I headed to Harajuku for work and decided to have lunch at a restaurant I had been curious about for a while. The place was packed even though it was just before noon, but I was offered a seat at a shared table and accepted. I ordered the minced pork rice set, which came with a delicious soup and water dumplings with a unique spicy sauce. The minced pork rice was also tasty and I wished they had a larger portion available because I enjoyed it so much.

Today, I had lunch in Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. However, I had plans in the afternoon so I quickly returned to Harajuku for lunch. As I walked along Harajuku Street, I came across a nostalgic sign for an underground restaurant. I ordered the lunch menu which included Lu Rou Fan (braised pork rice) and dumplings. The place was bustling with people in apparel. First, they brought out a small dish of pickled vegetables and Chinese corn soup. The soup was delicious and the pickled vegetables had a nice balance of flavors. Then, the Lu Rou Fan and dumplings arrived. The dumplings looked different from the typical pan-fried ones I had imagined. They were more like steamed dumplings. I realized that in China, they don't have pan-fried dumplings. During the cooking process, two dumpling skins tore so they made two additional ones. I appreciated the restaurant's attention to detail. I tried the dumplings first and they were filled with a mixture of meat, vegetables, and finely chopped squid, giving them a great texture and flavor. They were delicious, especially when dipped in the spicy miso paste on the table. Next, I tried the Lu Rou Fan. While I was expecting braised pork pieces, this dish had minced meat. The visual was closer to Ga Pao Rice than Lu Rou Fan. The flavor was still that of Lu Rou Fan, but with a milder five-spice flavor and a slightly spicy minced meat topping. It was really tasty. Despite the bowl looking small at first, it turned out to be quite filling as I ate. At 690 yen, the cost performance was excellent. As I enjoyed the dumplings and pickled vegetables, I felt like having a beer. However, I was working so I settled for a non-alcoholic beer. I would love to come back in the evening by train and order more dishes to enjoy with drinks. This is a place I definitely want to visit whenever I'm working around Harajuku. Thank you for the meal!

Today I went to the Taiwanese restaurant "Sen" in Urahara for work after a long time. Going down the stairs to the basement, I entered the familiar space. From the lunch menu, I ordered the "Stir-fried Squid with Black Fungus and Egg." The squid with a soft salty sauce was delicious, just as I had imagined. The texture of the black fungus was pleasant, and the greens and carrots mixed in well. I love the corn soup here. The pickled vegetables were a generous serving as always. I also successfully changed the flavor by adding the spicy condiments on the table halfway through. Thank you for the meal!

The dumplings are very delicious. The meat dishes are also tasty. The cost performance is okay. I ordered something called "gatsu," which was written in kanji as "pork liver," but what was served was completely different. The chef, an old man, said, "I'm Japanese, so I can't speak Chinese," and when I complained, it was a bit awkward.

There is a Taiwanese restaurant near Meiji Jingu-mae Station, located underground. I ate until I was full! The cost performance is good, and the food is delicious. Smokers can enjoy smoking, so it seems convenient for them. I didn't leave smelling like smoke. There is also a TV.

I stopped by HATTO COFFEE on my way back. This shop is located on Harajuku Street on the way back to Harajuku Station. My friend found it and we decided to go in. The shop is located underground. The interior is like a typical Chinese restaurant. We ordered the following items: appetizer (gizzard), dumplings, jellyfish, shrimp chili, stir-fried water spinach, stir-fried chicken with cashew nuts, chicken salad, fried rice, etc. The dumplings are made with thin skin like shumai and are soft and delicious. We had multiple servings. The shrimp chili has a nice texture with firm and juicy shrimp. Although we randomly entered this shop, the food overall is delicious. I found a good restaurant.

Taiwanese Cuisine This restaurant is located about a 3-minute walk from Senso-ji Temple. The dumpling skin is smooth and the folds are cute. It is packed with filling and has a nice crunchy cabbage texture. It was delicious with vinegar soy sauce. The radish cake is soft and has a gentle flavor, very delicious. The fried chicken with salt was crispy and delicious. The shrimp fried rice was moist and also had a gentle flavor. It was very delicious.

Today's recommended dish at the Taiwanese restaurant in Ura-Harajuku is "Bitter Melon Pork and Egg" for ¥890. The combination of bitter melon, pork, and egg seems good for your health. The half-cooked egg goes well with rice, and you can adjust the flavor with homemade spicy seasoning. The seasoning is light but perfect. This place, featured on a famous TV show, serves a refined amount for lunch, so it might not be filling on very hungry days, but it's always delicious.

There is a Taiwanese restaurant in a not-so-prominent location with about 100 menu items, which got me excited just by looking at them. I particularly enjoyed the simple sweet and sour pork dish with tomato sauce on top of the meat. The owner was very friendly and kind, making the atmosphere very pleasant. However, smoking is allowed inside the restaurant, so it may not be suitable for those who are sensitive to smoke.

I visited after 1 pm. There weren't many people, so I was seated right away. I ordered the popular dish, "Lurouhan," which came with soup and pickled vegetables for only 690 yen. It was very cheap. The Lurouhan was delicious, with the meat stir-fried together with the sauce. It was slightly lukewarm, but adding some chili bean paste made it even better. Overall, it was really delicious.

