A group of male classmates from a small junior high school met up for a meal after a long time. They chose a Chinese restaurant because they all attended the Japanese school in Hong Kong. The restaurant is known for its delicious meat buns and the food was decent. Located in Kabukicho, the restaurant operates 24 hours a day, so there were no customers at 7 pm on a Monday. They were seated in a large room on the second floor, and had a relaxing time with the place all to themselves for about 3 hours. The menu had around 100 dishes, and they wrote down the dish numbers on paper to order. The dishes were delivered to them through a small elevator connected to the kitchen. They helped themselves to canned chu-hi, canned highball, and bottled beer from the fridge, giving them a relaxed feeling of drinking at home. They ordered a bottle of Shaoxing wine, but it wasn't enough so they had to order a bottle of Kurokumo for 3,500 yen from the restaurant. With two members weighing over 130kg, they ordered dish after dish. After drinking and eating for over 3 hours, the total bill came to around 5,400 yen. However, the next day, they felt the consequences with heavy stomachs, realizing that despite feeling young at heart, they were definitely in their forties.

I ordered the shredded pork with green peppers. I actually wanted to order fried rice as well, but since I stopped by alone this time, I just had the shredded pork with green peppers as a snack with a beer. I have used this restaurant several times before, either for delivery or dining in, and I think the reason I keep coming back is because there's something I like about it. I will definitely visit again.

Even under a state of emergency declaration, I continued to operate normally and drink alcohol, but after the declaration was lifted, I couldn't go as often due to the backlash. I don't really see this place as a place to eat, but rather a place to buy steamed meat buns from the steamer at the storefront, eat them while walking, and head home. I don't come here often, but I had it for the first time in a while. It's still delicious as ever. This place used to be located on a street one block over from the city hall street (similar to where Gyoza Dandan Sake Bar is now). I've been a regular since then. The burst of elasticity in the skin and the overflowing meat filling are irresistible. Highly recommended.

In China, it seems that dipping youtiao (fried breadstick) into tofu pudding is the way to go! Sweet tofu pudding is popular in Japan, but I enjoyed a savory soup with plenty of tofu. The other soup and wontons we ordered were also delicious with generous servings.

I decided to have a casual dinner at a safe choice Chinese restaurant. I ordered a Tsingtao beer and a ramen with spare ribs, which had a thick sauce. Overall, the food was quite salty and flavorful. The atmosphere and service were casual and relaxed. It seems like a good place to go when you're feeling peckish late at night, as they are open 24 hours.

◆ Ramen registration number 4965th • 268th bowl in 2022 ◆ Gyokuran (Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo) ◆ Beef noodles ¥800 ● Instagram Tsukasa's Ramen tsukasan777 ● Twitter tsukasan2010

◆ Ramen shop registration number 4962nd • 261st bowl in 2022 ◆ Tamuran (Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo) ◆ Jajangmyeon ¥800 ● Instagram tsukasan's ramen tsukasan777 ● Twitter tsukasan2010

The nearest station is Higashi-Shinjuku Station, located deep in Kabukicho, in the hotel district, it is a typical local Chinese restaurant that caters to locals and is open 24 hours. One day during lunchtime, I was lured by the daily one-coin menu displayed outside and entered the restaurant hesitantly. Inside, there was an elderly woman who seemed to be the owner and another lady who spoke broken Japanese, serving in the dining area. I sat at a table and ordered the A lunch set for 500 yen. Today's menu was spicy stir-fried chicken and cabbage. It came with rice and soup, a set of three items. The dish didn't look too spicy, and it wasn't too spicy when I tasted it. The rice was served in a deep dish, so it was quite filling. Well, at a local eatery, you might get scolded if the portion is too small, right? It was a pretty good place to fill your stomach with a one-coin meal. Later, some local customers at the next table came in and were chatting loudly in the local language, but they communicated with the staff in Japanese. When I paid with a 500 yen coin, I was told, "700 yen!" and then realized it was for the chicken dish. I accepted it with understanding. Well, this kind of tension adds to the Kabukicho experience, and it's quite enjoyable... (laughs)

◆ Ramen registration number 4903rd • 182nd bowl in 2022 ◆ Gyokuran (Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo) ◆ Gyokuran noodles ¥850 • Fried chicken with chicken meat ¥900 ● Instagram tsukasan's Ramen tsukasan777 ● Twitter tsukasan2010

I saw a photo and it reminded me of this place where I often order takeout from. I actually visited the restaurant for the first time last month. Their meat buns are delicious and I also recommend their Hot and Sour Soup. The fried rice is fluffy and they have a wide variety of menu options, with 8 different types of fried rice to choose from. The charm of this place is their extensive menu selection. They are open 24 hours and serve Jim Beam Highballs. They also deliver alcohol with their takeout orders. I prefer the pick-up option and they were accommodating. They seem to have more popular locations than the newer ones. The restaurant is bright and simple, with three floors so you can always find a spot. Walk-ins are welcome!

