pros: -everything we ordered was delicious -pro tip: get there early because there was already a long line before 5 pm -lots of seating inside and outside -friendly service -clean establishment cons: -nons read more

Soba Ichi - chicken wings - Noodles Near Me - Oakland, California

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If you plan on going here, make sure you get here around least 15 minutes before opening as it gets crowded. They offer a variety of different hot and cold soba noodles, as well as appetizers. All the food was really good and I would love to come back! read more

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Love the simple menu here, great vibes, and excellent food. Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant. Walk-ins only. Took about 40min to be seated, though the bar was open so we happily started with couple of beers. Your initial selection is placed at the end of the queue, just before being shown to your table. You can of course add more food at your table. The artisan soba noodles were exceptional, boasting a perfectly balanced texture, neither overly soft nor overly firm. Surprisingly, the duck meat and dashi tofu were both outstanding as well, deserving a 10/10. read more

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Food was solid and great soba! After you order, they assign a table and within 10 minutes you are eating. Ambiance is neat in an old school/industrial building and we went during the rain and it would be nice to be outside but inside was ok. Food was nice, service is good, but going to the restaurant at dark the neighbors is interesting. Safe but interesting. Would go back during spring or summer read more

First of all, this is an expansive place. You are also paying for the experience. The restaurant has a good spot. The outdoor patio is absolutely romantic and pretty. The ordering process is kinda interesting. It's a way to solve the staff shortage. You line up and order everything, then you go in and find a place to sit. The place is very different than outside. It does transfer you to a different place. All dishes are great. The duck break soba and the fried oyster are very tasty, not as much the dessert thought. Mochi is way too sticky to hold the icing together, and to my opinion, they don't blend very well. I might not want to come back due to its price, but I would recommend to try it for experience. read more

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A hidden gem that's tucked away on the sidewalk! You start by lining up to place your order, then decide between sitting indoors or enjoying the fresh air outside. One of the things I really love about this place is their seasonal menu--it always gives me a chance to try something new! For lunch, I went with the Ebi Ten Soba (hot soup), and my boyfriend opted for the Ebi Ten Seiro (cold dip). Both dishes were fantastic in their own ways. The hot soup was incredibly flavorful, with just the right amount of saltiness, light broth, and a hint of yuzu. The cold soba noodles were perfectly cooked, with a firm and chewy bite that reminded me of their handmade freshness! I also love their green tea salt to dip with tempura as it's something more unique than what you typically get at other restaurants. read more

Soba Ichi - Kamo yaki, sweet corn fritter, homemade tofu - Noodles Near Me - Oakland, California

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The place is really cute! Lots of seating available. I personally enjoyed the cold noodles more than the hot ones. After placing your order, the food comes out quickly. We got there around 7:30ish, waited in line and by 9pm we had all our food. They're very good soba noodles but I don't know that I would wait again. read more

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Had the hot soba twice. Very reasonable portion, awesome noodles, duck broth is clean and not rich. The massive green onions are a difference maker. Everything balances out nicely. I've had the croquette and filet of fish with teriyaki sauce and both are awesome Good for date nights. I need to try the cold soba next time For those that are loyal dessert, you'll have an appetite for it afterward read more

This is tucked away in a very non assuming location across from a cute apartment complex! My partner and I got there a little before 5pm and thought the entrance was on the other side since there's a gate The food was super yummy but a little pricey. * (5/5): nectarine & duck salad Super refreshing, sweet nectarines, and the perfect flavor combination! Would definitely order again. * (4/5): cold soba with shrimp and shishito pepper tempura noodles were chewy and super different from past soba I've had! Broth was savory, refreshing, and tempura were crispy without feeling too greasy. * (3/5 for me but partner liked this a lot): seasonal key lime cold soba ‍ The broth changes flavor over time, with more bitterness from the rinds near the end! You order first and then sit down. Servers were attentive and friendly! I'd come back to try the hot soba and their corn tempura read more

