01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Set along Nishiōji-dōri, within easy walking distance of Kitano Tenmangū and Hirano Shrine, Sobashubo Ichii is a relaxed soba tavern where neat handmade noodles share the spotlight with rich duck fare. The menu is anchored by Kawachi duck sourced from Osaka's Tsumura Honten farm. Its flagship dish, the Kawachi kamo seiro, pairs delicate, finely cut chilled buckwheat noodles with a steaming dipping broth enriched by melting poultry fat and tender cuts of duck meat that deepen in flavor with every bite.
Duck Appetizers and Freshly Fried Tempura
The custom of sobamae—lingering over drinks and small savory plates before the noodles arrive—is a major draw here. Drawing on the duck's freshness, the kitchen serves specialty items comparable to a dedicated fowl parlor, including a 3-cut Kawachi duck sashimi platter, tender duck breast tenderloin sashimi, and savory grilled duck loin seasoned simply with salt. Lightly battered, crisp tempura platters featuring succulent prawns and seasonal vegetables provide a vibrant accompaniment to an opening drink.
Selected Regional Sake and a Refined Finish
The drinks list highlights celebrated regional brews, including Kyoto favorites such as Sawaya Matsumoto and Sasaki Sake Brewery's Koto, alongside carefully chosen junmai daiginjo labels from across Japan and a refreshing sobacha highball infused with roasted buckwheat tea. After finishing the noodles with hot sobayu broth, guests can indulge in the rich "raw brulee" scented with buckwheat tea, prepared in limited quantities of just 1 portions a day (10). With a layout that spans counter seats, dining tables, and raised tatami seating, the restaurant caters equally well to daytime lunches and unhurried evening reservations gathered around hot pots of duck shabu-shabu or sukiyaki.
