One of the best and most unique culinary experiences I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. I really enjoyed the Orion beer, and Shibata Black saki, I have never had or seen either brand before. The Ten Seiro, Kamo nanban and the tamagoyaki were all delicious. The duck was exquisite and the broth had so much flavor. The broth didn’t rely on salt or soy, just the essence of duck. The Salmon Pressed Sushi was the least impressive dish. It was good, but very basic. I would like to try everything on the menu. So many unique dishes perfectly executed. The fiddleheads were surprising, with so many unique and flavorful dishes, I was surprised how much I enjoyed them. The sauce was peanut based but not too sweet, and so delicate. The sauce didn’t overshadow the flavor or ruin the crispness of the fiddleheads (kogomi goma-ae). The ebi cream croquettes were perfectly fried and the flavors melded together so perfectly it seemed exotic, so creamy and there was plenty of shrimp in every bite.
Been here too many times! Only authentic soba place in the Bay Area honestly and this place is always a hitter. Interesting location, not in the nicest area but the food is too delicious to care. They also have a seasonal menu so it’s great cause you can try new things all the time. The drink menu has good options and they have outdoor areas too in case you want to bring your dog friends :)
Very good food. It tends to get crowded. 4 stars because i feel it was slightly overpriced.
Soba Ichi has been on my list for many moons. And boy was it worth it. Get there early because there will likely be a line.- Rotating special Short Rib was melt in your mouth delightful. Served with soft and chewy buckwheat crepes.- Pressed Salmon Roll was Incredibly fresh. Wasabi packed a punch.- Soba couldnt have been more perfect. Duck breast was tender beyond words and the tempura was crisp to perfection.- Dessert you ask? Yes they have it and yes you need to get it. Soba Gelato was light and creamy. Kosukes Special.... I cant even describe... apple mousse was fabulous.This is a top 5 pick for sure.
Best soba (and more) I’ve had in a long time. We got the hot bowl of duck soup with soba and it was so flavorful and savory… just a hint of yuzu. Also tried the cold soba alongside the most delicate tempura. Perfectly cooked noodles with a toothsome chew. A Hoi Polloi Red Ale was just right with the salty broth. Ended with yuzu fromage mochi that was like a light cheesecake in a chewy rice skin. Worth the trek on the BART + Bus to this industrial hideaway!
Amazing place with great food and sweet intimate atmosphere. I highly recommend ordering the cold soba with tempura set. That or the duck breast hot soba its amazing and the duck was perfection.Last but not least the serving staff was very attentive but not overly so. They start your dinner with a hot towel to cleanse your hands and warm your soul~ throughout the meal they are very attentive making sure my water was filled and pay special attention to see if Im enjoying my meal. Highly recommend this for anyone who would like to try authentic soba noodles.
How did I never hear about this deliciously authentic Japanese soba restaurant till now? The flavors truly tasted like I was in Japan and the efficient service reminded me of Japan too. Im only taking away one star because it was all a bit pricier than I would have liked. (But what isnt these days)We sat outdoors as we had a larger group and the tables inside sat a maximum of 4 people. It wasnt cold despite it being November as there were heat lamps scattered around the tables. The tables are spaced apart but are pretty cosy.We ordered a variety of things to share including:Shira-ae persimmon salad - pretty good and an interesting idea for fallDashimaki - alright, not the best Ive had and on the sweet sideNama yuba age - a spring roll made with fried tofu skin and served with a starchy sauce. It was really good! I would order this again.Ten-Seiro - cold soba with a dipping sauce, tempura on the side with matcha salt. The soba had a nice bite to it and the dipping sauce had a good smoky flavor from the katsuobushi. I liked the matcha salt with the tempura which made it a little different from how its usually served.Kamo nanban - a Kyoto classic! In hot broth with grilled duck breast and leek, this was warming for the cold weather. The noodles didnt get soggy which was nice and the duck was nicely cooked. There wasnt much duck considering what you pay though, so that was a bummer.Tip: theres a long line when they first open but if you have anyone in your party arrive first, they can order and get a number and for anyone who arrives subsequently, you can add your order to the same table number without having to line up again!
Love this place. I had the hot & cold tempura soba, duck soba, and veggie soba, and hot broth with tempura is my favorite. The noodle and batter texture are perfect, and I like to save the citrus zest (?) for the final spoonful. Such an elegant and flavorful dish!Goopy mountain yam salad is fun to eat! I enjoyed the the crunch, slime, and toastiness. The croquette & tofu are both reliably good too.Pressed sushi is okaay. The kombu cure makes it feel homey, whereas I usually prefer to taste the sweetness of fish in sushi.
Extremely overpriced, extremely small portions, the food was nothing espectacular, just average to mediocre.The only special thing about the soba was that it was very expensive, very small and very boring. The taste was bland, it lacked more zing, more ingredients and more toppings.Ordered the tempura soba, got a small bowl of very plain broth and soba, and a side dish with tempura, literally four tiny pieces of tempura, each piece 2 inches or less in length, and it was badly prepared, the batter was terrible.Two of the appetizers are interesting, but extremely small, and nothing to come back for.Perhaps the gelato is the best thing in the menu.This place is a rip off.If they cut the prices of everything in half I would give them one more star.I wont come back, even though my studio is literally around the corner.There are much better soba places.
Back here again for dinner with my food industry friends and it was just as delicious! They have the entire outdoor space and an indoor space now as well! You order first and get a number for the food to be delivered to you.I ordered the cold soba with tempura but only veggie bc Im allergic to shrimp and they easily accommodated. Still super delicious and high quality. Perfect for the warm weather right now.I also got their desserts and they were both INCREDIBLE. Im still craving the pudding which tasted like Filipino leche flan.Come here when you want the highest quality soba and tasty desserts!
Great spot in an unassuming neighborhood! The menu has something for everyone. It really feels like this restaurant spends on the quality of ingredients and takes pride in making sure their dishes reflect that. Excellent dinner spot!
