I chose the classic curry mapo tofu, which was satisfying. There are three basic types of mapo tofu, and you can also add toppings like baked cheese, whole garlic, etc. I also considered the pork cutlet mapo rice and Jiro-style vegetable-heavy mapo ramen, but decided on the traditional curry mapo tofu.

I had chilled tantan noodles (white) and oil-drizzled chicken, while my wife had mapo tofu set meal. The chilled tantan noodles were refreshing and surprisingly light despite looking rich, making them perfect for this hot season! We will definitely be back for more. The oil-drizzled chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Both my wife and I used to live in Shanghai, so we have high standards for mapo tofu, and the taste here is quite close to the authentic one! If I had to point out something, the menu and tables were a bit greasy, so they could use a bit more cleaning. The air conditioning was broken, so it was quite hot (you might feel like you're eating at a street stall). However, the taste is good, so it's worth a visit.

Today's ramen!!! Sichuan Mabo Ramen 980 yen, extra spicy for 100 yen. It has a nice level of spiciness, not extremely spicy! However, the shop's air conditioner seems to be broken, with the outside temperature at 33°C, yet the door is wide open!!! It must be tough for the people cooking. Luckily, there was a spot cooler in the store so we managed to bear it. Please fix the air conditioner~

The addictive taste! I often go to Hanari in Sakai Higashi alone to sit at the counter and have beer and mapo ramen. Lately, I've been going to Nakamozu as well and I'm hooked on the unique menu items only available there. On this day, I had the tantanmen ><.ᐟ.ᐟ.ᐟ Cold but spicy tantanmen! Thank you for the meal!

I had been curious about this place for a while but couldn't go until now. I decided to visit before it gets too hot. I ordered the Sichuan mapo tofu set meal with a spice level of 3, and added the lunch service "A Chicken Karaage (2 pieces)". The mapo tofu was served in a hot pot, but it seemed a bit burnt at the bottom. The spice level 3 wasn't as spicy as I expected, so I might be able to handle a spicier level. However, the level above 3 is extremely spicy, so I'm a bit scared to try it. It was delicious, so I will definitely visit again.

The owner of the company I asked for a job and I went to inspect the site together. We decided to have a meeting over tea. I was told about a delicious mapo ramen shop nearby, so we went there. The shop is located near Nakamozu Station, along the railway tracks, and has no parking lot. It's a small shop with only a counter. We ordered the mapo ramen, which was served piping hot. You can choose the level of spiciness, and we went with medium. The noodles were hidden at the bottom, but they were thick and curly, and deliciously tangled. We sprinkled some sansho pepper to boost our appetite. We also added egg fried rice at the end, which was not just plain rice but added an extra touch to the meal. We finished off with almond jelly ice cream, making it a luxurious lunch.

Near Mozu Station, there is a restaurant called "Karin Mapo Rice Shop" which also has a branch in Sakai East. The seating is only at the counter. The menu includes mapo tofu, noodles, and rice bowls. I ordered the Sichuan mapo tofu set meal with an additional 200 yen for fried chicken. This is my third visit to this restaurant, but today's quality was the most disappointing. The rice was too soft, the mapo tofu had too little tofu, and the fried chicken was smaller. It seems like the prices have gone up as well. As a rice shop, it is necessary to have more delicious rice. The soft rice, which seemed like it was cooked incorrectly, did not go well with the mapo tofu at all. The fried chicken was also significantly smaller, losing the appeal of Karin. It would normally be rated below 3 stars, but I am hoping for better next time. Thank you for the meal!

I often visit the main store, but this Mapo Rice restaurant is my first visit! The Mapo was delicious as always! My husband had the Katsu Curry Mapo Don and said it was the "most delicious curry Mapo he has ever had." It was also very filling and highly recommended.

The other day during my business trip to Osaka, I had lunch at "Karin Mapo Rice" in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture. I ordered the "Curry Mapo Set Meal" for 950 yen, with the option to choose the level of spiciness for an additional 60 yen. The dish arrived in a sizzling hot stone pot, releasing steam and a strong aroma of Sichuan pepper and spices. It was a combination of regular spicy mapo tofu with curry powder sprinkled on top. This is the famous local dish from deep south Osaka, and it was quite intense. Just looking at it made me break into a sweat. I made sure to mix it well from the bottom of the pot before enjoying it with rice. It was spicy, delicious, and numbing. Although it may not be the most suitable dish to eat in the 37-degree summer heat, it was definitely worth trying. If I have the chance to visit again, I will challenge myself with the even more intense "Tianjin Curry Mapo Rice Bowl." ( ´∀｀ )/ Cheers!

