The original differences between zaru soba and mori soba included the serving dishes (with zaru soba being served in a basket) and dipping sauce (with the dipping sauce for zaru soba being richer than ordinary sauce).
元来、ざる蕎麦と盛り蕎麦の区別は、蕎麦の器（容器）の違い（ざる蕎麦はざるに乗せる）と、蕎麦つゆ（「ざる蕎麦」は通常よりコクのあるつゆ）の違いだった。