Handcrafted soba noodles at Sobakatsu! February 25, 2026

Mentioned in this episode:

• Sobakatsu - 1700 Laguna Street, San Francisco

Check out past episodes of this podcast at the To Do San Francisco podcast archive.

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Transcript

Jamie Whitaker 0:17

Hi, how are you doing? This is Jamie, and you're listening to the To Do Do San Francisco podcast for Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Thanks for taking a couple of minutes out of your day to listen. We've hit the midweek hump, but before we dive into the logistics of your day, I want to start with a quick reminder. You are doing exactly enough. In a city that sometimes feels like it's sprinting toward the next big IPO or tech breakthrough, it's okay to just exist. You're navigating the hills, the fog, and the hustle with grace. Even if it doesn't feel like it. Take a breath, you've got this. Now today we're heading over to J- Town or Japantown, specifically to a tiny eleven seat sanctuary on Laguna Street called Sobakatsu. If you've walked past the corner of Laguna and Sutter lately and wondered why there's a dedicated line of people looking patient and hungry, this is it. Sobakatsu is doing something rare in San Francisco. They are specialists. While the city is a ramen powerhouse, Sobakatsu focuses on handcrafted 100% buckwheat noodles known as Juwari Soba. These are gluten free, earthy, and have a texture that'll make you realize what you've been missing in those supermarket packs. First, go cold, the Zaru soba. Even if the fog is rolling in, try the cold soba at least once. It's served on a traditional bamboo mat with a chilled dipping sauce. This is where you really taste the quality of the Maine- milled buckwheat. The hot kake or hot soba noodles in a broth is also an essential for you to try on another visit after trying the cold soba, in my opinion. The kakiage, if they haven't sold out, order one of the vegetable kakiage options with your soba. It's a massive crispy nest of tempura that provides the perfect crunch to contrast those silky noodles. Don't forget to add a dessert, the six dollar soba wara mochi. It is a serving of the jelly- like warabi mochi coated in kinako or roasted soybean powder and is served sitting in a pool of kuromitsu brown sugar syrup. What a treat as it's more of a regional sweet treat in Japan, often sold off mobile carts. They don't take reservations and they do sell out. If you're planning a visit, try the sweet spot around 2PM on a weekday or be prepared to make a friend in line. As we wrap up today's episode, I want to leave you with a thought on civility. When you're eating at a place as small as Sobakatsu or any of our city's hole in the wall gems, remember that your seat is high value real estate. There's a beautiful kind of kindness in being a mindful diner. Once that last strand of soba is gone and you've finished your tea, consider moving your conversation or screen time to a walk through Japantown's Peace Plaza. By clearing your spot, you're not just helping the business, you're being kind to the person shivering in line outside who's been dreaming of soba for forty minutes. In a crowded city, giving someone else the gift of next is one of the easiest ways to keep the San Francisco vibe high. That's it for today's Wednesday reset. Get out there, eat some soba or something else delicious, and be good to each other. Take care, San Francisco.