Matsugen Soba Restaurant 255 Beachwalk, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 (808)926-0255

Before the US AF Thunderbirds Air Show, we had some lunch at Matsugen, a small, nice soba restaurant on Beachwalk Street in Waikiki. I had the Gomadare Cold Soba and Kelli had the Mori Cold Soba. We were seated at a counter type seating that surrounded an area that they use to make the hand made soba noodles. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see anyone make some fresh noodles while we were seated there. As you can see, we enjoyed it and ate it all! Kelli's Mori Soba came with a pitcher of hot soba water (water used to boil the soba noodle) about mid-way through eating. I wasn't quite sure what it was, I thought it was hot tea, but we didn't have any tea cups. I looked inside and realised it was the soba water. Kelli was wondering what to do with it. I had an idea that it was to pour into the dipping sauce for the soba and then drink it as a soup. But then I thought it was odd to drink HOT soup after eating a cold soba dish because it was a hot day. Anyway, that seemed like the only option so I asked the waiter what it was for and he explained that it was the traditional way to finish the Mori Soba meal. So we did. It was good. I guess it was similar to drinking some hot tea at the end of the meal to help you feel refreshed after eating. We enjoyed the soba here and will most likely be here soon because it's just minutes walking from home. Our bill was $19.06 plus gratuities. Parking may be an issue here, but maybe you can valet at Embassy Suites and when I walk by this restaurant there is usually always a long line of people (all Japanese) waiting for a seat. We went at opening time, 11:30am, before everyone started coming. Related Links: Google Maps, Yellow Pages Listing, Matsugen Waikiki Googled.