I'm thrilled that the authentic flavors of China’s Sichuan province have made their debut in Japan, specifically in Tokyo! I’ve always enjoyed watching various food reviews on YouTube, and I must say, the main dish is a definite highlight! 【Cold Skewers】: This dish features meats and vegetables carefully threaded onto bamboo skewers by hand. I ordered nearly every variety, and the secret broth is used to boil the skewers before they’re served at the table, filling the air with an amazing aroma. Though it's called "Cold Skewers," the broth is warm and spicy, enhancing the flavors of the ingredients. They also offer an oil plate and a chili plate, adding an incredibly fragrant touch! One of the best features is that you can choose your spice level, which is so considerate! 【Sichuan Spicy Chicken】: Fresh, tender, and packed with the numbing spice of Sichuan peppercorns and the heat of chili oil, this chicken is juicy and invigorates your taste buds with its rich collagen content. It's definitely appetizing! 【Claypot Pig Trotter Soup】: This is a beloved dish, especially among women. It showcases the well-known deliciousness of Sichuan-style trotters! After hours of simmering, the soup becomes rich, white, and creamy, full of collagen that warms the body—an absolute beauty secret for Sichuan women! 【Steamed Spare Ribs】: The taste of these steamed spare ribs completely exceeded my expectations! The texture is fluffy and chewy, yet the meat is incredibly satisfying. I love how tender, flavorful, and spicy they are! 【Claypot Pig Intestines】: For lovers of this dish, words can hardly express how much I adore it! When it arrives on the table, the rich aroma is irresistible. This hot pot dish showcases the vastness and depth of culinary delights. 【Dan Dan Noodles】: The broth is minimal but rich and fresh, with fragrant ground meat and smooth noodles. The portion is just right, perfectly filling my primary meal cravings! 【Handmade Lemon Tea】: This drink helps to ease the spiciness and meets the standards of specialty beverage shops. If the heat becomes overwhelming, a quick sip of lemon tea is perfect! 【Ice Powder】: This was my first time trying this delightful, sweet, and cold dessert shaped like a flower, served with a small golden spoon, bringing a lovely sense of ritual to dessert. The syrup harmonizes with the brown sugar, creating a refreshing taste, and the finely chopped peanuts add an exquisite touch. I could eat the entire menu—can’t wait to come back for more!

After eating the intangible cultural heritage food from Leshan, I was teleported to Chengdu in no time! The Sichuan-style Lion's Head meatballs were incredibly satisfying! Eating the plump, firm, spicy meatballs surrounded by quail eggs wrapped in tofu skin was super fun! The tomato beef casserole was not spicy at all; the meat was tender, and the soup was delicious—I nearly drank it all! The casserole mashed potatoes had a little kick from the chopped pepper, but they tasted great with rice! They paired excellently with the wild mushroom buns! I caught up with the freshly made, limited-edition wild mushroom buns! They were well-stuffed, the skin was firm, and my mouth was filled with the aroma of mushrooms—lightly fried, chewy on the inside, and crispy on the outside. For dessert, I had the black sugar from Leshan mixed with osmanthus sugar to mellow the spiciness. The ice powder dessert was surprisingly spicy, and you could adjust the flavor anywhere! The spicy beef tripe was amazing—I could hardly get enough in one meal! The mildly spicy rice paired perfectly with beer! The pickled cabbage with kelp was fragrant with sesame and had a slight spiciness—simply exquisite!

The taste of the steamed spare ribs was quite surprising and excellent. However, there was too much Sichuan pepper, which made my mouth tingle. The baozi was just okay; it only had a filling of cabbage and tofu, and it felt a bit lacking, possibly due to insufficient fermentation. The black sugar glutinous rice dumplings were also just okay; they felt like they were missing warmth and a chewy texture. Overall, I was satisfied with the taste.

I ordered mapo tofu. The flavor is different from the typical Chinese-style version. It has various herbs and spices that give it a unique taste I've never experienced before. The spiciness is delicious, but the strong flavors can become a bit overwhelming after a while. However, I find myself wanting to try other dishes as well. It seems that all the staff are Chinese, and they didn’t speak Japanese.

