This was my first visit to the restaurant. I had often walked by and was curious about it, but I initially thought it was just another fake downtown izakaya. I hesitated to stop by while checking their lunch menu from time to time. On this day, I noticed they had a beef tendon and daikon stew, which intrigued me enough to enter. When I looked at the menu, it had a bit of a China-like and Mongolia-like vibe. There were some non-Japanese terms for "stew" and mentions of lamb meat. The side dishes were available as self-service. There were shredded dried tofu with sauce and spicy soy-pickled daikon, among other items. The tofu dish included wood ear mushrooms. The pickled items were quite salty, as expected. The tofu dish was perfect for refreshing the palate with its gentle flavor. The stew arrived in a hot pot, steaming! It was topped with cilantro and had a subtle hint of star anise. The broth wasn't Japanese-style; it had a somewhat continental flavor. The rice was freshly cooked and served generously, with the option for a refill. In the stew, along with the beef tendon and daikon, there were also carrots and potatoes, which was a nice surprise. The beef tendon was tender yet had a bit of chewiness. It was an interesting and delicious lunch. The noodle dishes that others had were served in bowls that resembled large basins, adding to the Southeast Asian feel.

If you were captivated by the scene in "Spirited Away" where Chihiro's parents eat continuously at the empty Chinese restaurant and turn into pigs, you have to try Jean-Loup! Their dishes are similar to oden or stewed dishes in Japan and are absolutely delicious! There is a bit of a unique flavor, but you can enjoy a probably Tohoku or Seibu-inspired mindset that hasn’t been customized for Japan. North Senju is the best!

I had the soy sauce braised Mapo tofu lunch at Sakasenbo. The curry I had last time wasn't available this time. The Mapo tofu is definitely spicy—it's not extremely hot, but it has a dull, heavy spiciness that lingers for a while. The portion size is enormous, and both my tongue and stomach feel tingly all day. It really makes you sweat! Considering the recent price increases, the quality and quantity for 700 yen is outstanding. Absolutely fantastic!

I had a hot pot dish for lunch with lamb, tofu, and daikon radish. The lamb was tender and had no unpleasant odor, and there was plenty of meat and tofu. The rice was refillable for free, making it very filling. However, since it allows smoking, it might be a little bothersome if someone nearby is smoking.

I visited for a weekday lunch. They offered four types of daily specials for 700 yen and one type of noodles for 900 yen, which is affordable. The portions are quite generous, and there were many physically active men eating there. The self-serve side dishes were incredibly delicious, and the hormone ramen was spicier than I expected.

I tried the "senbero set" (highball, Shaoxing wine, and three skewers) to start, and then ordered a cold lamb liver and a refill of the Shaoxing wine. It was all quite nice for under 2000 yen. The food was spicy and authentic, probably in the Sichuan style. The Shaoxing wine was 450 yen, which felt a bit pricey, but it was so good that I found it reasonable. Next time, the 1000 yen all-you-can-drink Shaoxing wine for an hour seems like a good option.

Tonight's gathering is at "Suisenbo," a long-established Chinese izakaya in Kitasenju. First, we cheers with some beer! Ah, so good! (^｡^) We ordered the highly-rated one-bite gyoza and grilled chicken wings! The gyoza are served hot, with a chewy skin and plenty of juicy filling, making them perfect as a snack with drinks! The chicken wings also have a unique sauce, and the meat is tender. The dried tofu and konnyaku were quite good too! We met up with family and enjoyed some sautéed komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach). The place was bustling, with a steady stream of customers ranging from solo drinkers to large groups, which gave it a lively atmosphere. I'll definitely stop by again soon! That's all for now!

I made an online reservation on the same day and visited the restaurant after 5 PM. When I arrived, it was already bustling with about 40% of the seats filled. They serve authentic Chinese cuisine, which is generally quite spicy. The lamb was very enjoyable, and the skewers were excellent, so I highly recommend trying them if you visit!

