Kanda Yabu Soba

In February 2013, a fire destroyed the traditional, low Japanese abode that housed this long-running soba shop, leading to a lengthy break in operations and much hand-wringing among Tokyo's buckwheat noodle enthusiasts. Fortunately enough, Yabu Soba rose from the ashes in October 2014 and is now back to serving both excellent soba and a wide variety of tasty side dishes. The new building can't match the charm of its predecessor, but is very convenient with both counter and table seats, in addition to the large dining rooms upstairs.

Safe choices here include the standard seiro soba (¥990) and kamaage udon (¥1,430), while the seasonal specialities are also worth a shot. Recommended sides range from duck soup to chilled tofu, all prepared with the traditions and tastes of old Edo in mind. Finally, it's worth noting that the place gets extremely crowded at lunchtime – go after 2pm but before 6pm and you might get in without queueing.