For lunch today, I decided to try a new place in Ikebukuro called Yuyi Shangdian, which serves what seems to be a mix of sketchy Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine. The restaurant seemed to be indifferent towards the political situation between China and Taiwan, which was a relief. The ordering system was a bit confusing for me at first, but I managed to figure it out eventually. I tried dishes like Taiwanese ramen, sausage, Sichuan fried rice, water dumplings, daikon mochi, drooling chicken, and Taiwanese shaved ice with tangyuan. The sausage was sweeter than I expected, the ramen was flavorful, the daikon mochi was served hot, the fried rice was tasty but the portion was small, the water dumplings were good, and the drooling chicken was delicious. The shaved ice with tangyuan was a unique dessert with figs, dried fruits, and a sesame paste filling. The restaurant had a mix of Chinese and Japanese customers, and there were other interesting shops on the same floor. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience. #Kita-Ikebukuro #YuyiShangdian #SichuanCuisine #TaiwaneseCuisine

I always used to choose Sichuan cuisine, but this time I tried Shanghai cuisine. I had Shanghai-style scallion oil noodles for 500 yen and Shanghai soup dumplings for 580 yen. The scallion oil noodles had sauce at the bottom, so you mix it well with the noodles before eating. It had no toppings, but the scent of the scallions was appetizing and very delicious. The soup dumplings were honestly neither good nor bad, so next time I will try a different Shanghai dish.

Sichuan Cold Noodles for 780 yen is a Sichuan-style cold Chinese noodle dish. It is spicy and delicious, perfect for hot days as it is refreshing. The thick noodles are served with a slightly spicy sauce, but with soup on the side, if you drink the soup last, it leaves a refreshing aftertaste. #Sichuan cuisine #Ikebukuro gourmet #Ikebukuro #Tantanmen #Sichuan Cold Noodles #Cold Chinese noodles #Cold Chinese noodles #Yuho Shoten

A food court gathering Taiwanese and Chinese (by region) flavors, without catering to Japanese tastes. There is also a Chinese grocery store next door, where you can bring in ingredients purchased there. I enjoyed a hearty and delicious Taiwanese meal, with the Parkoo rice being particularly satisfying. It can get quite crowded, so I wouldn't recommend going in a large group.

On July 7, 2022, at 2:02 PM, I stopped by Isetan Shinjuku on my way back and got off at Ikebukuro Station before visiting "Uo Uo" and heading to "Yuuyi Shangdian". It had been a while since I saw the "Premium Goose Oil with Scallions" on the shelf, but it was over 1000 yen, so I decided to get it next time. I couldn't find the bottles of "Daichi Fish Powder" and "Shrimp Roe" despite searching for them. The staff said they didn't have them, so I ended up buying "Chicken Egg Noodles" and "Shrimp Wontons" instead. I had bought the "Chicken Egg Noodles" before, but the noodles here don't break easily, which is convenient. The unique aroma of the noodles is a bit similar to Marutai instant ramen noodles. On July 26, I was planning to go to the "Boston Museum of Fine Arts" exhibition, but unfortunately, it was raining outside. I gave up on the art and decided to go for some "delicious food from Hong Kong" instead. I made Hong Kong-style fried noodles "Soy Sauce Emperor Chow Mein" and two servings of "Chicken Egg Noodles". Boil the noodles for 1-1.5 minutes in boiling water. Once you put the noodles in the water, do not touch them for at least 30 seconds, or they will break. After about 30 seconds, gently loosen the noodles. If you boil them for 2-3 minutes, they will be overcooked. After boiling for about 1 minute, drain the noodles in a colander. In a pan, heat sesame oil (or peanut oil or lard) and stir-fry julienned ginger, scallions, and the base of Chinese chives. Once fragrant, add the noodles and quickly stir-fry to coat them with oil. Immediately add the seasoning mixture from the side of the pan, allowing the flavors to blend with the noodles. Finish with sesame seeds, cilantro, and chili sauce according to your preference. When ordering outside, they often serve greasy and soggy noodles and charge over 1000 yen, but if you make it at home, it won't turn out as bad. It's cheaper and tastes better. If you want to add toppings, a handful of bean sprouts is enough. There's no need to add meat or shrimp. If you want to show off, you can add truffles or caviar to your heart's content! (Even though it doesn't really go together). Thank you for the meal.

