Chuka Soba Mutahiro No.1

The shop

Mutahiro No.1 opened in September 2011 (Tabelog lists September 19) as the first shop of what has grown into a group of more than ten shops, run by Great Smile Co. The shop's own introduction says it originally served tori soba as well, but became a niboshi specialist after the group opened a dedicated chicken-soba shop by the station's north exit.

The bowl

According to the shop, the soup is made by slowly simmering niboshi from Ibuki Island, and it is served with extra-thick noodles together with 'ittan men', a wide, sheet-like noodle. The menu offers niboshi soba in soy sauce or salt, each available plain, with a seasoned egg, or as the fully topped tokusei version. There is also a niboshi tsukemen.

How to order

Start with the niboshi soba (soy sauce) or its salt version; add a seasoned egg (ajitama) or go for the tokusei for more toppings. Rice and a small chashu rice bowl are available on the side. The menu on Tabelog dates from 2023, so check current prices at the shop.

Before you go

• Open year-round: 11:30-14:50 and 18:00-22:50 (Sundays until 20:50) per Tabelog.
• Nine counter seats only; no reservations.
• Cards and e-money are not accepted (Tabelog).
• Free kids' ramen for children up to about first grade of elementary school.
• About 1 minute from Kokubunji Station's south exit, in the alley behind the Mos Burger by the rotary.