Who wouldn't love a skillful display of kneading and slicing dough, watching it transform into delicious soba noodles and savouring it only moments later? Well, you could do just that at Shimbashi Soba.

The soba restaurant located in the basement of Paragon Shopping Centre has gathered a faithful following of both Japanese expatriates and locals alike since arriving in Singapore in 2003.

Boasting a comprehensive menu of soba dishes and a delectable variety of Japanese desserts (they were the first restaurant to popularize Japanese sweets), Shimbashi Soba is a great place to satisfy your craving for quality Japanese food at reasonable prices.

• The Vibe
  The restaurant's neat, minimalist décor is characteristically Japanese, with dark colours and modern furniture adding a contemporary twist. Shimbashi is one of the few soba restaurants in Singapore that makes their own soba from scratch – right from grinding their own flour to cooking the final soba dish. Thus, one of the main attractions of the restaurant is the soba-making kitchen, where diners can watch the soba master make the noodles from scratch right before their own eyes.
  
  
• The Food
  A trip to Shimbashi would not be complete without trying the soba for the restaurant prides in their freshly made soba that has no artificial colouring or flavouring added.

  A popular favourite is the Tempura Serio ($19.80), where succulent prawns and juicy shitake mushrooms are served together with piping hot soba and soba tsuyu . Placemats on the table illustrate how soba is traditionally eaten with the tsuyu and a small serving bowl, where the soba is dipped into the tsuyu bit by bit as you eat.

  Certainly, such snippets of information add on to the dining experience and diners learn how to enjoy the dish such that the firm texture and fragrance of the soba is maximized.

  Likewise, the Kamo Seiro ($18.80) boasts the same fragrant soba noodles, but this time with a soup. Duck meat is roasted and sliced to perfection and then simmered in a broth. This dish is definitely a must-try for duck meat lovers for the slightly crispy skin and the soft, tender meat complementing each other. The meat is fragrant, leaving you wanting more after each bite.

  Do also try the Age Soba ($3.80), or Soba Chips. These chips are essentially deep fried Soba noodles sprinkled with a small dash of salt. Great for sharing or to munch on as an afternoon snack, the Age Soba is crispy, but not too oily. The taste is light, with a hint of the fragrance of buckwheat.

  The Tamago Yaki ($4.80), with its sweet taste, soft and fluffy texture, will definitely be a favourite among the ladies and the younger crowd. The Tamago Yaki is a sweet Japanese omelette made from soba broth and egg. The dish is soft and juicy like tofu and delightfully sweet at the same time.

  Complete the meal with dessert in the form of Cream Anmitsu ($8.80) - a traditional Japanese dessert. Soba balls, sweet red bean paste, fresh fruits, brown sugar syrup and vanilla ice cream present an appetizing splash of colour and textures. As there is a little bit of everything, you will hardly get tired of eating it.

  Those who would prefer something more savoury can opt for the Soba Uirou ($4.80). Homemade gelatinous soba cake is paired up with Kinako (soy bean powder) in this dish. Bite sized pieces of the soba cake are dipped into the powder before being eaten. While the soba cake is firm and yummy, it is rather filling, so order this only if you still have lots of space to fill in your tummy!

• The Service
  The staff is friendly and tries their best to help and answer any queries. Some of the staff here are Japanese too, giving diners a taste of the renowned Japanese hospitality.

The SD Food Advisor's take on Shimbashi Soba
Shimbashi Soba is worth the visit, for its yummy noodles and desserts. If you're around Orchard Road in the afternoons, drop by for an afternoon snack as dessert and tea costs only $5++ between 2.30 to 5.30pm.