☆彡Speaking of Chuo-ken, Nagasaki Chanpon and Nagasaki Sarami Udon are famous. Both come with a half portion of fried rice, which is a happy set that I have visited hundreds of times since my student days. It is a familiar shop for people from Osaka. I wanted to eat the omurice here after a long time, so I visited the Namba main store. To be more specific, I actually prefer the chicken rice over the omurice. If you have been to Chuo-ken, you have probably tried the half portion of fried rice set. The chicken rice version of that is also delicious. The charm of stir-frying with Chinese heat is appealing, right? ○ Omurice (1,000 yen) ○ Large portion (+350 yen) The trendy omurice has a half-cooked egg, but the Chinese-style one has a firmer, thinly cooked egg thanks to the high heat. This has its own flavor and is good. I forgot to ask for less ketchup, so it came as the default. The chicken rice alone is flavorful enough, and you might feel like you don't need the egg or ketchup. The chicken rice is so delicious. However, the long-awaited omurice had a drastic reduction in ingredients (´・ω・｀). The ample chicken that used to be there is now only 2-3 pieces, which was disappointing. The seafood like small shrimp was also a delight, but now there is only one piece. Due to price increases, budget restaurants cannot raise their prices significantly, and this is reflected in the reduced amount of ingredients. Chuo-ken is a shop with many delicious menu items. Although the number of menu items has decreased compared to before, there are still plenty of attractive menu items available at the shop (^ω^*) --------------------------- Thank you for reading until the end. Your likes, saves, and follows are encouraging for me. If you like, please click on them (*･ω･)*_ _) I also have an Instagram account @ginjirou.star. Please take a look if you'd like. Thank you!

Chuoken near Namba Station. It has the atmosphere of a chain store Chinese restaurant. I visited around 1 pm on a weekday. A loud and cheerful waitress greeted me, asking "What would you like?" I ordered Nagasaki champon for 1050 yen and a draft beer for 550 yen. The background music was "Ebony and Ivory," bringing back nostalgic feelings. The place was not crowded, mostly solo diners. The champon came in a flat bowl, which was unusual. The soup was a bit less, with thick round champon noodles. The creamy white soup contained cabbage, clams, shrimp, octopus, pork, fish cake, wood ear mushrooms, and other ingredients. The customers came and went. Many people seemed to be ordering plate udon. The music changed to 80s hits like Junko Yagami's "September Love." They also offer side dishes and bottles of shochu, making it suitable for small group gatherings. The 1050 yen for champon might be a bit pricey. Overall, it was a satisfying meal.

I visited the main branch of Chuo-ken, a restaurant specializing in Nagasaki champon and plate udon, on a weekday in May 2023 at around 11 am. Located just a 2-3 minute walk from Kintetsu Namba Station in Osaka, the cozy restaurant had only one other customer. I ordered the "Chan-chan set meal (small fried rice)" for ¥1,450 after browsing the menu. The dish was served in about 10 minutes, consisting of Nagasaki champon with a rich broth topped with a egg yolk in the center, small fried rice, and finely chopped pickled vegetables. The champon was delicious, with a creamy pork bone broth, chewy noodles, and a variety of ingredients like vegetables, pork, shrimp, clams, squid, and fish cake creating a rich flavor profile. Mixing the egg yolk with the ingredients added another layer of flavor. The small fried rice had a perfect balance of lard richness and a satisfying crunch, complemented by the shrimp. Eating the fried rice alongside the champon was a delightful experience. The finely chopped pickled vegetables added a refreshing touch to the meal. I enjoyed savoring the champon soup while eating the fried rice, occasionally adding a dash of the tangy Goldfish sauce on the champon for extra flavor. Adding vinegar to the soup at the right moment enhanced its complexity. The presence of wood ear mushrooms in the champon was a pleasant surprise. Despite the generous portion, the vegetable-heavy champon left a healthy impression. Overall, I had a satisfying lunch at the main branch of Chuo-ken in Osaka, a place that I always crave when in the city. While the plate udon looked tempting, the champon was the real star of the restaurant.

I tried to visit the Namba Walk store, but there were several people lined up after 11:30, so I went to the main store instead. Although I often pass by this store, it had been almost 20 years since my last visit. Luckily, the inside of the store was empty and I was able to sit down easily. I had been craving for plate udon since the morning, so as soon as I sat down, I promptly ordered a plate udon dish. It had been a while since I last visited Chuo-ken, but the taste was still consistently good. When it comes to plate udon in Osaka, Chuo-ken is the place to go.

