A Story That Began with Stacked Sandbags
A noren raised in Bangkok's historic 2011 flood
November 1, 2011. Stacking Sandbags
On the day we opened SOBAQ in a tucked-away corner of Bangkok, the city was under historic flooding. Piles of sandbags framed our entrance. Still, we raised the noren with a single thought: to build a place where, no matter what, guests could find authentic Japanese taste and honest comfort.
A Wish and a Wink in the Name
九 · KYŪ
The kanji 九 (kyū) historically also reads kokonotsu — abundance, many. We named our shop with the wish that many guests would pass through our noren. We combined it with Japan's soba, pairing Thailand's most auspicious number with our country's soul food.
As for the English spelling, SOBAQ — that's a little wink toward the beloved Japanese anime Obake no Q-taro ("Obakyū") we grew up with. Never too formal, always approachable. We want SOBAQ to be a name you call with affection.
The Hundred-Plus Small Plates
SOBAQ has a second face: a table of over 100 small dishes that unfolds alongside your evening.
Over drinks and good conversation, many of our guests end up laughing, "I ate too much to finish the soba!" — and that moment, to us, is the whole point of a soba izakaya.
We will, of course, have our black sesame nama-soba waiting for the finish. But first — enjoy the plates in front of you and the conversation around the table.
· 3 examples of our 100+ dishes
From the Heart. Honest Flavor.
What we serve is goma nama-soba — fresh soba kneaded with black sesame. We don't chase the intense aroma of a soba-specialist shop. We aim for a humble, never-tiring taste that slips into your daily rhythm: the finisher after a night of drinks, the late-evening bite when hunger calls.
Pair it with our Kanto-style tsuyu of bold soy, and slurp unhurried. That's the SOBAQ way.
胡麻生そば · GOMA NAMA-SOBA
Our Japanese and Thai staff work as one team to keep the room bright and easy. If there's something you'd like us to change, tell us — we want to grow SOBAQ into a place loved more deeply, together with you.
For Guests Driving In
About seven parking spaces are available right in front of the shop. Drive in without hesitation.
Tonight, Again, at SOBAQ
Just as on that first night, we remain a place that welcomes you warmly — whatever the weather outside. Tonight, again, spend a warm hour at SOBAQ.
