01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Hamburg steak is an uncommon sight on a traditional soba menu, but at Motohashi in Nerima Ward's Shakujiidai neighbourhood, that pairing has become a genuine lunchtime draw. Served in a bento-style divided tray, the lunch set brings together chilled seiro buckwheat noodles with steamed white rice, miso soup, crisp tempura such as eggplant and Japanese whiting, and a plump hamburg steak beside a small salad. Diners can choose between Japanese-style or demi-glace sauce for the patty; its savoury-sweet glaze invites another mouthful of rice, neatly punctuated by the crisp, refreshing throat feel of handmade soba noodles.
Traditional Seiro and a Broad Range of Buckwheat Noodles
While the generous combination sets draw plenty of attention, the kitchen rests firmly on the quality of its handmade noodles, which offer a fragrant aroma and an elastic, satisfying bite. The options span both hot and cold preparations, from tempura seiro featuring large prawns and kabocha pumpkin to chilled kitsune, chilled natto and grated daikon, rich duck nanban, and comforting curry broth. After working through the noodles, pouring hot sobayu into the leftover dipping broth provides a warm, restorative conclusion to the meal.
Hearty Donburi and Classic Side Dishes
For those looking to expand on a bowl of noodles, Motohashi offers small side bowls infused with soba dashi, including a mini curry bowl and a mini tempura bowl. Full-sized rice options are equally well represented, featuring katsudon, oyakodon, and unaju eel bowls. Small bites like itawasa sliced fish cake and agedashi tofu pair easily with a cold beer, making the dining room an inviting venue to shift gradually from an evening drink into a full dinner.
The dining area is comfortably laid out with both table seating and tatami-matted zashiki sections, accommodating solo lunch-goers and gathering families alike. With a dedicated car park holding several spaces behind the building, this neighbourhood soba shop serves as a dependable stop both for local regulars and drivers passing through.
