On my way back from the chiropractic clinic on 23.4.07, I decided to take a stroll around Sakuradai Station. I found a Chinese restaurant just a short walk from the north exit, known for its knife-cut noodles. It was run by a single staff member, a man of Chinese descent. The entrance had a kitchen and counter seat on the left, with only one seat available due to COVID-19 measures. Towards the back, there were two tables with 4 seats each, and on the right, there were tables with 2, 4, 4, 4, and 2 seats. The stainless steel in the kitchen was sparkling clean, a good sign for such establishments. I ordered their specialty Dan Dan knife-cut noodles for 850 yen and a spring roll for 120 yen. It took quite a while for the food to be served, about 29 minutes, as there were 5 customers ahead of me. It seemed like the lone staff member was struggling to keep up. The Dan Dan knife-cut noodles had a spicy soup, leaning towards medium spiciness with a kick from red chili peppers. It lacked minced meat, which was a disappointment as it affected the richness of the soup. The texture of the noodles was similar to Houtou noodles, which I really enjoyed. The knife-cut noodles made fresh here had a fantastic texture and flavor. I would rate the Dan Dan noodles 3.7 out of 5. The spring roll had uneven frying but had a crispy texture and decent taste. I would rate it 3.2 out of 5. There are various types of knife-cut noodles available, and I think it's worth trying different flavors. The total cost was reasonable at 930 yen for both dishes, with a value index of 1.09. Overall, it was a satisfying meal. Thank you for the meal!

There are still quite a few unvisited restaurants in Sakuradai! The spicy and aromatic hot and spicy knife-cut noodles are Oriental in flavor! The spiciness hits your tongue with a zing, especially noticeable when you drink cold water afterwards. If you're used to eating dishes with thick umami flavors, you might find the broth a bit unbalanced, but it has a decent body. Knife-cut noodles are really something special. They are smooth and chewy. They are very short, but if the soup is spicy, slurping long noodles could lead to accidents! The portion of noodles is generous. Additionally, you can choose half fried rice or half ramen to enjoy a variety of flavors at the restaurant. The half fried rice has a color reminiscent of Sichuan-style black fried rice, but I made the mistake of eating it after finishing the tantan noodles, so I couldn't taste the continental flavor and aroma. I recommend tasting a bite first. The fried rice, with its light texture, is very delicious.

Today I visited this place. It used to be a Chinese restaurant before, but now it's a shop that specializes in knife-cut noodles under new management. I arrived at 12:15. Upon entering the restaurant, I was told to choose any seat I liked. I chose a table seat. It seems they no longer have tatami seating. I placed my order for the Ma La Knife-cut Noodles (850 yen). Water is self-service at the table. The noodles arrived in just 8 minutes. It looks spicy. Let's dig in. The thick and chewy noodles are quite lively... with various lengths providing an enjoyable texture. The noodles are delicious. The soup is both flavorful and spicy, with a numbing sensation. It packs quite a punch. At first, the noodles didn't seem to mix well with the soup, but as I continued eating, the noodles absorbed the flavors really well. It's a taste that can become addictive. The crunchy vegetables complement the chewy noodles perfectly. A perfect match! There were some leftover ingredients and short noodles at the bottom of the bowl, so I couldn't stop scooping and slurping. The endless loop of spiciness, flavor, and numbness. Although half a serving of rice was complimentary, I decided to skip it this time (laughs). Overall, the owner, who is working hard single-handedly with limited Japanese language skills, seems to be quite authentic when it comes to Ma La Knife-cut Noodles. The mapo tofu might also be delicious. I'm satisfied. Thank you for the meal.

