The service is fast. The prices are cheap. The staff's customer service is average. The taste is also average? If it's not crowded, you can eat quickly, so it's good for lunch. I wouldn't come here specifically for dinner, but the snacks are cheap, so it might be good for a quick drink in the evening.

During work, I went with a senior colleague to visit a customer in Yoyogi and then we decided to have lunch together. The restaurant was located just west of Yoyogi Station on the Oedo Line, with a flashy white and red exterior but a modest interior with various menus posted on the walls. There were table and counter seats available. We arrived around 1:30 pm and there were only a few customers. The staff, who I believe were Chinese, were mainly women working in the hall. I ordered the Stamina Black Beef Bowl. The dish arrived in about 4.5 minutes. Initially, I was torn between ordering noodles or fried rice, but I found a perfect bowl with the Stamina Black Beef Bowl. The bowl had pork and onions topped with a warm egg, and the egg added to the deliciousness. The sauce was slightly sweet and complemented the meat and onions well. It's a dish that you can't go wrong with, and I recommend getting a large portion if you have a big appetite. However, the egg soup that came with it was a bit thin. My senior colleague had the Chinese noodles and half-fried rice set. The fried rice was not fluffy but more sticky, which left him slightly unsatisfied, but considering the cost, he was overall satisfied. I would definitely go back to this restaurant if it was nearby.

This is a Chinese restaurant located near Yoyogi Station. The restaurant is located on the road leading to Nishi-Shinjuku, near Yamano Beauty College. The exterior of the restaurant is very eye-catching with a large sign and standing sign, giving off a chain store vibe. Inside, there are a few tables for 2 and 4 people near the entrance, and about 10 counter seats towards the back facing the kitchen. During lunchtime, it can get crowded but it operates at almost full capacity. The menu is diverse with items like fried rice (400 yen), kakeramen (290 yen), and 4 pieces of pan-fried dumplings (190 yen), all reasonably priced. The menu is written on plain paper with just text, and there are items like hachimitsu (500 yen) not listed in the booklet menu. They also offer a variety of set menus. I tried the Mini Kakeramen Fried Rice Set (580 yen), which comes with a mini-sized kakeramen with the fried rice. The fried rice was average in appearance and tasted like it was cooked quickly. It had a small amount of char siu, green onions, and egg. The mini kakeramen was made of smooth Chinese noodles, bean sprouts, green onions, and a small amount of meat miso in a soy sauce broth. The soy sauce flavor was strong, and the noodles were easy to eat when mixed with the bean sprouts. The set was good overall, with a generous portion of bean sprouts. The meat miso had a hint of ginger, adding flavor. I also tried the pan-fried dumplings (190 yen), which were like mass-produced frozen dumplings but without any strong taste, making them easy to eat in large quantities. The skin was crispy due to low moisture content. The staff seemed to be of Chinese descent, and the dishes had a Japanese touch due to being from a central kitchen. The highlight of this restaurant is the affordable prices, especially for drinks, making it a great option for budget solo dining. It could be a good alternative to Hidakaya for casual Chinese food.

Chuka Chain Series. Ichibankan is a Chinese chain that I discovered after moving to Tokyo. It's incredibly cheap, especially the alcohol which is even cheaper than Nichihiya. The food is also delicious. I often use it for a quick drink after work. Recently, they have raised the prices a bit, but it's still very affordable! I will continue to use it in the future!

During a regular lunchtime visit around 1pm, the restaurant was about 50% full. Many customers were wearing work clothes, likely tradespeople. Orders are taken verbally with payment settled after the meal, but note that during lunchtime, only cash payments are accepted - no cashless payments. I ordered the lunch set of Chinese noodles and half fried rice, but I forgot the price. The Chinese noodles were like "Hmm!" and the fried rice was like "Well, that's about right." The taste seemed to prioritize affordability over flavor. I won't be visiting again!

Great for a quick and cheap meal while on the go! The Liver and Leek Set Meal and Juicy Meat Dumplings for 910 yen is a good deal. The Liver and Leek Set Meal has a bit less liver, but the Juicy Meat Dumplings are surprisingly good with lots of soup inside, similar to xiaolongbao. And they only cost 230 yen each! I wish they would open a branch in Kyoto. Thank you for the meal!

The reviewer was attracted by the special fried rice with carefully selected ingredients on the outdoor signboard, and visited the restaurant for the first time. The fried rice comes with soup and costs only 400 yen including tax, which is a rare bargain these days. The fried rice mainly consists of egg, with a little bit of roasted pork and green onions. The simple flavor is too mild for the reviewer's taste, and they wish it had more punch. However, considering the cost performance, it is satisfactory. The reviewer also wants to try the ramen next time.