My visit was a couple of weeks ago, and just getting to my review. Woke up and drove 1 hour to Oakland to try for the first time. Its in an industrial area, and my wife wondered out loud if we were at the right place, till she saw the line outside. After a 10 min wait they opened up and we ended up being 1st on the waiting list. After a 30 min wait we got seated. The soba is made in house, and is awesome. They also serve Den Sake which is brewed next door. The sake is a must have. So worth the drive in and wait
The persimmon salad is good. Soba is overpriced and tastes very unimpressive, surprisingly just like what I cooked at home from packed soba noodle. And it takes more than half an hour to serve soba in a not busy night. I had a lot of freshly soba noodle in my childhood. I can tell you it takes less than 3min to cook soba noodle from a dough and they tasted much better. I highly suspect they just deliberately make you wait because some ppl might find it fancier that way.
100% lives up to the hype. Had hoped to come here for months and sure enough it’s SO delicious. My wife and I split a veggie soba and tempura soba and both had a unique & delicious broth. Already planning to come back again soon.
So authentic! The decor is lovely and the food is excellent. Lots of soba choices- hot and cold. If you like natto, you can find it here. Their house made tofu was delightful. And they have a long list of sakes to choose from. The service is so so wonderful- they’re great with kids, and we were grateful for that!
It opens at 5pm on Sunday, we arrived at 5:10pm and there was a long line of wait already. Have to wait for about 30mins, but worth it!
I DO like their food, the staff were very kind and attentive. Amazing handmade soba, and they have open kitchen once you step in. The cozy space is also quite nice and feels like im in Japan now.But when I first time in here, the first impression is not really good. They only accepted reseervation, but they told me that they dont have any available that night, but I checked via RESY, they have lots of spots.... And the fact is, they do accept walk-in, but I dont know why they told me not at that day....Anyway, I do like their soba, all type, all broth! Definitely will back again.
This is my second time at Soba Ichi Okaland, and it always is delicious. Had the Ten seiru soba, which is cold soba with tempura shrimps and veggies. Their appetizers are always creative and delicious, and also changing now and then. Their soba gelato is to die for, believe me, if you like buckwheat, youll like gelato . Absolutely a great experience and food.
Japan 🇯🇵 was one of my favorite countries to visit and travel to. I loved how many shops and restaurants made and sold only one particular thing. The passion and attention to detail was present. They made that one thing very well. One day, I was searching for a place that made only fresh Soba in the city of Osaka. By the time I found the place, a sign on the door said the restaurant was sold out of soba and closed! Disappointed for the the day!Soba Ichi (Oakland) makes really good fresh soba. Light and natural clean sharp taste to the noodles. Side order of rare duck breast adds to the experience. Instructions are given on how to cook it at home. The gelato is gently sweet.
Tamagoyaki - these are thicker and denser then youd expect. Flavor is a balanced mix of egg and seasoning. Wife thought seasoning overpowered the taste of egg, I thought balance was fine.Soba w/duck - thin noodles with a chew and flavor indicative of it being freshly made. Soup has a nice yuzu accent, overall light enough for me to drink it its entirety without becoming a rising after unlike ramen. Charring of vegetables was a nice touch. If youve never had soba before the dish is very minimal, just noodles soup and the few veggies with a house spice mix served separately in a small dish. But it gets the job phenomenonally done with just these pieces.
Delicious? Yes. Overpriced? Absolutely.Soba is done right, but portion is very small considering the price. 2 soba + 1 appetizer + 1 dessert cost us $100+, but I was barely full.Environment is pretty nice though.
I’m so glad we are getting more specialized Japanese restaurants! This restaurant does a great job with their soba. While somewhat pricey, this is a great place to try really good soba for the first time. The tempura on the side is really good too, especially with the flavored salt.
Food itself is good too but what I love most about this place is the atmosphere, nested in a really cute open garden. Sometimes the wait is long and sadly the line doesnt move super fast, but if you want to sit out and enjoy the open air, its a lovely place for a good range of Jananese dishes!
First let me start with the food which was fantastic. I had the tempura soba. Broth was excellent and the tempura was light and flavorful. My biggest complaint is simply the price. $24 for a bowl of soba noodle is crazy even if it was in SF vs Oakland and this is a order at counter and wait for the food set up. Lunch for 3 came out to $100 and we didnt have any alcohol!
Located in Oakland, Soba Ichi offers a decent dining experience centered around the art of soba noodles. However, while the soba noodles shine, the selection of accompanying dishes falls somewhat short. The menu lacks variety and depth, with limited options for appetizers and side dishes.
Soba Ichi has both a great outdoor and indoor atmosphere. They are able to design both areas with similar design elements but keep cohesiveness. The staff are all excellent in being attentive and exemplary in their craft. All staff members, chefs, etc all are wearing masks from taking your order to carrying out their routines.Remember, order your food first, then grab a table! Not the other way around!The food is quite good, tastes great as well. The only thing was the slight wait time for the food. I understand that the orders are made when ordered and can be long. Which is why I would recommend you, viewer of my review, to order one or two appetizers along with your main and finish with a dessert!Parking is a hit or miss as we drove around the block twice before we found a space. If you can, maybe do carpool with friends so you can all try this establishment!Thank you Ichi Soba!
Incredible little spot, tucked away on a quiet residential street in West Oakland. The food - especially the various small plates - was well prepared and flavorful. Service was impeccable and attentive and the ambiance/decor was a well designed and immersive soba house experience.
Extremely extremely overpriced. Got the Kamo Nanban, while it was really good, the duck was excellent, the fact that it was so expensive just detracted from it. Five tiny pieces of duck, such a tiny amount of soba noodles. I usually have trouble finishing a bowl of noodles by myself but had absolutely no problem finishing this one and in fact was still kind of hungry after 🥲 And those other bowls of noodles are usually half the price...Service was also slow, the servers arent attentive and you always have to flag someone down to ask for something. A one-time only type of restaurant, wouldnt come back.
This Michelin Star rated restaurant never disappoints. Once, I waited in line for an hour and it was very much worth it. My favorite is the Kamo Nanban soba with duck breast (pictured) and the Salmon Pressed Sushi but you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. I’ll be back again and again.
Expect a line - and expect to eat well. I wanted to come back after trying their soba take home kits during the pandemic. Aesthetic and food pair nicely. Tempura with soba was very unique and excellently cooked - a nice light fresh crisp. Took an 1hr. 10 minutes from the time I stood in line until I ordered, but it was WORTH IT 💯
Food is ok but the format of the restaurant seems to have been designed by some masochistic social experimenter. You can’t make a reservation so basically you have to show up and wait. We got there at 7 pm. At some point a waitress comes to declare - with some sort of satisfaction - that waiting time is longer than an hour. So We waited more than an hour in line, then we paid (no Apple Pay) then we found a table then we had to wait another 40 minutes seated for a soba. At 9 pm the gate behind you with barbed wire on top closed dramatically. There was still people in line. This whole gothic experience lasted longer than 2 hours. Definitely recommended for nostalgics of concentration camps or people who wants to reconnect with the natural rhythm of dark and light.