When I went to Gekinojin before, I found this restaurant next door and decided to visit it next time. The opportunity came sooner than expected, so I went there (Gekinojin was delicious as always... I remember there used to be one in Nerima, but maybe I'm mistaken ^^; I hope this restaurant continues for a long time). It seems like they specialize in knife-cut noodles, with a variety of knife-cut noodle dishes on the menu. I heard a rumor that there are only a few Chinese chefs who can make knife-cut noodles, and I personally like them, so I was set on ordering knife-cut noodles! However, I came across a menu item called Stone Pot Mapo Tofu and suddenly my decision wavered... (My husband, who had just decided on Steamed Chicken Knife-Cut Noodles, teased me for talking about knife-cut noodles earlier and then changing my mind). So, I found a set menu that allows me to satisfy my desire for both Stone Pot Mapo Tofu and knife-cut noodles, and decided to go with that. However, in the photos, the knife-cut noodles were served without any soup or sauce. I was left wondering whether I should dip them in the Mapo Tofu like tsukemen, or pour the Mapo Tofu on top and eat it like an ankake dish, with lingering doubts about how to eat it (ordering it without knowing how to eat it is quite something, right? But I really wanted to try both knife-cut noodles and Mapo Tofu...). There were other convenient menu options like half-fried rice and half-ramen that seemed like a good idea to mix and match (it would have been perfect if they had half knife-cut noodles as well). There was only one staff member who seemed to be from the original country. There were two groups of solo diners before us, and one solo diner after us. The restaurant had a surprisingly deep interior, with spacious tables which was appreciated. We couldn't see the kitchen from our seats, so I couldn't tell if they were making the knife-cut noodles from scratch or if they were pre-cut (it was lunchtime, so I assume they were pre-cut). After a short wait, the Steamed Chicken Knife-Cut Noodles arrived first. It's a dish I haven't seen much elsewhere, to be honest! My husband isn't a fan of spicy food, so a non-spicy knife-cut noodle dish is quite rare. It had a gentle flavor like a white soup noodle version of knife-cut noodles. The sliced steamed chicken, seasoned with pepper, was tender and delicious. And then, the Stone Pot Mapo Tofu & Knife-Cut Noodles arrived...! It looked just like the photo, but there was a lot more noodles than I expected (oops). And as I suspected, the noodles were served plain, like they had been steamed. The Mapo Tofu was bubbling hot, making the bowl shake, and whetting my appetite. The tofu was a whole block, which is my favorite type! Nowadays, it may not be so rare, but the Mapo Tofu here was exactly the kind of flavor I was looking for, with a hint of fermented black beans (I think). The flavor was just right, with a good level of spiciness. I used the noodles to dip in the Mapo Tofu, but the amount of noodles didn't seem to decrease much (laughs). After finishing the Steamed Chicken Knife-Cut Noodles, I tried adding more noodles like a second helping, but still couldn't finish them. The knife-cut noodles were too good to waste... However, the noodles were chewy and delicious, just as I expected. There was a popular mazesoba restaurant with a long line in front of it, and it was crowded that day as well, but you can eat here without waiting, so it's definitely worth considering when you're in the mood for noodles!

Located just a 1-minute walk from Sakuradai Station, this Chinese restaurant is nestled in an area where many eateries gather. They offer chewy and satisfying knife-cut noodles, as well as a variety of side dishes. The seating is mainly table-based, with around 30 seats available. You can enjoy a meal or drinks here in a casual atmosphere. There was a Chinese restaurant near the station that had been in business for a long time, but it had announced its closure recently. However, it seems that someone took over the business, as it is now operating under the same name. A lively Chinese man warmly greets customers. They also offer set meals and noodle sets even in the evening. I started off with a highball and some appetizers. The "mouth-watering chicken" priced at 590 yen was served generously, with a mountain of finely shredded cabbage in the center. It is a cold appetizer with steamed chicken in a salty and spicy sauce. The abundance of cabbage makes it quite healthy. Next, the "pan-fried dumplings" priced at 500 yen arrived, and they were served with wings attached. When flipped over, you can see four plump dumplings lined up. The texture of the minced pork filling was distinct and delicious, with a unique yet tasty flavor of dried clams permeating through. To finish off, I decided to try their knife-cut noodles. I opted for the "vegetable knife-cut noodles" priced at 850 yen, which came with a miso-flavored vegetable stir-fry. The knife-cut noodles were short, chewy, and had a nice elasticity. The stir-fried vegetables included cabbage, bean sprouts, wood ear mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, greens, carrots, and thinly sliced pork. Overall, the portion sizes of the side dishes were good, and the noodles were also quite tasty. It was a bit concerning that they only had one staff member working, so it might get busy during peak hours.

I had the pork and wood ear mushroom scrambled egg set meal. The wood ear mushrooms had a crunchy texture, while the eggs were fluffy and soft. It also had plenty of other vegetables like onions, carrots, and bamboo shoots. The seasoning was perfect and it tasted delicious with the rice. Thank you for the meal.

Ma-La beef brisket knife-cut noodles for 1,090 yen including tax. Half rice is free. The noodles were chewy and delicious, but... I wish there was a bit more beef brisket, right?