Tabelog ratingSoba Mae Nakate Touha (蕎麦前 中手 とうは) is a destination for diners serious about buckwheat. This small Kobe restaurant specializes in the 'soba-mae' tradition, where soba is the finale to a meal of exquisite small plates and sake. The noodles are made from 100% buckwheat (ten-wari), hand-milled on-site. The highlight is the tasting set format, which allows you to compare two (二種もり, nishu-mori) or three (三種盛り, sanshu-mori) different preparations—such as fine-ground, coarse-ground, and rustic 'inaka' style—each served with a distinct dipping sauce or salt.
Guests consistently praise the quality of the noodles, noting their distinct textures and powerful buckwheat aroma. The small appetizer plates are also a major draw, with particular acclaim for the kakiage tempura made with small scallops and sakura-ebi, and duck dishes like kamo-wasa. Portions are considered fair for the price, and the thick, flavorful soba-yu (the hot water the noodles were cooked in) served at the end of the meal is a frequent point of praise.
However, many reviews mention that the service can be curt or inconsistent, and the restaurant has strict house rules, sometimes requiring a one-drink and one-dish minimum. A few past reviews have also noted isolated issues with cleanliness. While not a majority opinion, it's something to be aware of.
Lunch typically costs between ¥1,000 and ¥1,999, while dinner is around ¥3,000 to ¥3,999. Reviewers recently paid around ¥1,700 for a two-soba tasting set (nishu-mori) and ¥850 for a small scallop kakiage. A full dinner with several small plates and drinks can easily reach ¥4,500 or more. Most diners feel the quality justifies the price.
- Getting There: The restaurant is a 4-minute walk from Kencho-mae subway station.
- Reservations: Strongly recommended. With only eight counter seats, walk-ins may face a long wait or find that popular items are sold out.
- Payment: Cash only. Credit cards, electronic money, and QR code payments are not accepted.
- Age Restriction: Children under elementary school age are not permitted.
- Seating: All seating is at the 8-seat counter. Private rooms are not available.
- Service & Rules: Be prepared for efficient but potentially brusque service. The restaurant may enforce a minimum order per person.
- Language: Expect the menu to be in Japanese only.
- Smoking: The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
- Parking: No parking is available.