【October 29, 2022】I watched the Japan vs All Blacks game at the National Stadium! Unfortunately, Japan was defeated, but there are high hopes for the upcoming World Cup in France next year! After the game, my friend and I walked around and ended up in Yoyogi where we stumbled upon a restaurant that was not crowded. We entered without much expectation. The restaurant offered highballs for just over 100 yen, and mega highballs for just over 200 yen, making it very affordable. I ordered char siu ramen with half fried rice and a mega highball. My friend ordered spicy miso ramen with gyoza and a mega lemon sour. The dishes were served separately in the order of half fried rice, char siu ramen, spicy miso ramen, and gyoza, with gyoza being the slowest to arrive. The taste was decent, enough to not get tired of it, considering the battle with the cost. Thank you for the meal!

A Chinese restaurant located about a 5-minute walk from Yoyogi Station North Exit, where you can order and have your food served right away. The prices are very cheap and all dishes are delicious. The aged soy sauce ramen is 500 yen. Both the soup and noodles are delicious.

I had dinner at "Chuka Ichibankan" (Yoyogi branch) today (photo 1). After finishing work, I was looking for a place to eat, and I was drawn to a poster that said "Chao Fan no Kiwami" (extreme fried rice), so I decided to go in. I entered the restaurant a little before 6:30 PM, and it wasn't too crowded inside. Later I found out that it's a cost-effective restaurant and not particularly known for its delicious food. It was my first visit, so I ordered the "extreme" fried rice and 4 plates of dumplings. The fried rice (with soup) came in about 3 minutes, and the dumplings arrived in another 3-4 minutes (photo 2). The fried rice was decent, and the dumplings had a safe taste. It wasn't bad at all, but it wasn't exceptionally delicious either (although the fried rice was quite good). The prices were cheap though, only ¥590 for both dishes. It was convenient and affordable, but I was a bit disappointed that the staff were foreigners, and you wouldn't get water unless you asked for it, and most of the counter seats were in front of the restroom. It was nice that they accepted PayPay for payment (I used a point-back campaign, so it ended up being practically free).

One of the best Chinese restaurants that can also be used as a drinking spot is Ichibankan. This Yoyogi branch is located on a side street off the main station, making it a great place to relax and have a drink, especially in these times. On this day, I ordered a glass of white Hoppy first. For snacks, I had kimchi and zasai. I then added some shochu to mix things up, and finished with their deliciously crispy fried rice. With just these orders, the total came to 1,300 yen, making it a great place for budget drinking. The restaurant is run by a Chinese couple, and the zasai's spiciness pairs perfectly with the alcohol, creating a nice level of heat. I would love to visit again to try some of their stir-fried dishes as snacks and enjoy a drink. Since it's reasonably priced, it might get crowded with students at certain times, so it's important to consider the time and day of the visit.

This is a Chinese restaurant located 2-3 minutes walk from JR Yamanote Line Yoyogi Station. I visited on August 26, 2021 during lunchtime. Originally, I was aiming for a ramen shop near Minami-Shinjuku Station, but found out that it was temporarily closed due to the pandemic. I didn't do enough research... so I changed course and ended up at this restaurant. I arrived around 12:10 pm and about 70% of the restaurant was occupied. There was a contactless thermometer at the entrance, but it beeped loudly saying "over 37 degrees" when I passed through. However, the staff led me to the counter seat without any concern. Is it okay? Just to be sure, I checked my temperature again and it was back to normal. The sun might have made my body surface warm right after entering, but still, the sensitivity was too high... I ordered the Five-Ingredient Sauce Yakisoba and Half Fried Rice. It cost 550 yen + 250 yen. It's cheap. The yakisoba was quite ordinary. The fried rice was good with a nice texture and flavor. Overall, it seems like a popular lunch spot for office workers. Thank you for the meal.

Today, since the desired shop in Yoyogi was closed, I decided to visit Ichibankan for the first time. This is a Chinese chain operated by KVC Ichibankan, headquartered in Nakano. They have 26 stores in Tokyo and Nagano. There are table seats in the front and counter seats in the back. The Yoyogi store is always crowded. They offer a variety of menu items such as fried rice, rice bowls, noodles, side dishes, and appetizers. Since I couldn't decide on a menu item, I opted for drinks and appetizers. I ordered a lemon sour for 150 yen (tax included) and 6 dumplings for 200 yen. The lemon sour came in a metal cup with the logo of "Kodawari Lemon Sour" provided by Suntory. The dumplings arrived after an 8-minute wait. They were generously filled with a nice sear on the bottom. The filling had a good amount of vegetables. They were tasty but not exceptional compared to other places like Osho. I ordered another lemon sour and an additional dish of fluffy egg-fried chicken for 450 yen. Despite a group of customers arriving, the dish was served in about 10 minutes. The dish consisted of chicken breast or thigh meat, thinly sliced onions, and a soy sauce-based sauce. The flavor was mild, and it felt lacking as an appetizer. Adding chili oil for some heat improved the taste. The eggs were slightly overcooked, but the crunchy onions were a nice touch. Overall, the taste was average, but the prices were quite reasonable, making it a good option for certain occasions.

