One afternoon on a weekday, I found myself savoring a drink at “Tsukiji Sarashina no Sato,” a soba restaurant in Tsukiji. With most people busy at work, I indulged in the quiet joy of drinking alone in a soba shop.
Upon entering, I ordered a sake: “Tsuru no Tomo Jojo no Morohaku” (Daiginjo). The aroma was fruity, and as I sipped, it felt gentle and mellow, sliding down my throat smoothly. Slightly sweet and easy to drink.
To appreciate the pure flavor of buckwheat, I recommend ordering the soba-gaki. Here, the standard portion is large enough for two or three people, so I ordered a smaller size. Even the small portion was quite substantial, and I enjoyed it dipped in the sauce.
Next was tamagoyaki. At a soba restaurant, it’s hard to resist ordering tamagoyaki.
Since I arrived around 11:30, I enjoyed my leisurely drink as lunchtime approached, and soon, I noticed some businessmen in suits trickling in. Relaxing with sake while others were working was a true indulgence. Spending a day off like this once in a while is a real treat.
They also offered juwari (100% buckwheat) soba, called “Namako-uchi Soba,” but since the restaurant’s name features “Sarashina,” I opted for “Sarashina Soba” to finish. I savored the delicate white noodles and ended with soba-yu.
I left the restaurant fully satisfied with this indulgent weekday off.
