I want to clarify from the start that this is a story about a special dining event and that all the dishes received are not typically served at the restaurant. I recently celebrated my 60th birthday and also retired from my job. My six children wanted to celebrate this milestone for me. So, I requested a unique dining experience for this special occasion. With the help of Kato, the owner and chef of my favorite Chinese restaurant, "Kaihō," I managed to arrange a meal with Chef Seki, the executive chef of "Shanghai Soup Dumpling," who oversees all of their branches, and who would prepare special dishes that are not offered on the regular menu. I also asked if my former wife, who had been by my side for 27 years and helped raise our six children, could join us as a special guest, and I was delighted to hear that she would be happy to participate. My current wife was very gracious about this as well, for which I am grateful. The toast was made with Moët & Chandon Rosé, a nod to my 60th birthday, led by my eldest son, who raised his glass high. The much-anticipated culinary experience with Chef Seki began with the appetizers. The quality of each dish in this varied selection heightened my expectations for what was to come. The sauce served with the scallops had a garlic flavor reminiscent of “yunbai rou” (sliced pork) but accentuated the sweetness and high quality of the scallops. The jellyfish was remarkably thin, a consideration for texture that I had rarely encountered before. Next, a soup was served. The stock made from Jinhua ham, enhanced with dried scallops, provided a depth of flavor that set it apart from regular chicken broth. The bowl was filled with shark fin from the tail of a dogfish. No words were necessary for this dish; I simply indulged in the pinnacle of deliciousness. Chef Seki greeted us while presenting a grand plate featuring the most impressive ingredient of the day. (As a side note, Chef Seki resembles the actor Masayoshi Icmura quite a bit and is indeed a charming person.) He held up finely sliced premium black wagyu beef that almost looked raw. Right in front of us, he mixed it with hot sauce and green peppers. The first bite revealed the high-quality umami of the black wagyu, and I realized that this was indeed the best way to present a stir-fry dish—just like this! It was an eye-opening experience. There was also an abalone gratin. The medium-sized Ezo abalone, described as a gratin, had a sauce reminiscent of béchamel made with the abalone's liver, enhancing its exquisite flavor. The crunchy texture around the shell added to the enjoyment of this dish. Then, another surprise followed—Peking duck. Chef Seki performed the familiar routine of slicing just the skin from a freshly roasted duck. However, he surprised us by placing the skin onto pre-prepared sushi rice and serving it with sauce. Initially overwhelmed by his creativity, I soon thought, “Ah, I see!” as I was again drawn into the “Seki World.” Of course, I also enjoyed the delightful Peking duck served in the traditional way, but the impact of having Peking duck with sushi rice was something else entirely. Seki's wonderful culinary world continued to expand. Two steamers were brought to our table—one with shao long bao and shumai, and the other with a whole shiitake mushroom. “What is this shiitake? Is it really just like this?” I pondered while picking one up, noting that it indeed appeared to be just a shiitake. It had a pleasant aroma, but it was not the typical scent of shiitake. Then, Chef Seki, wearing a playful smile, appeared to explain this dish, saying, “Please eat it as is.” Once again, the “Seki Magic” was unleashed! To my astonishment, the seemingly ordinary shiitake was actually a bun! The exquisite aroma stemmed from the same type of mushroom contained inside, which turned out to be truffles. What a wonderfully playful dish it was! Initially, Kato from "Kaihō" told me that “Chef Seki is truly an amazing chef. However, in his current position, he often feels the stress of not being able to fully express his talents due to desk work. He was looking for someone to enjoy his food,” which is how I got to be introduced to him. As a result, Chef Seki finally gained the opportunity to showcase his skills, allowing someone like me to enjoy a wonderful array of dishes on this occasion. Since it was a celebration, there was also a dish featuring lobsters. The quality of the ingredients and sauces was superb, and truly, my humble words were unnecessary—this dish was confirmed as “delicious” and satisfied everyone in the family. For the final noodle dish, we had a choice of three options. Each one sounded appealing, making it a tough decision. Understanding my dilemma, my children said, “We’ll let you taste a bit of everything, Dad.” The “dry dan dan noodles” I chose, along with the “soy sauce roasted pork ramen” and “salted chicken ramen,” were all delightful. For dessert, we had almond tofu and peach buns, the latter being a traditional dish consumed during celebrations in China. This thoughtful gesture from Chef Seki really stood out. It turned out to be a magnificent day—one I will never forget. I wish to express my gratitude to everyone involved: Chef Seki and his staff, Kato for the introduction, my children who traveled from afar for this occasion, and my beloved former wife, with whom I shared many years and who supported me throughout, even if I couldn’t make her happy. Thank you all!

I went there because I wanted to have hot and sour soup noodles and shumai! I thought the lunch set was a good deal with various items included. The shrimp fried rice and almond jelly were both delicious. I wanted to eat sesame balls too, but since one was priced at 290 yen, I decided to skip it.

I went out for lunch. It was a little before noon, so it was not crowded. I had a soy sauce ramen and spring rolls set, as well as some soup dumplings. There was a special on soup dumplings, and they were half price. Lucky me! ✌️ It was delicious. The soup dumplings had various types, and I want to try different ones next time I go.

If you choose one main dish and one side dish, it becomes the A lunch set. I selected mapo rice as the main dish and three xiaolongbao as the side. The mapo rice had a moderate level of spiciness, making it a flavor that anyone can enjoy. The xiaolongbao were delicious when paired with ginger, sauce, and black vinegar.

