My husband and I are both noodle lovers, so we eat tsukemen (dipping noodles) a lot. But there’s one place I’ve been going to since my student days in Tokyo, more than 15 years ago: Tsukemen-ya Yasubee in Takadanobaba.
Why I love Yasubee
Tsukemen dipping broth is usually rich and salty, but Yasubee’s is lighter in saltiness. That means you can dunk the noodles deep into the broth without it getting too salty. The noodles are thick and chewy, so they pick up the broth nicely.
Why I love Yasubee
Tsukemen dipping broth is usually rich and salty, but Yasubee’s is lighter in saltiness. That means you can dunk the noodles deep into the broth without it getting too salty. The noodles are thick and chewy, so they pick up the broth nicely.
[Photo: 06_noodle-dip]
Huge portions, and every size costs the same
At Yasubee, small, regular, medium, and large all cost the same price. The portions are so big that even the small size (180g) is sometimes too much for me.
| Size | Noodles | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Small (小盛り) | 180g | ¥1,080 |
| Regular (並盛り) | 220g | ¥1,080 |
| Medium (中盛り) | 330g | ¥1,080 |
| Large (大盛り) | 440g | ¥1,080 |
| Extra large (特盛り) | 550g | +¥200 |
Tip: Order the small size and you get one topping for free. Choose from a seasoned soft-boiled egg, boiled dumplings, bamboo shoots, vegetables, nori, green onion, or sesame. It’s the perfect amount for a first visit.
How to order: the ticket machine
Buy a meal ticket from the machine by the entrance and hand it to the staff. It takes cash and IC cards like PASMO and Suica. The main options are classic tsukemen (¥1,080), miso tsukemen (¥1,180), and spicy tsukemen (¥1,080). You can make it double spicy or MAX spicy for free.
I ordered the small and picked the ajitsuke tamago (soy-marinated soft-boiled egg) as my free topping. I also highly recommend the vegetable topping. The bean sprouts stay crunchy and delicious. Here’s my trick: drop the vegetables into the dipping broth early so they soak up the flavor. Everything tastes better when it’s seasoned just right!
Free toppings on the table
Every seat comes with chopped onion. Add a big spoonful to your broth for a fresh, crunchy bite. It’s my favorite part. There are also free bonito flakes, vinegar, and black pepper. Bonito flakes add a deeper fish flavor, and a little vinegar makes the broth lighter.
Finish with soup-wari
When you’re done with the noodles, ask the staff for “soup-wari, onegaishimasu.” They’ll add hot broth to your leftover dipping sauce so you can drink it like soup. It’s free too.
My take
- Good: Light broth that’s great for dunking, and a free topping with the small size
- Not so good: Portions are big, so first-timers should start with small
- Best for: Tsukemen beginners, anyone who finds rich broth too heavy, big noodle eaters
Info
- Name: Tsukemen-ya Yasubee, Takadanobaba (つけ麺屋やすべえ)
- Location: Takadanobaba, Shinjuku, Tokyo, [3 min walk from Takadanobaba Station]
- Payment: ticket machine (cash and IC cards)
- Takeout and Uber Eats available
- Hours: [check Google Maps before you go]