Located in the retro-chic Sankaku Ichiba near Yakuin Station, Warabe’s specialty is “yakisoba”. Owner Yuji Endo spent over 20 years honing his craft at his popular teppan izakaya in Hiroshima, but re-opened Warabe here in March 2015. Endo uses thin noodles and a slightly sweet sauce, and each serving uses approximately 220 g of veggies. One bite and you’ll see how the thin noodles pair perfectly with the finely chopped cabbage, crunchy bean sprouts and flavorful pork. The sauce, which does not overpower, ties it all together. For Endo, preparation and ingredients are key. He buys his noodles and sauce from Hiroshima and uses Yayoi-brand pork from Hisayama Town. “I don’t think my yakisoba is perfect yet, so I’ll keep trying to make it even better,” confides Endo. Yakisoba may be a simple dish, but doing it right requires dedication like Endo’s. It’s usually packed in the evenings, so go at lunchtime when only yakisoba is served and Warabe is at its best!
Menu (dinner rates, tax excl.): Yakisoba small (1/2) ¥550, yakisoba reg. ¥650, yakisoba medium (1.5x) ¥750, yakisoba large (2x) ¥850, Toppings: Ishimoto Farm-fresh egg ¥100, extra veggies ¥100
*Prices to change from Oct. 1, 2019 following tax increase
Originally published in Fukuoka Now Magazine (fn213, Sep. 2016)