Soba Ichi - Key lime soba - Noodles Near Me - Oakland, California

Felt bad about coming an hour before closing but people were still coming! Outdoor seating is perfect for the summer late sunsets. Service was really quick and friendly, we chatted about the local sake distillery that they source from. We ordered: - 2 types of sake- the sparkling canned one was light and very rice-fragrant. The orange sake was soo flavorful, pretty refreshing with hot soup. - corn fritters - yummy with the matcha salt, a wee bit greasy/heavy to have before the soba - duck breast soba - fire, wish there were more pieces but they were perfect bites - herring soba - fire , added a really good fishyness to the broth, sweet and salty fish balanced with the broth well 10/10 going to come again and again, but prolly earlier in the night so they can close up shop and get home read more

Soba Ichi - Kamo Nanban Soba (duck breast) Nishin Soba (herring) - Noodles Near Me - Oakland, California

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Came here for dinner with a group of 5 for dinner on a Saturday - the wait to order wasn't that long, but the wait for food must have been almost an hour. So taking off a star because of that because an hour is just too long for soba :') Otherwise the food itself was really good - soba was chewy and cooked just the right amount. Definitely order the corn fritters! So good. Anyways, not sure if I'd come back again just cause the wait is soooo long but would try at least once read more

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The noodles are perfection! Also loved the homemade tofu! The atmosphere is great, kid friendly

This place reminds me why Oakland is so charming. It looks like a warehouse from the outside, but once you enter, you're greeted by a spacious, open dining area with a window where they take your order. Be sure to know what you want to order ahead of time--I couldn't find a menu, so we had to use our phones. We tried the cucumber and meatball appetizers. I wouldn't recommend the cucumber--it's just sliced cucumber with a spoonful of miso, which is easy to make at home. However, the meatball is a must-try; they serve it with a raw egg for dipping. The soba is simple and refreshing, and the tempura is lightly battered and delicious. They also have natural wines if you're into that! read more

Soba Ichi - duck and meatball with raw egg yolk - Noodles Near Me - Oakland, California

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We came because it is the sister spot to Ippuku in Berkeley. First time with my wife and kid and we got there early so parking was fine and we were second in line. Ordering felt rushed since the menu inside was different from the one online and it would help if they showed it while people wait. The duck was really good and the cold soba with chicken was great. Overall solid food but close to three hundred dollars and we noticed regulars skipping the line to head to the bar which was confusing. Glad we tried it but not sure it is a go to at that price. read more

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the duck soba is so good, tried the oyster one as well and a few starters, also, had dessert --the homemade mochi was delicious!! restaurant has outdoor and indoor seating areas on a first come first serve basis. order first, then sit. everyone was friendly and the decor was minimal -- japandi; very cute. read more

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Super delicious! Tons of Japanese staff and an authentic ambiance and flavor profile to match. They care about all the details, presentation, quality, setting, etc. One of my favorite spots in the bay! read more

ample seating and cute, lowkey vibes in west oakland. fresh soba was exceptional. appetizers: fried tofu, dungeness crab croquettes, cucumber w/ miso paste- all fresh and tasty. service was friendly and quick. a must-try. read more

Love this place. Such a beautiful restaurant. The soba was so good. I had the cold soba with chicken which was perfect for a hot day. My wife got the hot soba with the tempura shrimp which softened the soba a bit but both were great. I had a glass of sake and the selection was nice read more

This place was a little hidden but once you find it it's just a nice place to just be. The staff is welcoming and friendly. Food was brought out fast as well. I guess I was feeling a duck day. I'm not really a duck fan but I will eat duck here! I got the kamo nanban (hot broth soba with sliced rare duck breast), Kano yaki (seared duck breast and duck meat ball in egg yolk), and a Yamaguchi rice lager. Im gonna be honest I didn't care too much for the soba noodles, and was a little overcooked for me. The broth was amazing though! It was so balanced and not as salty as I expected it was so comforting. If there was such a thing as a "vibe," this is it. Relaxing environment with lots of space. Kinda pricy but it was a nice treat. read more

