Okinawa Soba @ Ryukyusogi, Kasumigaseki, Tokyo

 

In terms of underrated noodle dishes, there are a few that comes to mind. Although very popular locally, most foreigners may not have heard of "Okinawa Soba". Then again, what is Okinawa Soba?

Look what we have here!

Essentially, it's a noodle dish that comes from the island prefecture of Okinawa. It should not be confused with the standard soba which most people are used to. Then again, the word "soba" does make reference to noodle dishes in general and not just buckwheat noodles. The soup that it sits in is a clear pork broth, somewhat similar to pork shio ramen. And the toppings consist of common Okinawa-style treats, mainly rafute, which is their version of braised pork belly. And one such place that makes this great delicacy is Ryukyusogi, located on the first floor of the Kasumigaseki Building. 

Glorious

The interior looks like a classic yet simple Okinawan diner, with lanterns for their famous Orion beer hung on the ceiling and classic songs played in the background. Without much hesitation, I ordered a bowl of rafute soba, which is Okinawa Soba with rafute as a topping.  This stood at 1000 yen. Within a few minutes, a beautiful bowl had arrived. 

So clear!

It was a simple but clean display, of fatty pork and a slice of fish cake resting on top of a bed of noodles, surrounded by clear broth. Simple, but very inviting. Luckily, how this looks was exactly how it tasted. The broth was clean and crisp, with a depth of savoury flavour. It is not as punchy as ramen, but still pretty satisfying. The umami from the pork bones are clearly present. 

So fatty

I then slowly make my way to the toppings. The rafute was absolutely spellbinding. The pork was well-braised and tender to the touch. It was soft but was still able to keep its shape, which is a testament to the chef. Flavourwise, it was just sheer perfection. The fat just dissolves like butter in your mouth, while the meat flakes off with relative ease. As the dish is usually made with black sugar, there was an aroma similar to caramel in the background. Just too good. The fish cake was pretty good, but the rafute was already overpowering, it seems a bit unnecessary. 

Of course, the noodles were great too. They remind me of freshly made pasta with a toothsome bite. The noodles were pretty fresh, as you can taste the flowery aroma of fresh wheat. Despite that, the aroma was not very intense and allowed it to complement the broth easily. 

Clean

This bowl of noodles was the total package. It was enjoyable from the beginning to the end and if I am in the area again, I would probably visit it again. Do note that it can be pretty crowded during the lunch rush. So if you fancy ago, the address is as follows:

Kasumigaseki Building 3-2-5, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo,100-6090

The artistic menu in front of the shop