant has lots of seating. So the chance of waiting is none to minimal, we queued about 10-15 minutes only during peak lunch hours on a Sunday.

Although there is a better Shinshu Soba place (Bocchi) which is just 5 minutes walk away…

Shop Front Shinshu Soba no Kusabue — **Shop Front**
Shinshu Soba no Kusabue

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Address: 長野県長野市南千歳1 22-6 MIDORI長野3F

Opening Hours: 11am-10pm Daily, closed on 1st Jan.

Payment Method: Cash, and Cards

Website: https://kusabue-nagano.owst.jp/

Tabelog: https://tabelog.com/en/nagano/A2001/A200101/20018750/

(Last visited: October 2019)