We went out for drinks with colleagues at a place near Yoyogi station. It's easy to get in with a large group of 5 or more people. The staff is very generous, they make jokes and talk to us. We ordered a lot of Mega Jugs of highball because they are cheap. The dumplings were delicious with juicy meat inside. The vegetable stir-fry was a bit greasy. The rice dishes went well with the alcohol and were very tasty.

[November 2020 Ramen Lunch] After visiting two clients in Tokyo, I had some free time before heading to Tokyo Big Sight, so I decided to have lunch. Since I could take the Saikyo Line from Ebisu after transferring from Yoyogi to get to the International Exhibition Hall station, I thought it would be better to have lunch in Yoyogi to save time. I wandered around the station and even though there were many options like Yoshisoba and Fujisoba, for some reason I ended up ordering Dan Dan noodles (600 yen) here. I only realized afterwards that the regular Chinese noodles were 480 yen. It was a surprise, but the Dan Dan noodles were delicious! Location: When you exit Yoyogi Station's west exit, turn right onto the main street (towards Shinjuku) and then take a left at the Y intersection. It's about 100m down the road (there are many restaurants on both sides, so it's a mystery why I chose this place).

A budget Chinese restaurant that can be found anywhere. The main clientele are foreign workers, some of whom can be a bit arrogant. I ordered the fried cartilage and dumplings, along with a highball. The fried cartilage arrived quickly along with the highball, almost as if it was pre-made for others. It was a very ordinary fried cartilage. The dumplings were also average. They already had flavor, so I enjoyed them with vinegar and pepper for a refreshing taste. The highball was a bit weak in flavor.

During lunchtime, I had fried rice and dumplings. The sign said fried rice (with soup) for 390 yen (tax included) and 4 dumplings for 150 yen (same), but I got 6 dumplings so maybe it was around 200 yen. So, I estimated the lunch to be around 590 yen. It's a casual and affordable restaurant, so it's crowded with students and office workers during lunchtime. There are counter seats for solo diners, so it's reassuring. As soon as you sit down, the Chinese staff will prompt you to order. I wonder if many people who come here are regulars, as everyone seems to order quickly. Since it was my first time at this restaurant, I carefully chose the cheapest fried rice and dumplings. The 390 yen fried rice was quite cheap. It may not have had a lot of ingredients or a lot of meat, but it was a decent portion with egg soup included, so the cost performance was excellent. The 6 dumplings for 200 yen were also quite cheap, and although they weren't the best quality, considering the price, they were not bad. However, I couldn't help but wonder how they can offer such low prices. Maybe the former Kappa Sushi employees who got fired are now working underground here... As soon as I left the restaurant, I started craving the delicious fried rice from places like Abura-ya or Medaka Tantan, but this place is good for when you want to eat cheap and fast, so I think I'll go back again.

Cheap! Fast! Moderately delicious! This is a reasonably priced Chinese restaurant that has it all. The chefs and staff are from China or Taiwan, so the taste is definitely not bad. The fried chicken set meal is a popular menu item with flavors like soy sauce, mayonnaise, and black vinegar. I think I'll try that next.

I stopped by for business in Shinjuku. It may be a bit hard to find as it's a little off the main street from the west exit of Yoyogi Station. I later found out it's a chain store. The standout feature is the low prices. Draft beer for 270 yen, chu-hai/highball for 150 yen, all including tax. Snacks start at 190 yen. With just 2000 yen, you can have a good time here. I imagine the cost performance is especially great at night. I went for lunch and ordered the shredded pork with green peppers set meal. The lunch menu seemed a bit more modest compared to the photos. The taste was average. The person next to me was eating ramen alone and seemed to be taking photos of the food and making notes... Could they be a reviewer?

Cheap Chinese restaurant in the street. It's a chain store, so I didn't have high expectations, but the ratio of rice to mapo tofu was surprisingly disappointing lol. It's quite different from the menu. My stomach is full, so I guess it's okay when you're in a hurry.