Although it hasn't been long since my last visit, I've come back to Sakusenbo. I arrived a little before 2 PM and found the chef taking a break. That's nice! Today’s menu didn’t seem to have anything too unusual, so I decided to go with the fried rice. As always, it was extremely generous in portion size. When I looked more closely at the menu, I realized it was "Yurenshi" with lamb instead of chicken! I should have ordered that! Hmm, I’ll have to come back again!

After experiencing market food at Adachi Market, I searched for a place in Kitajuku where I could drink in the morning, and I found this restaurant. It seemed like a place that serves lunch and also offers alcohol. However, I discovered that the skewers set (1,000 yen) included a highball, a bottle of Shaoxing wine, and three skewers as part of a great deal, along with a one-hour all-you-can-drink Shaoxing wine option. It completely transformed my impression of the place from a simple eatery to a cozy izakaya with delicious snacks and reasonably priced meals (in my mind). To get to the point, here’s what I ordered (shared with a friend): - Skewers set: 1,000 yen - Assorted braised tripe: 990 yen - One-hour all-you-can-drink Shaoxing wine: 1,000 yen - Chuhai: 390 yen - Toris highball: 410 yen - Water dumplings: 300 yen - Spring rolls: 440 yen - Chilled lamb liver: 390 yen - Fried rice (forgot the price) The fried rice, in particular, was surprisingly delicious!

Just a five-minute walk from Kita-Senju Station, I discovered Ajibo Group a few months ago. It is a genuine Chinese restaurant centered around Kanda, run by a Chinese owner, as stated on their official website. Thanks to Ajibo, I've developed a mindset that associates Chinese cuisine with lamb. I'm grateful for that. The cold lamb liver was infused with flavor, and the fragrant grilled skewers had a mild taste that was very enjoyable. I might be visiting only great places too frequently, but personally, I'd love to try some lamb with a stronger "gamey" flavor at least once. Dishes made with "qianshi" tofu are rare, but the "jianglu" (a braised dish) was a completely new taste experience for me. It’s a Chinese-style oden cooked with star anise and various spices, where the flavors really seeped into the meat—delicious! It would go nicely with white rice as well. For dessert, I tried the Touban Curry! To be honest, I was full, but it was so delicious that I managed to finish it easily! The curry was incredibly smooth! The atmosphere and service were top-notch too! Thank you for the meal! 【What I ate】 Cold lamb liver: ¥390 Touban Curry: ¥990 Jianglu platter: ¥990 Grilled gyoza: ¥300 Cantonese-style sausage: ¥550 Lamb skewers: ¥190 Qianshi tofu vegetable rolls: ¥120 【Nearby restaurants】 Raikan no Nikutama Soba Otodo

After drinking at a standing bar, I wanted to sit down and relax a bit, so I visited this place I found on Tabelog. Upon entering and looking at the menu, it resembled the old liquor store near Okachimachi Station. I wonder if it's a branch. For drinks, I chose the white liquor tasting set. For snacks, I ordered fried peanuts, lamb skewers, boiled dumplings, mixed spring rolls, and chilled potato salad. The white liquor was indeed strong, over 40 degrees. When I took a sip, the alcohol spread through my palate, making it clear that it was a potent drink. Comparing the three types, some had strong odors while others were smoother. The fried peanuts, typical of a true Chinese restaurant, were delicious with a good saltiness. The chilled potato salad was interesting with its crunchy texture. The boiled dumplings were just tasty as expected. The mixed spring rolls had a distinct cilantro flavor, and the lamb skewers were tender. I ended up feeling a bit tipsy from the white liquor. Thank you for the meal!

I visited around 1:30 PM on a weekday. Maybe it was after the lunch peak, but the restaurant was nice and empty! I love this kind of atmosphere; it feels authentic, like in a foreign country! But the staff moved quickly and efficiently! The complimentary appetizer was delicious! Since I have a day off today, it's perfect as a snack with my beer. The spicy noodles I ordered had a lot of chunky pieces of entrails. This flavor is truly authentic, just like in China. Wow, it's amazing; I will definitely come back. In this day and age, the price, taste, and portion size are incredible. Is this the best?