From Nankamozu Station on the Osaka Metro or Nakamozu Station on the Nankai Koya Line, it's about a 5-minute walk along the railway tracks to this popular restaurant in the area. Despite it being lunchtime during the Bon holidays, the restaurant was surprisingly empty when I visited for the first time. I ordered a highball and a curry mapo tofu set with a lunch service fried chicken set because it was a hot day. I asked for the curry mapo tofu to be level 1 spiciness. While waiting, I enjoyed the highball and the complimentary pickled vegetables, which were so delicious that I had seconds. When the curry mapo tofu arrived, it was a perfect blend of curry spice, chili heat, and numbing Sichuan pepper, creating a deliciously spicy dish. Eating it on top of rice was the best way to enjoy it. Even though my doctor advised me to reduce my carb intake, I couldn't resist having multiple servings of rice with this tasty dish. The delicious curry mapo tofu set and the complimentary pickled vegetables were a delightful meal.

I heard that curry mapo dishes are popular, so I decided to stop by a few restaurants in Sakai City that offer them. I visited Hanarin, a famous restaurant known for its mapo tofu, where they offer a unique dish called Tianjin Curry Mapo Don, which combines curry, mapo tofu, and Tianjin rice. I ordered the Tianjin Curry Mapo Don for 1,070 yen and also got 3 pieces of chicken karaage for 350 yen. Even though I didn't order the large size, the dish was served in a large bowl with a generous portion. I was surprised by both the size and the fact that the egg was hidden underneath the toppings. While I could understand the combination of curry and mapo tofu, I was curious to see how the Tianjin rice would fit in. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed as the soft egg, which is the highlight of Tianjin rice, got overshadowed by the mapo tofu. During the cooking process, I noticed that they sprinkled curry powder on the mapo tofu, which resulted in a strong curry aroma in the air. However, I had anticipated that this might make the dish powdery, and my taste buds confirmed this. The combination of curry, mapo tofu, and Tianjin rice lacked balance, with the powdery texture and intense flavors becoming overwhelming halfway through the meal. I believe that if they had added more spices and depth of flavor, the dish could have been more successful. Unfortunately, it fell short of expectations and left me wanting more. I post more food reviews on Instagram @ginjirou.star.

I heard there was delicious mapo tofu, so I came to Nakamozu Station! It's a restaurant along the railway tracks. All the staff here are cute women, which makes me happy! The name of the restaurant is "Karin Mapo Restaurant". So, I ordered the Szechuan mapo tofu set meal! They said you can choose the level of spiciness, so I went with level 2. I also ordered the lunch service which allows you to choose fried chicken! First, a hot soup arrived! It was quite delicious! And then, the main plate arrived! The mapo tofu was level 2 spicy but... it was really spicy!!! But... it was delicious!!!! I might get addicted to this?? The fried chicken was also tasty and had a good portion! I might end up coming back here often. Thank you for the meal!!!

Located about a 5-minute walk from Mozu Station, Hananashi-san is a specialty restaurant for mapo tofu. Craving for mapo don, I, a lover of spicy food, ordered the Sichuan mapo don with a spice level of 3. The staff at this place are all women, and they run the restaurant very well. The mapo tofu has a rich flavor from the doubanjiang and tianmianjiang, making it very appetizing with rice. However, despite choosing a spice level of 3, I didn't feel much spiciness, so I felt a bit unsatisfied paying the extra charge for it. Also, due to its location, the prices are a bit on the higher side overall. The taste is good, but I can't visit frequently.

Today, I had lunch with my friends after a long time. One of my friends was in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture for lunch, so we decided to meet there. I searched and found a restaurant called "Karen Ma Po Restaurant" which serves mapo tofu. There are several branches, so I had high expectations as we headed there. When I put it into Google Maps, it said that they might be closed today. I decided to call and confirm, and they said they were open. I parked my car at a nearby coin parking lot and walked to the restaurant. It was smaller than I expected, with only a compact counter surrounding the kitchen. The place was full of people during lunchtime, but we managed to get in after a short wait. Since it was a counter seating only, my friends and I sat side by side. I ordered the Sichuan mapo tofu set with medium spiciness, while my two friends ordered the mapo donburi with mild spiciness. We also ordered side dishes like squid balls, chicken karaage, and fried dumplings to share. The restaurant was busy, so it took quite a while for the food to arrive, but that gave us time to catch up with each other. When the Sichuan mapo tofu set arrived, mine was bright red due to the medium spiciness, while my friends' dishes were paler due to the mild spiciness. The set came with soup and pickled vegetables. I scooped up the mapo tofu with a spoon and tasted it directly. It was delicious, with a perfect balance of spiciness and flavor, with the chili pepper dominating over the Sichuan pepper. The dish was so tasty that I couldn't stop eating. Normally, I would eat two bowls of rice at a mapo tofu restaurant, but because we were chatting, I ended up eating just one bowl and felt satisfied. The side dishes were also delicious, and the staff was very friendly. It was a satisfying lunch, and even though the restaurant is a bit far, I will definitely go back when I visit Sakai City again. Today, I am full and happy. "Yum!"

