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WANKO SOBA GUIDE

What is wanko soba?

Wanko soba is a way of eating soba from Iwate Prefecture in northern Japan: small bowls, each holding a single mouthful of noodles, are served one after another, and you eat as many as you can.

At Kurukuru Wanko in Shinjuku, Tokyo, the bowls come to you on a revolving lane instead of from a server: 40 minutes, all you can eat, ¥3,800 (tax included).

Updated: · Kurukuru Wanko

Lacquer bowls, each holding one mouthful of soba, on the revolving lane
Lacquer bowls, each holding one mouthful of soba, on the revolving lane
Empty wanko soba bowls stacked high after a meal
Empty wanko soba bowls stacked high after a meal

Where wanko soba comes from

Wanko soba comes from Iwate Prefecture in northern Japan. Soba (buckwheat noodles) is served in small bowls, one mouthful at a time, and the fun is in how many bowls you can get through.

How to eat wanko soba

In the traditional style, a server stands beside you and drops the next mouthful into your bowl as soon as it is empty. To stop, you put the lid on your bowl.

At Kurukuru Wanko, a revolving lane does the serving:

  1. 1
    Take a bowl from the lane

    Each lacquer bowl holds a single mouthful of soba.

  2. 2
    Season it your way

    Broth and condiments are at your seat: spring onion, wasabi, tempura crumbs and more.

  3. 3
    Slurp and stack

    Put each empty bowl on your stack. The stack shows your count.

  4. 4
    Keep going

    You have 40 minutes, with no limit on bowls.

How many bowls do people eat?

Each bowl is a single mouthful, so the count climbs quickly. At Kurukuru Wanko there is no limit on bowls within 40 minutes. The all-time record on display in the restaurant is 210 bowls, set by a male guest.

  • 100 bowls: an original patch
  • 200 bowls: a gold patch
  • 300 bowls: a gold medal
  • There is also a bitter “penalty tea” for anyone who wants an extra challenge.

Etiquette and tips

  • Slurping is normal when eating noodles in Japan.
  • Stack your empty bowls beside you. The stack shows how many you have eaten.
  • Aprons are free to borrow if you are worried about splashes.
  • Buckwheat and wheat flour are used, so it is not suitable if you have a buckwheat allergy.
  • The broth uses fish stock, so it is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans.

Traditional wanko soba vs. the revolving lane

TraditionalKurukuru Wanko
Who servesA server refills your bowlBowls come to you on a revolving lane
PaceYou keep up with the serverYou take bowls at your own pace
How to stopPut the lid on your bowlStop taking bowls (40-minute session)

Where to try wanko soba in Tokyo

Kurukuru Wanko is in Kabukicho, Shinjuku: 5F J-Gold Bldg, 1-22-9 Kabukicho, a 1-minute walk from Seibu-Shinjuku Station and a 4-minute walk from Shinjuku Station. 40 minutes all you can eat for ¥3,800 (tax included), open every day 11:00–18:30 (last entry). No reservation needed, and English-speaking staff are here every day.

Access

Address
5F J-Gold Bldg, 1-22-9 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0021
Stations
1 min walk from Seibu-Shinjuku Station; 4 min walk from Shinjuku Station
Hours
11:00–18:30 (last entry), open every day
Price
40 minutes all you can eat, ¥3,800 (tax included)
Seating
10 counter seats (about 25 including waiting seats)
Phone
+81-3-6265-9881

FAQ

A way of eating soba from Iwate Prefecture: small bowls, each holding one mouthful, served one after another. At Kurukuru Wanko the bowls come on a revolving lane.

There is no limit within 40 minutes. Rewards start at 100 bowls (an original patch), and the all-time record on display in the restaurant is 210 bowls, set by a male guest.

Traditionally, you put the lid on your bowl. On the revolving lane, you simply stop taking bowls.

Not at Kurukuru Wanko. The broth uses fish stock, so it is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans.

At Kurukuru Wanko in Shinjuku, ¥3,800 per person (tax included) for 40 minutes, all you can eat.

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