クック1073
【Visit Date】Late November, Friday, around 7:30 PM. 【Number of People】One. I managed to find a spot at the counter, which was nearly full. Since there’s counter seating, I didn’t feel out of place being alone. Sometimes, I feel like drinking alone. Work has been tough... Next weekend is bonus time, so I'm treating myself a little early. There are quite a few izakayas near my office that I frequent, but on a Friday at this hour, I tried several places before landing here, a newly renovated restaurant. I've been working in Tamachi for over a decade and have seen many different iterations of this location. Now it’s called Toraki, having recently opened. Previously, it was a Tiger Dumpling Hall, which quickly closed and changed to another Chinese restaurant (I can’t remember what it was). It feels like the Kiai Corporation restaurants are changing their brands frequently. (I remember the last place being affordable, but I only went once.) After being shown to my counter seat, I immediately ordered a beer! In total, I ended up drinking three beers.
- The appetizer was edamame, which was nice and slightly warm.
For my orders, I had:
- **Coriander Dried Tofu**: This was delicious! If you like coriander, you must try it. The appearance is striking—stringy pieces of tofu. Dried tofu has a noodle-like texture. Maybe due to the drying process, the umami is concentrated, and it's just fantastic. The flavor, complemented with coriander and a kick of Sichuan pepper, was amazing! Initially, I mistook the pink specks for pink peppercorns, but the staff confirmed it was Sichuan pepper. It was my first experience with red Sichuan pepper, and it had a refreshing spiciness. The texture of the tofu is a bit crumbly, but that’s not a negative at all. It has a nice chewiness. Make sure to mix it well before eating because the Sichuan pepper can get intense towards the end. This dish is highly recommended.
- **Two Types of Fried Dumplings**: There were two small dumplings, one black and one white. First, I tried the visually striking black dumpling. Wow? Juicy, almost like a soup dumpling. What’s this flavor? To my surprise, it was beef! I had assumed dumplings were always pork. The strong flavor of beef was a delightful surprise. The white one was filled with pork and had an excellent ginger flavor. Both fillings were well-seasoned, making them enjoyable even without dipping sauce.
- **Spicy Minced Meat and Bean Sprout Salad**: This was also delicious! It's what you might imagine, but there was a subtle sweetness lingering behind, adding depth to the flavor that surpassed my expectations.
- **Thick Large Spring Roll**: This was tasty too. As expected, it was crispy on the outside and juicy inside. The filling was creamy and well-seasoned, so it was great on its own. The pork pieces were generously cut, providing a satisfying bite.
- **Small Lu Rou Fan (Braised Pork Rice)**: I was so pleased to see a small option available, perfect for a light finish. This was incredibly tasty! The spices, such as cumin and star anise, were robust, offering a depth and richness uncommon in other places. With a good amount of meat, I wondered how they managed the costs. The menu was extensive, and there were plenty of other dishes I wanted to try. It looks like I'll be visiting more often as a treat for myself.