春来軒

The soul food of Yamaguchi? A popular eatery in the alley!

Having the rare opportunity to visit Yamaguchi, I wanted to try all the classic local dishes, and I found the "Bari Soba," known as the soul food of Yamaguchi.

This shop is tucked away in a residential area, a 13-minute walk from the station and not located on the main shopping street. However, during mealtime, there's a line of customers, mainly local families, ranging from babies in strollers to the elderly.

You order from a ticket vending machine using cash, and this time I chose the signature dish, which is called "Yaki Soba" on the menu. However, it's not your regular stir-fried noodles!

The noodles are actually fried until they’re crispy, drizzled with a thick, gravy-like sauce. When it arrives at the table, the texture is hard, but as you eat, the noodles slightly absorb moisture and become softer, offering a variety of textures.

There is a generous amount of vegetables, and the portion is quite large—suitable for sharing between two people. As for the taste, I found it rather ordinary, just a flavor similar to Chinese soy sauce gravy. The noodles were really hard (I ordered the regular, and there are even firmer options), so I couldn't quite understand the appeal.