During a regular day, I had the No-Wait Chicken with Scallion and Ginger Sauce (¥1,300), Mapo Tofu (¥1,700), and Soupless Tantanmen (¥). In the evening, I also ordered three items a la carte. They only had bottled beer, no draft beer available. Each of the three dishes had excellent seasoning and were undeniably delicious Chinese dishes. It felt more like casual Chinese food rather than authentic Chinese cuisine. The Mapo Tofu was not the traditional Sichuan style, but more of a Japanese take on it. It wasn't very spicy, but still very tasty. It was a shame that they didn't have draft beer, as it would have paired well with the food. The Soupless Tantanmen had a unique glossy thin noodle. It was mixed well with the sauce and was also fantastic. It would definitely be a popular item even at a Tantanmen specialty shop. Overall, I believe anything you order here would be delicious, but the only downside was that they seemed quite busy with just one staff member, making it a bit difficult to place additional orders.

I had seen this place being featured in a popular media outlet before and finally got the chance to visit. When I made a reservation, they mentioned that the service might be slow since they are a one-person operation, which I appreciated. The restaurant is located on Nijo Street, known for having many great dining spots. As soon as I arrived right after opening, the place was already full with reservations. I started off with a toast with a bottle of beer - they had a great selection of beers like Akahoshi and Heartland. I chose Heartland and it was delicious. The owner, who was handling everything alone, had a calm and soothing demeanor which made the experience very pleasant. I decided to start with some pickled radish and black vinegar pork. The radish came out quickly and was a great snack with the beer, followed by the black vinegar pork which was light and tasty. It was different from the usual black vinegar pork I'm used to, but the sauce was really good. I then switched to Shaoxing wine and ordered the Hoikoro and soupless tantanmen. The dishes arrived after a short wait. The Hoikoro looked heavy but was surprisingly light and delicious. It was a different experience from the usual greasy Hoikoro you find in regular Chinese restaurants. The soupless tantanmen had a beautiful presentation and tasted amazing. Overall, it was a satisfying experience trying out the light Sichuan cuisine for the first time. Thank you for the meal.

Near the famous ramen shop Menya Takakura Nijo, there was a restaurant called Kenkoba that I read about in a magazine and wanted to try. When making a reservation, I was told that there is only one chef so the food might take a while to be served. We made a reservation for 6:00 PM. When the restaurant opened at 6:00 PM, there were 4 other groups besides us, a total of 5 groups entering at the same time, and only one chef, as I had anticipated. As expected, each dish was served quite slowly, so I thought it's definitely not a place to go if you're in a hurry. We entered at 6:00 PM and left the restaurant after 10:00 PM, but there were still other people dining, so it seemed like they only do one turn. However, all the dishes that came out were incredibly elaborate and delicious. Especially the stir-fried dish with large prawns, lime, and Sichuan pepper was outstanding. Even though the fried rice for the finale didn't look much different from homemade fried rice, it was surprisingly delicious. I would love to go back to this restaurant if I have the time.

I went to a certain restaurant to eat soupless tantanmen, but it was closed, so I went to this restaurant that I had prepared as a backup. It was a small, inconspicuous place. I ordered the soupless tantanmen for 900 yen, and it came with a small salad and soy sauce pickled daikon. The soupless tantanmen didn't have any outstanding visual aspects. The ingredients were quite ordinary, and the taste was quite unique with a noticeable sourness. By mixing it well and eating it skillfully, I was able to finish all the ingredients cleanly. I wanted a bit more quantity, but I'm already an old man. It's better for my health to not eat too much. After eating something like this, the cold water you drink at the end tastes so good!

I arrived at 6:30 PM on December 4, 2020, Friday. I ordered dan dan noodles, fried rice, and a bottle of Asahi Super Dry beer. It was delicious and fantastic. My mouth was filled with happiness. I am completely satisfied and feeling very happy. There are many other menu items that I want to try next time. Oh, it was so delicious. Thank you for the meal. I will definitely come back. I appreciate all the ingredients in this world. I'm calling for delicious food♪ The more I eat, the more power overflows♪

Located a 6-7 minute walk from Karasuma Oike Station and Marutamachi Station, nestled quietly in a residential area is the Chinese restaurant Nagekaku. For lunch that day, they offered 3 options: 1) Mapo Tofu Lunch (1000 yen) 2) Dan Dan Noodles (900 yen) 3) Soupless Dan Dan Noodles (900 yen). I chose the Mapo Tofu Lunch (1000 yen) which came with two side dishes, rice, and soup. The side dishes included menma and vegetables (tomato, eggplant, cucumber). The Mapo Tofu was generously topped with minced meat, with a perfect balance of spiciness and sweetness. The rice complemented the dish well and was delicious. I would love to try their evening à la carte menu as well.