I stopped by around 7 pm and ordered the Ebi Lettuce Fried Rice and Gyoza. The Ebi Lettuce Fried Rice was the most delicious I've had recently, with crispy lettuce and large shrimp providing a satisfying meal. The Gyoza was also great, with plenty of filling and a nice crunch from the green vegetables inside. The only downside was the lack of friendliness from the staff and the fact that the two-seater table near the entrance had no condiments. Despite this, I would like to go back again as it's close by.

Tamuran-sama in Kabukicho is operating as usual despite self-restraint and emergency declarations. Tonight, even past 10 PM, they are open for business. The first floor is full, so we were directed to the second floor. It was my first time on the second floor (apparently there is also a third floor). The second floor is mainly for group banquets, with typical round Chinese tables and spacious seating. There was only one group there, so it was not crowded at all (unlike the first floor). Four drunk customers sharing a final Chinese meal of their night out. We ordered their famous beef noodles in spicy soup with the richness of cabbage. We also had egg fried rice, which was simple and fluffy. Lastly, we tried the pickled vegetable and beef fried rice, which was accidentally ordered in addition to the previous one. It had a spicy kick from the bean paste and was equally delicious. On the second floor, there is a small elevator dedicated to delivering food, so when your order is ready, you have to go pick it up yourself. There is no notification sound, so you have to pay attention to the flashing button and the "vibe" to know when your food is ready. Be careful not to miss it, or you might end up with overcooked ramen in the elevator.

On Friday night, when there are few open restaurants, I went to "Gyokuran" again (laughs). This time, I ordered fried rice, spicy stir-fried lamb, and ankake yakisoba. I started with a beer order. I was impressed by the beer after a long time. The fried rice was quite lightly seasoned, contrasting with what you would get at a typical Chinese restaurant, but it was delicious in its own way. Personally, I think the spicy stir-fried lamb, which I consider a past specialty of "Gyokuran," is a masterpiece with its spicy flavor that goes well with alcohol. However, it was spicier than I had imagined (laughs). In response to a friend's request for "something gentle to eat," I chose the ankake yakisoba. As expected, it had a gentle taste with a sauce that was easy to eat. I know from my time at the ward office that the taste has definitely leveled up. In the past, I would recommend other Chinese restaurants in Shinjuku, but now it's at a level where I would want to introduce it to my friends. The menu is also extensive, so I feel like I won't get tired of it no matter how many times I go. Until the restrictions are relaxed, I will likely continue to rely on it for a while.

I started drinking in Ueno after 12 o'clock, then went to a mixed bar in Shinjuku 2-chome and drank until 8 o'clock. I had a couple of glasses of Kyogetsu and got pretty drunk. I didn't eat much at lunch, so I'm really hungry. I'm craving noodles in particular. So, I went to this place that's open 24 hours no matter what. It has 2 floors, but it seems like the upper floor is full. Well, of course, everything else is closed. I was seated on the 1st floor and ordered the "Beef Noodles" that was featured on the entrance sign. I've heard of Lanzhou beef noodles and Taiwanese beef noodles, but I've never seen one that's bright red like this by default. I wonder if this is how beef noodles are in Beijing, or maybe it's a mix of Sichuan cuisine since there are some hints of that. It was piping hot. It was so spicy that it cleared my drunken head. But it wasn't just spicy, it had a rich flavor in the soup. The wilted Chinese cabbage was plentiful and delicious. The noodles were typical Chinese noodles, but they were tasty. Hmm, I think this place is even more delicious than its rating on food review websites. Well, because of its location, it probably won't get much attention, but I will definitely come back here occasionally. The drunk old man next to me ordered "carrot sake" as a snack, and the mama of the shop kindly suggested he should go home after drinking it because it's strong. It was funny, but tomorrow is another day.

