Lunch in Takadanobaba. Walking north on Sakaedori, you'll find a side street with a restaurant called Gyoza Sakaba. It seems to be a Chinese restaurant serving dishes like mapo tofu and oil-splashed chicken based on a quick look at the reviews. The lunch menu displayed outside consists of various Chinese dishes. Inside, the restaurant has a chain izakaya-like atmosphere with space for about 50 people. We went downstairs around 1 pm and there were about 10 customers already seated. We ordered chilled tantanmen with grilled gyoza and chilled ramen with fried rice to share. The food was served in just over 10 minutes. While waiting, we helped ourselves to small dishes and poured our own tea. The chilled tantanmen and chilled ramen both had a similar noodle base with shared ingredients like cucumber. The tantanmen had a sesame cold noodle-like flavor, while the chilled ramen had a typical soy sauce-based taste. The fried rice was simple but delicious with just egg and green onion. The gyoza were large, crispy on the outside, and filled generously. The portions were satisfying, making it a fulfilling lunch. (August 2023)

A 24-hour gyoza izakaya in Takadanobaba. I moved here from Ikebukuro for a second round. Cheers with a mega highball! There were quite a variety of menu options, but I chose the stir-fried hollow vegetables that I would definitely order if it was on the menu. Looking back, it was a regrettable mistake not to order gyoza at a gyoza izakaya (lol). Somehow switched to Shaoxing wine and drank a lot of it. Finished with a five-ingredient yakisoba for the finale.

There are many convenient set meals available for 24 hours a day. During lunch, drinks were included. And it's all-you-can-drink. Being able to drink jasmine tea as much as you want makes me happy. The seats are spacious in some places, so it's great for families with children or for relaxing as if sitting in a tatami room. It's quite comfortable wearing boots in the winter. The portions of the dishes are not small, but it's nice that it's not too much like in typical Chinese restaurants where it's awkward to leave a lot uneaten. Perhaps due to its inconspicuous location, the taste and price are both good value for money, and you can relax comfortably. Highly recommended.

On this morning, I woke up with a craving for dumplings, so I decided to visit a place where I could definitely have dumplings for breakfast. I went down the stairs to the underground entrance of the restaurant, where a machine-like screen greeted me with "Surface temperature normal." I looked around for a staff member but couldn't find anyone. I moved to the side and the screen still said "Surface temperature normal," even though I had been moving. The staff, who seemed to be taking a break, finally noticed me and led me to a table. I looked at the menu and before I could decide, the staff brought out an appetizer without asking. I nibbled on the lackluster appetizer while feeling a sense of regret. Suddenly, a loud noise came from the table, and the staff brought out the assorted pan-fried dumplings I had ordered. The restaurant was hot, and I couldn't help but wonder if the couple sitting nearby was feeling the heat as well. The staff, who had been wearing only a mask earlier, now had a face shield on as well. The dumplings were surprisingly mild in flavor, almost too healthy (or thin). I doused them in sauce and cooled them down with my highball. I quickly finished the meal, paid the bill, and left. As I climbed the stairs, I noticed the familiar rainbow-colored sign with a crown sticker indicating that the staff had completed infection prevention training. I couldn't help but question the effectiveness of this sign. As I made my way to work, I reflected on the importance of customer service in the food and beverage industry. Despite the infection prevention measures, there are still essential aspects to consider.

I was grateful to have breakfast here after pulling an all-nighter the other day. It was a tricky time to return home and the cafes were not open in the 6 o'clock hour. I was surprised to find a place open 24 hours in this day and age. Since it's a dumpling restaurant, I had to order dumplings, and when I saw the words and picture of preserved egg on the menu, I couldn't resist. I also wanted fried rice. I ordered everything. The preserved egg had plenty of white onions, which is a must, and the dumplings were expertly cooked. The fried rice I ordered with small dried fish was nice and fluffy, also expertly made. It was a delicious breakfast. However, since smoking is allowed and I could smell smoke from somewhere, I don't think I can visit at this early hour again.

On weekends in Takadanobaba, where lunch service hasn't started yet, I stopped by to adjust my schedule. The drinks and food are cheap and decent. There are many menu options, so it might be fun to try different things with a group of people. I think you can enjoy it to a certain extent. What does "to a certain extent" mean? Is it better than average, or not so much... Including the advantage of being open 24 hours, I would say it's slightly above average in my opinion.

There is a 24-hour izakaya in Takadanobaba, on Sakae Street. It used to be a shared table izakaya before. Amid the extended state of emergency, I visited the izakaya as it is open 24 hours. I couldn't make it in time for the last order at 7 pm after work. I ordered gyoza, watercress, bean sprout stir-fry, and ban ban ji, and made a toast. I found the words "all-you-can-drink" on the wall. When I asked for the all-you-can-drink option, I was told it was too late for the first drink. I wish I had noticed earlier. The gyoza was just right as a snack. The watercress stir-fry was lightly seasoned. It would be nice to have some pepper on the table. In the end, maybe it's better that they didn't offer all-you-can-drink since the prices are already low.