I visited the restaurant around 17:15 on Friday without making a reservation for takeout. At that time, they were selling takeout items that needed to be refrigerated. I tried the Chicken and Tomato Stew for 1000 yen. It was more like a tomato soup with tomatoes in it, unlike ratatouille. I warmed it up in the microwave and it was delicious. It had a gentle flavor.

I love Chinese restaurants in town, so I have been visiting "Nakaku" regularly lately. Usually, I sit at the counter, but this time there was a prior reservation, so I had to sit at the last 2-seater table. When I arrived at around 6:30 pm, I was the first customer. Other customers seemed to have made later reservations, so I quickly placed my order before it got busy (laughs). What we ordered: - Ginger ale x2 - Draft beer x2 - Shrimp chili - Braised sea cucumber - Eggplant in spicy stew - Mapo tofu - Dan dan noodles This time, I decided to splurge a bit and ordered the Braised sea cucumber for 7500 yen. The sauce was rich and flavorful, but the sea cucumber itself didn't have much texture and had a slight dried seafood smell. Maybe the soup version would have been better? The shrimp chili was not ketchup-based, but had a tomato sauce that was refreshing with just the right amount of spiciness. It's one of my favorite dishes on the menu. Sichuan dishes often tend to be oily to enhance spiciness, but this one had a light and easy-to-eat flavor with a nice level of spiciness. Sometimes when I sit at the counter, I choke on the spiciness when they are cooking the spicy stir-fry (laughs).

Today's lunch was at a Chinese restaurant called "Saikaku" along Nijo Street. This restaurant has been featured in the Michelin Guide as a "Bib Gourmand" and I've been curious about it for a while. It seems to specialize in Sichuan cuisine. There were people waiting inside the restaurant, but after a short wait, I was seated at the counter. The interior was clean and had a Chinese-style decor. They offer several lunch menu options: Mapo Tofu, weekly specials, Dan Dan noodles, and soupless Dan Dan noodles, all served with two side dishes. I decided to try the classic Mapo Tofu. First, the side dishes like pickled vegetables were served. Then came the Mapo Tofu, rice, and soup. The Mapo Tofu was full of flavor with a good amount of minced meat providing a nice texture. The Sichuan peppercorns added a perfect level of spiciness, not too overwhelming. It paired well with the rice. Overall, I was able to enjoy authentic Sichuan cuisine at this restaurant.

I love the Chinese cuisine made by Chinese people, such as the overseas Chinese and the recently emerging Chinese. It has a strong, savory aroma from the flaming wok, giving it a hearty and satisfying feel. While it may have a slightly different charm when paired with other dishes, it can still be enjoyed in a more refined manner, with a touch of Japanese influence. Despite the refined touch, it still retains the authentic mainland Chinese flavor. The restaurant is versatile for different occasions, offering a selection of wines and sherries for a leisurely dining experience. A must-try dish is the cloud white meat, which stands out on the menu!

Today, I went to a restaurant that has been selected as a Bib Gourmand and serves lunch from Tuesday to Friday. When I arrived around 11:40, there were already two groups of customers. Even though it was a holiday, they were still serving lunch. I quickly decided on the mapo tofu set (1,000 yen), while my wife struggled to choose and finally settled on the soup-less tantanmen (900 yen). The tantanmen did not contain peanuts, which my wife cannot eat, so we were relieved. After about a 10-minute wait, the mapo tofu arrived. It was not extremely spicy, but had just the right amount of heat and a slightly mild flavor. It had a hint of richness that made it quite enjoyable. On the other hand, the soup-less tantanmen had a unique, slightly sweet flavor that we had never tasted before, and it was very delicious. The restaurant was clean and the service was satisfactory, but it left a somewhat bland impression. However, for 1,000 yen, we were very satisfied with being able to enjoy authentic Sichuan cuisine.