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SUCH good food, a hidden gem in Oakland. The space itself is huge and largely outdoors on these beautiful wooden benches (plenty of heat lamps in case of the cold), but we were seated inside which was even more charming with its string lights and generously sized booths. It felt like we were in our own little bubble! You order & pay first at a kiosk and then seat yourself, but the service was still exceptional even after we had already paid. I'm not used to paying first for a meal like this, so I was surprised at how friendly and patient all the staff were. We each got a different soba dish -- all of them were great! These soba are made in-house and have such a beautiful flavor to them, and I appreciated how the simplicity of the dishes allowed the noodles to shine. The broth was also so lovely and warming and umami. YUM!! The appetizers were such a star too, so full of intrigue and high-quality ingredients. Beef tataki salad - 4.5/5. I really liked this one in spite of not usually having beef! it was dressed and cooked very well. Agedashi tofu - 4.5/5. A favorite among the table, but I found the breading to be slightly gummy. The tofu itself was great! Nishin Kanroni - 4.5/5. I got the Nishin Soba and found it to be basically the same thing, but nonetheless very delicious. Nishin Soba - 4.5/5. I wish there was some sort of vegetable that could have gone with this, since otherwise it was just the fish with soba and broth. Absolutely coming again. Loved how clean everything was (and I mean the food, but also the space too) and how intimate it felt. I definitely want to come back in warmer weather to try their cold soba too. read more

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Tried to come here on a Sunday right at opening and saw how long the line was- no thank you! Decided to come back on a weeknight. Came here on Thursday right at opening, 5pm, and there was no line. You order at the front and take your number to whatever seat is available. This place is somewhat solo dining friendly if you can get a seat by the wall but it can get pretty loud! Kamo Niku Korokke / Duck Croquette - 6/10 Deep fried past golden brown. Not a whole lot of duck pieces or duck flavor. The tomato sauce was too strong for me so I pushed that aside. I wish I tried a different appetizer instead Ebi Ten Seiro / Cold Soba - 8/10 The soba was delicious! But the shrimp tempura was a little doughy. It's light, fluffy, and only a little crispy Service? There is no service. They just give you your food and take away your number. Not particularly friendly- they just do their job. I would come back to try the hot soba despite it being pretty pricey for what it is. After a second visit, I'm not sure I'd be back. I definitely wouldn't wait in a long line. A little overly hyped! read more

Soba Ichi - Ebi Ten Seiro - Noodles Near Me - Oakland, California

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Easily a 5/5. Seriously. This was an INCREDIBLE soba noodle spot. Let's talk through some overall highlights: 1. the food, obviously, is amazing. 2. the ambiance is just so perfect. The inside seating feels nice and intimate, while the outside area, while a bit cold, has those heaters which makes it... idk. Feel crisp? 3. I just really appreciate how attentive the servers were, despite how crazy busy it was. If you're in the area, I cannot recommend this place enough. It's really good, you'll be blown away... and don't forget to get the black sesame mochi :) read more

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It's been a while, Soba Ichi. Yet, you still remain a top fav. Since the pandemic, they rolled out a system where you order first and choose your own seat. Service and food are still great. Ambiance is cute and charming. The surrounding streets appeared to be cleaned up compared to a few years ago. Our group ordered the following: 1) agedashi tofu - great appetizer to start. Warm and light 2) sashimi - had 3 types of seafood and ~4 pieces each. So tasty and had unique refreshing flavor 3) veggie tempura - blooming onion style and comes w matcha salt 4) hot sobas - herring, ebi, and duck. All were delicious read more

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The food is flavorful and fresh made. Great service with a cool vibe. Highly recommend checking this place out. read more

Soba Ichi - Duck noodles, fresh made noodles and well cooked and flavorful duck - Noodles Near Me - Oakland, California

I was lured here by those IG reels calling this place "one of the few places in the bay area that serves LEGIT soba". We were planning to be in the area so we HAD to give this spot a try. We went early (because in the videos there was quite a line) and were able to order within 10 minutes of parking. We ended up ordering the duck liver pate, tamagoyaki, and the ikura yamaimo soba. I thought the tamagoyaki, while very tasty, was incredibly small and not worth its price. The duck liver pate was extremely smooth, but had a strange sweet flavor (perhaps typical of Japanese pate?). The server was nice enough to give us extra crackers to help us finish our pate! The soba was SOLID. It has been a while since I went to Japan, but it tasted quite authentic to me. I enjoyed the salmon roe and the crunchiness of the mountain yam. TL;DR: This place is solid but the price point is very high. read more