A hidden oasis in Oakland! The handmade soba transports me back to Japan, and they have a great selection of drinks (including house made umeshu when it’s in season). The duck soba was great and so is the cold soba with tempura. Their cute outdoor space is almost like an enclosed beer garden, perfect for hanging out with friends on a warm day.
Im so happy there is finally a 💯 legit soba restaurant in the East Bay! We got here about 15 minutes before they opened for dinner and we were the first in line. They say this place was built by a Buddhist priest and the smell of the wooden table was so fresh. We got the juwari soba (100% buckwheat, which is harder to find) with 2 sides of tempura. The soba is chewy and went so well with the light and crispy tempura. We also got dashimaki which is a standard item at a soba place and it was very layered and fluffy. We also got the nontraditional cream cheese with sake kasu which was tasty and different. At the end they will give you sobayu which you can add to your dipping sauce so you can sip on it as you wind down your meal. Definitely will go back!
Really enjoyed this place. We got both the cold and the warm soba versions as well as a tantalize special. Noodles are good and satisfying. Also surprisingly, the dessert they offer is really good!
Absolutely amazing soba noodles and the starters are great too, the fern shoots are soo good. The decor is great too. This is a place worth making a pretty big detour for.
Ordered the cold soba with tempura dish. Brought me right back to Japan with their dashi stock. Pretty high traffic so food takes a bit to come out, but Id say worth it. The outdoor seating is also enjoyable with heat lamps set up. Cant wait to go back and try their duck soba noodle soup!
I had a cold soba with tempuras(Jyuwari Soba Tenseiro, 100% buckwheat, $22). I was able to order one, I arrived at there around 11:30 am. The quality of noodle and tsuyu sauce are pretty good but I still think its bit pricy. You may get a shared table with others, and you may not get a table outside until the inside is full. They dont have forks so you better know how to use chopsticks :).
Wow.Food was amazing, well explained, friendly service.They make their own tofu in addition to their own soba. The 100% buckwheat noodles were deliciously firm and refreshing.Nice communal tables and a nice touch of Japanese style carpentry overseen by the woodworkers next door
Really great authentic japanese soba and other small japanese dishes. Make sure to make reservation. 100% buckwheat soda is limited and sells out within less than an hour of opening.
The cold soba is legit! Out of all the appetizers my favorite was the squid. Also very much enjoyed the buckwheat ice cream.
One of the best soba; as good as you can have in Japan. Foods are 5 stars here, no question. But the service need some improvement, seem like they’re short handed or.......
Over priced. Soba is slightly better than average. But side dishes and Mochi are soso but overpriced. Ambience is nice and relaxing. Service was average. Does not plan to come back.
I got the duck hot soba noodles. It was packed with so much flavor. It was so good. Not only was the food delicious, but the backyard style eating area had a great ambiance. Its shortlisted as a place to take ppl who visit me.I was nervous it wasnt going to be filling but it was.Expect a line. Expect to eat there. End to end prob around 45min-1hr before I got my food.I cant wait to go again.
Even when crowded Soba Ichi exudes calm and warmth. Its attention to detail in representing a soba house is appreciated with quality food and service available. Come on the earlier side to guarantee the 100% buckwheat soba - if unavailable, the 80% buckwheat is still delicious. Come on the later side for a more raucous evening filled out with a quality sake selection. One of my favorite places in Oakland right now, and hopefully for years to come.
Unique smoky broth with handmade soba. Charming wooden tables and good overall ambiance. Lots of people with their dogs tonight which was fun, lots of flies not as much, but other than traps or maybe some aggressive cleaning, not much to be done about them flying about.I usually dont give a review after one experience. However it wasnt an inexpensive meal ($90 - 2 small apps, 2 soba, 1 beer, 1 dessert and tip) I rarely comment on price, especially in the Bay Area, but somehow what I spent didnt match up with the experience for me. Its primarily self service as you bus your own table with multiple trips for all various dishes and glasses, listen for your number to be called to awkwardly balance trays back to the table.They also really dropped the ball tonight. We took our time eating and had to ask after the meal was done for our dessert, and after another 10-15 mins my wife went and had to ask again. At least she really enjoyed the mango pudding.All in all this is a bit nitpicky. The food was good and theres a lot of good things happening there. Id still go back, but honestly not with a ton of enthusiasm.
We had dinner here recently, dont let the outside fool you, food was fantastic and nice atmosphere. We arrived at 5, it filled up quickly. We ate outside in the courtyard, very pleasant. You line up to order, then seat yourself.We started with the halibut appetizer and the tofu, very flavorful, but the tofu needed some extra sauce. We had the clam and duck Soba, the broth alone was amazing. Very fresh food.
This is a first visit to this soba restaurant. I have lived in Spain and México, and tried soba in some Japanese restaurant. But this soba is the best that I have eaten outside of Japan! Also, tempra and kakiage are not so oily, but very crispy. It was worth waiting!
Great atmosphere and patio. The food was authentic and delicious. We were worried about parking but found a spot across the street on a weekday evening easily.
Excellent soba, This is a great place to go. Staff is super helpful and friendly. Everything is super tasty.
Soba broth was wonderfully tasty with smooth texture of the soba noodles. The black sesame pudding was a wonderful dessert.
After a very long line, we waited for a long time at the table for food. We got two noodles and two appetizers, and we don’t think they worth 80 bucks. The worst part: when we told them they gave us the wrong order, the waiter came and pulled the chopsticks out of the noodle soup then directly gave it to another table! He asked me if my bf had eaten it I said I wasn’t sure because he had just left, but the chopsticks he used was definitely in the soup.
Fantastic soba noodles, fantastic tempura, appetizers, desserts. One of my favorite Japanese spots in the Bay already.
