上杉琴音
My son came home for his job offer ceremony, so I took him to a Chinese restaurant that I had been curious about. It was located away from the bustling Dotonbori area, with many authentic Chinese restaurants in the vicinity. As we entered, we saw Chinese ingredients, side dishes, and fruits for sale at the entrance. There were neatly displayed duck heads, necks, and wings that had been simmered and seasoned. The staff said something in Chinese, but when I told them in Japanese that we wanted to eat, they led us to a table in the back. It might be a bit intimidating to enter alone. It reminded me of the Vietnamese restaurants in Shin-Okubo. The dining area had a small raised floor with sunken tables, making it accessible for people with leg problems. There were only four tables, smaller than I had expected. Our arrival made the place full, even though it was just before noon on a weekday. It seemed to be a popular restaurant, with everyone chatting lively in Chinese. As I looked around for a place to put our shoes, a staff member used their foot to push our shoes into a space under the raised floor. It was exciting to experience the sudden immersion in the local culture! When we sat down, the staff threw chopsticks and wet towels onto the table. It was refreshing to see that they didn't cater to Japanese customers. Some people might get upset, but I found it enjoyable to feel like I was really in the country. The menu was extensive, but when we tried to order two salads, we were told they were not available. We ordered Soy Sauce-Braised Pork Shoulder (800 yen), Three Fresh Flavors (980 yen), a small bowl of white rice (price unknown), and two types of boiled dumplings (500 yen each). The pork dish came out quickly, with meat cut into pieces without regard for joints. It had been simmered thoroughly, making the meat tender and easy to eat with chopsticks. Next was the Three Fresh Flavors, a dish of potatoes, eggplants, and green peppers that had been deep-fried and then stir-fried. It was a simple but tasty side dish that went well with rice. My son, who was trying it for the first time, liked it. The garlic flavor was strong and the taste was rich. We ended up ordering more rice. We had decided on boiled dumplings as our main dish, so we ordered one with leeks and meat, and one with pickled vegetables and meat. When the dishes arrived, we were surprised to see that each plate had 10 large dumplings, totaling 20. We couldn't finish them all, so we asked to take half of them home. Despite the authentic local-style service, the staff were friendly and accommodating to our requests. Even when it was difficult to communicate in Japanese, they tried their best to understand and would call someone else if necessary. The food was delicious, and although we were full, the total bill for two people was less than 3000 yen. I would definitely like to visit this place again, but if I were alone, I might just end up with dumplings and beer.