A new restaurant that doesn’t quite resemble a typical APA Hotel establishment has opened on the first floor of the APA Hotel in Kodemmacho! I was surprised because I expected the usual conventional places at a hotel restaurant, but this one has a contemporary vibe. The wall murals and the owner are striking! I really liked the unique, queen-like sofa they have in the place. While hotel breakfasts are usually quite standard, here you can enjoy three types of Taiwanese dishes included! And they are delicious! The restaurant opened on April 25, 2024, and is about a 3-minute walk from Kodemmacho, Bakurocho, and Bakuroyokoyama stations. This place offers Taiwanese street food and craft beer. The owner, Mr. Kondo, worked as a bartender in various hotels in Tokyo for 10 years before becoming a consultant and branching out on his own. He invited his high school classmate and baseball teammate, Mr. Saito, to open a dumpling shop, which led them to visit Taiwan. They opened their first store, "Orso Hakusan," in 2019, which quickly became popular with long lines. This is now their third location, following the Midtown Yaesu shop. The Taiwanese breakfast set costs 1,400 yen and includes items perfect for a morning meal: chicken broth ramen, Lu Rou Fan (braised pork rice), scallion pancake (ham and cheese), Ji Rou Fan (chicken rice), and chicken broth porridge. They are open every morning from 7:00 to 10:00, and hotel guests receive a 100 yen discount. The breakfast set features plenty of Taiwanese breakfast items including dim sum (spring rolls, pork buns), egg dishes, warm vegetables, pickled mustard, tofu, soup (chilled soybean milk soup in summer), and dessert for a hearty start to the day! They also offer a weekday-only lunch set that includes Taiwanese wontons. The wontons are small and easy to eat, and the meal includes a soup that changes with the seasons, along with a main dish you can choose from Lu Rou Fan, Zhajiangmian, and more. - Lu Rou Fan Set with pork wontons: 1,100 yen - Pork Rib Rice Set with pork wontons: 1,150 yen - Scallion Oil Noodles with pork wontons: 1,100 yen - Zhajiangmian with pork wontons: 1,100 yen - Taiwanese Spiced Curry with pork wontons: 1,000 yen - Pork Rib Curry with pork wontons: 1,200 yen The most popular dish at the Kodemmacho location is the "Taiwanese Herbal Spice Curry with Crispy Pork." It uses skin-on pork belly that’s slow-cooked with ten different spices, shiitake mushrooms, and bamboo shoots, creating a dish where the subtle sweetness of banana is paired with a strong spiciness (generally spicier than medium). It’s also delicious when combined with the crispy pork!

The Taiwanese restaurant on the first floor of the APA Hotel may be a bit pricey for breakfast, but given the variety of dishes included, I think it’s a good option for an early lunch. However, the key dish, the chicken broth ramen, was saltier than I expected, and I couldn't finish the soup. I would have preferred a more plain seasoning since I like to add chili oil or vinegar later. Being positioned as a breakfast place, it also comes with egg dishes and yogurt. Thank you for the meal!

I visited this place for the first time because I wanted to try the Taiwanese-style breakfast, specifically the savory soybean milk (Shen Dou Jiang). It's located on the first floor of a business hotel. The cozy interior is nice and clean, thanks to the hotel. I ordered a set with braised pork rice and the Shen Dou Jiang as a single item. There's self-service for warm jasmine tea, which is appreciated. After a few minutes, my order arrived. The Shen Dou Jiang had a great consistency of softness, with a nicely balanced tanginess. The fried dough sticks were served separately, allowing me to dip them in. It was delicious. The braised pork rice had a good sense of authenticity. Although I was a bit disappointed that it didn't come with a boiled egg, the flavor was excellent. The meat was tender and just right. The set came with a small portion of potato salad, ham, a rolled omelet, a potato bun, a meat bun, soup, and yogurt. While both dishes had moderate portions, they were just right for breakfast. It was also nice that the place wasn't crowded. Thank you for the meal!