Heading down the stairs to the basement in Urahara - The old building may be a bit intimidating for beginners, but the 'Mapo Eggplant Set Meal' for ¥890 is worth it. The corn soup is delicious, and the assorted vegetables are piled high. The eggplant is cooked just right with a good amount of minced meat and spicy seasoning. This Mapo Eggplant is just my type. The spring rolls, also known as the "masterpiece of Harajuku," were featured on a TV show. It's a very delicious Chinese restaurant!

I ended up at a restaurant called "Taiwanese Cuisine Sen" after being turned down by a few friends' regular spots. We were passing around bottles of beer, which tasted really good. I wondered why bottled beer tasted different from canned beer at home. They recommended the shrimp omelet and dumplings, so we ordered those. The chicken gizzard appetizer was perfect with the beer. The shrimp omelet was interesting with shrimp inside the egg. It was like a Chinese-style rolled omelet with a lot of volume. The dumplings were boiled and tasted great with some chili bean paste. The crunchy vegetables and chewy skin made them easy to eat. The braised pork was tender and flavorful with a rich sauce. I switched to Shaoxing wine at this point, enjoying its sweetness and aroma. Mixing the pork with greens and sauce was a delicious combination. The tofu and pickled mustard greens dish also had pork in it. The crunchy pickled mustard greens and soft tofu complemented each other well. The sauce soaked into the tofu, enhancing the dish. The restaurant seemed to attract a lot of people from the apparel industry, including shop staff and corporate planners. It was interesting how conversations sparked creative ideas among us.

I wandered around looking for fried rice. Found one that was 700 yen cheaper! Ordered with a few extra shrimp for an additional 100 yen. The shrimp were fresh and delicious! The fried rice was perfect, not too oily. They kindly accommodated my request for extra shrimp, so happy! Will definitely come back again. This is a great restaurant. Actually, I have a mild allergy to shrimp so I'll have to be careful with how much I eat.

【#Taiwanese Cuisine Sen in #Harajuku】#PinoLog_Harajuku #PinoLog_Omotesando #PinoLog_Recommendation Juicy water dumplings!!! The day I had delicious water dumplings after a long time❕ I fell in love with this place at first sight and had always wanted to visit. One day, I happened to step foot in this shop. It's about a 7-minute walk from Harajuku Station, located underground. As I descended the stairs, the place was bustling with energy!!! ☑️Gyoza ¥600 Dumplings that can be ordered separately from the lunch set!!!! The dumplings were smooth and juicy, with a thin skin and plenty of meat. The folds of the dumplings were just right, and both the appearance and taste were excellent❕ A must-try dish! ☑️Lu Rou Fan ¥690 A popular Taiwanese rice bowl! It said "Lu Rou Fan" on the menu, which looked similar to the characters for "魯肉飯," so I ordered it thinking it was that, but it turned out to be completely different. Ignorance is scary! However, this dish was also great in its own way. The rice was generously topped with a savory sauce, and although it looked spicy, it wasn't. It was a fulfilling meal, and the cost performance was good! ☑️Stir-Fried Vegetables ¥1200 I always order stir-fried vegetables when eating Chinese food! I ordered this dish thinking it would be delicious, and it certainly was. It had water spinach, which I hadn't had in a while, and the garlic flavor was strong, with a well-seasoned taste typical of Chinese stir-fried vegetables. It was a bit pricier compared to other dishes at Sen, but totally worth it!!! The lunch set also comes with pickled vegetables and soup for free, which was a nice bonus. I definitely want to revisit this place to admire these water dumplings again!!!!

I had passed by this old restaurant many times, but this was my first visit. The sign at the entrance that said "Fast and delicious for 690 yen" caught my attention. The restaurant was underground with table seating, and I wondered if it would get crowded during the day and if I would have to share a table. I ordered the Lurou Fan. First, I had soup and pickled mustard greens. The soup was a typical Chinese style soup, and the pickled mustard greens were quite spicy. The main dish, Lurou Fan, had a surprising presentation with thick gravy poured over it, topped with half a boiled egg and greens. The creamy gravy didn't cool down easily, and I struggled a bit with my sensitive tongue, but the Lurou Fan with gravy was very delicious and worth trying.

I wonder if it's pronounced "lu rou fan"? Unlike the one I had in Taiwan, this was just minced meat over rice, well, it was still tasty... Yuck! It stinks! The person behind me and to my right are both smoking! Seriously, during lunchtime. I couldn't enjoy the meal anymore because all I could think about was the smell of cigarettes.

We went shopping in Harajuku and felt like eating something. When we entered the restaurant, we were the only customers at first and felt a bit anxious, but soon more people arrived. We felt like having Taiwanese food, which goes well with alcohol. We tried dishes like century egg and stir-fried dishes. I wanted to try the Taiwanese dish "lu rou fan" but they didn't have it. It's a cozy place where you can casually enjoy food and drinks. Thank you for the meal.

