MyTastr

Best soba noodles, according to chefs

Two picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from Namiko Chen. Recommendations come from justonecookbook.com and foodandwine.com.

International Pantry · The ranking

  1. 1
    Top pick

    Hoshino Shinshu Inaka Soba (Komoro Shichibei)

    Chosen by
    Chen had no favorite soba until this one: wavy, earthy Nagano soba made with stone-milled whole buckwheat that “soak[s] up the dipping sauce very well” and has “a remarkable good bite” rather than turning mushy. Sold at Japanese markets such as Nijiya, which ships it online.
    Where to buy · shop.nijiya.com ↗Instacart ↗Source: justonecookbook.com ↗
  2. 2

    Shirakiku Hana Tororo Soba

    Chosen by
    • Food & Wine editors
    Food & Wine tasted 17 store-bought sobas. For something close to traditional soba, its top picks were this one and Wei Chan Organic. Shirakiku adds a little yam flour as a binder, which makes the noodles slippery and flavorful without more wheat.
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: foodandwine.com ↗

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Questions, answered

What is the best soba noodles, according to chefs?
MyTastr’s top pick is Hoshino Shinshu Inaka Soba (Komoro Shichibei), chosen by Namiko Chen (Just One Cookbook). Chen had no favorite soba until this one: wavy, earthy Nagano soba made with stone-milled whole buckwheat that “soak[s] up the dipping sauce very well” and has “a remarkable good bite” rather than turning mushy. Sold at Japanese markets such as Nijiya, which ships it online. Source: justonecookbook.com ↗
What are the other top picks for soba noodles?
No. 2 is Shirakiku Hana Tororo Soba, chosen by Food & Wine editors. Only two picks cleared the bar so far. Each card above links to the original source.
How does MyTastr choose these picks?
Every pick is tied to a named chef, cookbook author or food expert and links to the public interview, panel or article it came from. We survey dozens, often hundreds, of top chefs, food writers and critics, and order reflects how often and how strongly a brand is recommended. Only organic recommendations count — paid endorsements don’t — and brands can’t buy a spot. Read how we pick.

The tasters behind this ranking

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