I had a high expectation for this restaurant. I got to the restaurant at 4:43pm on Saturday. There were about 25 people ahead of me. The restaurant opened right at 5PM. I was able to order at 5:45pm. I ordered Halibut Pressed Sushi, Ten Seiro and an Asahi draft beer. They gave me the Halibut Pressed Sushi as I was ordering the foods. But the Soba took me another 35 minutes (6:25pm). Basically it took me an hour and 25 mintues to eat. I have tried many different soba before including ones in Japan, but the dipping sause was a bit salty. I liked the noodle though. I dont think the soba was worth the wait.
Good food, definitely not your usual soba frozen food experience. You can taste the quality of ingredients.
Love Soba Ichi!! Soba is made in house!! Wish they still opened for lunch! Dinner only!
A neat, hidden spot. A bit pricey for soba, but I suppose there arent many other authentic places around. Aesthetic is surprisingly nice considering the location. Had the nameko cold soba (mushrooms) and the tempura hot soba. While tasty, they werent anything to write home about. Might pop in again next time Im in the area, but hours are pretty limited (5-8pm Thu-Sun) which makes it a bit tougher
Cold soba was delicious. Great noodle texture. Tempura was light and fluffy with great flavor. The hot soba lost some of the noodle texture but still had a nice flavor profile.
Ordered the New year Soba kit, duck breast and the Tamagoyaki. They were very delicious. Will go there again to try other soba.
Delicious soba and tempura + so many other delightful small plates. An excellent meal. The mountain yam fries were great!
We went here few times and the side dishes “appetizers” are delicious, we keep coming back. The location is hidden in West Oakland and the ambient of the restaurant feels like countryside Japan restaurant. They have a “bar” but not a full bar it will be nice to see that improved. Go check it out and make sure to try the pork belly, fatty but deliciousssss!
The service top notch. For the soba with duck, there’s too little duck for me but the soba is really tasty with slight nutty flavor and buoyancy. The appetizers are the highlight for me though. The menu rotates frequently though there are some staples like tamagoyaki (rolled omelette). This time I enjoyed the squid the most.
Super cute atmosphere, good service. food wasnt bad, but wasnt as impressive as expected given the price points & hype. would recommend coming early -- you line up to order then grab a seat afterwards. soba flavored gelato was very good! also the cucumber appetizers!
Wondrous experience, worth all the hype. This place is Japan-level good. Im amazed to find such a specialized restaurant serving one of my favorite things.
Great soba! Authentic atmosphere. Real Japanese food! Love it.
Amazing soba with a variety of flavors. Truly reminiscent of Japan. The only thing is that since its still recently opened, soba noodles tend to run out with a high volume of people eager to try. I recommend getting here early, especially on a Friday.
Food: The food was decent. I was pleasantly surprised that theres a soba place in East Bay.Service: After ordering appetizers, we were warned that we would be hungry. Not quite sure what that meant...Misc: Our car got broken in so please dont leave anything behind.
Pretty yummy food but man was this overpriced. My soba only came with one small egg and no other toppings, and my friend got 3 pieces of bok choy and a couple of mushrooms in theirs. For $25 a bowl, we both felt half-full and had to get food elsewhere afterwards. Come for the authentic soba and cozy environment, but be prepared to spend a lot and maybe not leave with a satisfied full belly.
Amazing soba noodles, I had them with tempura. Would love to buy more tempura a la carte, or the seafood options (ie octopus) that other reviewers mentioned
Food reasonably tasty and well-balanced, but not enough to justify the price, IMO ($25 + tax and tip altogether for either a plate of soba and four exceedingly thin pieces of tempura, or a bowl of soba with about six ounces of fish inside).Waitstaff were pleasant but not especially attentive, and the food is really slow to come out and the place seems in general frustratingly inefficient. (In addition to this, they got our order wrong, and as mentioned in another review, were 90+ percent sure they gave the mistaken order to another table although my used chopsticks had been in it.)If youre unusually enthusiastic about soba, this might be worth it, otherwise, I wouldnt go out of my way.
True artisanal soba shop that runs out quickly. Shaved ice kakigori at front during weekends is bonus.
Not your average Japanese noodle shop. Texture of hot and cold handmade soba is delightfully different. Broth and appetizers are subtly seasoned (tamagoyaki & fresh tofu). Tempura is crisp and not at all greasy. High quality shrimp. Menu keeps evolving. Sake is pricey.
Best soba you can get in the bay area area.. Come early.
2/18: Finally they put their phone number on geogle and their website. (Why they didnt have a number before is a mystery...)They changed their business hours in 2019. I hope I can try in future.1/1Sold out at 3:30pm in their new year event (12-5). I tried to call ahead but they dont put thier number on neither Google or website. 30 mins driving from South bay area was wasted...I will change the rating if I can get in in future.
High quality food with great attention to detail and a comfortable environment
Seems like they addressed some concerns in the reviews. There are menus around so you can look at them while you wait in line. I came in on a Friday night around 6:30 and the wait wasnt too long maybe 15 mins max. Food came out really fast. Everything was delicious and the atmosphere is great.
Worth the wait! The line is a bit long, but I still recommend. Delicious soba and very quick and friendly service. I got the hot soba with duck breast. It was the perfect thing for a pretty chilly night and so flavorful. We also got the tamagoyaki and it was very good.
Wow what a treasure! I ate my first post-vaccination meal here and it was worthy of the honor. Delicious food, beautiful setting.
Excellent food but their ordering and seating system is absolute madness.
As others have shared, the soba is delicious. However, their customer service needs to be worked on. They did a take-out only order for New Years and the pickup took 45 minutes. They definitely could have made more of an effort to streamline the pickup. It seems they dont care about the overall customer experience which is unfortunate because they make a damn good product. I would not order take-out like this from them again.
Absolutely amazing! The hot Soba broth is the best I’ve had outside Japan. The tempura was spot on as well.It’s hard for larger groups, but for a 2-4 party the wait wasn’t too bad. You can get drinks and appetizers by the bar while waiting for your table.
Do you want to stand in line for 30 minutes to place an order while someone screams into your ear with a megaphone? Do you also want to stand around waiting to grab a table after you order? Do you also want to pay $8 for a piece of egg and $4/piece for mediocre sushi? Also, do you want to pay $22 for the smallest portion of soba? Do you also want to bus your own plates and trays after eating?The food is decent but if no to any of the above, please avoid this place.