I visited the restaurant for lunch on July 25th. I arrived a little after 12 o'clock and was able to get in without any trouble. The restaurant is located underground. It has a homey and casual atmosphere, rather than being fancy or stylish. - Lu Rou Fan (Minced Pork Rice) for 670 yen: I decided to try this popular menu item. First of all, it's cheap! It's amazing to find this price in Harajuku. And the dish came out quickly. There was minced meat topping on the rice. I thought it would taste like mapo tofu, but it had a slightly different flavor. When I added the spicy seasoning that they brought separately, it became a bit spicy but delicious. It also came with pickled vegetables and egg soup. There are other various menu items that I would like to try next time.

I went to a new pork bone ramen restaurant on Takeshita Street, only to find out that it was unexpectedly closed on their regular holiday. I was skeptical about a capital-backed restaurant in such a location having a regular holiday. Disappointed, I left and tried to have some "Nagasaki chanpon" at "Showa Ken," but it was full and I couldn't get a seat. Remembering a colleague who recently had a thing for Lolo Han, we decided to try it out. I ordered the soupless beef noodles, while my two companions ordered mapo eggplant and fried rice. We also added Lolo Han to share. However, the food took forever to arrive. First came the mapo eggplant and Lolo Han. The Lolo Han turned out to be just minced meat on rice, not at all what Lolo Han should be. It's a shame that they call it Lolo Han. The owner and the waitress, both seemingly Taiwanese, should be ashamed of serving this as Lolo Han. By the time we finished the mapo eggplant, the fried rice arrived. But they seemed to be preparing multiple orders at once, causing delays. Finally, the soupless beef noodles arrived. Despite the long wait, it was surprisingly tasty. However, the overall experience was disappointing. Waiting for over 20 minutes in a not-so-crowded restaurant and receiving mediocre food made me question the restaurant's reputation.

Harajuku's masterful "Taiwanese Cuisine Sen" with sesame oil-scented water dumplings [Harajuku] Yoyogi/Harajuku Editor-in-Chief Tsukada shares on Twitter The editorial chief of Tokyo Gyoza Communication, Tsukada here. Today, I have more gyoza information from Harajuku to share. We received a tip that there is a delicious Taiwanese cuisine restaurant located behind the Harajuku tourist information center "Moshimoshi Nippon" along Meiji Street. Walking down a narrow alley, we found the sign for "Taiwanese Cuisine Sen" on the left. The restaurant seems to be located on the basement floor. Although I hate to say it, there is no typical Harajuku atmosphere in this place. As we descended a narrow staircase, we reached the entrance. According to the tip, this restaurant has been introduced as the "master of Harajuku" on a TV show. While the recommendation was not for gyoza, it is said that the gyoza here is also quite delicious. Upon entering the restaurant, we found it almost full with customers. Luckily, there was one available seat, so we were seated without having to wait. Since I had a health check-up the next day, I decided to avoid alcohol and ordered soup vermicelli and water dumplings to eat something light on the stomach. The menu only listed water dumplings for gyoza. The menu item previously introduced on TV was called "Yuba Roll," which is like a spring roll made with yuba and fried. Since I wanted to avoid fried food, I decided to skip it this time. Additionally, the Taiwanese classic "Lu Rou Fan" is only available during lunchtime. As soon as we placed our order, the soup vermicelli was quickly served within a few minutes. It came with a gentle salt-flavored soup, Chinese cabbage, and chicken meatballs. The taste was very mild and seemed perfect for preparing the body before a health check-up. The staff recommended eating the chicken meatballs with doubanjiang, which turned out to be a great combination. Later on, when I tried adding doubanjiang for a flavor change, it paired really well. It's always worth trying the staff's recommendations. As I continued to enjoy the soup vermicelli, the water dumplings were brought to the table. The aroma of sesame oil was delightful. It seemed like they lightly drizzled sesame oil over the boiled water dumplings. This simple touch changed the perception of water dumplings significantly. It's a technique that could be used in other dishes as well. The dumpling skin was slightly thinner than usual, but it had a good elasticity. The wrapping technique was almost the same as Japanese pan-fried gyoza, with finely chopped pleats. The filling was very simple, consisting of coarsely ground pork, green onions, and ginger for flavoring. The seasoning seemed to include chicken broth, giving it a savory taste. The staff recommended eating it with vinegar soy sauce, so I decided to give it a try. I also added a bit of doubanjiang for some spiciness. This combination turned out to be a great success, adding depth to the overall flavor of the dumplings. My personal recommendation for eating it is with "diluted vinegar soy sauce with added doubanjiang." It's a great way to enjoy it. Even though I only ordered soup vermicelli and dumplings, the staff surprised us with a dessert of apples after the meal. Such small gestures leave a positive impression. Considering the shape and taste of the dumplings, I thought they would make delicious pan-fried gyoza if fried until crispy with a generous amount of oil. I asked the staff if they could fry the dumplings, and they mentioned they could do it if the restaurant wasn't too busy. The Taiwanese dishes that other customers were enjoying also looked delicious, so I look forward to coming back with friends to try Taiwanese cuisine and pan-fried gyoza. This tip turned out to be a great find. If you have any recommended restaurants, please feel free to share your tips with us.