Westin Station is probably about 6-7 minutes south. Head east at the Nishioji Takatsuji intersection. Along the north side of Takatsuji Street. There is a Super Life nearby. I tried calling and visiting multiple times but was always turned away, I lost count of how many times I tried. I was able to make a same-day reservation by chance. The food system is unique. First, order the basic dishes for 2500 yen tax included per person. Appetizer + dim sum + 2 dishes for 2500 yen. Basically, it's omakase, made by the owner's ad-lib. If you want more, you can add dishes like "sweet and sour pork" or "mapo tofu". It's like a sushi restaurant where omakase course is the basic offering. This time, the main dish was stir-fried autumn salmon and taro. The umami flavor from the salmon clings to the crispy surface of the taro. While I was initially puzzled, the Chinese-style seasoning and the taste grew on me. Whether it's the appetizer or the soup, the owner's creativity and ability to combine flavors seem to be very high. So, perhaps this system is in place to avoid being constrained by existing menus. It's a place for those who want to taste the "master's flavor", for better or for worse. In return, you can enjoy the element of surprise in the dishes that are served. Everything was delicious this time. If I had to say, I prefer the mapo tofu with more minced meat, firmer tofu rather than soft, and a stronger, earthy flavor... but that's purely my personal preference.

When I asked for the cold noodles, they were not available, so I ended up having the tantanmen for lunch. I took a bite and found the flavor to be very bland, with no spiciness at all in the tantanmen. To be honest, it didn't taste good and didn't suit my palate. I'm not sure about their dinner menu or à la carte dishes, but if the lunch was of this quality, I don't have high expectations for the dinner either. Although this restaurant has received decent ratings, taste is subjective and varies for each individual.

A Chinese restaurant without a menu. You are first charged 3,300 yen per person. Today, the owner served an appetizer platter, tender soup, and stir-fried shrimp and vegetables. Additional dishes can be requested. I added meat dishes, coriander, mapo tofu, and fried rice. They also have a wide selection of natural wines, and I enjoyed orange wine. The natural dishes are gentle and satisfying. A very satisfying restaurant.

I went to Kyoto for a business trip and chose a popular Chinese restaurant called "Manbo Restaurant" for lunch. The lunch menu offered was the "Tofu White Soup Five-Ingredient Champon" for 950 yen. I sat at the counter seat and the interior of the restaurant was cozy with table seats in the back. They served hot Oolong tea which warmed both my body and heart. Without saying anything, the cooking began and the "Tofu White Soup Five-Ingredient Champon" was served. It was filled with plenty of ingredients, including lots of pork. I took a sip of the soup and it was delicious! The mild tofu base with ginger was perfect for warming up on a cold winter day. Although they only offer one menu for lunch, they have various creative dishes available for dinner. I would love to visit again for dinner.

"Mambo Restaurant" in Kyoto, near Saiin Hankyu Station. I visited for dinner and had the Saiin Hankyu Course, which includes appetizers, dumplings, and two main dishes for 3000 yen per person. The restaurant doesn't have a set menu, but they will accommodate any additional requests. Everything was delicious!

My local friends recommended and made a reservation for me at this place during my long-awaited return to Kyoto. It's quite rare to drink in this place even though it's in Kyoto, so it seems like a hidden gem. The interior has about 6 counter seats and 2 tables in the back. The atmosphere is dim and calm, making it suitable even for a date. The unique style of this place is that they don't have menus; you just convey your mood and they create dishes for you, which is quite exciting. First, a 3000 yen per person course with 4 dishes chosen by the owner is served, and then you can order additional items from the menu. The dishes are as shown in the photos. The appetizers have a nice kick of spice, which I found delicious. The juicy meat juice of the Tianjin dumplings was a great start. The spare rib soup had a Chinese flavor I've never tasted before. The spring rolls, mapo tofu, and fried rice that we ordered separately were all delicious and satisfying. This place uses quite a strong spicy flavor, which I personally like, so I give it a thumbs up. I would definitely like to visit this place again.