I went to Shunmireki Nagasaki to have skewer hotpot. I love hotpot, but skewer hotpot has an authentic Chinese feel that I also enjoy! It's just a short walk from Takadanobaba Station. The building itself has many Chinese stores, giving it an exotic atmosphere. The restaurant was very new and had a clean vibe. The staff, mostly Chinese with limited Japanese skills, served the customers, who were mostly Chinese as well. It seems you need to fill out an order sheet first, starting with choosing the hotpot soup (spiciness level). I opted for medium spicy. Each skewer costs 64 yen, so I decided to choose about 20 skewers at once. The cooking is done in the kitchen, and the pot comes served with ingredients already cooked. Although it’s called a "cold pot," it was more like lukewarm. The hotpot's broth is at room temperature, and I imagine they place the skewers that have been heated in another pot into this one when ordered. I also ordered duck tongues and shrimp, which come highly recommended. The skewers are quite small, so I think each person can easily eat around 20. The "sesame oil sauce" I ordered was heavily flavored with raw garlic, which I might not have needed. The broth’s flavor is enjoyable on its own. The fried maitake mushrooms were crispy and served as a nice snack. The meat buns were of high quality and tasted great! Since they were small, we quickly finished four together. The mix of sliced kelp, pickled daikon, and vermicelli was an odd combination, but we enjoyed it. Even after finishing the skewers, there was still plenty of broth left. I thought it was such a waste to have such a big pot with leftover soup. In the end, the two of us managed to finish two bottles of Shaoxing wine. I didn't realize there was such a Chinese vibe not just in Ikebukuro but also in Takadanobaba! Thank you for the meal!

On my way back from the dentist in Takadanobaba, I was drawn in by a sign that looked delicious. It’s on the 7th floor of a mixed-use building and is always packed. Almost all the staff and customers were Chinese, and I couldn't communicate in Japanese at all, so I was directed and ordered through gestures. Since I was feeling a bit anemic, I ordered something like duck blood soup. When the dish arrived, I thought it was something like tripe, but while I was eating, the staff started arguing with each other. It seemed the lady next to me hadn’t received her food yet. I started to suspect something—they ended up giving me the wrong dish! We both laughed and apologized to each other while finishing our meals. The flavors were definitely Sichuan and I loved it. After drinking plenty of water, I found out they charged me the original order's price at the register. I felt a bit guilty for getting a deal. Next time, I definitely want to try the duck blood soup!

I tried a type of skewered dish for the first time. Each skewer is really long and has various ingredients on it, all immersed in a spicy broth. I thought the broth would be hot, but it was actually at room temperature, making it quite refreshing. However, it was super spicy (I ordered the extra spicy one). There are meat and seafood options available. I love squid, so I enjoyed it and kept ordering it again. It seems like you can choose the level of spiciness for the broth, but there appears to be a lot on the spicier side. This style of restaurant might become popular in the future! The skewers are really affordable, priced around 60 to 80 yen each. The portions of the ingredients are small, so it seems like the idea is to eat a lot of them. Drinks are also cheap. I think I ended up spending around 6000 yen after having 3-4 drinks. The restaurant is clean and quite spacious. It’s surprising to find such a place right in front of the station. Besides us, the other customers were speaking Chinese, which added to the atmosphere and gave a sense of being on an overseas trip. It felt like a good deal! Since it’s a unique type of restaurant, it's great to go with someone who enjoys trying new things.

The food is delicious and has an authentic Sichuan flavor. There is a wide variety of skewers, which was satisfying. Even the mild spice level is quite spicy, so those who can't handle heat should be cautious. However, the interior of the restaurant is humid, and it seems the air conditioning isn't very effective. Eating spicy food makes you feel even hotter.

