Sabouru 2
さぼうる2 · Sabouru 2
- Ward
- Chiyoda
- Price
- ¥900~1,500
- Hours
- 11:00-22:00 (subject to change
- Closed
- Sun
- Getting there
- 1 min walk from Jimbocho Stn (A7 exit)
- Founded
- 1955
- Two shops from 1955 stand side by side
- The signature napolitan comes heaped in a mound that would count as a large portion
- Almost everyone eats the red napolitan
We do not republish copyrighted photographs. Use the links below to see the actual venue.
Obvious to locals, invisible to visitors
There is a simple reason guidebooks leave this out: to the people who live here it is too obvious to be worth explaining.
Two shops from 1955 stand side by side. The original is for drinks and light snacks and is famous for the graffiti-covered walls; number two is for meals and will not seat you for a drink alone. People walk into the wrong one every single day.
The signature napolitan comes heaped in a mound that would count as a large portion anywhere else, even when ordered regular. You can pay extra to upsize it, but even big eaters advise against it. Sharing one plate between two and each taking a drink is the realistic move.
Almost everyone eats the red napolitan, so it goes unnoticed, but the menu also lists 'Italian' — the same noodles seasoned with salt rather than ketchup, an entirely different face of the dish. Order it on a second visit and you see the kitchen's range.
What it is
Chiyoda is a ward where government offices meet the old-book quarter. Prices have been corrected by hand — raised, but with visible reluctance to look like they were raised. The coffee is on the strong side — say so up front if you prefer it lighter. Hours go irregular over long holidays; check before setting out. There are a few similar places nearby — do not give up if the first one is full. Rather than anchoring your itinerary, it slots naturally into the gaps between other stops.
What to order
Why locals keep coming
It photographs well: the lighting and palette run exactly counter to current trends, which makes it stand out. The menu is simple enough that you cannot really go wrong — everything on it has been made for years.