I really like Chuokan. When I used to travel to Osaka when I was young, I would always eat their plate udon. I was first introduced to mapo tofu here, and it was quite delicious. I think the current trend here is using sansho pepper. I was looking forward to the fried rice, but it's not fair to judge based on just one visit. My number one fried rice is Saika. Next time, I think I'll go for the set of mapo tofu and plate udon.

I drank in Namba and ate ramen as a finishing touch. It was not a ramen shop, but a Chinese restaurant, and their specialty dish was champon. It seems to be a long-standing famous shop. The champon had a traditional taste, and I felt its historical significance. In my opinion, whether it's Chinese noodles or Japanese noodles, the basic taste is "low in fat." That's why udon and soba are often served with tempura. In recent years, with the evolution of ramen, "oily noodles" and "garlic noodles" have become popular. This champon might have been a "wonderfully innovative noodle" in the past, but when I ate it now, I felt like it needed a bit more punch. However, eating noodles with a punch can cause indigestion and be bad for your health. Maybe this level of flavor is just right.

If you want to eat champon or plate udon in Osaka, you should visit this chain restaurant mainly located in Namba. I visited the main store of this restaurant, which has been in business for over 60 years. I usually eat plate udon, but this time I ordered the spicy flavor. It was a nice change from the usual sweet standard plate udon. Of course, the gold butterfly sauce is a must. They also have other menu items like omurice, so if you come to Osaka, make sure to stop by and try it out.

Summary Opened on December 6, 1958, operated by Central Ken Co., Ltd. A long-established Chinese restaurant founded on December 6, 1958, by a founder from Nagasaki. Central Ken conveys the authentic taste of Nagasaki, introducing Nagasaki Champon and plate udon to Osaka for over 60 years. Central Ken is a historic establishment filled with the history and exotic atmosphere of Nagasaki's flavors. Concept: Eat well, drink well, talk well. Enjoyable time with good friends. Store Locations: - Namba 4-chome Main Store - Namba Kaiou Store - Namba Wakaran Store - Shinsaibashi Store - Namba Walk Nishi Store - Namba Walk Higashi Store - Namba CITY Store - Sennichimae Store - Osaka Marubiru Store - Whity Umeda Store - Nakatsu Store - Dojima Store - Noda Hankyu Store - Keihan Temma Bridge Store - Shin-Osaka Store Interior: 36 seats, no private rooms, not available for reservation. 2nd floor can be used from 11:00 to 14:00, with a maximum of 76 seats. Tableware includes Worcestershire sauce, mustard, pepper, chili oil, vinegar, toothpicks, paper, menu, and water pitcher. Background music includes Showa medley and Sayonara Natsu no Hi by Tatsuro Yamashita. Ordered Menu: - Shrimp with Mayonnaise Sauce (Large size 1400 yen) - Shrimp with Chili Sauce (Large size 1400 yen) - Mapo Tofu (1000 yen) Business Hours: Monday to Saturday: 11:00-22:30 (Last order 22:00) Public Holidays: 11:00-21:30 (Last order 21:00) Closed on Sundays Payment: Cash only Access: 5 minutes walk from Namba Station on the Midosuji Line, Osaka City, Naniwa-ku, Namba 4-2-11

When walking through Namba Walk, you can't miss "Chuoken" shop. I always wanted to try it (^_-)-☆ It's a long-established store in the Namba area with over 60 years of history, known for its "Nagasaki Champon" and "Nagasaki Sara Udon". This time, I visited the main store! Why Nagasaki in Osaka? I've always been curious about that. The founder, who is from Nagasaki, was shocked by the taste and appearance of the champon he ate in Osaka, which was completely different from the champon in Nagasaki. That was the starting point. I've never been to Nagasaki, and I've only been to "Ringer Hut" once in my life, so I'm not familiar with champon or sara udon at all. The "champon" and "sara udon" here are said to be the "originals of Kansai"! ◉ Nagasaki Champon 980 yen ◉ Nagasaki Sara Udon 980 yen It's a bit more expensive than I thought. I had the champon, and my partner had the sara udon. The rich and flavorful soup is made from fragrant vegetables, pork bones, and chicken bones, simmered slowly to extract plenty of collagen-rich white broth! Quite a rich taste! It uses 12 types of ingredients, including onions, cabbage, bean sprouts, pork, carrots, leeks, squid, shrimp, wood ear mushrooms, clams, and fish cakes. This one bowl might make you feel healthy when you're lacking in vegetables. However, as I expected, there's a raw egg in the middle... I like eggs, but I'm not good with the temperature difference between the soup and the egg (ﾉ∀`)ｱﾁｬｰ I love boiled eggs, though... I broke it and mixed it with the soup. Oh, the soup that I thought was a bit salty became milder (๑'ڡ'๑)୨♡ I see. The noodles are made with homemade noodles. They're the typical medium-thick Chinese noodles! They mix well with the soup. But you know, it really makes my throat dry (><) It might be a bit too strong for those who prefer a lighter taste! My partner enjoyed it with beer and finished it deliciously! I wonder what people from Nagasaki think. I suddenly want to go to Nagasaki right now and try the authentic "Nagasaki Champon"! With talks of restarting GOTO soon, I also want to visit Nagasaki~ (❁´ ︶ `❁)*✲ﾟ* Thank you for the meal ♡

