It was a hectic day in Osaka.. My friend went and explore a fish market but I had to finish some work and made some calls at a local café, and my stomach was rumbling with hunger. I decided to take a chance and randomly look up a place to eat just quickly nearby, and boy am I glad I did.
I stumbled upon this small and cozy soba restaurant hidden away in a small alley off the main street, 'Ogura' It was a gem of a find, and I couldn't wait to try the food.
Once inside, I was greeted by a coupon machine where I could order my meal. I handed my ticket to the chef and waited anxiously for my food to be prepared. The restaurant was small, with only two tables and a few seats around the cooking station, but it was cozy and inviting.
I decided to go with the cold soba with shrimp tempura, as the guy who helped me translate (even though the Google translate was good, it's not as good as a human, I swear) recommended this dish. And let me tell you, it was amazing!!! The homemade noodle was delicious and the shrimp tempura was crispy and a little salty – the perfect combination.
The the guy who helped me translate also taught me how to properly eat the soba. You dip the soba into the cold soy soup, then add green onion for added flavor. And when you're almost done with the soba, you pour in wasabi and mix it in the soup before dipping your noodle for a spicy kick. It was a unique and delicious experience.
After the meal, the guy who helped me translate came over and gave me a cup of soup that was used to boil the noodles. It was simple, but packed with nutrients and a great way to wash down all the grease and flavor after the meal.
I found out later that the guy who helped me translate was Korean and not Japanese. He was there to learn how to make soba like a pro and hopefully will go back to his country and open his own restaurant. This should tell you something, this is a really freakin' good soba place!
In conclusion, the food, atmosphere and hospitality at this soba restaurant in Osaka was top-notch. I would highly recommend it for some authentic Japanese noodle experience.
Ogura
4 Chome-5-10 Nipponbashi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0005, Japan
https://goo.gl/maps/8Eo9ccT7cuuAot8K9