Kanda Matsuya

I found this place almost by chance, and it turned out to be a wonderful discovery. It’s a very traditional Japanese restaurant, and we were the only tourists there, which made the experience even more special. It really feels like a local place where Japanese people actually go. I had a soba noodle soup that was absolutely amazing, one of the best I’ve had in Japan. Simple, authentic and full of flavor. I highly recommend this place if you want a true Japanese, local-style dining experience.

I usually never write reviews. But this place deserve... no erase that, this place MUST be visited if you're hungry for heavenly traditional dishes. From the outside it's so amazing, this cute and small old-style building set amidst modern towers. The service is impeccable, super friendly and (for those lacking japanese) they also speak enough english, so as they have english menu. I'm in love of this place, I'm gonna ask them if they marry me.

The Soba were good, but nothing spectacular. The tempura was very very good and delicious. What shocked me the most was the price at the end. For the Soba with the tempura on the picture you had to pay 2800¥. I don't know if there is some reason for the higher price, from what I've seen there were primarily elderly woman working, maybe that's one/the reason? I would rate it a 3.8 (4.3 for Taste, but price for the amount and quality we've got would only be a 3.4) (visited on 08.10.2025)

140 year old restaurant with amazing handmade soba noodles. Edo style architecture with an authenticity that supersedes any shop fit.

Very nice plain cold fresh Soba with side order of juicy yakitori chicken but not so for the Soba Dumpling. I’ve learned on this Tokyo Trip to eat plain Soba or Udon (may be add egg) with side order to appreciate the taste how good is the Soba as well as the Udon.

Long line at the entrance. Do not be discouraged, it moves fast and the service is quick. Exceptional soba. I have no other words. The service was quick and very helpful, us tourists not knowing exactly what we got ourselves into. The price was so fair!

This was legendary experienced broadcaster Peter Barakan's (ピーター・バラカン) first meal in Japan, as revealed in season 2 episode 17 "Soba" of Begin Japanology. So I had to follow in the titan's footsteps and make this my own first meal, while watching his truly. I had the "delicious snacks" of yakitori, miso, and sake. "The best part of the day." This is absolutely necessary pilgrimage 聖地巡礼 for all true Barakan fans. I'll see you next time.

Amazing soba quality and “Showa” style of interior design, provide English menu if need. So far, best soba in terms of price and quality

Kanda Matsuya is a well-respected, decades old soba noodle shop. The queue was daunting upon walking up but it went quickly. There were mostly Japanese people, but some foreigners dining in as well and the workers were welcoming to all. There were smaller tables for single diners, but most tables sat 4 at a minimum. To provide some solace and privacy to single diners, they do have a partition in the middle of the table. The aunties serving you do not speak much English but they do have English menus. Simply point and the aunties will quickly put in your order. From the Cold Soba Noodles menu page, I ordered the "Tenmori"/ Soba & Large Prawn Tempura meal set for 2530 JPY. Upon first glance, the price seemed high but the prawns truly were huge and the tempura breading was crunchy and light. The noodle portion was also large and those firm buckwheat noodles were delightful due to their texture and aroma. The dipping sauce was simple with mirin, soy sauce, green onions and a slight sweetness along side the white onions offered on the side. It was a light and simple meal. Once the noodles are finished, the waiters come around with a metal pot of hot water which is intended to mix with the dipping sauce to create a hot soup to sip on. The metal pot did not quite make it around to me, but I honestly had my fill and was immensely satisfied with my meal.

This was our first real meal in Tokyo and we really enjoyed it. I think the wait was 15-20 minutes and the exterior and interior of the restaurant are adorably rustic and cozy. The lady serving us was nice and did not really speak English but understood what we were gesturing to her. We both got the hot duck soba as well as a fried chicken dish which was bomb! The soba was thin and chewy and the duck was a little gamey but I really loved it and finished my entire bowl. They also served this strange sauce that tasted like it was made of beans and was slightly spicy and sweet, and kind of explained that it was to accompany our beer. I didn't really like it but it was interesting. Take note this place is cash only. We had a wonderful affordable meal here. I'd come back if I were in the area and time allowed.

A well-known and respected soba shop, even for foreigners. Kanda Matsuya holds pride in being an older soba shop that's been around for decades in Tokyo. Although pedigree does not equate quality, their service and food speak for themselves. We came within an hour of the closing time but were still graciously seated and served. Even as one of our companions were running late, they let us sit and order when we were ready. We all tried different variations of hot and cold soba noodles. They have an english menu too! The interior is absolutely reminiscent of what the shop looked like in the early 20th century, though with enough modern renovations to keep up with the times. It was interesting to see the contrast of modern salarymen enjoying a late meal next to photos of the restaurant over the years. You really cannot go wrong with any soba on the menu, as long as you like noodles! Unlike most other set meals we had thus far, I did not find this one as filling. Nonetheless, the service, ambiance, and taste made up for it!

