Tokyo Soba Review: Affordable Soba And Udon In The CBD With Nett Prices

Tokyo Soba has affordable soba in Tanjong Pagar

Since I practically lived in Tanjong Pagar during my part-time tutoring days, I am no stranger to the wide array of food options in the area. But I came across Tokyo Soba a while ago and was charmed by the hole-in-the-wall vibe of this place. This cosy soba shop is located in the corner of the quiet Icon Village mall.

The eatery—originally named Yomoda Soba—started in Nihonbashi district AKA Tokyo’s CBD. They then opened their first overseas branch in 2016 in Orchard, under the name Tokyo Soba. Since then, the eatery has moved to Tanjong Pagar, serving up bowls of soba and udon to Japanese expats and Singaporeans alike. 

According to the posters in the eatery, Yomoda Soba AKA Tokyo Soba had been featured in multiple Japanese TV shows and magazines. The eatery prides itself on serving the same soba taste and quality as the ones in Nihonbashi, as they import all their soba-making ingredients from Japan. 

Food at Tokyo Soba

We ordered our food through their self-ordering kiosk, and the ordering process was efficient. Since the stall does not have a service charge, you have to collect your food from the counter once the buzzer rings. 

For mains, you get to choose between soba and thin udon, as well as whether you want them hot or cold. FYI, there’s no extra charge for this! 

We started with their hot Duck Breast Soba ($17) as the self-ordering system showed this to be their best-selling item. The broth was a light-bodied dashi with a soy-based tare, and the duck meat also imparted an extra layer of umami goodness to the soup. The duck breast was super juicy too! There was a hint of sweetness from the mirin, and I also liked that it was fatty enough. While I could taste the fresh buckwheat from the soba, I did not like that it was a bit too hard for me.

Next, we tried their signature Prawn Tempura Udon ($18) and I liked this noodle much better. Despite sitting in the broth for some time during the shoot, it did not become too soggy and instead absorbed a lot of flavour from the broth. We also liked the huge size of the tempura prawns which were also very fresh and crispy. 

With each main, we also got an Ajitama ($2.50) for extra colour in our bowl. We loved how jammy and well-marinated the egg yolk was. I added shichimi togarashi powder to the egg and it took the richness of the egg to the next level. 

For our sides, we got the Katsuni ($9), a new addition to the menu. This dish is basically pork katsu that has been further cooked in an egg mixture, katsudon-style. While the white pepper marinade of the katsu overpowered the gentle seafood taste of the dashi used in the egg, I liked that the egg was not completely mixed, so I could get a few yolky pieces of katsu.

With many food places increasing their prices, we were very happy to see that many things were free-flow in this eatery. Tap water was free here, and we also got their Roasted Rice Green Tea ($1.50) because it was refillable. If you need the extra kick, the staff will even give you fresh-cut chilli padi for free. 

Ambience at Tokyo Soba

Tokyo Soba is not exactly a romantic place to have long conversations with your date, but more like a quick lunch spot for those working in the area. With the small space of the eatery, there is an expectation to quickly order your food, be seated, eat, and then leave. Even so, I had a great time slurping down my noodles while listening to Hakujitsu by King Gnu and other current J-pop hits.

The eatery is only a two-minute walk away from Tanjong Pagar MRT Station.

The verdict

Overall, I would say Tokyo Soba is a great spot to visit for a comforting bowl of noodles. There are some hits and misses but their udon is definitely the underdog as not many places in Singapore serve well-cooked thin udon. I will also be back for the duck breast!

If you are in the area, read our Park Backerei review to learn more about legit German pretzels in Tanjong Pagar! Alternatively, you read our full guide to the best Korean restaurants in Tanjong Pagar and the CBD for legit jjajangmyeon, K-BBQ and more.  

Address: 12 Gopeng Street, #01-12/13/14, Icon Village, Singapore 078877
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am to 3pm, 6pm to 10:30pm, Sat-Sun 11:30am to 10:30pm
Website
Tokyo Soba is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Daryl Lim.
This was an independent review by Eatbook.