I was delighted to find a Chinese grocery store in Ueno, but I realized there is also one in Ikebukuro, very close to the station called Yuuyi Shangdian. I came here just for shopping without eating, as I saw it featured in a certain video. They have a wide variety of seasonings, and many Chinese people were shopping there, which seems like a good sign. This time, I bought some snacks made with sansho berries and chili oil. When I made mapo tofu at home, it became more delicious with the added flavor. This time, I bought chili oil with peanuts, but they have many varieties like chili oil with tofu or meat. I didn't know about the world of Chinese cuisine before, but this place seems easy for beginners to explore.

On April 25, 2022, after eating steak at "Lumonde" in Shinjuku, I finished my errands and headed to Ikebukuro before returning home. I stopped by "Yuuki Shoten" to do some shopping. I bought fried shallots, egg noodles, quail eggs, Hong Kong-style soy sauce yakisoba kit, and two packs of dry noodles with sauce. It was a bit pricey, but I decided to try it out. I also bought two freshly fried "you tiao" to enjoy on the way home. On May 2, for lunch, I used the stir-fry noodle kit to make "Chiu Chow-style Soy Sauce Fried Noodles." I followed a recipe from a magazine and added some personal touches. The noodles were cooked for a minute and a half, then stir-fried with sesame oil, leeks, onions, and ginger. I added the sauce and mixed everything together. It was simple and delicious, just like the noodles you would find in a Hong Kong tea restaurant. It was a satisfying meal.

On January 5, 2022, I went to the hospital for my first visit of the year, got my medication, and then visited the Suntory Museum of Art to see the "Prince Shotoku Exhibition." On my way back home in Ikebukuro, I did some shopping at various places. At 2:10 PM, I stopped by "Yuuji Shouten" and found that they had restocked many items that were previously out of stock, except for some specialty items like "Pumpkin Seeds with Skin" which had no definite restocking date. I ended up buying a pack of "Quail Century Eggs" and 2 freshly fried "You Tiao" sticks. The price of "You Tiao" had increased to 200 yen from the previous 180 yen, probably due to the rising costs of flour and oil. On January 7, there was heavy snowfall, making the area in front of my house an ice rink. Luckily, I had stocked up on food on the 5th. For lunch, I decided to have Chinese congee, specifically "Quail Century Egg Congee," with a simple broth made from chicken bones and scallops. Topped with century egg, coriander, and scallions mixed with sesame oil and Chinese soy sauce, along with some marinated chicken gizzards and crispy pork belly. I also toasted the "You Tiao" sticks I bought from Yuuji Shouten on the 5th. They were crispy and fluffy, perfect for dipping into the congee. It was a delicious and warming meal. Here's to hoping for a great year ahead!

"Yuuyoku Shokufu" is primarily a Chinese supermarket that sells Chinese ingredients. Across the street, "Youkou City" stands out, but this place, located on the 4th floor of a somewhat shady building, doesn't seem to have many Japanese customers. However, recently, there seems to be a fair amount of younger people coming here. Personally, I enjoy the Chinese Northeastern cuisine lamb skewers with spices, and I come here seeking that. Also, the Eight Treasure Porridge. I wrote about it in my review of Yokohama Chinatown, but it's cheaper here. The "Hein Skewer Seasoning/Hein Grilled Seasoning 40g" (150 yen) - the one in the picture. It's about twice the price on Rakuten and other sites. It gives off a Northeastern skewer cuisine vibe with a blend of cumin and various other spices. It also has salt, so you don't need to add any more. It's quite spicy, with the heat of the chili peppers lingering. It may be impolite, but sprinkling this on supermarket grilled chicken or less tasty grilled chicken instantly brings a taste of Harbin, China. It's quite handy in that sense. The "Taishan Eight Treasure Porridge" (160 yen) - as shown in the picture. Chilled in the refrigerator and eaten as a breakfast in the summer morning, it's a nice treat. It's a dessert base similar to Taiwanese zenzai with a porridge-like touch. It's somewhat sweet, with a slightly thick consistency, but not sticky, refreshing, slightly sweet, and filling. I really like it. This is also sold on Rakuten and Amazon, but buying in bulk like 24 cans would be expensive with shipping costs, so I buy it here. They also have fresh fish, frozen foods, and a variety of other items. I'm not very knowledgeable about them, but I think anyone can see what they offer. Personally, I know a bit more about Korean ingredients and seasonings, so even if they're slightly more expensive, I buy instant ramen or heavy miso products from Shin-Okubo or elsewhere, as they are also available here. The evaluation of such a store would greatly depend on what you buy, so I have prioritized price and variety in my assessment. (By Kyonatsushuukuu, 2021.8.10) (6 reviews/3.06)