In Abiko and Sakai Higashi, a shop I've used before and already know the taste and spiciness of, but still want to go again. It's a popular spot especially on Sunday afternoons, with both dine-in and take-out options, and even available on Uber Eats. The kitchen is like a battlefield. Isn't it the most popular shop around Mukomozu Station? I discovered a new menu item that day! Curry Mapo Tofu Set, super spicy, priced at 1,030 yen (tax included). Oh, this is delicious! The spiciness is equivalent to about level 7 at CoCo Ichibanya based on my experience. In the past, I've tried curry mapo tofu at other shops, but they were all dominated by the mapo tofu, leaving me wondering what it was. But this one is different! The curry takes the lead, and I've never had curry like this before. If I were to describe the taste, it's like Cup Noodles Curry flavor, that initial bite where the powder hasn't fully mixed yet, strangely rich with the mystery meat effect, giving a unique umami sensation. Sorry for the strange expression, but it was delicious. Thank you for the meal. Side note 1: I was the only one who ordered the Curry Mapo Tofu that day. Side note 2: They must be used to making mapo tofu because they were cooking without tasting it. Side note 3: I think the balance of flavors is important for Curry Mapo Tofu, so they were tasting it carefully. Side note 4: I think the results are showing because of that.

I visited the restaurant after a long time and had the Curry Mapo Tofu set meal that I used to order before. The curry tasted great and the mapo tofu was delicious. They were also taking reservations for lucky bags, but unfortunately, they were sold out when I tried to buy a 10,000 yen one. I have lowered my rating for the service compared to my previous review. I won't go into details, but I just want to mention that the service has declined.

There is a specialty store for mapo tofu in Sakai Higashi. I ordered the curry mapo tofu set here. Since it was close to closing time, they had run out of set soup and instead gave me fried dumplings as a gift. Thank you very much. The curry mapo tofu, simmering in a clay pot, was extremely delicious!! It went really well with the white rice and I devoured it all in no time.

Our family usually goes once a month, and we've already been more than twice, but I haven't written about it so it's stopped at the third time (laughs). I decided to break the monthly pace and went again (laughs). We always appreciate your hospitality. Now, Instagram announced a new menu, so I had to go try it! Curry Mapo Tofu✨✨✨ What a fantastic name. I usually order the Mapo Tofu set, but this time I cheated. Of course, I went for the extra spicy option. I started with the soup to prepare myself. When the Curry Mapo Tofu arrived, the spicy aroma was amazing. The curry scent was so appetizing. The containers for the Mapo Tofu and rice were different this time. Another new thing to enjoy. Thanks to the curry, the spiciness felt milder. It was easy to eat! The curry flavor wasn't overpowering. After all, this is a Mapo Tofu specialty shop! That's why it's great!! If you want more spiciness, add some black pepper and spicy sauce provided. I tend to add more and more as I eat, so I ended up feeling the intense spiciness (laughs). As always, it was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Extremely delicious. So far, the best in Japan when it comes to mapo noodles. It seems like it could become a popular spot with long lines. I want to eat a lot before that happens. However, even with extra spiciness added, it's not that hot. Also, the ventilation inside the restaurant is not sufficient, so the smell really sticks to your clothes. The spice aroma lingers too, causing sneezing or coughing. I hope they improve on that. Rating: ★4.5-5.0: Extremely delicious, love it, definitely recommend it to others, and would love to visit again. ★4.0-4.4: Very delicious, like it, would recommend it to others, and strongly consider revisiting. ★3.5-3.9: Delicious, can recommend to others, and would consider revisiting. ★3.0-3.4: Average, wouldn't recommend to others, but might revisit if the opportunity arises. ★Less than 3.0: No need to go back, didn't feel any special charm.

At [Huarong Mapo Restaurant] Nakamozu, you can enjoy delicious mapo tofu. I visited this restaurant, which opened in April 2019, after learning that they also serve mapo noodles. I arrived at the restaurant around 5 pm. The modern interior has only a counter. I checked the menu and ordered the mapo noodles for 910 yen. You could choose the level of spiciness, so I ordered it with a level 2 spiciness. The mapo noodles arrived. The noodles were medium-thick curly noodles that were deliciously chewy. The soup had a small amount of clear broth underneath the mapo tofu, which had a strong flavor of Sichuan pepper and chili pepper. The soup was delicious, with a strong umami flavor and accumulating spiciness. The toppings were tofu and minced meat, which were tasty. It was a bowl with a strong and satisfying spicy kick. Thank you for the meal.