Tsukimi Soba

"Tsukimi" translates to "moon-viewing" in Japanese. The dish is named because the raw or poached egg yolk resting in the hot broth resembles a full moon reflecting in a dark pond.

This soba dish is traditionally consumed in the autumn months. It is specifically eaten around the time of the Tsukimi festival, which celebrates the harvest moon.

Like standard soba, it consists of buckwheat noodles served in a hot soy-based broth. The key distinction is the addition of a raw or softly poached egg placed on top just before eating.

Yes, the tsukimi preparation is popular across Japanese cuisine and can be applied to other dishes. A very common alternative is Tsukimi Udon, which uses thick wheat noodles instead of buckwheat soba.