Soba Ichi

Waited 40+ minutes to be served the wrong appetizer and still without the noodles. Service is terrible.

When I asked for a time check... I was waved off. Cmon now. The service is really terrible.

Edit - okay now that noodles are here, the disaster continues. The portion size is small. Absolutely not worth $20+. The noodles are undercooked. The soup base is salty without much flavor. I really believe the soup packs at your local Asian market will beat this out.

It's been a while, Soba Ichi. Yet, you still remain a top fav.

Since the pandemic, they rolled out a system where you order first and choose your own seat.

Service and food are still great. Ambiance is cute and charming. The surrounding streets appeared to be cleaned up compared to a few years ago.

Our group ordered the following:
1) agedashi tofu - great appetizer to start. Warm and light
2) sashimi - had 3 types of seafood and ~4 pieces each. So tasty and had unique refreshing flavor
3) veggie tempura - blooming onion style and comes w matcha salt
4) hot sobas - herring, ebi, and duck. All were delicious

This place was a little hidden but once you find it it's just a nice place to just be. The staff is welcoming and friendly. Food was brought out fast as well.

I guess I was feeling a duck day. I'm not really a duck fan but I will eat duck here! I got the kamo nanban (hot broth soba with sliced rare duck breast), Kano yaki (seared duck breast and duck meat ball in egg yolk), and a Yamaguchi rice lager. Im gonna be honest I didn't care too much for the soba noodles, and was a little overcooked for me. The broth was amazing though! It was so balanced and not as salty as I expected it was so comforting.

If there was such a thing as a "vibe," this is it. Relaxing environment with lots of space. Kinda pricy but it was a nice treat.

Soba Ichi is hidden away on a street with lots of graffiti. The service was amazing and loved the ambiance. Parking is definitely hard to find in the area, since it's street parking only. You wait in line and order at the window - then find a table to sit at. They offer indoor and outdoor seating.

We ordered the salmon sashimi + firefly squid, Ebi Ten Seiro (Cold Noodles + Shrimp Tempura) and Kami Nanban Soba (Hot Soba + Duck). The salmon sashimi + firefly squid was delicious - especially the firefly squid!

Our soba came out almost 30 minutes later... I honestly thought they forgot my order. The Ten Seiro noodles were undercooked but the cold broth was delicious. The Kamo Nanban Soba - noodles and broth was so tasty but the duck itself was SO GAMY.

The presentation was so pretty but for the price, food and long wait... I don't think it's for me.

Soba Ichi has been on my list for quite some time and I'm happy I finally get to try it! It's located in an unexpected area of Oakland and the restaurant almost feels serene with the outdoor environment.

I came with my friend to try it out and we both really enjoyed it. We ended up ordering the Homemade Tofu, Kamo Miso Aburi, Veggie Kakiage, Ebi Ten Soba, and the Kamo Nanban Soba. The homemade tofu was very refreshing. It's a very light starter so it's nothing to be amazed about. But with the negi and myoga added, it gives the tofu more depth and fragrance. The Kamo Miso Aburi is miso mixed with duck meat and soba seeds. This one threw us off a because it's basically a spoonful of warm/cooked miso with small chunks of duck meat inside. Don't get me wrong, it's really good! But I wish we had like bread or whatever as compliments because this appetizer felt more like a spread than an actual appetizer. And the veggie kakiage was pretty good with the matcha salt. A standard tempura dish but done right.

For the main course, we each got our own soba dish. I actually really liked the soba here! I loved the texture of the noodles and the soup broths that came with it was delicious and comforting. I got the nanban soba which is the duck soba and I thought the duck meat was super tender. I enjoyed every bite and I felt light even after I finished the entire meal. I also liked how they charred the veggies as well which adds more flavor.

Overall, this was a great meal to come to! Although this was quite pricey, I'm glad I got to experience this place. The soba is definitely something worth coming to try out if you're in Oakland!

Soba Ichi is an ambient and lively dining experience that is perfect for couples and large groups alike! Pricey but worth it if you're looking to splurge on a night out.

Recs: ebi hotate kakiage

Price: ~$50/person

We demolished everything, from the piping hot soba to the shared appetizers. The kakiage is huge and so fun to nibble on with a large group. The egg yolk dip that came with the kamo yaki was also excellent.

Upon arrival, you order and pay at the front and have the option of buying drinks while waiting for your table.
Our group of five waited max 15 minutes for a table at peak dinner hour.

Indoor and outdoor seating are also both available.

I could not rave about this place enough. The soba was delish and so were the appetizers. We had the sashimi and the tempura. It's in a graffitied area but it was a weekday so there was no one on the street. Once you walk in, you feel like you're transported to a different place. You order before you sit down. Once seated, the inside is cute with string lights above you. I highly recommend this place and would probably go back if I'm in the area again in the future.

This place was recommended by a colleague who used to live in Oakland and mentioned that this was her favorite spot. After two years of being on my list, I finally made it out here. Too many Mondays and Tuesdays pass by where I think about it then realize it isn't open.

Going in, you notice that the ambiance is calm and cozy. Everything is warm and simple. I got the duck soba served in warm broth, then went back and got mixed tempura and the season special (Aji sashimi). The food came out quick, the staff was attentive, and at the end they grabbed the fish carcass and deep fried it. Things like that elevate a restaurant for me even though I wasn't into that item specifically.

Recommended for something different, a date for foodies, or a hot summer day to have some cold soba.

Special spot - we live across the street and dine here 1-2 times / week. Staff is incredibly warm, welcoming, and attentive - food is always on point. The duck app is a special dish - the tempura app is a staple. The cold soba noodles w/ shrimp tempura is our jam. Keep on keepin' on guys!

Arrived Wednesday 6:30 PM and didn't have to wait in line this visit. There is some street parking in the area.

Ambiance: Cozy interior with wooden seating. Exterior seating is also pleasant with string lights when the weather is nicer.

Food: The soba is very fresh and tasty. My favorite piece of tempura from the ten seiro is the mushroom. The price point is admittedly on the higher end but the quality of the ingredients makes it worth it. I also really enjoy their desserts--the sesame mochi was pillowy and the sweetness was at a great level. I thought the sesame and coconut flavor paired well together. The last time I came, I had the gelato for dessert which I liked as well.

Service: You order first at the counter and they give you a number. Then, you find your own seating and they bring your food out to you. Our servers were very quick, refilling our waters and keeping track of when we would be ready for dessert.

Was the soba good? Yes.

Was it expensive? Also yes.

Was it worth it? Probably not for me.

The Ten Seiro, cold soba with assorted tempura, tasted like what you'd expect - the noodles had a nice chew, the tempura was crispy, but none was impressive or wow-ing. For $22, it didn't taste like its price and honestly marginally better than homemade soba you can make.

If I were to come back, I'd rather go for the Kamo Nanban, hot soba with duck breast, instead. It was more unique and the broth had good flavor. Although, it came with maybe 5 small pieces of duck.

Overall, I just think it's a bit overpriced for what it is and the slightly underwhelming taste of the food. So, unfortunately, it won't be a place I'll go out of my way to eat at again.