Japanese Eatery Yabu: You Had Me at 'Soba'

L.A. is a sushi town. There is no denying it.

Just hop in your car and drive down any major boulevard. You are bound to spot countless marquis advertising Japanese restaurants. In this crowded marketplace, Weho outpost  stands out, not only for its delicious and affordable lunch specials, but also for serving up the best soba noodles in town.

The art of homemade soba noodles (made from hearty buckwheat) goes back hundreds, if not thousands of years. Last year in Kyoto, I feasted on soba noodles at Owariya, a 540-year-old soba restaurant. It's an art form that Yabu has mastered--their soba stands up to any that I sampled in Japan.

Step off busy La Cienaga Boulevard and under the burgundy drapes, covering the doorway, where you will be greeted by the sushi bar and a friendly hostess.

Seats are available inside or at the sushi bar, but Yabu's patio is one of Weho's best dining spots. The covered space is filled with natural light and shaded with delicate bamboo fronds. It is great for eating with a group or dining solo as I frequently do.

For lunch, try the "Hand Roll Set," which comes with California, Spicy Tuna, and Veggie hand rolls, paired with Zaru (cold) Soba Noodles. The noodles are topped with seaweed and a dashi dipping sauce.

Or opt for the "Chirashi Set," an assortment of sashimi that comes over a bed of sushi rice, their most popular lunch item, and choose the Kake (hot) Soba Noodles served in steaming dashi broth topped with scallions and tatsoi (Japanese spinach). They also offer Udon noodles, which are thicker wheat noodles, if you prefer.

With 16 lunch specials all priced under $20, there is sure to be an item to satisfy any palate. This is authentic Japanese food at its best.

In addition to lunch, Yabu is also a stand out for dinner, with great specials that change weekly like "Halibut Tempura," which comes with salty, lemony ponzu sauce and "Homemade Tofu," a custard-like dish topped with Uni and tender crab.

Feeling adventurous? Go "omakase," which means "It's up to you," and let the chef choose your dinner items for you from a selection of hot and cold items, sushi and sashimi, and daily specials.

So pull over and stop into Yabu for the best soba in town.