I visited the "Youyi Shangdian" shop in front of Ikebukuro North Exit. I have been using the Chinese food ingredients shop across the street for a while, but I didn't notice this shop before... It is located on the 4th floor of a building with Chinese characters dancing around, and there is also a fun food court called "Youyi Shifu" that I introduced before. It's a lovely space where you can enjoy shopping and dining! This time, I bought frozen dumplings, seasonings, five-spice powder, chili peppers, sauces, etc. I was too scared to buy pork head meat, but I had fun looking at lamb spare ribs, pork offal, and other meat parts. They have a wide variety of drinks, including strong white liquor over 50 degrees (various brands available), Shaoxing wine, and a famous old drink called "Wanglaoji." China is the birthplace of dumplings, so there is a wide range of dumplings sold in a large corner. It seems like it would take quite a long time to try them all... The store is bright and clean, and the service from the staff was good. For those who want to enjoy a different kind of shopping experience than Yokohama's Chinatown, I recommend this place. The food court even has breakfast menus. I think there are few people who can actually do it, but you could have a deep Chinese full-course meal by having breakfast here, then hopping to nearby places like "Zhiyin Shitang" or the duck shop next door, shopping at Youyi Shangdian, and returning to the food court for dinner.

I had lunch at the "Youyi Food Court" and also bought some takeout side dishes. Afterwards, I stopped by the supermarket section ("Youyi Foods") as well. I carefully checked out the hand-pulled noodles there. There are various types of dried noodles available, so I thought I would like to try them when I cook hot pot at home on weekends. So, I bought this 500g pack for 260 yen. It's easy to prepare since you just need to put it in the soup and simmer. It's really convenient, isn't it? I also bought almond juice and grass jelly. The refreshing grass jelly is a repeat purchase for me. It can be eaten anytime if kept in the refrigerator. The almond juice is not too sweet, but sweet enough, and it brings back nostalgic memories. (This product has been around since I was young!) ("Let's go to Little China!")

I can't believe there's a Chinese supermarket near the station! They sell dumplings in big bags and have a variety of frozen meats, including pork. I was surprised to see they had wild boar meat too! I think they call pigs "wild boar" in China? It's so interesting! They also have giant ginger and a big fish tank with carp, crucian carp, and other shellfish. I've never butchered a live fish before, so I found it fascinating to watch them. They also sell frozen carp and catfish. I didn't buy any because I'm going out for drinks later, but I think it would be nice to have a dumpling hot pot party as it gets colder. I should come back and buy something next time!

On the way back from eating at the food court's "Friendship Kitchen," I also went shopping at the grocery store "Friendship Store." This time, I finally bought some products from "Xiang La Mei Zi" that I had been curious about for a while. I grabbed some Sichuan sausages, spicy sauce, and "husband and wife lung slices" from the refrigerated case. Yes, you can actually buy pre-packaged husband and wife lung slices! When you open the pack, you'll find beef tripe and vegetables mixed with a sauce, so you just need to mix it all together to have a quick and easy dish. Convenient, right? When I tried it, the spiciness was just right, without much adjustment for Japanese taste. The sauce is really delicious too. You can pour the leftover sauce on vegetables and it tastes great! Of course, the texture of the tripe is perfect as well. It was manufactured on January 21st and has a shelf life until January 26th, which is nice. It's nice to have an easy option for Chinese dishes at home, don't you think? (From "Ikebukuro Chinatown")

After having lunch at a friend's food court, I bought some sour plum drink (plum juice) at the food market and used it as a cooling pack for pig ears (hilarious). Then I got some hot soy milk from the breakfast corner. It was really hot and delicious. They asked if I wanted sugar, but I wanted it light this time, so I had it without sugar. The taste of the soybeans was really strong. It said "freshly ground soy milk" on the sign, so they must be making it here. It's like freshly squeezed soybean juice. Despite the various problems in China, coming here reminds me of the good old days of China. The vibrant China of the 1980s to 1990s. That era of China was really interesting! It had a charm that made you want to keep coming back. Let's come back here when we feel nostalgic again (laughs).