I recently went to a restaurant with a friend who also returned from China! I can guarantee that the flavors are close to the authentic taste, so I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to try real Chinese cuisine! However, the portions were smaller than in China... Haha, my friend and I lamented about the tiny amounts of meat and vegetables on the skewers...

I went to a restaurant recommended by my junior, and it was an authentic Chinese place! I'm so happy that I can enjoy my favorite skewers (๑♡∀♡๑) here in Japan! They had a spiciness that was very close to the real thing, so be careful if you're not good with spicy food ⚠️ There were so many different types of skewers♡ They had all kinds of offal, which was like heaven for me♡ The handmade pork buns had a nice, firm dough and lots of vegetables inside♡ My colleague ordered a delicious boiled pork trotters soup (*´﹃｀*) to balance out the spiciness, so the ordering was well thought out. The service included a free plate of chilled beef with chili sauce, which was also incredibly spicy and addictive! It was so delicious, I can't even express how happy I was ( ´˘` ). I can't wait to go back for a second visit! Thank you for the meal!＼(^o^)／

The skewers themselves had a great authentic flavor, but the sauce tasted only of garlic, haha. When I woke up this morning, I could still smell it, lol. To be honest, the flavors of the other dishes were also mediocre. I wouldn't say it was terrible, but I'm feeling like I probably won't go back.

From a Sichuan perspective, the authentic flavor, especially the seasoning of the pig's trotters is excellent. We ordered two side dishes: pig's trotters and preserved eggs with Sichuan pepper, and it only cost 6,000 yen for two adults. That's cheap! Most of the customers were Chinese, with just a few Japanese diners seen occasionally. The service was a bit rough around the edges, but the staff were kind and attentive, listening to our requests.

It really feels like authentic flavors! The access from the station is very convenient. Most of the customers are Chinese, and the place gets really crowded during dinner time, so I recommend making a reservation. The skewers, as well as other dishes, are delicious, and even the mildly spicy options were definitely spicy, but in a way that makes you crave more. I definitely want to go again.

The restaurant has a stylish contemporary design with white interiors, straw-thatched lighting, and large jars on display, giving it a modern vibe reminiscent of the mainland. It's impressive how authentic Chinese cuisine has evolved to this point. The dishes feature ingredients skewered on sticks, which you dip in a spicy 麻辣 (mala) oil for flavor. Even the individual dishes use generous amounts of Sichuan peppercorn, leaving your mouth tingling with excitement. For mala lovers, this place is irresistible and feels addictive!

Located just a short distance from the Waseda exit of Takadanobaba Station, on the 7th floor of the KI Building, which houses restaurants from the basement to the 7th floor, is the authentic Chinese restaurant specializing in cold pot skewers called "Xun Wei Le Shan." I visited for the first time around 12 PM on a weekday. The building has Yakiniku Like on the first floor and Maguranchi in the basement, and finally, the upper floors are filled with authentic Chinese eateries. Upon entering the restaurant, there are rows of tables, creating a cafeteria-like atmosphere. All the staff are Chinese, and most of the customers are also Chinese, mainly young people. Around 12:30 PM, just after morning classes end, the place gets crowded, and there is a wait. It seems to have a school cafeteria vibe. They offer a lunch menu with dishes like "Sand pot oil-splashed bomb," "Sand pot tomato tender beef," and "Provoked beef tripe," which had me puzzled at first. However, in smaller text, it says "Clay pot meatball stew," "Clay pot beef in tomato soup stew," and "Stewed beef tripe." These names are accompanied by pictures, and the bright red soup looks spicy. There are also a dozen other set meals available. The main offerings are clay pot stews, along with noodles and fried rice. I decided to go with the clay pot meatball stew set meal, priced at 980 yen. Since it's a set, it comes with rice, braised chicken thigh, appetizer, seasoned egg, and soup. I noticed green leaves in the picture, so I tried to order it without cilantro by saying "No coriander" in Japanese, but it didn’t get through. I also tried "Coriander no" and even used a translation app, but nothing worked. In the end, I wasn’t sure whether cilantro was removed or simply not included at all. Unlike many authentic Chinese places, there was no self-service dish corner. After a wait of about 10 minutes, my dish arrived. The clay pot was filled with bright red soup and plenty of chilies, clearly indicating it would be spicy. The rice was served in a generous portion by default. I took a bite, and found a huge meatball inside, larger than my fist, which was very heavy. It was steaming hot and spicy, with some numbing heat mixed in. Although it was spicy, the meatball was slow-cooked and really delicious. I found myself sweating profusely, but I could eat a lot of rice alongside it. The appetizer was a spicy dish resembling seaweed, and the seasoned egg and braised chicken thigh were also well-flavored, serving as good accompaniments. The portion of the meatball was enormous, making me feel like I was beyond full. I could understand why it’s so popular among hungry young Chinese customers. They accept PayPay for payments. Besides lunch, there is a layout where you handwrite your orders. The pricing for the skewers is unified at 64 yen each, which is quite affordable. They also seem to offer various side dishes, so I’m considering visiting again in the evening.