Soba Ichi - Noodles Near Me - Oakland, California

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First time dining at Soba Ichi. Food and service were outstanding, including the warm soba noodles, tofu appetizer and warm sake. We will be back again...thank you! read more

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The noodles are delicious, the sauce is nice and light. The atmosphere is nice. We ordered the potato croquettes and they were good, the cheese cake was also good. I wish the noodle portion was bit more but that's about it, very good place. read more

Soba Ichi is an ambient and lively dining experience that is perfect for couples and large groups alike! Pricey but worth it if you're looking to splurge on a night out. Recs: ebi hotate kakiage Price: ~$50/person We demolished everything, from the piping hot soba to the shared appetizers. The kakiage is huge and so fun to nibble on with a large group. The egg yolk dip that came with the kamo yaki was also excellent. Upon arrival, you order and pay at the front and have the option of buying drinks while waiting for your table. Our group of five waited max 15 minutes for a table at peak dinner hour. Indoor and outdoor seating are also both available. read more

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The best meal I've had in ages. Every dish was unique, complimented each other well, and was uniquely its own. For appetizers we had the simmered herring (Nishin kanroni), corn cream Korokke, sashimi, and kamo yaki. 10/10 would order again. The sashimi portion was generous though the hamachi was the only stellar fish for us. we split the tsumire soba (hot soba with fish balls) and that was also incredible. The dessert option was matcha gelato and it is made with lactose free milk! They do not advertise this (but should!). Can't wait to go back again and try more of their amazing dishes. read more

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Soba Ichi's atmosphere is cute. The service is great and requires you to order at the cashier before sitting down. We came early, so I do not know how they handle guests who do not have a seat after ordering. This place is set up for eating and then leaving. The hot duck soba was great. The duck was perfectly cooked. There was a citrus flavoring to the broth that went really well with the charred green onion. Highly recommend coming at 5 since the queue starts pretty early. The confetti oysters were okay, worth a try but nothing mind-blowing. The mochi dessert is pretty good. Place does not have high chair for your little one, only a cushion. read more

Legit soba specialty restaurant. Long lines at the beginning and they sell out at the end, but the quality of food speaks for itself! In terms of dishes, the sobas are obvious winners, though I was pleasantly surprised at the tasy tamagoyaki. They make all their soba fresh and in house and you can def taste it esp in the cold soba noodles. I think the pricing feels slightly high for the value and (lack of) service, but I get it, restraunts are expensive to run in the Bay Area. Also note these are more Asian-sized portions, so order a li'l extra if you're hungry or are expecting more American-sized portions. read more

Soba Ichi - Apps - Noodles Near Me - Oakland, California

When I visited, I realized that I am not a fan of soba. if the broth and whatnot were to be paired with udon or something, wow, top notch noodle soup. But despite being probably the best soba that I've eaten, it will probably remain the best soba I will eat because I am not, and will likely never be, a soba-guy. Super cozy spot otherwise. Fast service. I spent about $35 on a bowl of soba with duck breast. Bit steep. Again, minus the noodles, everything else was great. read more

Arrived Wednesday 6:30 PM and didn't have to wait in line this visit. There is some street parking in the area. Ambiance: Cozy interior with wooden seating. Exterior seating is also pleasant with string lights when the weather is nicer. Food: The soba is very fresh and tasty. My favorite piece of tempura from the ten seiro is the mushroom. The price point is admittedly on the higher end but the quality of the ingredients makes it worth it. I also really enjoy their desserts--the sesame mochi was pillowy and the sweetness was at a great level. I thought the sesame and coconut flavor paired well together. The last time I came, I had the gelato for dessert which I liked as well. Service: You order first at the counter and they give you a number. Then, you find your own seating and they bring your food out to you. Our servers were very quick, refilling our waters and keeping track of when we would be ready for dessert. read more