Located on the northwest corner of the Sakae intersection in the underground of BINO, this casual Chinese restaurant was my destination during lunchtime. The interior is quite spacious, and it seems to have many seats; however, on this particular day, there were not many customers, allowing me to enjoy my meal without worrying about the people next to me. Since it was my first visit, I ordered the visually appealing mapo rice bowl set, along with some mini soup dumplings as an addition. To be honest, I didn't have high expectations for a restaurant in a building’s basement, but considering the price, I had no complaints about the taste. The mini soup dumplings were quite tasty, and the mapo tofu was mildly spicy with a good umami flavor, making it quite enjoyable. The shrimp dumplings were also plump and far tastier than I had imagined. Although it was more of a fast-food style Chinese cuisine, it was not only acceptable but exceeded my expectations. If I'm ever in the area and need a lunch spot again, I would definitely consider returning.

I had a craving for xiaolongbao after a long time, so I went to this restaurant. I ordered a set that included Shanghai soy sauce ramen, xiaolongbao, sour soup noodle soup, mango pudding, almond jelly, a bottle of beer, and oolong tea. The xiaolongbao was reliably delicious. The ramen was average, but I liked that I could change the flavor with black vinegar.

I visited a restaurant for lunch in Sakae. Since most places in Sakae Chika had long lines, I decided to check out BINO. There are restaurants on the B1 and 3rd floors. This time, I headed to "Shanghai Soup Dumpling Restaurant" for a reasonable lunch under 1,000 yen. I arrived around 1 PM, and the seating was quick, with my food served in about five minutes. I ordered the A set, which included BBQ pork fried rice and soup dumplings. The flavors were well balanced, and the cost performance was excellent. The staff was efficient and friendly, which I appreciated. I left feeling satisfied. There are many dining options in Sakae, so it can be hard to choose, but if you’re looking for a place that’s close to the station, serves food quickly, and is budget-friendly, I highly recommend this spot.

I had some business in the Sakae area and was unsure where to eat on my way back. I considered the ankake pasta at Chiao across the street but ultimately chose this place for its variety of Chinese dishes. They had several set menus, which made it hard to decide. The first drink was a great deal as well. I ordered the Selectable Set A, which allowed me to try a bit of everything. The flavors were quite ordinary overall. The soup dumplings were good, served in the traditional style with ginger and a spoon, but I felt they could use a bit more punch. The fried chicken was tasty, but it seemed a little over-fried. From a cost-performance perspective, I really appreciated being able to sample various dishes, so I would like to visit again when I’m in the area.

I headed to Trishige Stadium to use my Kinshachi Money, but it was closed on that day, so I went to this place instead. I was pressured by the staff and hastily placed my order, which backfired. The spicy dan dan noodles had a flavor that just didn't quite match. Even though it's a place known for xiao long bao, I ended up ordering mapo tofu as a side dish. I'll take my time to choose next time.

This is a multi-restaurant Chinese dining establishment that you can find everywhere, but this was my first visit. I had low expectations for this place, which is part of the Su-chan Group (although they seem to be hiding...), and other nearby restaurants were closed for a break, leaving me with no other options. I ordered the "Sauce-free Dandan Noodles," which featured wide noodles that nicely picked up the thick, rich sesame sauce. I also tried the "Black Vinegar Tiananmen Rice," but the unique richness of the black vinegar was lacking, even though, as the menu promised, it did contain shrimp. My initial low expectations may have influenced my thoughts. However, one appealing aspect of this restaurant is that it offers continuous service in the Sakae area. Although there are costs associated with the space, the prices feel a bit high compared to typical Chinese lunch options in residential neighborhoods.

I had lunch at the newly opened Shanghai Soup Dumpling Restaurant Bino in Sakae. I ordered the recommended Mapo Rice Set for 1,089 yen, which includes Mapo rice, xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), soup, and almond jelly. While it's at a chain-level quality, it was quite tasty. The cost-performance is also impressive. It's definitely a welcome spot to have in the center of Sakae.

Black vinegar Tianjin rice bowl ¥924, draft beer (medium) ¥108. The Tianjin rice bowl has a fluffy texture thanks to the eggs. The sauce is lighter than sweet and sour, leaving a distinct aroma of black vinegar at the end. Various drinks are incredibly cheap, with the first glass priced at only ¥108. The interior is clean, and the ordered items are served quickly.

Today, I had lunch at the BINO branch of Shanghai Soup Dumpling. The Oasis branch is always crowded, but this location was relatively empty, likely because it has only recently opened. The Lunch A set was 900 yen (excluding tax), and while the portions weren't very large, the food was delicious. I can add this place to my lunch rotation as a hidden gem.

This is an old post, so the current information may differ. This is a place I used to visit almost every day. I went there once and had a good impression of the cost performance. I really wanted to try the all-you-can-eat dim sum, but by the time I thought about it, I had already left my previous job.

Today, I tried the mapo rice and fried chicken with garlic sauce set for the first time. It had a good amount of food and was quite delicious. I usually go for the roast pork fried rice and mapo tofu set, but this was definitely a great choice.

Today, I had a Chinese lunch in Nagoya, which included a set of fried rice and a mini mapo tofu for 990 yen. I usually get the char siu fried rice, but the regular fried rice was delicious too.

The A Lunch set, which includes char siu fried rice for 990 yen and a mini mapo tofu, is seriously delicious. It has become a regular choice for me whenever I come here. Thank you for the meal!

It's hot, so I didn't want to go outside, and I decided to have a special lunch at Crystal Plaza today. It was a great deal at 1,078 yen including tax, and it came with almond jelly as well. Thank you for the meal!