The first long weekend of the year is a paradise for drinkers♪ But before that... let's fill our stomachs♥️ So, I came to the main branch of Chuo-ken. I've been to the store in Namba Walk before, but this is my first time at the main branch. I've passed by the front of the store many times, but never had the chance to go in. When I arrived, the store was empty... it seems like restaurants will continue to struggle due to COVID this year. It's just the two of us in the store, but let's have a good time♪ So, cheers with a draft beer for now♪ Let's start with the reliable chicken karaage. Squeeze some lemon, sprinkle salt and pepper, and enjoy the typical Chinese-style karaage. It's delicious as usual. For the main dish, I had plate udon for the first time in a while! My partner went for the classic champon. The plate udon is filled with various vegetables, seafood like squid and shrimp, and lots of pork. The sauce is quite sweet, which might be a hit or miss for some. But fear not, I have a secret weapon from Nagasaki... the Kincho sauce. With this, everything comes together perfectly. Add some mustard for an extra kick and it's all set. Now, I can tackle the hellish drinking spree starting tomorrow~ Let's fight!! Thank you for the meal.

It is located about a 2-3 minute walk south from Exit 24 of Namba Station on the Osaka Metro. Upon entering the restaurant, we were seated at a table for two. We ordered the Chan-Chan set meal, which consisted of Nagasaki Chanpon and small fried rice. After a short wait, the Nagasaki Chanpon and fried rice were brought to us. The Nagasaki Chanpon included cabbage, bean sprouts, onions, leeks, shrimp, squid, clams, wood ear mushrooms, fish cake, tempura, pork, and egg yolk. The noodles were thick Chanpon noodles, and the soup was a pork bone base with added flavors from the ingredients. The egg yolk added a creamy richness to the soup. The noodles slid smoothly into the soup, allowing us to enjoy the textures and flavors of the meat, seafood, and vegetables. The small fried rice contained shrimp, fish cake, egg, carrots, and leeks, all stir-fried with rice. It complemented the Chanpon soup well. Next time, I would like to try the Nagasaki plate udon. Thank you for the delicious meal.

At the end of last month, I was released from my work deep in the mountains of Kobe, and had a meeting in Honmachi, Osaka for my next job. Since I rarely use public transportation, I struggled to find a lunch spot and ended up taking the subway to Namba. I stumbled upon Chuo-ken, a place I had been eyeing for a while, and tried their authentic "chanpon" for the first time. For me, "chanpon" has always been synonymous with Chuo-ken's Omi-chanpon and Nara's imitation chanpon, which are in a league of their own. The flavor is completely different from the one at Gahat or other places. The milky soup filled with thick noodles, loads of vegetables, and seafood, with a raw egg in the center, was a delight. The biggest dilemma was when to break the raw egg. After finishing the soup and feeling satisfied, I left the restaurant and headed to my next goal: Futami's pork bun. In my personal opinion, it's the best pork bun in Japan. I was tempted by an ice candy at a 551 shop along the way, but I stayed focused on my mission of trying chanpon and getting a pork bun. With a heavy heart, I got the pork bun and took the Nankai train back home.

At Chuo-ken, a popular restaurant known for its Nagasaki specialties like champon and plate udon, they also offer a unique Chinese-style omurice at their Namba main branch. The omurice (950 yen) is a must-try, featuring a delicious fried rice base similar to their famous champon and fried rice dishes, topped with fluffy egg and chicken. It's a flavorful dish that will surely delight omurice lovers. In addition to their signature champon and plate udon, their yakisoba and omurice are also highly recommended. Check out their Instagram @ginjirou.star for more mouthwatering dishes!