I had a light lunch at "Yuji Shokudo" which opened in the Yuji Shouten in Ikebukuro. While I was there, I also did some shopping at Yuji Shouten. Since I had to work until evening, I couldn't buy too much, but I got frozen steamed buns (mantou) and oil tea noodles (powder cookies). The mantou is a type of steamed bread that is more chewy and moist than Japanese steamed buns. You can eat it as is or sandwich some side dishes in between. I bought two sets of the 2-piece mantou, which were around 200 yen each. I steamed and ate them for dinner, sandwiching them with leftover stir-fried kale and broccoli. The mantou had a simple wheat flavor, making it versatile for different fillings. I haven't tried the oil tea noodles yet, but they are typically eaten for breakfast in China.

After eating, I stopped by "Youyi Shangdian" right outside the north exit. This place used to be called "Zhiyin Shufan" in the past, but it changed to Youyi Shangdian about 9 years ago. I have visited here frequently to shop, but last week when I stopped by after a long time, I noticed that they had added a small shop where you can eat in or take out snacks. Freshly fried youtiao in the store, that's nice. It's not too expensive at 180 yen per piece. Let's buy some. So, I bought 2 pieces of youtiao. They were not freshly fried, but slightly warm which was nice. They had a fluffy texture, with a hint of sweetness rather than saltiness. There were some areas where the oil wasn't drained well, but the oiliness wasn't too bothersome, and I ended up eating half of one piece in no time. Although you can also get freshly made youtiao at Ameyoko, for me, Ikebukuro is closer, so I plan to use this place in the future.

【2012/04/30】I had a free day so I went to Ikebukuro with my mother to buy Chinese ingredients. We had some pan-fried dumplings at Eisho Shengjian Guan, then went to Zhiyin Shokuhin and bought various Chinese ingredients. They have a wide selection here, so be careful not to buy too much! ("Once again, the Pan-Fried Dumplings Promotion Committee! (laughs)") 【2010/08/15】I always say I prefer to make my own chili oil, but of course, I also buy chili oil sometimes. The other day, I bought Laoganma's "Xiangla Cui Oil Chili." I've been using Laoganma products for about 10 years now. "Laoganma" means "mother-in-law" in Chinese. Using this chili oil can make your dish taste like your mother's cooking. By the way, the Laoganma brand is considered a good company in China because they actively employ disabled people. I used to buy "Flavorful La Zi Ji" and "Flavorful Dou Chi" often. I was thinking "I haven't bought this in a while" when I saw it at Yuyi Shangdian in Ikebukuro on Wednesday. Since I had never tried this Xiangla Cui Oil Chili before, I decided to give it a try. It has a strong onion flavor, with the sweetness of onions. It's also quite spicy. ("Chili Oil Collection")

When the elevator doors on the 4th floor of the building open, it's like a "door to anywhere". In no time, you'll find yourself in a local supermarket in China. The fish tanks, the scent of durian in the air, everything feels authentic. The supermarket has a wide variety of Chinese ingredients, making it a nostalgic experience for those who have lived in China. It's also a great place to buy spices and vermicelli at a good price. There is a food court attached as well. Just so you know, there are hardly any Japanese customers.

I buy drinks like Chinta beer at the supermarket where food is lined up, and I buy large dumplings such as leek dumplings and beef pancakes from stalls around the food court area. The dried tofu snack was delicious. All the shops are friendly and helpful, they even tell you where to find cups and tissues.

After dinner at Daibou, I stopped by the Yuuyi Shoten near the station (where there used to be a magazine called "Zhiyin") to buy some ingredients I wanted to keep on hand. I bought a variety of items, including fried shallots and Wang Laoji, and I was satisfied. Even though I'm in Tokyo, being able to experience a Chinese atmosphere is definitely a perk of Ikebukuro. ("Ikebukuro is the essence of Chinese cuisine~♪")