This article was written as of January 2021. Please contact the store for details.

Hello!
Today’s topic is not about Higashine, nor the Murayama area, nor the inland region, but about Sakata in the Shonai region.

I was so happy to be able to eat good Niku (meat) soba in Sakata that I had to post an article about it.

For people in Yamagata, especially those in the Murayama region, cold niku soba from Yachi (Kahoku Town) is probably what comes to mind when they hear the word “niku soba”. Some people know it as a “B-class gourmet” throughout Japan.

But this time, instead of such niku soba in Yachi, I would like to introduce you to niku soba in Sakata.

I had a chance to visit Sakata on a holiday and was looking for a soba restaurant for lunch, and I stumbled upon this restaurant by chance.

Again, it was very good and I would like to share it with you all.
In addition to soba, there are also hidden menu items to look forward to.

If you are interested, please visit the site!

NPO Ibuki?

NPO stands for “specified nonprofit corporation,” and it is a company that contributes to society by doing something similar to volunteer activities without the aim of making a profit.

What is a non-profit organization when we are talking about a soba shop? Don’t you think?

A soba shop, but not making a profit?
A soba shop and volunteer?

I don’t know what it is.

In fact, when I arrived at the soba shop, the sign  “NPO Ibuki: Ibuki no Ie” and I was full of curiosity.

In fact, as the sign says, “Ibuki no Ie” is a soba shop operated by “NPO Ibuki”. But the question remains, what kind of soba shop is run by a volunteer?

Here is how “NPO Ibuki” works.
In 2009, Ibuki opened “Ibuki no Ie” as a facility where anyone, from children to the elderly, can gather.

So, in an effort to get the elderly to seek a “rewarding” way to interact with their customers, the elderly who gather at Ibuki no Ie work as volunteers to serve soba noodles.

Therefore, the price is inversely proportional to the volume. It is like a large portion in a regular restaurant for a medium portion, and a large portion for a special portion.

Cold Niku Soba Noodles

Before introducing Ibuki no Ie’s niku soba here, I would like to introduce “cold niku soba in Yamagata” because some people outside of Yamagata may read this article.

People in Kahoku-cho (Yachi) call it “cold niku soba”. And the meat is not “pork belly” but “chicken.

Chicken meat is the meat of the parent bird, not the thigh or the breast of a young bird, but the meat of the bird on the slice. The meat will be crispy and chewy.

Tori (chicken) soba” would normally use “thigh meat,” but “niku soba” is made from slices of the parent bird.

Because the meat is from the parent bird, the oil does not float in the cold tsuyu and can be eaten neatly.

Please see the real thing later, but see the “Ibuki no Ie” ‘s soba.

Shonai Cold Niku Soba Noodles

Here is the menu for Ibuki no Ie.

Hmm? There is only niku soba 💦

It’s a soba noodle shop and they only have niku soba!

This is rare, even if you enter a soba restaurant in Kahoku-cho.

The only choices are the regular or large portions. (There is also an option for extra meat)

The menu is more extensive now, but it is reminiscent of the old “fast, cheap, and good” restaurants.

There is such a thing as extra meat, which is just like … a “big bowl of atama”.

Here is what was actually brought in.

The meat was thick and the soba noodles had a strong backbone.

It is similar to the niku soba of Kahoku-cho (Yachi), but not the same as the one.  Oh, and of course, the niku soba noodles in Kahoku-cho (Yachi) are delicious .💦

But the niku soba noodles at “Ibuki no Ie” were very delicious!

Conversation with the mother

Here is a little conversation I had with the store’s mother.

As soon as I sit down. I said “It was my first visit to this restaurant, and it’s very rare to find cold meat soba in Sakata” “Does this have anything to do with the niku soba in the valley? Would you recommend cold or warm?”

mother
“Oh, first time? How could you come to such a confusing place? It doesn’t matter at all.”
“Some of our regulars have tried Yachi’s niku soba, but they like Ibuki’s niku soba better. Soba Lover tends to order cold even in cold weather.”

Hmmm, I’m getting more and more curious.💦

This is why I ordered a large bowl of cold meat soba.

After the soba noodles are brought, I asked.
“Can I take a picture of you and feature you on my website?”

mother said, “Oh, okay, fine. I’d love to introduce myself.”
“I’m a volunteer. Everyone who works here is a volunteer, except for the people who make the food. The person making it is from the company. I enjoy talking to everyone.”

Ah, I see, I finally solved the mystery!

Nanya Kore? What the hell is this?

While waiting for my soba noodles, I saw a newspaper article tucked into the table.

Then I found the word “Nanya Kore” on the order form that the mother was holding.
It’s not on the menu…

Quickly, I asked, “When can I eat nanya kole?” I asked.

“What? You want to eat it? You want to try it? You can eat it anytime.”

I ordered and here is what was brought to me.

200 yen per piece.

Shonai persimmons are dried, rolled in butter, frozen and sliced.

It is totally different from eating ordinary dried persimmons!
I don’t usually like dried persimmons, but these were very tasty.

Think of it as the perfect sweet treat with drinks.

When it came time to pay the bill, I didn’t pay for the “nanya kole” because the order slip didn’t say how many there were, and she asked me, “Did you sample the nanya kole?” I was in a hurry and said sorry, I was going to pay for it! But the mother said, “It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s just a tasting! As long as you say it was delicious!” .

So I bought one, saying I would take it home as a souvenir.

I asked her, “Isn’t this nanya kore sold in some souvenir shop?” She said that you have to go to “Ibuki no Ie” to buy it.

When I asked my family to try it as a souvenir, they loved it, saying, “It has a rich buttery flavor that goes well with dried persimmons.”

It was a very relaxing time, and the soba noodles were delicious.
Thank you, mother of “Ibuki no Ie.”

We also encourage anyone interested to visit the site!

*The above information is taken from Facebook.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fureaidokoroibuki/