01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
For a full-on taste of dried sardines, choose the rich soba; for something lighter, try the niboshi soba or salt niboshi soba. At Hihamatanoboru in Ayase, the flavours revolve around niboshi, or dried fish. Diners who have tried the rich soba describe a deeply concentrated broth, with even a hint of bitterness, and a satisfying coating of thick soup clinging to low-hydration, thin noodles. Some also note how the fresh bite of chopped onion and green onion brings a welcome contrast to the intensity. It’s a good choice when you’re in the mood for niboshi to take centre stage.
Several diners, however, have found the saltiness pronounced in the rich options and tsukemen alike. If you enjoy a well-seasoned bowl, the richer choices may suit you; for a gentler flavour, consider the lighter niboshi soba. The menu also lists salt niboshi soba, giving you another option to suit your mood.
For something different from the regular bowls, look out for the weekly menu and occasional limited-time specials. One diner who tried the limited-time kombu-water tsukemen reported springy, thin noodles and a dipping broth that was light despite its assertive niboshi flavour. On another visit, a diner enjoyed thinning the dipping broth with the kombu water. These specials change over time, so they’re an option when available.
To add rice to your meal, consider the menu’s niboshi takikomi gohan (rice cooked with niboshi) or one of the occasional rice bowls. One diner paired the rich niboshi soba with pork rice, finding that the sweet-and-savoury-sauced chashu and green onion went well with the rice, which made a pleasant change between mouthfuls of ramen. The abedama, an additional portion of dressed noodles, comes with a choice of soy sauce or salt. In the menu record, it was not listed on the ticket machine and had to be ordered verbally.
This is a small shop with rock music playing in the background. It can work for a solo lunch or dinner, though some visitors have found the music loud enough to make conversation difficult. Payment is cash only, so plan accordingly.