I had lu rou fan for lunch, and the sweet and savory balance was very delicious! I'm not a big eater, so it was helpful to be able to choose the portion size. This time, I ordered a smaller amount. The wontons and soup that came with it were also very tasty!

When I get bored of Akihabara, Okachimachi, and Asakusabashi, I head a bit south. There's a day when I visit Bakurocho, which is a bit closer to Kanda, and there's a new Taiwanese restaurant that I've heard about through the grapevine. I often go shopping in Bakurocho, so I’m curious about this new place next door called "Taiwan Cuisine Orso". I later found out that this restaurant has been successful in Yaesu. I like to play it safe when choosing places to eat, probably a recent team theory of mine, given how failures linger in my memory. They apparently specialize in wontons, which I truly enjoy; I once considered moving to Taiwan, although it was a half-hearted plan. As long as the food is good, that works for me! This branch is located in Shodemmacho, close to one of the many APA hotels in the area; it’s spacious inside, probably because it’s just before lunchtime. I can't handle tiny places. They offer Taiwanese wontons and curry, an interesting combination. I love noodle dishes, but the only one available is "Zhajiangmian" (noodles with soybean paste). The tablet menu isn’t very big, so I can only see two items at a time, and I forget what I saw earlier. It’s not a new situation for me, so it’s hard to blame the restaurant for this; I mumble to myself in frustration – such is the age we live in. The only noodle dish is the Zhajiangmian. I remember that Taiwan also has "Zhi Mian" (sauce noodles). Assuming it’s lunchtime and I’m planning to get the "Zhajiangmian," I decided to ask the noodle lady, “How firm will the noodles be when cooked?” I gestured a bit to make myself understood. It seemed to perplex her, so she asked the guy in the kitchen. He replied, “The noodles are thin and cooked for about 40 seconds,” and mentioned they can be a bit firm. I responded, “Okay, I’ll have that.” I decided to try their curry, and "Pai Gu Xiang Liao Fan" (fried pork curry rice) sounded good. I wondered if two sets might be too much, but the waitress responded, “You can order it individually.” She spoke Japanese perfectly! I wanted to try more wontons, so I spotted "Shrimp and Leek Wontons," and they arrived ten minutes later. The dishes that came out included "Fried Pork Curry Rice Set," "Zhajiangmian," and "Shrimp and Leek Wontons." I thought it would have a night market vibe, but it felt more like a proper restaurant. Although I planned for a minimal order, the spread turned out to be unexpectedly generous. Now for my review as a wonton-loving light eater: **Zhajiangmian:** I was worried about the softness of the noodles, but I managed to get them cooked firm. The noodles were incredibly thin, and I was hopeful since they usually cook for about 40 seconds. I was told that if cooked slightly less, the center might be a bit chewy. Trying it, it was just right! Unlike the rubbery Hong Kong-style noodles, these held up well and didn’t over-expand until the end. I was advised to mix well before eating, but it got a bit clumped together, which was challenging. They weren’t cold, just pleasantly warm. **Pai Gu Curry:** I was captivated by the wonderful aroma of the curry right away, making me quite excited. The first bite had a big slice of shiitake mushroom in it, giving it a mildly Japanese flavor along with a spicy, herbal quality. There weren’t many ingredients, but the curry roux itself was delicious. However, the portion felt a bit small, and I had some rice left at the end. I was initially disappointed that the pork was thin, but the flavor saved it, lifting my spirits. I opted out of the coriander, but it might have been nice to have it. **Shrimp and Leek Wontons:** The skin was thin and delightful. I wondered if they were made from the same skin as the regular wontons; this one felt thinner. The shrimp was plump and pleasing, with the leeks not being overwhelming. Each bite was satisfying with a hint of ginger. There were four wontons in the set, and they were all slightly soft in texture. The lovely skin added to the enjoyment. For the soup, I got a cold soy milk corn soup, which had a light and comforting taste, with the natural sweetness of the soy milk. There was a generous amount of corn at the bottom. Ordering was through the QR code on the table's number tag. I thought I’d never get my water until I saw another customer casually go for tea. So it’s self-service! I realized this only when I went to settle the bill. The staff didn’t mention it on purpose, I guess. Overall, it seems to be well-received. The wontons were delicious, and I plan to visit again while out shopping. Thank you for the meal!