BIG FAN! We were big fans pre covid and now like the outdoor dining aspect of soba ichi.We had also take out once during the pandemic which hit the spot.It’s probably thee best soba we’ve had in the States.For the current situation, it’s fast casual in the sense that you wait in line to order your food then you can grab a table.I think because the concept is fast casual I think the food prices are high for fast casual. For two people we end up spending close to $80 for apps and two soba plates/bowls.If you order dessert, when you’re ready you can let them know so your dessert is fresh and cold.Solid place for social distancing since it’s outside. The crew wears masks.
Love everything here!!!!!
Excellent small restaurant with fresh soba and high quality small dishes in an izakaya style.
Little gem on West Oakland. The food is delicious and the outdoor patio is very cozy.
Delicious! I love dipping soba and theirs was real good. Also the special kakiage corn was amazing.
Before the pandemic, I visited here with my wife craving authentic soba. We were very pleased. The presentation, the taste, the atmosphere, everything about Soba Ichi presents the best image of soba and a Japanese dining experience. After the pandemic began, they have been doing takeout, which has also been superb. The handmade soba is excellent, when the restaurant offers dine in, they also do sobayu, using the left over hot water from preparing the noodles to turn their delectable tare into a refreshing drink. They are right next door to Den sake too, so they have some special dishes incorporating the sake kasu from the brewing process, and they serve Den sake.
Soba at it best. Fresh chewy soba noodles with wonderful appetizers.
After ordering, the appetizers arrived quickly (within 5 min) and the entrees arrived shortly thereafter. The food was fresh and delicious. One thing to be aware of you may need to wait in line to order.
Every time im in the bay i try and make it out to Soba Ichi. I dont like soba anywhere else. Today my flight landed at 730pm and i booked it out here.Also shout out to Elliot for letting me get a shrimp tempura after the kitchen closed because i accidentally ate my wifes piece, and she was very upset. I wont be in the dog house tonight. 🙏🙏
Food is delicious but very little. For a hungry guy - it’s not enough.
Great restaurant. Very authentic Soba noodles.
Such a fun place to take people visiting me. Every dish is so special with perfected flavors. Don’t forget to order the mochi and enough food to fill you up cause you have to wait in line again if you want more.
If youre looking for authentic traditional Japanese food and are okay paying a bit more to get it, then this is it. Was worried it was over hyped in the reviews and articles I read, but my husband and I were very satisfied with our experience. Since our trip to Japan last year, were so excited to see authentic Japanese restaurants opening up around the Bay Area. Yes, Soba Ichis hours are not the most convenient, but we came a little after 11 on a Tuesday and did not wait at all. When we left around noon, there were still open seats at tables. Ive read the horror stories of the 1-2 hour waits on weekends, but thankfully weekdays are still fine. Not only is the soba great, but the other dishes were equally excellent, especially the exquisitely light and crisp tempura and flavorful soft dashiyaki tamago (egg). Were looking forward to coming back to try the cold soba (we had hot soba since the weather is chilly) and to try more of the menu. We hope the quality of the food continues to stay high!
Just as good as in Japan without the 13 hour flight. gochisousama deshita.
Just went here for the first time FINALLY after all of the hype I’ve been hearing from industry friends. I am so happy we went. Ambience, an extremely dedicated and traditional minimalist feel to the place. Food, absolutely delicious spot on flavors yet, beautifully humble in presentation. Drinks are just sake and beer and that’s OK! Prices are reasonable especially seeing how much work goes into everything they do here. Our tab was 73 with a carafe of sake, two appetizers, and two soups. Though we can’t afford to eat here every day, our experience was so memorable that we will support this place when we can : )
Soba is the real deal. Good appetizers and fun lively outdoor seating
Made a 5 o clock res through Resy and was happily the first seated with some water and a warm towel. The interior is super cool with a modern traditional vibe and the smell of pine.Unfortunately, cannot review the food since I was promptly forgotten. Gave the menu a perusal and started reading some news while waiting. 23 minutes after sitting down, I left without any other contact with staff. The pair sitting next to me had their order taken quickly and their food started arriving about ten minutes in. It smelled good, but Ill never know how it tastes because I will not be back.
Weve been waiting to try Soba Ichi for a while and so glad he finally got here. The soba is so so fresh, the broths are yummy and the small plates are great. We had the black sesame gelatin too and were not disappointed. Definitely going to be back.
Payment upfrontoverpriced-two soba two bear for $70No service at allWaited 30-40 mins for 2 soba only half of the tables were seated.PS don’t wait outside waiters will ignore youPS2 don’t go
As if Soba Ichi needed another 5* review. But how can a true lover resist? Im a frequent traveler to Japan, and Ill put this up against the best Ive had. The environment is best described as Japanese-rustic-chic-joy. Good, full izakaya menu with a well-constructed sake menu to boot. Get there when they open or make a reservation..or dont and spend some delightful time waiting for your table in their sunny patio. No way to lose.
Such a cool restaurant experience to have in Oakland plus the food was awesome. Got the 100% soba and tempura and it was all unique and very good. At the end they add the soba noodle water to the sauce and you get a soup. Fun, good, unique. Unlike other reviewers, even though the portions may look small, I thought the noodles + tempura + broth was totally filling.
Good food! A cute spot but very expensive.
The food was great. We had the soba and various small plates. Its definitely on the pricier side, especially for the location, but the food itself is worth a try. However, the price belies the poor service that you can expect to receive. Our server was cold and seemed unenthusiastic about the food. We ordered a hot soba that never came even after 45 minutes, while we could see everyone around us had received their hot soba and had already paid and left. We asked to cancel, and our server came back to us with an attitude. Its also really difficult to flag any staff down given the layout of the dining area and the high walls of the booths. Its clear theres little synergy between the front and back staffs.
Didnt eat at Soba Ichi, but they hosted a pop-up food event on a Saturday afternoon, and everything was fantastic. 5 stars for creating the community and drawing in great vendors! Great space and good vibes.
Definitely five stars! I would say Soba Ichi is one of the best soba place I have ever tried including ones in Japan. Now, we do not have to fly back to Tokyo for soba, its only an hour drive away!We were so excited and started the dinner with several appetizers (soba mae) with Japanese rise wines (sake). Among the appetizers, we liked the days special - beef and potato stew (niku-jaga) best, and Japanese omelet (dashi-maki). They were really authentic. The pickles were OK though.We then moved to soba. We first tried 100% juwari and then ordered 20/80 nihachi -- i.e. 4 main dishes in total. We enjoyed the both types of soba very much. We were so happy when they served us soba-yu, which we never expected to have outside of Japan.The bill ended up about $250 for two including 20% tips. We always complain about the high cost of dining out in CA, but thought it was quite reasonable here.The restaurant was packed, plus a long waiting que at the door. The staff were extremely busy, yet very helpful, efficient and friendly. Thank you so much! We will be back there again!
