Located near Waseda Station in Toshima Ward, Tokyo, this restaurant caught my attention with its neon sign "China Kitchen." The order stop is based on your mood, which is great! The menu offers a wide variety of options, but I was delighted to find my favorite dish on the wall poster: Mapo Tofu Noodles. I couldn't decide between ramen and mapo tofu, so this dish was perfect for satisfying both cravings. The unique taste of the dish, cooked in a seasoned Chinese wok, with the flavorful oil, was delicious. The thin curly noodles and the ground meat were just the way I like them, and the satisfaction level was high. This restaurant seems to have delicious options no matter what you order! Note that smoking is allowed, so be aware if it's a concern for you. A fantastic find for a charming Chinese restaurant in the neighborhood.

3/22, I went cherry blossom viewing in Waseda along the Kanda River. Before enjoying the cherry blossoms, I stopped by a Chinese restaurant for lunch and some drinks. I couldn't find a shop that caught my eye in the Okuma-dori shopping street, so I crossed the bridge and went back to a Chinese restaurant I had noticed earlier. I ordered the lunch set which seemed reasonably priced, along with an alcoholic drink. I had the mapo tofu rice bowl, pork belly rice bowl, and a highball. Lately, I find highballs easy and enjoyable to drink. The set meals came with salad and soup. After lunch, I headed to the Kanda River and found a spot along the promenade to sit and enjoy the cherry blossoms. Though not in full bloom, the cherry blossoms were still a beautiful sight.

I knew about this restaurant for about 20 years, but I always ended up going to "Tenten" near Minamishinagawa Station whenever I wanted to eat Chinese food, so I never had the chance to visit. On this day, I decided to go with my son and daughter for dinner. There was a group of young students as the only other customers. The restaurant looked bigger inside than it did from the outside. However, it seemed like the owner was handling both cooking and serving, so it might get tough if many customers order at the same time. The menu had a variety of dishes, with prices starting from around 600 yen for each dish, which was quite affordable. I wanted to try a variety of Chinese dishes, so I was happy about the prices. We ordered shrimp with mayonnaise, scallops with oyster sauce, stir-fried vegetables, beef fried rice, and shrimp noodles. The shrimp with mayonnaise was different from the typical "ebimayo," as it had a fluffy meringue with a mayonnaise flavor wrapped around the shrimp. It was a taste I had never experienced before. The beef fried rice had a strong garlic rice flavor, which made it unique. It might not be very Chinese, but it could be a good snack with drinks. The restaurant even offered dessert for my children as a service, which was greatly appreciated.

Weekend lunch. When was the last time we made lunch at home? (bitter smile) On this day, my boyfriend and I went to a restaurant that we had been wanting to try. When we entered the restaurant, there were no other customers. Well, it's no surprise since students and workers are off on weekends, and this restaurant is quietly tucked away in a residential area. The menu was presented to us, but I checked the menu posted on the wall. That's when I found a menu item called "Flaming Chinese Noodles Taichi Noodles". I asked the owner what kind of noodles they were, and he said it was a special spicy soup topped with green chili peppers, greens, white yam, and egg white. Under the menu item, it said that first-time customers who finish the soup get a second bowl for 550 yen. Oh... they must be really confident in their spiciness. So, I decided to try that. My boyfriend was surprised and said, "I definitely can't eat that" (lol). He ordered the Braised Pork Bowl (850 yen) instead. While waiting for our food, I looked around the restaurant and saw pictures and names of customers who had finished the Taichi Noodles. There were quite a few pictures, so I thought maybe it's not that spicy. When our food arrived, I saw the green and white toppings separated on top of the noodles. I mixed it well, and there was indeed a red soup underneath. When I tried it, it was really hot because of the sauce, but surprisingly, I couldn't feel the spiciness (lol). However, the yam, greens, green chili peppers were healthy and tasty. Even though it wasn't spicy, my cheeks started sweating from the capsaicin effect. It's been about 10 or 20 years since I last sweated from eating something spicy, so it was a rare experience for me. After finishing the noodles, I let my boyfriend try a sip of the soup, and his lips tingled instantly. Well, his spice tolerance is like a child, so I think it wouldn't be that spicy for people who like spicy food. I finished the soup and was asked if I wanted my picture taken for completing it, but I declined since I came without makeup. I decided to just have my name displayed in the restaurant. The bill was only 550 yen since I finished the soup. I asked if the nuts in the soup could be removed, but the owner said they were added during the soup-making process, so they couldn't be removed. Well, I'll just avoid them next time. I'll definitely come back to eat here again. Thank you for the meal!