Came for dinner Monday evening around 7 pm and there was no wait. My party of 4 was seated immediately. We were the only tourists there, most of the patrons looked like businessmen grabbing a quick dinner on their way home. They have English menus available with pictures, so it's easy to order. I got a hot soba noodle soup with duck called kamonanban for 1980 yen. It was good, but I realized after this meal that soba noodles aren't my thing. I much prefer ramen or udon. If you're like me and don't like soba that much, they also have udon. One of my friends got that.

Nice soba place for a hot day. There was a bit of a line at 11, but service was very fast. Soba was excellent.

No wait (11am) and fast service once seated. The waitresses were nice and helped us out with an English menu and taught us how to eat the noodles with the sauce and broth. Soba with fried tofu and veggies was so good. Soba with prawn tempura was tasty and portions were great for the price.

Wanted to try soba noodles during our visit and this place had good reviews. It was crowded when we stopped by around 2pm on a Monday, but we were able to get seats at the communal tables. Though soba is not my fave noodle (I prefer udon) I loved this place the local vibe and friendly staff of older women who bustled around taking care of all the guests. We tried the an order of the basic cold soba (which you dip into sauce) and the one with fried tofu (also cold which you pour sauce over). Spice on the table allows you to adjust the heat. After you finish eating the noodles they bring you hot water to mix with the remaining sauce for a tasty soup. Pickles were good, too. Good for a quick lunch near the Akihabara station.

神田まつや Hi Ramen lovers, How's your Ramen life going on? Today as I came to Kanda MATSUYAYA (神田まつや) in Kanda, Suda cho. Please enjoy Soba report this time, again. The most famous one at MATSUYA may be its 94 years wooden building. This is built in 1925. And it is certified as Tokyo Historical building. We are able to enjoy its beautiful Soba in such a beautiful heritage restaurant. This is amazing. You know, at World War II, Tokyo had heavy bomb attack from the US military. Especially Tokyo had catastrophic damage with 100 thousand people died in one night on 10 MAR 1945. But very fortunately, this area could survived from the fire and kept its old wooden buildings. Not only MATSUYA, ISEGEN of the anglerfish pot and TAKEMURA the Japanese sweet all are kept as they were. When you enter MATSUYA, you will find beautiful professional workmanships in a restaurant inside. Beautiful slide door Beautiful contrast of black and white wooden wall to let in light to the room You can enjoy high quality SOBA-MAE(small dishes before Soba. They are called TSAMI, generally.) And of course, wonderful Soba in many flavor. Eating great foods in beautiful heritage restaurant is something like enjoying in a theme park. Please enjoy Soba and Soba-mae in 94 years heritage!! 土曜日の11時半過ぎ。 既に10人以上の行列。 さすが老舗である。 しかしさすが蕎麦屋。早い。 待つことたった15分。 引き戸を潜り入店である。 中はそんなに広くはない。 正方形に近い間取りに、狭苦しい程ではないが、テーブルが一杯に配置されている。 「ご相席でお願いします」 通されたテーブルの向こう側の席に座る。 週末の蕎麦屋で相席はしょうがない。 隣は年配のご夫婦。 軽く会釈をしてメニューを眺める。 慌ててはいけない。 ここが肝心である。 しっかりと後悔しない選択をしなければならない。 酒は瓶ビール。 素晴らしい事にこの店はキリン、アサヒ、サッポロから選べるらしい。 大瓶である。 私はサッポロ赤星をセレクト。 既に気分良しである。 ツマミはニシンの棒煮（身欠きニシンの煮物）とわさびかまぼこ（板わさ）を注文。 さて。と、店内を見廻す。 まず目につくのは、全体のコントラストの美しさ。 椅子やテーブルの黒と壁の白。 そして職人さんの技が光る美しい細工の数々。 窓の格子。 表通りに面した飾り壁。 光が入って店が暗くならないに細工されている。 さすが100年ものの日本建物！ 本当に素晴らしい。 ここに座ってこれから酒とツマミを愉しむと考えるだけでワクワクする。 直ぐに赤星が届く。手酌。 とくとくとく。シュワ〜 あああ。瓶ビールの醍醐味である。 ぐびぐび。旨い。 待つ事暫し。 ニシンの棒煮とわさびかまぼこが届く。 矢鱈と多い魚であるニシン。 小骨も全く気にならず柔らかく煮てある。旨い。 かまぼこは、噛む歯を押し返す程の歯応えの高級品である。 追加で冷やを一本だけ頂く。 この小さなお猪口が良い。 酒の有り難みが増す。 〆めは一番人気のもり。 それもおおもりに。 キュッと締めた歯応えの気持ち良い蕎麦をスルスルと気持ちよく頂いた。 美味しかったです。 ご馳走様でした！また来ます。(^ ^)