Serio- cold soba noodles, dipping sauce w/garnishKamp Namban- soba noodle in hot broth, sliced rare duck breasts on top
Its generally a good sign when you walk into a restaurant from a particular culture and people are speaking its language in the kitchen. In this case it was the kitchen, lobby, and Im pretty sure the dining room as well.The food was delightful, the noodles were hand made, the ambiance was lovely, and the service was excellent.
Ive gotten Japanese food elsewhere that I thought was more pleasurable to eat. That said, for a delightful atmosphere, dining experience and (I presume) authenticity, I greatly enjoyed my time here and I feel like I learned some things too. This place is definitely unique in my experience!
Annie and I booked early reservations on a Sunday. I asked a lot of questions, this embarrasses Annie, but our server was sweet and exceptionally knowledgeable. She helped me pick sake and led us through the menu. Every bite of food was delicious. I love this restaurant.
A nice place if you love soba. They offer a variety of hot and cold soba, and they also have a number of Japanese appetizers, though somehow limited comparing to similar Japanese restaurants. Do notice that this place is extremely busy, so make reservation in advance.
I predict this is soon to become an international foodie destination. Went today for lunch and was blown away by the beautiful renovation, vastly improved over the funky fusebox. A beautiful environment to enjoy the sublime soba noodles which I had warm with the shrimp tempura which were extremely fresh and perfectly tender. My only regret is that i didnt get to sample any of the small plate items that are offered in addition to the noodles. They all sounded wonderful and I will be back soon.
Great soba ramen place in Oakland. The decor is great, and very inviting. The food is quite good and they clearly take pride in making their craft. If I had to gripe about something it would be the lack of fresh flavors (with the exception of the miso cucumber which I recommend BTW). And the blandness of pickled oysters. Other than that this is a spectacular place which I plan on returning to. I highly recommend coming here especially if you love soba.
Made a reservation for dinner online one week in advance, via the restaurant’s website (Resy). Never received a confirmation. Called twice and left a message asking for confirmation, never heard back. Stopped by the restaurant on the day, they couldn’t find my reservation. We were told the wait is an hour and a half, but we will be seated sooner if a table becomes available. There’s no bar snacks and the hostess told us the small staff can not handle serving food in the outside seating area. Nevertheless, having heard so much about the food, we decided to grab a drink and wait, left our name on the waiting list. Almost two hours later, checked with the hostess and were told the wait will be at the minimum another half an hour, likely longer! Michelin Star be damned, it wasn’t worth the wait anymore.
4.5 stars for food but service is a little slow (they are nice tho, just slow). The limited soba sold out 15 mins after opening (a little too limited). Bring patience and you will get good soba and authentic Japanese food in return.We love the mushidori (poached chicken), the soba (both hot and cold) and the desserts (sobacha mousse/pudding). The duck rice was soso but don’t forget to get the dessert!
This is an unusual restaurant, located in a residential part of West Oakland occupied mostly by converted warehouses -- gentrified but with a little Oakland edge left. The first time I went there, I thought I was in the wrong place. Its a great Japanese restaurant in basically a warehouse live/work space, with a hipster vibe, but without losing authenticity. I would definitely go there again.
Simply superb. All of the details were perfect, from the noodles to the broth to the batter on the tempura. The fromage & yuzu mochi was a delight.
One of the most authentic and delicious Japanese food experiences in The Bay. Highly recommended. The soba noodles, tempura, and omelette dish are exceptional. You cant go wrong here.
Exceeded our expectations, which were high af. Mom saw this on check please bay area and wanted to go. We had the sushi (mackerel that day) and the tamago yaki. The attention to detail was amazing. The outdoor dining felt safer than anywhere Ive seen during the pandemic. Go here.
Food is good, but the wait is long. Even when slow, wait is still long. 30 minutes after ordering and still waiting. Dont come here if youre hungry or have plans afterwards.
Food was good, but not good enough for me to feel like a 3 hour total wait for the soba was worth it as a walk-in.How to do it better: Id recommend reserving a table on an early block of time, before the popular (100% buckwheat soba!) items run out.The restaurant seems understaffed, understocked, and slow, suggesting to me that on better days I would have a better time.
Best mochi in the world. Cold soba has significantly better texture than hot!
The soba and tofu are absolutely authentic Japanese. Definitely go for these dishes. The tempura and rice bowls are good but not stellar by comparison. FYI, this is not a sushi restaurant.
The food was superb and the service was excellent. This is the only place I have found with 100% buckwheat soba! Soba Ichi is a gem. Try to get here close to opening if you want to get their 100% buckwheat as it sells out quick! All of their other soba is excellent aswell however. You cant go wrong with anything on their menu. Also, their building and patio is so peaceful and aesthetic. If you are looking for excellent soba, look no further.
We went by Saturday afternoon and as mentioned, parking was difficult in the area. We eventually found parking nearby after a few minutes.Still only outside seating with maybe 6-8 tables in the shade, all full... as well as the other tables. We ended up going somewhere else to come back another day.
One of the best restaurants I have been to in a long time. A perfect meal from start to finish. A friend and I shared the simmered herring and dashimaki tamago. He got a beer and the kamo seiro and I had sweet potato shochu with hot water and the tempura seiro. Then we shared the beni imo gelato. I usually wouldnt get dessert but I didnt want the meal to end! Everything was amazing.
The soba brought us back to our last trip to Japan. We loved both the hot and cold soba. Plus having asahi on draft is a great touch. Cute and purposeful decor. Will definitely be back.
This place is awesome. Their soba is so good and simple. The people who work here are really nice. The little market area around it is really cool. On weekends, there is usually a little okonomiyaki popup here too.
Food is amazing but the kitchen is extremely slow
Great beer and sake!Family and kids friendly, beautiful patio to take a sun bath.