Take the tram from Waseda Station in the opposite direction of the university, cross the Kanda River, and you will find yourself in a residential area. In the middle of this area stands a Chinese restaurant. It is not a place where most people would normally go, but the neon sign in the rain gave off a tempting vibe. Surprisingly, there were two groups of regular customers inside. It seemed like a popular spot for nearby male dormitories. The restaurant had a unique atmosphere, reflecting the personality of the owner. One thing that caught the eye was a poster for "Tai Chi Noodles." It was described as a very spicy dish with a hot sauce and white yam sauce, but I decided to pass on that challenge. The menu featured a mix of traditional Chinese dishes and original appetizers, all at very reasonable prices. I was intrigued by the Garlic Shrimp (600 yen) and the fact that the Garlic Shrimp was actually a shrimp cocktail served in a cocktail glass with a garlic sauce on top. It was surprisingly delicious! I also ordered the Oil-Blanched Chicken (600 yen), which was different from the usual appearance of this dish. It had a unique thick sauce that complemented the crispy fried chicken well. The main dishes were the Jar Noodles (850 yen) and Fried Rice (700 yen), both of which were flavorful and satisfying. The small bottle of Tsingtao Beer was also reasonably priced at 450 yen. The owner, despite his intimidating appearance, was actually very friendly, and the cozy atmosphere created by the regular customers made it a pleasant dining experience.

The Chinese restaurant has a nice atmosphere and I like it.

After getting off at the Toden Waseda Station and crossing the road to the right, you will find Waseda University with many students. On the left side, you will see a residential area. In this neighborhood, you will see more local residents than students. In the residential area, there is a Chinese restaurant. To get there, walk straight from the Toden Waseda Station after crossing the road to the left, passing by Kissaten Ichinose on the corner. Cross the Kanda River, and when you see the first alley on the left, you will see the sign of the restaurant. I don't usually visit this area, but the lively appearance of the restaurant in the residential area caught my attention. I happened to pass by during lunchtime, so I couldn't resist going in for lunch. What I ordered was the B lunch set priced at 880 yen, which included Char Siu Wonton Noodles and Soboro Donburi. The menu is displayed at the storefront, and you enter through the entrance and go down the stairs. The interior of the restaurant is cluttered, with tables lined up on both sides. It has a casual atmosphere for a neighborhood eatery. Since it was lunchtime, it seemed that the main customers were people working nearby. I sat at an empty table and looked through the menu. The daily set menu seemed like a good deal, so I chose the ramen and rice set, which was Char Siu Wonton Noodles and Soboro Donburi. The owner seemed to be running the place alone that day. He appeared to be elderly but was attentive and had a light touch. Shortly after, the set menu was served on the table. The ramen came with a substantial serving of Char Siu with a strong presence in the bowl. The Char Siu was a bit firm, but its volume was impressive. The ramen itself was light but flavorful. Although the wontons were not very noticeable, there were several small ones in the bowl. The Soboro Donburi was in a mini size, but it was a nice addition to the set. The set menu had a sufficient amount of food. While eating, the owner served complimentary iced coffee to everyone. It seemed like he was treating everyone that day. Having coffee after the meal is perfect for taking a break. It's nice to be able to have a leisurely lunch.