Soba-ya or Soba-koh?

[visciole]

Which do you prefer? Thanks.

[Lau]

soba koh for sure, it is much better than soba-ya

here's my post on it:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/774314
http://www.lauhound.com/2011/03/soba-...

highly recommend cold uni ikura soba

[lucyj]

I just had a great meal at Soba Koh. We split the cold uni ikura soba and a hot soba special that I think was called Wasabi soba. We also split the deep-fried eggplant appetizer and the crab chawan mushi. Everything was great. The bottom of the chawan mushi was a bit watery but I haven't actually had it before (my dad always orders it and I always steal a bite) so I'm not sure if that's normal. But other than that, really enjoyed everything.

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SobaKoh
309 E 5th St, New York, NY 10003

[Lau]

glad you enjoyed! its a great little restaurant

[lucyj]

I also really enjoyed cocoron, which I went to for the first time based on your recommendation last month. They are obviously completely different but I really enjoyed cocoron as well. I was happy that, at both, I was able to order soba with ingredients and preparations I would not easily be able to cook at home as I cook soba regularly.

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Cocoron
61 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002

[Lau]

yah i eat at both regularly, so im glad you enjoyed. they're both very different as you said it's good contrast

[lucyj]

Lau, I'm thinking about going back Friday night but I'm going to have a party of three and I can't remember the seating exactly. I know it's mostly tables of 2 but do you know if there are any tables for 3?

[strangemd]

They changed the table arrangements a bit recently. There are a couple of tables where you can have 2 people at the ends and one on a bench, so 3 works out fine. We just did it 2 weeks ago.
Make sure you order the hand-made, stone-ground soba if they have it (it's a common special)--it's fantastic. The color is a bit darker than their regular soba, and the texture is nuttier and a bit chewier.

[lucyj]

Great, thanks so much and thanks for the tip!

One more question, any clue what the weekend waits are like these days?

[strangemd]

They do accept reservations, so you might consider that.
Without a reservation (on weekends), there's usually not much of a wait before 6:30-7, but by 8-9 you're waiting at least 30min.

[Lau]

lucyj - you're talking about cocoron right? if so, go to the new location on kenmare b/c its alot bigger and can fit you pretty easily. Btw its kind of crowded on fridays, so there might be a wait fyi

[lucyj]

Strangemd: thanks, didn't realize they take reservations.

Lau: I am, I didn't realize there is another one. As good as the original?

[Lau]

the food is exactly the same at either branch, the owner-lady (who is a really nice person) kind of goes back and forth to the new and old one (they're about 3-4 blocks from each other)

http://www.yelp.com/biz/cocoron-new-y...

if you have 4 people, 100% go to the new one b/c its much bigger and more spacious

[strangemd]

I'm only talking about Soba-Koh.
Got a little confused with reference to Cocoron

[Lau]

yah i was about to say that im pretty sure cocoron doesnt accept reservations

[lucyj]

Oh ok, thanks for clarifying. We have 3 but think it makes sense to go to the new one. Thanks so much!

[Lau]

definitely get the chicken meatballs and the sansai soba

also try soba tea as well

[small h]

Soba-koh, hands down. Note that I've only been to Soba-ya once, but that was enough to convince me to stick to Soba-koh.

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Soba-ya
229 E 9th St, New York, NY 10003

SobaKoh
309 E 5th St, New York, NY 10003

[Simon]

agreed

Soba Koh is the best soba i've ever had outside of Japan...i recommend getting the inaka soba, cold, w/ either the anago tempura or the duck/eggplant...

Soba-ya used to be good years ago, but it has gone steadly downhill and the last time i went it was truly bad...

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Soba-ya
229 E 9th St, New York, NY 10003

SobaKoh
309 E 5th St, New York, NY 10003

[visciole]

OK, thanks. Do you not like the hot soba so much then?

[Simon]

personally i prefer cold soba, as do many people in Japan because it allows you to enjoy the nice texture of the soba (without added softening from the hot broth)...but when i was there last week, one of my friends had the hot soba w/ duck/eggplant and loved it...at Sobakoh i think you'll be happy with either :)

[visciole]

Thanks very much!

[small h]

I prefer cold soba myself, for the same reason Simon does, and recommend Soba-koh's version with uni and ikura, which is crazy good. Enjoy your meal!

[visciole]

Thanks! That does sound good.

[foodwhisperer]

I think both soba ya and soba koh are good. I prefer cold soba, usually soba with uni. In the afternoon at soba-ya you can watch the guy in front making the soba. Soba-ya has a much larger menu than soba-koh. I like the duck at soba-koh. I like the ika shiokara at soba-ya. I will say i have not been to Soba-ya in about a year, i've been to Soba-koh about 4months ago
As far as tempura goes, there is no place in NYC that has tempura that compares to tempura in Japan. It is amazing but true. My thoughts are to open a real tempura restaurant.

[visciole]

I love tempura, I'll be first in line! And thanks for the input regarding the soba.