On this day, I headed to Kitasenju to visit the Sakasenbo, which I had wanted to try for a while! Since it was a bit late, the counter was reserved just for me, while there were a few customers at the tables. They offer a "senbero" set, so I decided to start with that (・∀・). The senbero set includes a highball, shaoxing wine, and three skewers for 990 yen (tax included). That's just wonderful! The highball arrived at the counter while I was enjoying it; it was very tasty (・∀・). Shortly after, the skewers arrived: chicken wings, pork, and offal. The cumin flavor was really strong, and it was absolutely delicious. The chicken wings were especially tasty around the bones! For my second drink, I chose shaoxing wine. I really love shaoxing wine (・∀・), and I could definitely have two cups of it… Thank you for the meal! I'll definitely come back!

I had to transfer at Kitasenju to head into Tokyo, but decided to have lunch in Kitasenju instead. I ended up at this restaurant in the shopping street. All the staff seemed to be from China, and aside from customer service, everything else was in what sounded like Chinese. I ordered the stir-fried pork, bell peppers, eggplant, and potatoes for lunch. It said that rice was free for refills, so I expected it to come in a bowl, but instead, it was served on a single plate. The plate was filled with rice, topped with the piping hot stir-fried dish. Getting all this for 700 yen is quite a bargain. They also accept PayPay.

I've been curious about this Chinese restaurant that looked serious, and it really is. The atmosphere is quite simple, but all the dishes are cheap and delicious. They even have a white liquor tasting set. Smoking is allowed, and there are quite a few customers who come here to drink alone. I want to keep coming back to this place for a while.

I enjoy lunches that feature dishes likely enjoyed by locals in China, rather than Japanese-style Chinese cuisine. The pork and offal rice bowl I ordered that day was a wonderfully wild dish that exceeded my expectations. The rice was topped with a generous amount of various cuts of pork and offal, which had been simmered or possibly steamed, as well as stir-fried pickled mustard greens. The portion was quite large, and at first, I wasn't sure if I could finish it all, but the rich flavors made it easy to keep eating the rice. They usually have about 4 to 5 daily specials, so it's a place where I'd like to try a variety of dishes.

I had a fantastic time at "Suisenbou" in Kitasenju, where I enjoyed grilled pork tongue skewers! The cost was around 3,000 yen per person in total. This restaurant offers Chinese cuisine, with a special recommendation for their "jianglu" dishes. I tried the konjac, which was very flavorful and loaded with garlic, a taste that definitely appeals to guys! If you haven't tried it yet, I highly recommend giving it a go! #Gourmet #DeliciousFood #FoodExplorer #China #Jianglu #Suisenbou #Kitasenju #KitasenjuGourmet #KitasenjuIzakaya

Every time I pass by, I notice that new menu items are being added, as the restaurant seems to change its menu every week. I was drawn in by the mention of cold noodles. The soup has a unique flavor with a hint of sweetness, and the meat appears to be a repurposed braised offal. The side dish, which has a curry flavor, is a delicious fried rice.

During a weekday lunch, I ordered the egg noodle dish with pork and eggplant, plus a mini fried rice for 700 yen. The flat noodles were quite soft, topped with finely sliced pork and a sauce with eggplant, creating a no-soup noodle dish. The seasoning had a somewhat ethnic flavor, but it wasn't very pronounced... it could be described as a gentle taste (^o^;). The dish was served after being heated in a microwave. The fried rice came from a rice cooker, but again, the flavor was... While the operation is efficient, this place is recommended for those who want to quickly finish their meal (^_^;).

I had the fried chicken in soy sauce for lunch and it was amazing from the very first bite! As expected from a Chinese izakaya?! The flavor was a bit strong towards the end, but it was still cheap at 700 yen! When you order lunch, you can also help yourself to a variety of side dishes on a small plate. I wonder if the menu changes daily? I definitely want to go back again.