I used it for a light drink after eating tonkatsu. The alcohol is cheap and good. I only had pickles for snacks, so I can't evaluate them, but many people use it for lunch and it looks delicious. I would like to try drinking while eating sweet and sour pork someday.

I casually dropped by during lunchtime. I chose the recommended gyoza, stick stick chicken, and century egg. The century egg was in a spicy sauce, which somewhat diminished the appeal of the century egg itself, unfortunately. For those who don't like century egg, it might be more palatable. The stick stick chicken was surprisingly generous for its price. The cucumbers and sauce were perfect, making it a great dish to go with drinks. The recommended gyoza was relatively light and not too heavy. It was filled with plenty of vegetables, making it tasty. I also ordered mapo tofu at the end, which was quite mild in spiciness and easy to eat. For those seeking authentic flavors, it might be lacking a bit. The prices were reasonable, and there were plenty of options available, providing a sense of comfort in being able to drink and eat at any time. The smoking area was located next to the restroom, so smokers may find it convenient not having to go outside. Overall, if you're ever in a dilemma in Takadanobaba, this place could be a good spot to have a drink and ponder your thoughts!

There is a restaurant located underground across the street from a kebab shop in the middle of Sakae Street in Takadanobaba Station. I had always avoided going in because it seemed like the shops here never lasted long, but I decided to try it for the first time on a weekday morning. The interior of the restaurant is quite spacious, with around 10 tables. I noticed that sitting by the aisle, I could feel the vibrations whenever someone walked by, which was a bit distracting. The menu ranges from a mapo tofu set for 500 yen to dishes starting at one coin, which made me a little wary, but this time I went with the "sweet and sour pork set for 700 yen." As it approached noon, more and more customers started coming in, and it became quite lively. The food was served in about 10 minutes. The sweet and sour pork looked like a typical dish, with plenty of meat and cabbage as toppings, and the seasoning was just right to make the rice go down smoothly. My hunger was satisfied just right. Since it's a dumpling shop, I might come back next time to try the dumpling set with four different types of dumplings. They accept electronic money like Suica for payment.

In Takadanobaba, we went on a Gotoeat tour and ended up at a 24-hour Gyoza Izakaya for our third stop. It's amazing that they're open 24 hours. The atmosphere is like a typical Chinese izakaya. The drink menu is reasonably priced, around 300 yen per drink. There are various gyoza options on the menu. Since I had just eaten a lot of chicken, I wanted some vegetables. I ordered pea shoot stir-fry, but the seasoning was a bit light this time! I briefly thought I had lost my sense of taste due to COVID-19, but everyone else agreed that it was indeed light. We also ordered a gyoza assortment with three types: regular, shrimp, and cheese. Surprisingly, the cheese gyoza was delicious. The gyoza were quite large and tasty, living up to the reputation of a specialty shop. Considering the reasonable prices, I wouldn't mind coming back here again.

Takadanobaba is a relatively new restaurant on Sakaedori. As a fan of gyoza, I was curious and decided to stop by for a drink on my day off. The location used to be an "aisle seat" izakaya. When I went down the stairs and entered the restaurant, I noticed that the seating was mostly for 6-8 people facing each other, which felt quite spacious for a single person. The place was popular among students and young office workers. There was a lady from a foreign country handling the service alone. The set advertised outside "1 highball + 5 gyoza" for ¥500 was not on the table menu, so I was glad I took a picture of it. I showed this to the lady and everything was fine. Once seated, a large amount of appetizers (later found out to be ¥300 as a seating fee) were automatically served. It included dried beans, yuba, and pickled vegetable scraps, which left a bad impression. If they were going to serve something like this, simple salted peanuts would have been better. While waiting, I looked at the menu and found that the prices were quite cheap. A glass of black label draft beer for ¥300, highball for ¥300, and sour drinks for ¥300. A bottle of Kinmiya for only ¥1200. In terms of food, apart from gyoza for ¥300 and mixed fried rice for ¥380, the rest was similar to cheap Chinese dishes found in the area, with a somewhat standard menu. The gyoza that arrived was nicely shaped with a good sear. The seasoning of the filling was quite mild. I usually eat gyoza as is, but this one needed some help from condiments. I tried adding vinegar, soy sauce, and chili oil (maybe next time), and it significantly improved the flavor. One glass was not enough, so I ordered a second highball for ¥300. When I pressed the button on the drink bar machine, whiskey of unknown brand was extracted from the tank below. It's better not to drink too much of this. I also ordered the mixed fried rice, which had a small portion but included a piece of char siu, adding a nice accent to the lightly seasoned fried rice with salt and oil. For ¥380, it was definitely worth it. When I saw "Takadanobaba branch," I decided to look it up. Surprisingly, there are 10 branches in Tokyo. It might become a threatening presence to Japanese-Chinese chains like Osho, Fukushin, Hidakaya, and Manchuria. If they didn't charge a seating fee, my impression would have been even better.