A Chinese restaurant that has been in Kabukicho for a long time. It used to be closer to Shinjuku Sanchome in Kabukicho, with bustling meat bun sales on the storefront, but now it has moved to the depths of Kabukicho, so I had stopped going there. When I visited after a long time, I found a bright and clean interior. I thought the seating was a bit limited, but it seems they also have 2nd and 3rd floors. This place is open after 8pm even during the state of emergency, so people come from all over and enter. The customers are, as expected, the Kabukicho crowd, and you can hear deep conversations that you wouldn't hear in other areas, so in that sense, it may not be for everyone, but if you can walk this far, it shouldn't be a problem (laughs). This time, I went with a friend who doesn't drink alcohol, so we ordered the Three Fresh Vegetables with White Cabbage (1000 yen) and Tianjin Fried Rice (800 yen) with non-alcoholic drinks. The Three Fresh Vegetables with White Cabbage has a very delicious sauce and a gentle taste. It's nice to have big chunks of seafood in it. The Tianjin Fried Rice is like a fusion of omurice and fried rice, and it's a dish that you can't stop eating. We also ordered Almond Jelly (300 yen) as a dessert, which had a firm texture and a generous amount. It was delicious and satisfying. To be honest, the previous "Gyokuran" before the move had a local taste, which could be seen as a bit rough, and it was not something that could be praised unreservedly, but after the move, it was undeniably delicious. At the very least, the dishes offered more than their price in terms of taste. The menu is also extensive and user-friendly, so even though it's far from the station, I might end up using it again. [Rating] ★★★★★★★ 7/10

After getting quite full on yakitori at Torimura, I found myself getting hungry again after some late-night drinking in the almost ghost town-like Kabukicho. It was past midnight. I usually just buy nikuman to take home, but this time I wanted something with soup. The yakisoba looked too delicious to resist, so I switched to that. I supplemented the lack of soup with hot and sour soup. It looked like your typical Chinese food, but it tasted even better. Or at least, that's what I think, as my memory is now fuzzy from all the drinking. This place is open 24 hours and serves alcohol.

I visited a Chinese restaurant called "Gyokuran" around 7 pm on a certain day in October 2020. It is located about a 2-minute walk from Higashi Shinjuku Station, on the outskirts of the love hotel district. The restaurant had a moderate size with about 7-8 customers already inside, mostly a noisy group. I sat at a table alone and ordered a "Qingdao Beer (premium)" for ¥500. The beer had a slight sweetness to it. For dinner, I ordered a "Chinese rice bowl" for ¥800. It arrived after about 7-8 minutes. The Chinese rice bowl was quite substantial, with a thick brown sauce that had a slightly strong soy sauce flavor. It was a bit disappointing that it didn't come with soup or pickles. I enjoyed the rich flavor of the Chinese rice bowl along with the beer. The variety of ingredients like shrimp, pork, and squid was abundant, although the freshness was not particularly noticeable. It was nice to have a quail egg included. I also enjoyed the generous amount of Chinese cabbage in the dish. After finishing the meal, I felt quite full. The taste was decent, and for ¥800, it was a good deal for a Chinese rice bowl. It seems like the restaurant mainly focuses on delivery, typical of Chinese restaurants in Kabukicho. It's a good place to go for hearty Chinese cuisine.

Tokyo Shinjuku-ku. Higashi-Shinjuku. Hotel district. I thought that only chain stores were open late at night, but due to the location near Kabukicho, it seems to be open 24 hours (really?). No guests on the first floor. I was guided to a free seat. I chose sweet and sour pork set meal for 700 yen (including tax). The staff are Chinese. The sweet and sour pork set meal arrived in just a few minutes. It has a Chinese fast food restaurant-like atmosphere. The rice is Japanese, but the finishing touches are Chinese. The sweet and sour pork is a bit sweet, making the rice go down smoothly. I like the simple and unpretentious atmosphere. Thank you for the meal.

*Lunch Visit* (Food) Daily lunch set for 500 yen! On this day, it was pork offal and vegetable stir-fry bowl! It was topped with sauce and well-seasoned, delicious! Rice was also generously served, which was great! When you order a set meal, it comes with soup. (Atmosphere/Service) The first floor of the restaurant has a fairly large kitchen and several tables, giving it a local diner vibe. The second floor has round tables and private rooms, suitable for banquets! (Overall) Had lunch at a local Chinese restaurant in Higashi-Shinjuku! It's located in a quiet area of Kabukicho 2-chome, but I often go there because it's cheap, delicious, and generous in portion size!

It's been a while since I wanted to eat it. As a gift for the master of my favorite bar, I bought it on the way. Today's one was cold inside and not so great. This is the first time for me. However, even if it's not great, it's a meat bun from Tamuran. The chewy and plump dough is impressive once again.