On August 6, 2024, I visited a restaurant for the first time on a day when I had my weekly meeting. Normally, I would go out of my way looking for a new route to walk, but I forgot my pedometer that day. My motivation was completely down (^ -^; After lunch, I planned to go to Isetan, so I re-searched a bookmarked restaurant around Bakuroyokoyama. It should be on the first floor of an APA hotel. I just had dumplings two days ago, but that’s okay. I was too lazy to think about it. According to the map, it seemed close to Bakuroyokoyama Station, so I set off from Horidomemachi. The location was easy to find since it’s at an APA hotel, and it was obvious. However, when I arrived in front of the restaurant, there was no sign saying "Orso." There was a nice-looking sign, but it said "Uguisudani-so." I could sort of read it as "Orso," but whatever, let’s go in. I arrived at 11:12, even though the opening time was 11:00, and there were no other customers. It was still early. Water was self-service, and the menu was available via QR code. Let’s see… Oh wow, the prices are quite high; nothing was under 1,000 yen. It seemed they had set menus only, no single item options. I wanted some vegetables, so I carefully looked through the menu and ordered the “Jajangmyeon Set,” which had a picture that looked somewhat like a salad. The food came out quickly, but it looked very different from the menu image. I posted the menu image as well, and you can see that there were no vegetables. Instead, they served four items that resembled xiao long bao. Some people might prefer this, but I was hoping for vegetables, as shown in the image. I was told to mix the jajangmyeon well, so I tried, but it was quite a challenge (^ -^; It wouldn’t mix properly. The noodles were thin and lacked chewiness, so everything ended up in clumps. I struggled with that. The cold corn soup that came with it was quite tasty. The xiao long bao-like items had a lot of Chinese spices, which was good, but the main dish, jajangmyeon, was difficult to eat and had a very monotonous flavor. 1,100 yen for this is way too expensive. There were two service staff members, and both were pleasant. There was an overwhelming amount of carbohydrates. I definitely consumed some unnecessary calories. They accepted cards from lunch onward, and it seemed that PayPay was also an option. Until the time I left, there were still no other customers; that’s a tough situation for them. Perhaps they are targeting inbound customers? The menu was available in multiple languages. The staff’s good service made the experience not too unpleasant, but I probably won’t revisit. It was a learning experience.

On July 2024, I visited a popular restaurant in Hakusan on a weekday around noon, and surprisingly, there were no customers! I ordered the curry set with a crispy pork chop on top, which came with a cold corn soup and dry wontons. Since there were no customers, the tattooed chef kindly brought me an extra five wontons! Thank you, chef, your smile is wonderful! As for the wontons, they were as delicious as I had heard! Simple and bouncy, they have a taste that everyone loves. The corn soup was perfect, especially on such a hot day in Tokyo at 39 degrees; it was sweet and refreshing. The main curry dish met my expectations—it was a wonderfully crispy pork chop served with a subtle curry that isn’t spicy like some others. If you're tired of regular curry, I highly recommend this! The shop's decor is adorable, and I really like it. I will definitely come back! By the way, all the sets are around ¥1000, which is quite reasonable.

I visited on Saturday afternoon when the restaurant was about 60% full. The restaurant is located on the first floor of the APA Hotel Kodenmacho. I wondered if breakfast would be Taiwanese cuisine if I stayed there. I ordered the Pork Cutlet Curry, Shrimp Wontons, and a beer. Given the menu, I felt I had to enjoy some midday beer! The wontons were delicious! The beer kept flowing. The pork cutlet paired well with the beer too. The curry, with its spicy kick, was really tasty.