Got here early for new year @ 130pm. We placed an order and paid around the time we got there... Waited for 2.5 - 3 hours outside... then we were told by the server that they had no more food and that we should leave and get a refund... This place needs to stop focusing on being hip and traditional Japanese food and focus on PROVIDING FOOD FOR PAYING CUSTOMERS! 😂🤣😚.#HIPSTERTRASH
We had dinner here recently, dont let the outside fool you, food was fantastic and nice atmosphere. We arrived at 5, it filled up quickly. We ate outside in the courtyard, very pleasant. You line up to order, then seat yourself. We started with the halibut appetizer and the tofu, very flavorful, but the tofu needed some extra sauce. We had the clam and duck Soba, the broth alone was amazing. Very fresh food.
Great place for authentic Japanese Soba noodles (in Kanto/East-style)
The real deal. Reasonably priced considering how difficult it is to make soba (I make my own noodles and it is labor intensive, to say the least). One of the few places to make their own flour. Reminiscent of Honmura An. Great space. (Tip: when they comeout with the sobayu towards the end, ask for a separate dish to pour some of the excess dipping sauce, otherwise it is way salty. About 1.5 tablespoons of dipping sauce should be enough). Only con: super sketchy area. Even in the daytime caution is advised. Reminds me of some parts of non-gentrified Detroit.
Best Soba place in the Western Hemisphere! Great atmosphere, with excellent traditional Japanese small bites. Everything here is delicious. You wont be disappointed!!!
Very delicious and high quality soba that was as traditional as you can find in the Bay Area. Great experience, but make sure to make reservations ahead because it can get crowded with a wait. However, there is an option to eat in the bar area.
If you never ate freshly made soba noodles (unlike ramen noodles, theyre made with buckwheat flour), you are in for a special treat. Soba Ichis owner and chef hand cuts the noodles daily. The result is denser, chewier and more rewarding eats. Their lightly battered tempura kicks it, too. Try the artisanal sake made down the street. This is a Japanese culinary experience at its most authentic.
Outdoor seating while enjoying Japanese bites. When the food is out... it is out.. Dog friendly. Took home the cold noodles and dipping sauce... so good!
I had heard about this place a few days before they opened and was super amped to check it out!! Unfortunately I was super busy and didn’t get to make it on the first day + they’re only open from 11am-3pm so I can never make it on the weekdays due to work.I tried to change that today.I entered the grounds looking for a place to order and got immediately side tracked by this very nice shaved ice vendor that was there today. It was delicious!After scarfing that down I made my way to the entrance of the building to see if I could put in an order. I called out for some help but everyone was ignoring me for some reason. I waited inside for about 3 minutes hoping someone would come out and finally someone does. I ask where the menus are (and to my mistake I completely walked past them) to see what my options were. I browsed the menu for about 10 minutes and finally decided on the soba I wanted. I went back inside, waited for about a minute, and asked if I could put in an order. The man behind the counter told me I had to order outside.After about 15 minutes of waiting outside I decided to just put my name on this list because I couldn’t find an employee. Eventually someone came out and started greeting everyone else around me. I was making eye contact and waving at this person to see if they would assist me but was ignored every. time. He finally announced that there were no soba noodles left to order but they were still selling appetizers. At that moment, I had finally given up hope...Now, I’m not upset that the noodles were sold out - that’s totally understandable, but I am a little bothered by the customer service.Maybe one day I will come back and they might be a little nicer to me and maybe, just maybe, have soba noodles at soba ichi.
Food was excellent. Service sucked, as in no explanation to where anything was, host immediately switched attention to another set of customers behind me, and the responses were short and cold. However the hot duck soba was good.
Tasty soba, cute ambience, good service
Overrated ramen. Pricey. Nice atmosphere. Inconvenient W.Oakland location necessitates wheels.This American frenzy over Ramen is amusing. It is a fast food in Japan where you can get equally good ramen for less than half the cost here. Except for the airfare😉.
Fabulous place for date night. The noodles were amazing. Great selection sake and I must say, one of the best desserts I’ve had. We’ll be back
Great venue, great food.Id recommend skipping the sake and double dipping in an appetizer and/or dessert!Also the 100% buckwheat on Wednesday is worth the extra mile
The creators of ipuku did it again creating this beautiful space that feels like being in Japan. I loved the food the homemade tofu was to die for and all the fish dishes are an absolute must try.
Delicious soba + tempura!
Soba jyuwari, soba nihachi, best in the Bay Area. Soba Nuttiness Sublety Teasing Palate with sides tempura. Hope improved menu selections will widen the moat to authentic Japanese cuisine.
This place is delicious - I cant believe I only just discovered it. The duck confit with cucumber is one of the best things Ive ever had in my life.
Everything soba is great here. They have soba cheese/dessert/tea and soba itself. I think soba is the star in this restaurant. Very friendly service, also vegetarian friendly. They dont have vegetarian soba on menu, but ask and you shall receive.
Salmon sashimi is good with Yuzu sauce, soba is alright. Long wait, no service, hard to find reasons to revisit.
Great soba - very high quality and the right level of chewiness. Just wish they used reusable chopsticks, as the disposable ones they use have too many splinters.
Great dining experience!Everything is perfect from start to end.Soba Ichi has the best 100% buckwheat soba in the US!
Feeling homesick for Japan? Come here and warm your soul with the best soba in the Bay. This place made our night, we will be coming back again and again.
Has all of the right ingredients for success, decent food, but the guy at the counter was a little too impatient to my lovely aunt and uncle who were visiting from out of town.
Only one vegetarian option, a simple vegan set was tasty and well constructed. Cant offer more than 3* considering.
Too slow!
Soba Ichi instantly became my favorite East Bay restaurant. The food was phenomenal.
Didnt have a reservation on Sunday night so or wait was about 30 minutes. Other than that, service was excellent and the food was delicious.
Very busy, pricey for not very much food, but very high quality Soba and an authentic Japanese feel.
Terrific Soba in a fun and simple environment. The wait was fairly long but the food was well worth it.
My favorite place in Oakland!
Great place with amazing decor. Very good soba. Appetizers were good but not excellent.
The soba is excellent, but dont miss the onigiri and the rice and seaweed in soba broth. So comforting!
The location was a little sketch but the actual space is stunning and the food was more then solid. Get a hot and a cold of possible.
Amazing soba and kind staff. Everything is super good. The tamagoyaki was the best Ive had.
