The last dinner I had before returning to The States from Japan was a tempura donburi (tendon) paired with a bowl of soba noodles swimming in chilled broth. Alternating bites of the lightly fried tempura with spoonfuls of cold and chewy buckwheat soba noodles makes for a fantastic meal full of texture, temperature, and flavor contrasts.
Through the magic of the internets, I was able to find Soba Izakaya Minami, an oasis of delicious traditional Japanese comfort food tucked away in an unassuming Laguna Hills strip mall.
Their menu is quite expansive and contains a number of (hot or cold) soba or udon set meals anchored by an excellent tendon or curry dish, as well as a range of traditional Izakaya (Japanese tavern food).
Soba Izakaya Minami
24391 Avenida De La Carlota, Suite A
Laguna Hills, CA 92653