Today's lunch was decided to wander around Sakae Street for now. Where should I go... Oh, there seems to be a new restaurant here. I forgot the name, but I remember it used to be a cheap dining izakaya open 24 hours. Now it has reopened as a 24-hour Gyoza Sakaba. I approach the restaurant and see a lunch menu sign. Let's give it a try. I go down the stairs to the basement. Upon entering, the interior is mainly red and black. There are large table seats at high counters and chairs for sharing. The style of these chairs is quite unique... When you sit back, it hits your back, so it's quite a unique style. There are about 10 lunch menu options. It's strange that they have a limit of 80 servings. Does it mean it's limited to 80 bowls of rice...? No, rice refills are free... The prices range from ¥500 to ¥850. Salad, pickles, and soup are included, and white rice refills are free. There is also a drink bar with jasmine tea and oolong tea, which is a nice touch. ● Leek and liver set meal: ¥600 (tax included) The leek liver has a slightly strong soy sauce flavor. The liver is cut into manageable pieces, making it easy to eat. However, it may make you thirsty because the flavor is a bit strong. ● Gyoza Sakaba assorted grilled dumplings: ¥850 (tax included) (12 pieces, with cheese, shrimp, and regular dumplings) The cheese dumplings have a strong aroma. The shrimp dumplings have a distinct texture but the taste is not very noticeable... The regular dumplings are also lacking in flavor... The main dish, the dumplings, are a bit disappointing... There are separate restrooms for men and women, both equipped with bidets, which is appreciated. There is also a mouthwash station, which is well-maintained. Visit date: September 18, 2020

A new gyoza pub has opened in the basement of a building in the middle of the dining district on Sakae Street in Takadanobaba Kitazawa. The entrance is located down an alley next to a kebab stall. I visited for lunch on a weekday. Although I thought the menu would be mainly gyoza, they also offer various Chinese set meals like stir-fried eggplant and sweet and sour pork, reminiscent of Little China. You can get free rice refills, but surprisingly, the set meals do not come with gyoza. There was only one menu option for gyoza, a set of 4 different types, but I didn't want cheese, so I ended up ordering the Char Siu Ramen + Five-Ingredient Fried Rice set for 750 yen and added gyoza for 300 yen. It seems they managed to increase the price per item. However, I still wish the gyoza was included in the set meals. The interior of the restaurant is filled with large standing tables, and there are also red cushioned bench seats set up high. It's not bad. There was one Chinese female staff member in the restaurant who provided polite service. Looking at the main menu, the restaurant offers many familiar Chinese dishes at very affordable prices. Also, their "Early Morning Drink All You Can" deal from 12:30 am to 5 am for 1980 yen is interesting. The Char Siu Ramen arrived in a relatively small bowl with three thick slices of pork and bean sprouts in a soy-flavored clear soup. When I tasted the soup, I was surprised to find a subtle star anise flavor, which I used to dislike but now appreciate as a good Chinese flavor. The noodles were medium thickness and quite plentiful. The Char Siu was well-cooked, with a tender and flavorful texture. The fried rice had a decent portion size and was a simple egg fried rice, but the saltiness was a bit strong. The gyoza took 12 minutes to arrive and came in a set of 5 large pieces. They were crispy on the outside, with a simple and light filling. I wish they had a bit more flavor. They provided sweet and spicy gyoza sauce on the table, and the sweet sauce paired well with the gyoza. Overall, the lunch was a bit over 1000 yen at Little China, and I hope they offer a lunch set with gyoza for around 880 yen (excluding tax).

The food is delicious and cheap. However, it can get noisy depending on the time. The noise level can make it difficult to have a proper conversation. The place is small and the seats are cramped. The staff, although busy, may not come when called because they are working alone. They are not bad staff, just busy. They are Asian, so if you think of it as being in China, it's not a big deal. The all-you-can-drink option may not be worth it during busy times since the staff may not come around often. It's better to just order normally, as it's cheaper. The all-you-can-drink deal is only worth it if you can have at least 6 drinks in 90 minutes. If you go during a quieter time, the food is good and I recommend it.

Because it's a horse racing track, it can't be helped, but the toilets are dirty and there are only noisy students.