Lunch in Takadanobaba. A newly opened Chinese restaurant that had flower decorations a while ago. They recently started serving lunch, with a sign outside. The restaurant is located a few minutes walk from the station. Take the elevator to the 3rd floor. The wooden door hides the interior completely. When you open it, you find a spacious, modern atmosphere. There were over 10 customers already seated before 1 pm, and a few more came in after. Orders are placed using a touchpad. The lunch menu had around 10 options on the outside sign, but there were about 20 choices on the touchpad. We asked about the daily special and ordered the cumin lamb bowl to share. The dishes were served in about 10 minutes. Both dishes were huge. The cumin lamb bowl was served on a large plate with a generous portion of rice and cumin-flavored lamb. The taste was straightforward, with a nice cumin flavor. The sweet and sour pork was different from the typical sweet version, with a hint of Chinese spices. It was packed with ingredients, almost like a vegetable stir-fry. Both dishes were delicious, with great flavor and portion size. (September 2023)

Located near the Toyamaguchi exit of Takadanobaba Station, along the Takadanobaba Station Street, is the authentic Chinese restaurant "Rokueko". Situated on the third floor of a building that houses Shinbashi Yakiton on the first floor and Hegisoba Kon on the second floor. A sign saying "Lunchtime Commencing" caught my attention, so I decided to visit for lunch for the first time around 11:30 on a weekday. Taking the elevator up, I opened the door to a spacious interior. The window seats were bathed in sunlight, but the air conditioning kept the place comfortable. As it was just before noon, there were few customers, and the atmosphere was peaceful. Using a touch panel, I found a variety of lunch set meals among the tags for set meals. Prices ranged from 780 yen for Mapo Tofu to 1,080 yen for dishes like Yakisoba, noodles, Yodare Chicken, Black Vinegar Pork, and Sichuan-style rice bowls. This time, I chose the Hoikoro set meal. ・Hoikoro Set Meal 880 yen Extra rice for free, all-you-can-eat seasoned eggs After waiting for about 10 minutes, the meal was served. The main dish, Hoikoro, looked quite substantial. It came with rice, a soup with plenty of ingredients, seasoned eggs, pickles, and a dessert called Bin Fen. I dug in immediately. The Hoikoro was not like the Japanese-style miso flavor but a spicy Chinese-style meat and vegetable stir-fry. It reminded me of a meat stir-fry rice dish served in a bamboo tube. The strong seasoning made the rice disappear quickly. The seasoned eggs were flavorful, and the fact that they were all-you-can-eat was a nice touch. The soup was full of vegetables, and the Bin Fen dessert had plum chips on top, providing a refreshing finish to the meal. The "Thick-cut Pork Belly Stew Bowl" that my companion ordered for 980 yen was filled with large pieces of braised pork belly. There was a jumbo chili pepper in the middle, with a warning that it was spicy. The taste was quite rich, according to my companion. Payment is cash only (credit cards accepted for purchases over 5,000 yen). With good value for money, a relaxed atmosphere, and the rare opportunity to smoke, I will definitely come back to try another lunch menu.

Recently opened Chinese restaurant specializing in northeastern Chinese cuisine such as skewers, called "Rokakouko," located along Takadanobaba Station Street in Takadanobaba. Situated on the third floor of a building with yakitori on the first floor and soba on the second floor. The owner also runs other restaurants in Takadanobaba. Conveniently located just a 3-minute walk from Todaimaguchi on the JR and Seibu lines, or about 5 minutes from Wasedaguchi on the metro. Visited for the first time on a weekday evening after 8 pm. The restaurant was brightly lit from the outside. Upon entering, the staff were chatting in Chinese. The interior had a typical flashy neon Chinese decor with a hint of Japanese izakaya style. There were around 30 table seats for 2-6 people, all smoking allowed. Orders were placed using a touch panel system. The menu featured a variety of skewers such as lamb, chicken, and beef, with the freedom to choose the quantity. Stir-fried dishes were also available. Despite the restaurant's name suggesting hotpot, it was not offered. The menu also included realistic items like silkworms. Opted for lamb skewers (10 pieces for 680 yen), chicken wings (1 piece for 260 yen), potato chip skewers (5 pieces for 480 yen), and Chinese yakisoba (880 yen). The food arrived promptly. The skewers were kept warm on a candle-lit heat-resistant paper on the table grill. The lamb skewers were small but satisfying when eaten in multiples. The spiciness level was moderate but could be customized. The chicken wings had a similar seasoning. The potato chip skewers were a bit disappointing in texture. The yakisoba had a Shanghai-style flavor with a unique addition of tomatoes, tasty and generous in portion. Drinks included Tsingtao beer, Chinese liquor, and surprisingly, Japanese sake. The total bill for two came to 5,390 yen, with credit cards accepted for payments over 5,000 yen. Only cash was accepted for other electronic payments or QR code transactions.