"Why is it that soba, udon, and spaghetti can all be made fresh, but somen only comes in dried form?"...Someone suddenly asked this question more than 20 years ago. That simple question eventually led to the birth of a hugely popular restaurant in Iwamizawa. But what kind of restaurant was it? The person who had this simple question was Yoshiyuki Kawaguchi from Iwamizawa City. He was eating some somen noodles that his wife, Chieko, had boiled for him.

I called many noodle factories, but none of them sold fresh somen. "In that case, I'll just make it myself!" I thought, and with the help of a local noodle factory, I spent days of trial and error. And finally, my long-awaited fresh somen was born!

Fresh somen noodles are a beautiful, glossy, translucent white noodle made from a blend of Hokkaido-grown Kitaakari and Haruyutaka wheat. Komugiya Menmen opened with great anticipation, and the delicate flavor of the fresh somen noodles that can only be found here became a popular restaurant in no time.

You must be wondering what kind of menu they have available, so let's take a look at some of their recommendations.

For those who want to try the simple taste of fresh somen noodles, the cold "Zaru Shoyu Dare" (550 yen including tax) is a good choice. It's a basic dish that will surprise anyone who eats it, saying, "This has completely overturned my previous ideas about somen noodles!"

The owner, Mr. Kawaguchi, recommends the "Toritsukemen" (830 yen including tax). The dipping sauce containing yuzu is a perfect match for the smooth, fresh somen noodles! Add a little yuzu pepper to taste and enjoy the elegant aroma that fills your nose.

Let's introduce one dish from the hot menu. This is "Negishio Somen" (610 yen including tax), which also contains yuzu. It has a mysterious and deep flavor that is different from traditional nyumen. The green onion salt gives it a refreshing and gentle texture.

So, what is fresh somen like? Are you curious to try it? But for those who can't make it to Iwamizawa, we offer delivery of "souvenir somen" (4 servings, 1,400 yen including tax). Of course, even if you've already tried it, you can still experience the excitement at home!

The menu introduced here is just a part of it. There are also plenty of rice bowls to go with the fresh somen noodles. In addition to table seating, there are also spacious raised seats, so it seems to be popular with families with small children. Once you try it, you'll be hooked and will definitely want to come back again and again!