SOBAR

Miyamoto Haru

This is my second visit. This restaurant specializes in soba, and while the soba is delicious, the tempura dishes are also superb! The variety of alcohol is plentiful as well. If you want to experience authentic Japanese cuisine, you must visit this restaurant. You can trust me, as I am Japanese.

yousef

A sleek, modern space with a rectangular bar at its center, a focal point where all the action unfolds. It is where all patrons gather around. While the portions may lean towards the petite side, the flavors are on point. I kicked things off with the albacore crudo style sashimi. The tender tuna, bathed in tangy blood orange vinaigrette and topped with crunchy chili garlic, was a fresh, flavorful start. The spicy yaki edamame—a semi-unique twist on the classic—was pan-fried and tossed in a citrus pepper paste and soy sauce. It turned a simple side into something I couldn’t stop popping. The shrimp & vegetable tempura was crispy and satisfying—tempura done right. Light, crispy, and perfectly paired with a dipping sauce that hit all the right notes. It’s exactly what you want when you think of tempura, with shrimp that snaps and veggies that add a pleasant variety. Then there’s the mongo ika tempura, where tender squid gets the tempura treatment. If you’ve never had squid tempura like me, this is your chance to be pleasantly surprised. The spiced salt and a squeeze of lemon added a bright, balanced finish to every bite. The gindara saikyo yaki was one of the highlights. The black cod, marinated in saikyo miso, was so tender, the flavor so deep, leaving you only with the wish that it came in a larger portion. The ao-nori bagged potato might just be the most playful dish on the menu. Served in a bag like an elevated snack from your childhood, but better. The novelty of the bag only adds to the experience. Finally, the ribeye ku maze soba—this is the dish you come here for. Cold soba noodles in a savory broth, topped with slices of ribeye and a poached egg, it’s hearty and satisfying. The noodles were cooked just right, and the broth tied everything together. To wash it all down, the lemonade soda and a yuzu soda were refreshingly crisp palate cleansers between bites. They’re like a cool breeze on a warm day—just what you need to round out the meal. SOBAR is a great spot for a casual and delicious meal. The dishes may be on the smaller side, but the flavors are anything but. The service is solid and efficient, ensuring that your dining experience is as seamless as the restaurant’s modern design. If you’re feeling hungry, order a little extra—your appetite will thank you "soba" much!

Jessica Murata

We made dinner reservations for two on NYE and have no regrets. The soba isn't presented as perfectly as the ones you'd get in soba specialty restaurants in Japan, but it absolutely delivers on taste. The buckwheat noodles were light but just the right amount of chewiness. They provide salt for your preferential flavoring, I didn't use any but I can see people LOVE this option. The broth was delicious - both the original and seasoned versions. My husband loved the sake flight and felt the price was very fair. And we threw in two desserts that we weren't expecting to love, but ended up being very happy with. Staff was excellent and beyond attentive. We will be back! Price wise - after the 18% service charge (they're clear that no additional tip is required) and tax, our bill was $146 for the following. - Hotate Crudo Style Sashimi - $18.00 - Gindara Saikyo Yaki - $23.00 - Zaru Soba w/ season - $22.50 - Zaru Soba - $ 18.00 - Sake Flight Junmai - $18.00 (3 glasses) - Yuzu Ice Cream - $3.50 - MATCHA SOBA TIRAMISU - $11.00 - 18% service charge - $20.52 We had no issues street parking (meter) and walking over. Cashless restaurant. I would recommend reservations in order to sit at the bar. The vibes are cool for dinner. (@roaming.eater)

maoli yamaguchi

Had a great time here last night. Highlights were the sake flight, zarusoba w/shiso sauce, appetizer plate - basically everything we tried. Joseph was on point w/his Japanese and English fluency too. Highly recommend.

Chris Daskalos

Walking into Sobar you’ll be greeted by friendly staff who are more than happy to share their favorite menu items and sake pairings - just ask. The food is phenomenal - it’s easy to see why they earned a place on the Los Angeles 101 best restaurants. If you visited already and didn’t try the appetizer sampler book your next reservation for tomorrow and correct the error. Will be adding this place to our favorite places to bring friends.