Excited there was no line - great food and aesthetic
Most delicious soba place! Service, ambiance and food are great. I never leave disappointed!
The cold dishes are better than the hot.
Hour long wait on a Saturday morning, but totally worth it. And Shave Ice for dessert!
Stunning space, beautiful food. An experience to be had.Thank you everyone involved in making this finally come together.
Fantastic food, beautiful woodworking.
Amazing soba, however make sure you do not come with a group. Their broth is amazing
Only handmade soba spot in the Bay. It’s no secret so expect a line at times!
Come early to get the 100% buckwheat soba.
Disappointed about the food quality. Service is average level.
Its always worth the trip, especially if the okono popup is there, too!
Everything was so fresh and delicious. Excellent experience.
The food is so good that they made me wait in line. The restaurant closes when the premade noodles have been sold
You know they got the straight Fire. Draft on slap and broth on hit mode. Slide through.
Great soba! Slightly chewy.
Japanese does it best!
100% buckwheat noodles were worth lining up just a little before 11ams opening time
Their noodles are spot-on, and I love their community style seating!
Get reservations and enjoy, food was excellent and prices are very reasonable for the quality.
It was expensive and noodle was bland. Way overpriced and overrated.
Good fresh food but definitely not worth the price.
Hand made soba: totally awesome.
Soba is pretty decent. Not crazy about there appetizer to though
Delicious!!
Total reviews rating 4.5
199 Reviews for Soba Ichi 2024:
Review №1
2023-10-11 05:02:51Good place for Japanese appetizers and authentic soba in a chill setting. Portions are smallish so recommend an appetizer in addition to the main dish.
Review №2
2023-10-08 17:44:51Very nice outdoor seating, and you can bring your dogs. A lot of appetizers choices, the tempura is a nice add to the soba. We ordered cold soba noodle, the dipping sauce is delicious but the soba noodle itself lacks some flavor.
Review №3
2023-09-30 05:55:40I had high expectations for this restaurant but it didnt quite meet the bar. The restaurant ambiance is cute with lots of outdoor seating as well as a smaller indoor space. You line up outside to order first before you sit down.We got there at 6:30pm on a Friday night and there were still lots of open tables. We ordered their duck soba (roughly $25). After sitting down, it took a while for the food to come. While the soba + duck meat + soup were good, it didnt really impress. The soba noodle itself didnt stand out, the portion size was fairly small for $25, and there wasnt anything else beyond the noodles and a few slices of duck meat.From a service perspective, there wasnt much to comment on. The server only came when the food was ready and to clear out the table. Didnt really check in on refilling water or anything. Note they also have a cake fee if you bring a cake for a celebration ($3/pp).Overall, the food is good tasting and the ambiance is nice, but its a bit overpriced and left me unimpressed. Would probably rate as a 3.5. Still worth trying out once.
Review №4
2023-05-21 05:53:40We arrived at the gate 5pm sharp in hope to beat the crowd. As it was a cold day, there were not many people waiting. We were able to order the food right away, and find seating easily.Options of cold or hot home made soba. It is cooked just right.Their menu changes all the time, we were luck as they were searving two kinds of mochi as desert when we visited.update with new photos and menu for may 2023.
Review №5
2023-05-07 02:35:44I heard about this place from the Michelin guide and I am very glad that I was able to visit. This is the first time Ive tried soba and was unsure of what you expect. At Soba Ichi you start by getting into line and ordering before taking your seat; there was two parties ahead near the time that they opened but I can see how this can be an issue during busy hours. The menu left me wanting more in the drink department for something more familiar such as an IPA but the food options were on point. I ordered cold soba tempura. The noodles were smooth with a little bite and chew to them. The dipping sauce was fantastic. It was not overly salted by any means and has tremendous depth of flavor to it. The assorted tempura consisted of a shisito, shrimp, squash, and a mushroom that was lightly fried to absolute perfection. The dish came with additional seasoning, onion, and wasabi. Service was excellent by keeping the water glass filled. I love this place and look forward to returning again soon.
Review №6
2023-07-18 15:07:33So overpriced for what it was. $27 for a small bowl of soba with 5 tiny bite size pieces of meat (I got the nanban). I guess you can charge whatever you want when you have no competition in town. Service is insanely slow I waited for 40+minutes after sitting down on a not so busy weekday night (half of the indoor tables were empty when I sat down). The vibe was great though guess thats what you are paying for but Im not coming back.
Review №7
2023-10-01 01:56:05Really like the comforting atmosphere, would take my family any time! Food is comforting ❤️❤️
Review №8
2022-04-25 04:58:16This place is totally worth the hype and deserves its reputation and Bib Gourmand. The soba brought me back to one of the best meals I have ever had, at a traditional old school soba joint in Tokyo. I certainly cant claim to be a soba expert, but all of the flavors and textures in the cold and hot sobas here went together perfectly and reminded me of that long ago meal. The tamagoyaki was excellent. The tempura was light and airy and crunchy in just the right way. The ebi croquettes were out of this world good. The fiddlehead ferns were unexpectedly awesome and a real treat for us, since weve never had them before. The pressed salmon was just okay and was the only component of the meal that wasnt even better than wed hoped. The Okinawa mochi was probably the best mochi I have ever had. The service was excellent, as well. Oakland is lucky to have this gem of a restaurant.
Review №9
2023-04-08 21:51:49Seiro soba and soba gelato were my favorites! They also have a delicious tamagoyaki.Soba noodles had a bite to them and tasted great.
Review №10
2023-02-12 03:07:40Arrived 20 minutes before opening, and a line formed behind me, about 20 people.I had the tempura soba, warm. Broth was good, noodles were of good texture. Tempura was a reasonable portion, maybe slightly smaller than I expected but still good. I liked it.The interior seating was clean and comfortable. Staff were attentive and friendly.The exterior is definitely the low point. Located in an industrial area of Oakland with lots of abandoned cars, dilapidated buildings, trash everywhere. Typical Oakland dump. The barbed wire on the fence surrounding the restaurant tells the tale.$26 including tip for one meal feels really high for what you get. It’s authentic, 手打ちそば. But I went in there wanting a quick, solid meal, and was disappointed because these guys really want to squeeze you on side dishes, alcohol, etc. Similar to Ippudo in the Bay Area. It can’t just be a simple bowl of noodles. Ultimately, delicious but disappointing.