Monday, July 31, 2017

SobaKoh has closed on 5th Street



SobaKoh, a soba restaurant on Fifth Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue, has closed.

A sign appeared on the gate this past weekend noting the closure...


[Photo by EVG reader Natalie Walshe]

Said one neighbor: "This is a real heartbreaker. The restaurant was so good. The owner made his noodles in the window."

We have not heard an official reason for the closure of SobaKoh, which opened in early 2005. On Facebook, the restaurant noted that the owner "will be returning to Japan after his retirement."

The (unofficial) word on the block is that it didn't have to do with a lack of business or a rent increase, but rather an unscrupulous contractor who bilked Hiromi Takahashi, the restaurant’s chef and owner, over repair work. A neighbor said that he decided to throw in the towel rather than incur more expenses.
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9 comments:

  1. JQ LLCJuly 31, 2017 at 7:56 AM

    What a messed up story, dirtbag contractors.

    Soba sounds like a great name for a newborn baby.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2_e-3RrIkM

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJuly 31, 2017 at 12:03 PM

    and the East Village loses another good one.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJuly 31, 2017 at 12:04 PM

    @JQ: Yeah, and if it's twins, the other one can be named "udon".

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJuly 31, 2017 at 12:06 PM

    It's getting to the point that I dread clicking on EVGrieve. It seems not a day goes by that a favorite restaurant isn't listed as "closed." Love SobaKa and will miss it very much.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJuly 31, 2017 at 3:55 PM

    NOW I AM SAD...

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousJuly 31, 2017 at 11:50 PM

    Oh Man...

    This is awful. This was an incredible place, one of my absolute faves. This is a tragedy.

    My best to the owner and staff. I've enjoyed your food for years. You will be missed.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousAugust 1, 2017 at 5:16 AM

    Vanishing East Village

    ReplyDelete
  8. TiredInNycAugust 1, 2017 at 8:51 PM

    Jones, now Sobakoh...
    Is there anything left?

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousAugust 2, 2017 at 11:58 AM

    He wanted to move back to Japan to be with family. The contractor was the final nail in the coffin. not a rent hike or any of the usual antics fortunately. i heard another noodle shop if coming.

    ReplyDelete

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