East Village Soba #2 - Soba Koh

The second restaurant in my east village soba series, is Soba Koh, located on East 5th Street. A mixed crowd of Japanese families and east village locals, filled the row of ten or so tables along the wall and separate counter this sunday night. The restaurant is set in a tastefully decorated space, with beautiful art on the exposed brick walls. The menu has a long list of special appetizers, along with a set menu of about 10 cold and 10 hot soba combinations. I've been a big fan of soba for sometime, and have always felt that it tasted healthy and refreshing. But from the Soba Koh menu I picked up these health benefits of soba: 1) buckwheat (from which soba is made) is officially classified as a fruit, 2) buckwheat is high in protein and minerals such as rutin and glutamine, which are good for the heart.

Aside from being healthy, soba is the perfect seasonal food, and for me nothing beats cold soba in the summer. Most of the cold sobas come with a dipping sauce on the side, and a small entree such as tempura (anago - sea eel, softshell crab, shrimp or vegetables). I have heard from many that broth at Soba Koh is better than that served at Soba Ya. While overall Soba Ya is my favorite east village soba, I agree that the broth at Soba Koh is better. It is very strong and flavorful, and you feel like you've gotten your fill of minerals when you drink it at the end.

What makes it good:
- Authentic soba
- Small with a neighborhood feel

Know before you go:
- Service can be slow
- A soba only meal can leave you hungry, so order appetizers as well.

Recommended dishes:
- Cold Soba w/ Ground Duck and Deep Fried Eggplant
- Hot Tofu Clay pot appetizer

Soba Koh 309 East 5th Street (bet 1st & 2nd Ave.), New York, NY 10003 212-254-2244