Yu Soba Anguk Station 유소바 안국역점

The small room is dressed like a Japanese soba shop, so stepping in from the lane near Anguk Station feels like crossing into Japan. Cold soba noodles snap cleanly between the teeth, and the dipping tsuyu tastes well rounded. The tempura is crisp with little oil, which makes the octopus tempura side worth adding, and on cold days tempura udon brings hot broth and fried pieces together in one bowl. The udon broth leans salty, and the accompanying miso soup comes out pale and mild. Each dish arrives in a small, carefully chosen bowl that makes the table pleasant to look at. Rice bowls run to tendon and abalone rice, with tuna tataki for the table. Seats are few, so weekend waits can run 10 to 15 minutes, and weekday lunch fills fast.