I felt like eating Mapo Tofu that day. I wanted something spicy and numbing, so I visited Hankei. I ordered the Mapo Tofu set meal. The side dishes like Zasai that come in small plates are also delicious. The Mapo Tofu had the perfect level of spiciness and numbing sensation that I like. It wasn't overly spicy or numbing, but it was delicious! By the end of the meal, I was gently sweating. Ah, it was so delicious. Thank you for the meal!

I was in the mood for some spicy Chinese food, so I made a same-day reservation and visited "Sai Kaku" in Goshominami. This was my third visit, but my first time writing a review on Tabelog. We had the following items: - Draft beer x2 - Ginger ale - Squid in Sichuan pepper sauce - Twice-cooked pork - Mapo tofu - Dan dan noodles The restaurant is run by the owner and a female server, so when it gets busy, the service can be a bit slow. On this day, the table seats were full, so we were seated at the kitchen counter in the back. The dishes were all light and not too oily. The Sichuan flavors were not overpowering, but just the right amount of spiciness. The squid in Sichuan pepper sauce was a simple dish with lightly blanched squid and a flavorful pepper sauce. It went well with beer. The twice-cooked pork had a nice crunch from the cabbage and bell peppers, and the simple seasoning allowed the ingredients to shine. The mapo tofu had a strong flavor of Sichuan peppercorns, with a lingering spiciness that crept up afterwards. It was not too rich, so it could be enjoyed even without rice. The dan dan noodles had a refreshing and slightly sour soup with a moderate level of spiciness, and thin noodles. It was a light and satisfying way to end the meal. This neighborhood Chinese restaurant offers light Sichuan cuisine at a reasonable price. I recommend making a reservation before visiting.

It's been a while since I had Chinese food for lunch, so I decided to visit Nagekku for the first time in a while. When I arrived at 11:30, there was already a small line forming outside the restaurant. Although I wanted to try the mapo tofu, I couldn't resist ordering the daily special, chicken stir-fried with black vinegar, as I love chicken. The dish had a slightly sweet and spicy black vinegar sauce that paired well with the fried chicken. It was cooked just right, not too hot. I think next time I'll try the tantanmen, which I haven't had before.

I visited the restaurant after receiving a recommendation for their delicious mapo tofu. The lunch menu offers four options: mapo tofu, daily special, dan dan noodles, and soup-less dan dan noodles. The daily special is 1000 yen, while the others are 900 yen each. I tried the mapo tofu, which came with rice, soup, and two side dishes. The mapo tofu had a generous amount of meat, with various spices adding flavor. The numbing spiciness of the Sichuan peppercorns came through later, but it was a delicious level of heat. Personally, I enjoy very spicy food, so I wouldn't have minded if it was even spicier. One of the side dishes was pickled vegetables with a taste reminiscent of Shaoxing wine. It was a unique flavor that I found addictive. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the meal.

I met up with an acquaintance I hadn't seen in a while and we had a meal here. I had been here for lunch before, but this was my first time visiting at night. We started off with a light drink at the bar, so I ordered Shaoxing wine from the beginning. We ordered dishes like chicken with scallions and ginger, shrimp chili, black vinegar sweet and sour pork, and mapo tofu. The food wasn't heavy, but rather focused on bringing out the flavors of the ingredients. Among them, I felt that the mapo tofu was a dish that stood out compared to the others. The Shaoxing wine we drank together had a well-balanced flavor, which paired nicely with the food and was enjoyable to drink.

I have always wanted to go to Bib Gourmand's restaurant. It is a Chinese restaurant, but it is quite elegant so the oiliness is not overwhelming. However, I felt like something was lacking. The dumplings were delicious, but I wish there was a bit more.

When I visited a Chinese restaurant in Kyoto recommended as a town center, I was surprised to enjoy authentic Sichuan cuisine. Lunch was only set meals, but I definitely want to visit this restaurant again next time for à la carte dishes!

I visited during lunchtime. Due to the rain, there were few customers today. It was disappointing that they didn't have the weekly lunch specials due to COVID-19 measures, but they still had mapo tofu! I look forward to delicious lunches without COVID-19 soon.