The June 12 Local Flavors column for Metropolis by Yukari Sakamoto, Spring slurping, is all about Soba noodles or rather 7 of the best places to eat them around Tokyo.
The introduction suggests that "Soba is in the midst of a renaissance. The humble buckwheat noodle has
been receiving an increasing amount of attention from local TV shows
and lifestyle magazines, and a further boost has come from the Slow
Food movement, which emphasizes locally procured ingredients and
terroir. Here are seven Tokyo restaurants that should be on the
itinerary of any noodle fan."
On the Modern Side sits Matsugen Soba in Ebisu.
"The communal tables are set in a dimly lit room—if you’re lucky, you can watch the noodles being rolled out and cut. Matsugen’s full menu includes an unusual bukkake soba that has a full dozen toppings (¥1,200), and an aromatic, toasty shirogoma-dare (sesame dipping sauce) that offers a nice contrast to the flavor of the noodles.
1-3-1 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-3444-8666. Open Mon-Sat 11:30am-3am, Sun & hols 11:30am-midnight. Nearest stn: Ebisu. "
Like to try little undiscovered gems, Hanabusa (pictured above from their site) is an "Off the beaten path in the shitamachi neighborhood of Monzen-Nakacho" describes as follows:
"This simple shop was recommended to me by a soba expert. While many
restaurants on this list have a long history, the care and attention to
the art of soba is particularly evident at Hanabusa. The shop offers
three types of noodles: hearty inaka, classic Edo and the refined
sarashina (all ¥700). For dessert, there’s soba ice cream (¥420) or
dorayaki with sobako (soba flour), azuki and whipped cream (¥350).2-2-15 Botan, Koto-ku. Tel: 03-3630-4337. Open Mon-Sat 11am-3:30pm and 5-11pm, closed Sun. Nearest stn: Monzen-Nakacho."
Building an appetite for Tokyo Thursdays # 91
Related: Meet the 'Sobalier', Cooking Classes in Tokyo: Soba Making