It's been a while since I visited "Mambo Restaurant", a favorite Chinese restaurant of mine. They now offer a set menu for 3000 yen, consisting of 4 dishes (appetizer, dim sum, 2 main dishes). You can also add more dishes if you like. First, the appetizer platter was delicious, with crunchy jellyfish and tasty pickled tomatoes. The dim sum was dumplings with soup inside, similar to xiaolongbao, and very tasty. The Cantonese-style roasted pork had a great texture and went well with mustard. The tempura of conger eel was fluffy and the slightly sweet sauce complemented it perfectly. I also recommend trying the spring rolls if you visit Mambo. The shrimp dish was not what I expected, but the large prawns were delicious, especially with the sauce. The chilled sesame noodles with winter melon had a spicy kick to it and were also very tasty.

I visited a Chinese restaurant that serves dishes with plenty of summer vegetables. I had a refreshing cold noodles with summer vegetables and spicy sesame paste for lunch. Of course, I also tried their mapo tofu. Everything I ate was delicious! The restaurant has a stylish atmosphere and you can enjoy delicious Chinese food at a reasonable price. I will definitely go back!

The course was 4 dishes for 2500 yen (tax included), with the option to add additional items a la carte. It started with an appetizer platter, followed by a tempura dish, soup, and main course. I had room for more, so I ordered 2 extra dishes. The flavors were not too strong, gentle, and slightly unique, which I really enjoyed.

Today's lunch was at "Mambo Restaurant", a Chinese restaurant located east of the Nishioji Takatsuji intersection. It's a popular place and difficult to get a reservation, so I've been wanting to visit someday. The restaurant has a narrow entrance and doesn't look like a typical Chinese restaurant from the outside. Inside, there is a small counter seating area in front of the kitchen where reggae music plays in the background. The selection of Japanese sake displayed may not appeal to everyone. There are two tables at the back of the restaurant. For lunch, there is only one option available, the "Mambo Restaurant's Cool Noodles 2021 ver." priced at 980 yen. I decided to try it out. The menu warns that if you don't like vegetables, you should give up, which is quite challenging. When you place your order, they will ask about your vegetable preferences. A glass of water is served in a jug. The dish is carefully prepared and takes some time to cook. Finally, what arrived was a bowl of salad-like noodles. It doesn't look like cold noodles at all. It includes okra, bell peppers, carrots, and burdock root. You are instructed to mix it well from the bottom. The vegetables are all flavorful and give a sense of the season. The texture of figs and nuts is unique and interesting. The noodles are thick and slightly curly, providing a chewy texture. They are delicious when mixed with the sauce at the bottom. The portion size is quite generous. Popular restaurants like this one offer a new and unique deliciousness with their unconventional approach.

"Mambo Restaurant" in Saiin is a delicious Chinese restaurant with a stylish interior and beautiful Chinese dishes. Currently, they offer a set menu for 2000 yen, which includes an appetizer platter, dim sum, and 2 main dishes. After finishing the meal, they will also make any dish you desire, similar to the style of a "Midnight Diner." The appetizer platter includes a pork salad with coriander, spring rolls filled with firefly squid and boiled whitebait, and spare rib and watercress soup, all of which were delicious. Adding their famous dumplings is a must. The dumplings here are like xiao long bao with soup inside and a satisfying meat filling. All this for 2000 yen per person is a great deal. I also had some meat dishes made to order. I look forward to trying their mapo tofu, tan-tan noodles, and other dishes on my next visit."

Mambo Restaurant in Nishiiin, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto. ♡ Appetizers [Cantonese-style roasted pork, steamed chicken, cumin stir-fried cabbage, bamboo shoots] ♡ Dim sum is chewy and juicy ♡ Crispy fried quail ♡ Stir-fried octopus and yellow chives with XO sauce, crunchy and delicious texture. A cheap and delicious Cantonese restaurant. #Mambo Restaurant #Nishiiin #Nishioji-dori #Takatsuji-dori #Chinese cuisine #Cantonese #Dim sum #Fried chicken #Chinese #Izakaya #Kyoto gourmet #Kyoto food tour #Aishibio #Aitaiyou #Aitaiyou's Let's eat in Kyoto #Aishibio Kyoto gourmet.

I'm surprised to find a shop like this in Saiin (lol). Setting aside the small details, the overall quality and cost performance were excellent. It's best to try a lot of different dishes. Definitely worth a visit. You won't regret it.

