After running some errands in Kichijoji, I decided to have dinner at Kanda Matsuya (神田まつや), located on the 9th floor of Tokyu Department Store. I’ve been turned away by the long lines at the main store more times than I can count.
They display food samples outside, so I was able to decide what to order before going in.
Most of the tables are for four people, and the interior is simple and characteristic of a soba restaurant.
The soba menu includes seasonal soba and tempura options. Prices start at 770 yen for a kake soba, which feels a bit pricey. Then again, it’s located inside a department store.
The side dishes and drinks menu. Wasabi is charged separately.
I ordered a cold sake, which came with soba miso. My stomach doesn’t usually have room for extra side dishes after soba, so I appreciated this small accompaniment. While the miso flavor was stronger than the soba aroma, it paired perfectly with the sake. Apparently, this is the same as what they serve at the main store.
I felt like having tempura, so I ordered the tempura soba, which came with one large prawn. I mistakenly assumed it would include both a large prawn and vegetable tempura, but it was just the prawn. I would have preferred the vegetables, but I later noticed on the wall menu that they also offer a “Tempura Mori Assortment (1,540 yen).”
That said, the large prawn tempura was impressive—crispy, plump, and delicious. The soba itself was simple, with the prawn tempura making it almost like kake soba. The soup was light, not too sweet, and the flavors of the yuzu and mitsuba complemented the simplicity beautifully.
The flavor was impeccable, as you’d expect from a long-established soba restaurant. However, I did find the prices quite steep, even for a department store location. I wonder if it’s the same at the main store?
About
Name Kanda Matsuya Kichijoji branch (神田まつや 吉祥寺店)
Open Day through night
Reservation Unavailable
Credit card Available
URL Website / 本店Instagram
Google Map