- 05/27 (Monday) Lunch… Jinmi Rakusan… I can't read the menu... Sand pot oil splash, atomic bomb 980 yen… Clay pot meatball stew (includes rice, boiled chicken thigh, appetizer, seasoned egg, and soup)… The main dish was a braised meatball similar to a hamburger. It was spicy but not overwhelmingly so, just a delicious level of spiciness. The meat was juicy and flavorful, and it was really tasty. The side dishes were also prepared to suit Japanese tastes. Other items on the menu all looked delicious, but I couldn't understand the words, so it looks like I'll just have to try everything one by one.

Located in a building that houses a serious Chinese restaurant on the upper floor, this new traditional Chinese hot pot place has a bright and stylish interior, making it a welcoming spot for solo female diners. I visited on a weekday around noon, and while there were only two other groups in the spacious restaurant at that time, it quickly filled up with international students after their Japanese language classes ended around 12:20, becoming quite popular. The staff member attending to me was a male who didn't seem very fluent in Japanese, but his service was very polite and handled everything just fine. During lunch hours, the menu features a variety of single-person hot pot sets priced around 1000 yen. I decided to go for the classic mapo tofu. It arrived bubbling away like a hellish scene, spicy and numbing, yet extremely delicious. I believe the chef is quite skilled. The set also included roasted chicken with bones and a vegetable salad. The vegetable dish had a surprisingly simple flavor that was quite unexpected.

In front of Takadanobaba Station, there was a building filled with many restaurants that had a sign for a new and unfamiliar eatery. I decided to visit it over the weekend. I entered around 1 PM and found the place nearly full with over 20 people already seated. The majority of the customers were young people speaking Chinese. The interior had a stylish modern atmosphere without being overly flashy. The lunch menu featured about 20 different options, with half of them being hot pot dishes. Additionally, during lunch hours, you could also order the restaurant's specialty skewered dishes. I chose the standout dish of the menu: stewed meatballs in a clay pot and sesame noodles. Given the crowd, it took a little over 20 minutes for my meal to arrive. The stewed meatballs were larger than the average hamburger patty and incredibly tender, as the chopsticks easily penetrated them. The broth had a strong flavor from Sichuan peppercorn and was a delicious salty soup. The sesame noodles were thick, similar to knife-cut noodles, and while the sesame sauce was on the sweeter side, it also had a spicy kick that intensified as I continued eating. The meat bun had a filling seasoned with Chinese spices, quite different from the typical store-bought versions. It was a unique and enjoyable flavor that is hard to find elsewhere. Additionally, rice refills were available, leaving me feeling quite full. I highly recommend this place for those who truly enjoy authentic Chinese cuisine. (May 2024)

The food was delicious, but I heard that the air conditioning wasn't working properly, so it felt hot.

Authentic Chinese cuisine! The restaurant is spacious, and you can walk in without a reservation!

It was a bit spicy for me... it was oily, but it was delicious. My favorite is the meat bun. The sesame oil on the skewer is the best!