Central Ken is popular for its Chanpon and Sautéed Udon dishes, but they also offer delicious Chinese dishes. One recommended item is the Stir-Fried Yakisoba. This dish features thick noodles with a crispy texture, cooked in oyster sauce with plenty of oil. The combination of pork, small shrimp, and other ingredients goes well with the Chinese sauce. Ordering a large portion is satisfying, and they also offer hidden gems like Omelette Rice. Enjoy exploring their menu! Follow us on Instagram @ginjirou.star

Visited Namba's "Chuoken Main Store" for the second time with a friend. We ordered the Mapo Ramen for 880 yen. The noodles were a bit too soft, which was a little disappointing, but the spiciness of the Mapo was just right and quite enjoyable. It was a shame that we couldn't have beer due to the state of emergency.

Near Minami and the former Kabuki-za theater. The main store of Chuo-ken, which has been in business for 60 years and popularized Nagasaki Champon and plate udon in Kansai. I have tried Champon and plate udon at their branch before. After seeing a post, I wanted to try their omurice and visited the restaurant. Although the menu listed omurice, there was no photo. It was served faster than I expected. The dish was heavy. The moist rice was similar to fried rice. The ingredients included small shrimp and minced meat, but no chicken. The egg was thin and covered the entire dish, all the way to the rice underneath. There was plenty of ketchup, with a strong tangy and sweet flavor. I added a little bit of the essential "Kincho sauce" from Nagasaki for a different taste. It was satisfying to eat. The small egg soup was light. Overall, it was very delicious.

"I found this for the first time in Osaka." On this day, I tried an unexpected menu at this Chinese restaurant. And that was omurice. Yes, it's true! 'Chuoken' is a popular Chinese restaurant in Osaka with multiple branches, known for its champon noodles, but the main branch here offers several unique menu items that other branches don't have. Among them, there was a somewhat unusual dish listed on the menu. That's the omurice I ordered this time. Some of you may be surprised to hear, "Omurice at a Chinese restaurant?!" However, personally, I wasn't that surprised. As mentioned at the beginning, this was the first time I found omurice at a Chinese restaurant in Osaka, but I have seen it on the menu at a historic Chinese restaurant called 'Shikosakura' in Kobe before. Now, the omurice I had this time was the classic omurice wrapped in a firmly cooked egg. However, the rice inside was not the usual chicken rice with ketchup flavor, but it was yakimeshi. The taste was different, with the sharp acidity of ketchup mellowed out and a nice crispy texture, making it easier to eat than the typical ketchup-flavored omurice. For those living in Osaka, the first dishes that come to mind when you hear 'Chuoken' are champon noodles or plate udon. Of course, those are good too, but when you feel like trying something different, remember to try the omurice at the main branch of this restaurant.

Today, I had lunch with a friend after a long time ♡ It was my first visit to Chuo-ken and I was so excited to go there! When we entered, they guided us to a spacious table seat, which was great! There were so many menu options, like curry champon and spicy champon, that caught my attention, but I decided to go with the default option for the first time. I ordered the champon set meal, and my friend chose the chan-chan set meal with fried rice. The champon set meal arrived in just 5 minutes. The soup was delicious, with a rich pork bone base and a good balance of vegetable and seafood flavors. The thick noodles were perfect, and the soup paired well with the table pepper, which I recommend adding for extra flavor. The champon was filled with plenty of ingredients, which made it interesting to eat. I was surprised by the amount of vegetables in it. Overall, I had a great experience at Chuo-ken and enjoyed my champon meal. I might consider trying the spicy champon next time!

Nagasaki Chanpon B Set (half plate udon, mini mapo rice bowl, pickles, soup) I've been really into plate udon lately ❤️ Delicious! I often come here, but I never paid attention to plate udon before. It's so tasty! 😆 But, it's a bit on the pricey side for a lunch set, right?! The B Set was 1150 yen. I'm so full now q(q'∀`*) Thank you for the meal! (￣３￣)=3 *burp* 😊

I went to the main branch of Chuo-ken in Namba. It was my first time going inside, even though I was familiar with Chuo-ken. It felt special to be at the main branch (laughs). I ordered the Gyoza set for 1150 yen (with a draft beer) and the Shrimp in Chili Sauce for 1350 yen. They were just okay. Not bad, but not amazingly delicious either.