This evening, it's a Friday night without dinner. Where to go... I suddenly felt the urge for Chinese food (lol). The other day, when I went there by bike, I had a brief conversation with the owner at the front of the store. "I didn't have lunch today." "Well, maybe I'll come back for dinner then... (*^^)v" I remembered that scene and thought, "I should go there for dinner tonight." I arrived before 6:00 PM and waited outside while thinking about the menu until the store opened. I didn't have to wait long, as the owner and I made eye contact and the store opened (lol). At that moment, he asked, "You're not on your bike today??" ...He remembered me (*^^)v Inside the store, there are counter seats in front of the kitchen and table seats in the back. Since I was alone, I sat at the counter seat closest to the entrance. This seat is actually a special seat where I can have a conversation with the owner. First, as usual, I ordered a draft beer, which came in a chilled glass. For my order, I had: - Assorted appetizers: steamed chicken with salt sauce, Szechuan spice-fried cashew nuts, and pickled mustard greens. Perfect appetizers for beer. - Homemade bacon and apple crispy spring rolls: The spring rolls were crispy and hot, with smoked bacon and melting apples giving a great taste. - It was time to switch to Shaoxing wine, so I tried a comparison of 3 brands, with the 10-year-old one being the most delicious. - Oyster and kujo green onion fluffy omelette: A large oyster wrapped in egg like an omelette, topped with plenty of oyster sauce. Delicious. - "I'm going to make some dumplings now, would you like some?" "In that case, a small portion please." "Shall we go with 3 pieces then (lol)?" The dumplings were served with a delicious chili oil sauce. - For the finish, Shanghai fried noodles: I was about to pour the leftover chili oil on it when the owner noticed and said, "I'll bring you more (^^♪ it'll taste even better." Despite eating and drinking so much, the final bill was only 6500 yen... (^^♪ Thank you until the end, I'll come back again! P/S During the enjoyable conversation with the owner, he mentioned, "Do you know a chef named Kochou who used to work at Katsura?" It turns out that a chef who trained at a hotel in Katsura and ran a restaurant in Gion for 7 years has opened his own place. This chef is also from Katsura and came here with a love for the local area. I visited his place recently and will review it next time... (^^♪ Thank you for the delicious meal. (*^^)v

The restaurant is very charming and well thought out at night, and I am a fan. However, the lunch was disappointing and average. None of the dishes were delicious, but they weren't terrible either. It might be because it's not a place known for its tantanmen. If someone came for lunch without knowing the greatness of the dinner menu, they might rate it as a 2.4. When you go expecting Chinese food, you only have three options: two types of noodles or Chinese porridge. I shouldn't have come. The tantanmen was ¥750. It lacked depth of flavor and portion size, falling short of expectations. I managed to eat it without too much difficulty by mixing it well, as it lacked richness. For me, the dinner menu is a 4.1.

Recently, there has been a growing popularity for local Chinese restaurants. It can be difficult to visit Chinese restaurants that require a large group, so the cozy atmosphere of local Chinese restaurants is much appreciated. I had heard good things about this place before, but I never knew that they had such an amazing selection of hot sake. So, I decided to go and check it out. Besides what's listed on the menu, there are various other options available, such as Akijika, Dobu, and Hanakawa. The dumplings were juicy like xiaolongbao and the bite-sized pieces were lovely. I couldn't resist ordering lotus root again because I love the texture. And the mapo tofu with just the right amount of spiciness was truly delicious. The way they recommended, "Would you like us to make mapo tofu for you now?" was nice. It felt like everything was just right, and I couldn't help but say, "Yes, please." The combination of hot sake and local Chinese cuisine is irresistible.

This is a restaurant where you'll want to try other items on the menu!

Char siu and Kujyo negi (green onion) Chinese noodles for 850 yen (tax included). The soup is soy sauce-based and light. It was delicious. The master's faint smile is lovely.

The menu consists of set courses, but they adjust the portion and content according to the customer's preference. I mentioned that I wanted to have rice at the end, and they prepared fried rice for me. Everything was delicious.

I had a reservation for a course meal around 3000 yen per person on a regular night, and all the dishes were delicious with a creative Chinese or ethnic twist. The location is a bit hard to get to, but I would like to visit again!

I arrived at the restaurant on a regular Tuesday around 8 PM. There were only a few customers. I ordered the mabo tofu with less spice. The spiciness of the Sichuan pepper increased my appetite! It seems that the restaurant is relatively easy to get a table for a second round, so it might be a good choice to visit again.