Even though it's a bit far from the office, I decided to have my first lunch at Hiroimiko nearby while buying some souvenir sweets. It was almost embarrassingly empty…! I placed my order using my smartphone. There wasn’t much detail about the items on the menu, which made me a little uneasy, but I ordered the Lu Rou Fan. Wow, this is delicious! It wasn't too greasy, and I could have probably gone for a large size. The cold corn soup served with it was a delightful treat in this heat. The wontons were also very satisfying and made for a fulfilling lunch. I definitely want to go again…! I’m happy it was empty, but being such a hidden gem might not be great…!!

I ordered the lunch set with lu rou fan, but first of all, it didn't look like the picture... the amount of toppings was small... You can choose the rice portion size, but I think anyone who orders a large will definitely find that there's not enough meat. The wontons were delicious, though. However, there was no explanation for the condiments on the table (I recognized the chili oil), and the rice was dry. It's a shame because the wontons were tasty.

This restaurant is located within the apartment complex near Shentoujan in Morning Kotenmacho. I had to visit since I've heard a place serving Shentoujan has opened. It seems like the rush of checkouts has ended, so it's quite empty, even though it's just before 9 AM. I ordered a set with fried bread for 800 yen via QR code. It comes with tea, so it's not expensive. Now, let’s dig in. It’s piping hot! The tanginess and the texture of the pickled vegetables, along with the pleasant saltiness, make for a delightful dish, and the portion is substantial. The fried bread is well-drained of oil, so it's not greasy; it's crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. A great place has opened up! While it may not have universal appeal, it will definitely hit the mark for those who love it.

Lu Rou Fan for 800 yen, ready in 5 minutes. You place your order by scanning the QR code at the table on your smartphone. The Lu Rou Fan comes in a rice bowl size, and it looked a bit small at first, but surprisingly I didn't finish it too quickly. By the end, I felt quite full. Personally, I'd be happier with some cilantro on top!

The Italian restaurant on the first floor of the APA Hotel had suddenly transformed into a Taiwanese restaurant. I found out through a reel and decided to check it out. They apparently offer a set meal that comes with meat wontons as a highlight. There were various options for the main dish, but I chose the Taiwanese spiced curry. It was my first time trying wontons with curry. The curry had a unique use of spices, and the pickles on top were also distinctive—truly a unique experience.

I visited for brunch on a Saturday. The location is on the first floor of an APA hotel. The special set meal is only available on weekdays, so I ordered a la carte: braised pork trotters, two types of dumplings, dry-fried noodles with sauce, and lu rou fan (braised pork rice). The dumplings are seasoned, so I ate them without any dipping sauce. They were well-flavored and delicious. Overall, I found the dishes to be a bit on the salty side for my taste.

We woke up early and visited a restaurant we had wanted to try with our family of four at 9:30 on a Sunday. Since it also serves as the breakfast venue for APA Hotel, we were asked outside if we were hotel guests. If you don't have a breakfast voucher, you can order from your seat using a QR code on your smartphone. The breakfast menu we saw on Instagram was different from what was offered, but we ordered a set that included Shentoujiang (savory soy milk) with a whole stick of fried bread, Lu Rou Fan (braised pork rice), Zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste), and chicken soba. The set came with vegetables, an egg omelet, and fried spring rolls, but they didn’t feel very representative of Taiwanese cuisine. However, the main dishes were each delicious and gave a real taste of Taiwan. I’d love to visit again at night.

I heard that Orso has opened in Shinbanchou, so I decided to visit. I've been to their other locations, like Fuji in Edogawabashi and Orso in Hakusan, before. Just like those places, you can order via QR code, and drinks like canned beer are self-service. Everything was delicious, as expected, but the curry I tried for the first time was packed with spices and had a uniquely addictive flavor. I was torn between that and the braised pork rice, but I think I made the right choice by going with the curry. I look forward to visiting again soon!

The braised pork rice set (weekdays lunch special) is 1100 yen and comes with wontons and corn soup. The wontons were a bit chewy and especially delicious compared to the braised pork rice. I was happy to receive four wontons as a side dish!