If you're craving a rather light meal and want to experience some traditional soba noodles, Kanda Matsuya is the perfect place! My friends and I came here for an early dinner on a Thursday evening. The atmosphere was very vibrant as the place was filled with many locals. The interior of the shop was well decorated and had a very traditional, old-style Japanese vibe. I ordered the zarusoba (¥800). There was a decent portion of buckwheat noodles sprinkled with some seaweed pieces on top, beautifully spread out on a traditional bamboo plate. The dipping sauce was rich and provided good flavor with the noodles. It was delicious but rather comparable to most other soba places I've tried in Japan. Service was very friendly, giving us good recommendations on popular items.

A classic for a reason. Kanda Matsuya is as good as it gets if you want soba in Tokyo. We got here 15 min before it opened and there was a line around the block already. However, don't fear, it moves quite fast! Seating is communal but that just added to the atmosphere. Everyone is here for one reason only: delicious noodles. The ladies that service the tables are sweet and will hand you an English menu if you need. Menu is simple enough--you can't go wrong with anything. Hot, cold, with or without broth. I do recommend getting a side of the shrimp tempura, because the batter is so light and not oily at all, and the shrimp are huge! Soba was so delicious. Broth was perfect, noodle texture was perfect. I wouldn't change a thing.

The portion is small, that's the only reason I gave out 4 stars. Other than that, everything is perfect: The place is spatial, the soba is fresh, and the staff is super friendly. Icing on the cake: they have English menu!

There aren't enough superlatives to explain how I feel about Kanda Matsuya. Most importantly, the food is amazing (I ordered the gomasoba). They make their noodles in-house and the payoff is evident. Additionally, the staff is super friendly and very fast. It's communal seating and gets pretty crowded, but that's a good thing! While waiting to be seated and then sitting at a communal table, we got the chance to chat with so many locals. Everybody was so friendly and welcoming, it really added to the Izakaya feel. We left with our bellies and hearts full.

Oh my world for some amazing Soba and incredible hospitality! Kanda Matsuya is a gem in Tokyo and a must visit if you are in Tokyo! We walked in a little after noon after roaming around the area and we were starving. We were seated immediately by the hostess and provided with an English menu. She was also kind enough to walk us through it and answer any questions we had. The place was packed with locals which indicated that this place would deliver! We ordered cold soba noodles with a sesame dipping sauce that my husband refused to share since it was that good (I did try it after a few threats). I ordered the Tofu Udon noodles. We also ordered some Oshinko, hot sake and beer. Once the food arrived, the hostess taught us how to eat the cold soba noodles since we seemed like novices. And she was super sweet about it. Let me tell you, this was the best meal I had in Japan. Nothing came close. Price-wise, it was pretty reasonable. Obviously a bit more expensive than what you'd pay for a cheaper eatery. This place is a bit swankier than your avg Japanese restaurant. But well worth it. Highly recommended!

Traditional, rustic soba shop that makes their noodles in-house. Went on a weekday morning around 11:30, plenty of people inside, but we were seated immediately next to a few other people. Most diners seemed to be enjoying a hot curry soba, but we opted instead for the Tempura Soba (2000 Yen), which came with two large tempura shrimp and one serving of soba. For a bit of kick, we also ordered an extra side of fresh wasabi (50 Yen) The soba here is very tasty, 80 percent buckwheat which is high, but not so high that the noodles disintegrate. The noodles are firm with a bit of bounce which is the way I like them. Dipping sauce is on the salty side - normal for a soba shop and served with a garnish of chopped leeks. Not so strong of a soy taste which was good as you could taste the dashi well. Tempura were delicious, large and crispy on the outside while the shrimp was succulent and firm on the inside. Too bad there were only 2 pieces! The only downside for me was that I felt like the portions could be a little bit bigger as I was still a little hungry afterwards. Shared tables only, but turnover is very fast.