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In the middle of West Oakland sits the most unexpected of restaurants specializing in Japanese soba. The dark. izakaya-like setting is a converted garage, sitting among industrial and residential buildings, yet the restaurant is buzzing with activity and always has a line waiting to order! The specialty is, of course, Japanese buckwheat noodles, and the best dish to order to appreciate the fresh noodles was the Seiro Soba, in which the boiled noodles were served cold along with a salty dipping sauce, garnished with scallions, grated radish, and wasabi. The noodles had a pleasantly firm, chewy texture and mild flavor, and were served with two tempura shrimp and a tempura shishito pepper on the side. I also tried the Veggie Soba, in which the noodles were served in a savory vegetarian broth along with bok choy, grilled bean curd, and mushrooms. While the broth was tasty, the noodles had a softer, less distinctive texture. Overall, the dining experience and service here took me right back to Japan, though the noodles still paled in comparison to what you'd find there! read more

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The first time I had gone here it was a friday evening and a line out as soon as they opened at 5pm - I ended up not getting to try because a friend and I were starving and couldn't wait. The next time I went on another Friday evening, a little after 5 and there was hardly a line and the crowd was small and intimidate. You order at the counter and find a seat, I recommend browsing the menu before you go. The choices are pretty standard but everything looks great and fresh. I ordered the tempura soba(hot) with a Yuzu Sake that was about $15 a glass, but $70+ for a bottle very tempting because it was a lil sweet, a lil tart and very refreshing! Definitely need to come back and try their other dishes. The soba is made fresh every day by their in house chef that's originally from Japan. Great ambience, customer service and authentic Japanese cuisine. read more

Soba Ichi - Noodles Near Me - Oakland, California

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In soba cuisine, something I very much appreciate beyond the noodles themselves is the dashi (hot broth). I was looking forward to the dashi at this place, the only soba shop perhaps in the entire Bay Area other than the one in SF Japantown. It was very much a disappointment. The owner said he uses katsuo (bonito), but it had little to no katsuo flavor. My friend's complaint is that it wasn't hot enough, and that is also true. The broth was cold halfway through eating the soba. I could've looked past it if the dashi had any kind of real flavor. To me it tasted like mainly shoyu and water. The owner said he makes the soba himself. It was hard to believe. If this was teuchi (handmade) soba, it was the best imitation of machine-made soba I've ever had. For people with no experience in Japan, where soba of this quality can cost the Yen equivalent of less than $10, Soba Ichi would serve well enough as an introduction to the cuisine. read more

Updating my review based on recent experience. They no longer require you to bus your own tables, but it was hard to believe how long the wait was. For a late dinner around 7:30 PM, I waited 40 minutes in line just to order and another 35 for the food. Someone else in the comments mentioned that at proper dinner time, they waited one hour in line and 40 for the food. This is frankly a simple fix because their current ordering system is just not ideal, with the lady at the front taking much longer than needed to get the orders in and drinks set up. I honestly would not be inclined to come back if the wait continues to be 2+ hours from beginning to end for what's supposed to be a simple meal. read more

having been here a couple of years ago, I do think it's probably the best soba i've had in the bay area. My attempts are low since I'm consistently getting let down in the US. This place...even as the best in the bay, was just good for scratching the itch. it just doesn't compare with the soba in japan. It lacks the texture in the noodles and depth of flavors in the broth. read more

if you like bouncy / qq noodles, do NOT waste your time on hot soba! cold soba is the way to go!! i didn't think i liked any kind of soba until i got their cold soba with tempura (ten seiro) - the noodle texture was pleasantly chewy without being undercooked. i just wished they gave you more tempura and noodles for the price; $22 for a small amount portion of noodles and 3 pieces of tempura feels like a lot. the other standout part of our meal was the sesame coconut mochi dessert. the mochi was fresh and the two fillings were creamy without being too heavy. there was a long line by the time they opened at 5pm on a sunday, and it continued to get longer for a while, so i recommend going early on weekends. you order at the counter, take a number, and sit either indoors or outdoors. somehow they were already out of a few items by the time we ordered around 15min after opening. also note that the menu on their website is pretty different from the menu that they have posted on site. read more

I had high expectations for this restaurant but it didn't 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 didn't really impress. The soba noodle itself didn't stand out, the portion size was fairly small for $25, and there wasn't anything else beyond the noodles and a few slices of duck meat. From a service perspective, there wasn't much to comment on. The server only came when the food was ready and to clear out the table. Didn't 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 it's a bit overpriced and left me unimpressed. Would probably rate as a 3.5. Still worth trying out once. read more

Soba Ichi - Noodles Near Me - Oakland, California