I visited for lunch and had a reservation beforehand. **Highlights:** - A popular wonton shop with a new location in Hakusan. - Offers a wide selection of beer and bottled wine. - Reasonably priced, making it suitable for a casual drink. **Details:** - Operation: Two staff members. - Customer base: A diverse crowd. - Payment: Card accepted. - No cover or service charge. - Online reservations available. - Open for lunch. - Suitable for solo visits. - Great for both first and second stops. - Google rating: 4.0. - Difference between Tabelog current rating (3.15) and actual experience: Underrated. **Store Overview:** The restaurant is located on the first floor of an APA Hotel and has a casual Chinese bistro vibe. It's part of a popular chain with other locations in Hakusan. Wontons are the signature dish. On weekends, they operate with an à la carte menu for lunch. They also offer breakfast and takeout services. It's a bit of a walk from the station. **Atmosphere and Service:** There are both table and counter seating available. Due to the season, the door was open, creating a terrace-like atmosphere near the entrance. It felt somewhat like a food stall. Drinks are partially self-service. You can place orders by scanning a QR code, and payment can also be made via card through the same method. There were two staff members, and at one point, a large takeout order caused a bit of a rush, leading to delays in drink service. **Order and Value for Money:** I ordered the following: two drinks (a beer and a glass of orange wine). They have a wide variety of beers and bottled wines. - Spicy preserved vegetables and dried tofu - Prawn and chive wontons - Deep-fried spare ribs - Spicy water dumplings - Pork wontons The prices seemed reasonable, but given that some drinks are self-service, they might be a bit on the higher side. **Impression:** The food was surprisingly good. The portion size was just right for two people to share. They offer half-sized wontons as well. The prawn and chive wonton was delicious with plump prawns, while the pork wonton was a bit chewy but very meaty. Both types of wontons were larger than usual, about double the size of standard ones. The spare ribs were thinly cut and fried, making them a nice snack. The spicy water dumplings were sprinkled with a fragrant spice and had a smooth, chewy texture. If you eat too much, the bill can add up quickly, so it’s best to stick to wontons as the main dish. It’s fun to enjoy drinks and a meal on the weekends with the à la carte lunch menu.

This restaurant opened on the first floor of the APA Hotel near Kobensho-cho. In the morning, they serve porridge, for lunch, there are set meals, and in the evening, it can be used as an izakaya. The interior has both counter and table seating, and on busy days, it can accommodate around 40 people. Impressive! I visited this day with a natural wine enthusiast. We started with craft beer. The dried tofu and pickled vegetable dish with Sichuan pepper oil was a perfect snack—just my favorite flavor. The black fungus namul was great too. We also had various types of water dumplings, including shrimp and chives, and a more traditional option. They were chewy and delicious. The tomato and egg stir-fry was a hit, and we also tried the fried chicken (Daji Pai). To wrap up, since there was a curry lover in our group, we ordered the spiced curry. Orders are placed via a QR code. You can choose natural wines from the fridge near the kitchen counter. It was a fun, delicious, and casual place to eat!

I visited on a Saturday afternoon, so they only had the regular menu available instead of a lunch set. I ordered by tapping away on my smartphone. The food had a mild and easy-to-eat flavor. The portion sizes were neither too much nor too little. The interior was lively and fun, but the dishes were rather unremarkable, neither good nor bad.

At Kodenmachō Station, there's a popular Taiwanese restaurant called Orusō (鶯嶁莊) that has recently opened on the first floor of an APA Hotel. The interior is colorful and inviting. The menu includes dishes like Lu Rou Fan (braised pork rice) and Zhajiangmian (noodles with ground meat sauce), but the standout is definitely the Taiwanese spiced curry with pork cutlet (Paiko). The lightly fried pork cutlet is crispy, and the curry is rich with Chinese spices, making it incredibly flavorful! You can also add more heat with the chili oil on the table. The takana (mustard greens) adds a nice touch to the meal. I definitely want to come back to this place. #Kodenmachō #Orusō #TaiwaneseSpicedCurry #KodenmachōGourmet