Great soba place. Soba flavor is amazing. You must suck(with loud noise) soba to fully enjoy the soba flavor. Don't be shy. Just like red wine need to mix with air in your mouth(you make noise, right?). Soba needs to mix with air to let it bloom in your mouth. I recommend cold soba. You dip about 1/3 of the soba in their great Edomae style Tsuyu(source). Suck it up loudly and enjoy the flavor of soba. After that, they will serve you SOBA-YU(boiled soba hot water). You add the hot water in you Tsuyu(source) cup and drink it up. You can take all soba nutrition which rinsed off in the hot water while it's boiled. One thing. Cold soba portion is pretty small. Actually very small. Because those should be eaten after you enjoy Sake, and Tsumami/snacks(Nori sea weed, Egg custard, Fish cakes and etc). This is "Cool" in Edo style. But you can only enjoy the Soba itself without Sake or Tsumami.

I can only add to the chorus of well deserved praise. Highly recommended!

Just plain wonderful. Authentic taste and atmosphere. Had hot Soba with Tempura absolutely delicious. English menu helps and they also sell their own Yuzu salt. I had to buy. Highly recommend. I will be back for sure. My colleagues had cold soba and they loved them also.

I got the zarusoba and it was very delicious. The employees here were very polite and the service was very fast. I hope to come again!

It was awesome! We had hot soba with shrimp tempura. There was an English menu which made it very easy to order, plus it has a picture of Tom Hanks eating there! Communal seating which was fun, too. Highly recommend it.

I visited here when I was exploring Tokyo. This was the only place and time where I ordered soba noodles so I don't have any others to compare to in Tokyo but it was phenomenal. Never before have I had soba noodles this good anywhere in the States. Yes, it doesn't say much, but I am from LA and I do have access to good Japanese food. Again, way better here. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place for soba noodles if you happened to be on the same path I am.

This place was amazing. Went with my wife for lunch on a Wednesday, and after a short wait in line we sat down and had incredible food. We ate hot soba, soba with fried tofu, and soba with tempura. Everything was outstanding - our best meal in Tokyo!

Wonderful soba!! If you just want to enjoy soba, go here. The communal eating environment may not be for everyone, but wonderful experience.

Skipping right to the point; best cold Soba I have ever had. As for the full review: We went for lunch at noon on a Saturday, and the line looked formidable. However, turnaround was very fast and we were seated in a matter of minutes. The staff was warm and welcoming with better English skills than my (just enough to get by) Japanese. Happily, they have an English menu. The food came out reasonably, but not too, quickly. I ordered cold soba with chicken, while my girlfriend ordered the cold soba with tempura. Both were nothing short of amazing, just what we needed on a hot summer day. The flavors were very much in tune with what one should expect from Japanese food; subtle, simple flavors which combine for exceptional depth and complexity. Long story short, great food, lovely staff, English-friendly, and quick turnaround without being rushed. If you're in Tokyo and don't eat here, I don't even know what you're doing with your life.

My colleague taught me his restaurant long time ago. Since then I stop by here many time to taste consistent tradition of Soba here always I have a time in Japan. Over 149 years history but always waiting line is in front of entrance.

November 2017, December 2017 Came here since I was in Akihabara. Went in for dinner and made it in time for their last orders. They have English menus. (2nd Visit) Came again to try their recommended items. -Soba Noodles: Al dente and tasted delicious on both visits. -Oyakonanban soba: A combination that works even with soba. Was great! -Agetenmori Soba: The squid and small shrimp tempura was okay, it's their cheapest tempura set. At least I got to flavor the base broth which was great. (2nd Visit) -Natto Soba: Recommended by the store's manager according to their website, so gave it a try. Quite good. The natto they use was bigger than the ones I know. With their soba broth it worked very well as a dish. -Goma Soba: In their recommendation's tab on their website. Was exactly what I was expecting which was disappointing. A sweet sesame paste sauce that you dip your noodles in. Conclusion: No wow factor, but enjoyed the oyakodon soba. I want to try their sesame and natto soba, which I later found are recommended. The hot water they bring you to finish off your broth was a nice touch as it's the water they used to boil the soba noodles. (2nd Visit) I do really love their noodles, delicious. Nothing super amazing so far, but it's the best soba noodles I've had. Would I go back? Yeah, I do think it's worth discovering the menu here. Do I recommend this place? Simply yes. Food is good and for the people who care the atmosphere inside feels like a traditional Japanese diner.

Absolutely fabulous. The food, the people, the ambiance. We would go back in a heartbeat. Not pricey, but be aware that service stops at 19:30.

Excellent soba restaurant with a typical izakaya feel. The place looks straight out of Meiji-era Edo, the staff is friendly and the food is very tasty, with reasonable prices. Definitely recommend!

Awesome handmade soba shop. It's all communal tables so we were plopped down with two women who weren't speaking. But that's ok. We got their zaru soba and the shrimp tempura soba in broth. I don't know which was better. Also fun to watch the chef making the soba from scratch in the back window. Not to mention it's very affordable.