ハラミ串
[Overall Impression] Located about a 2-minute walk from the west exit of Ikebukuro Station, this Shanghai cuisine restaurant is situated on the 3rd floor of a mixed-use building. Despite the inclusion of the character "ウ" in katakana in the name, it is actually pronounced as "だうつん" (Dautsun), with "沪" meaning Shanghai. The restaurant aims to offer the traditional flavors of Shanghai for customers to enjoy in Japan. The dishes are quite flavorful and generous in portion size. While I dined alone this time, I believe it would be even more enjoyable and cost-effective to visit with a group of around 4 people.
[Impressions of the Restaurant] As you head towards the bustling neon lights of the entertainment district from Ikebukuro Station's west exit, you'll notice that the pavement has been well-maintained, but the buildings appear quite old. This area has always been home to many Chinese restaurants run by people of Chinese descent, and recently, their numbers have increased. Dautsun is one of the relatively newer establishments, operating in a location on the 3rd floor of a mixed-use building that may not seem ideal for a restaurant. Upon riding the elevator to the 3rd floor, you'll find a dimly lit floor with a somewhat suspicious monochrome drawing (possibly of Shanghai) on the door of the restaurant. The interior is surprisingly spacious, with seating for around 40 guests. There are two men in the back kitchen, with one also serving as the waiter. Interestingly, there is a karaoke machine in the corner, which may indicate the possibility of private karaoke sessions for events. The menu offers a wide variety of stir-fried dishes, appetizers, rice dishes, and noodles, all with Chinese characters accompanied by Japanese explanations. In addition to classic dishes like Shanghai crab and steamed chicken, there are also options featuring ingredients like pork intestines, duck, and eel, making the menu quite enjoyable to peruse. Since the portions seem generous, I decided to focus on a rice dish as the main meal and order an additional dish as a side to accompany my drink.
[Food Review] I ordered the following dishes:
- Three Yellow Chicken (¥1,500): Highly recommended and prominently featured at the beginning of the menu with a photo. Made with bone-in Nagoya Cochin chicken, this dish stands out for its visually appealing yellow hue. The skin and meat are moist and slightly rare, but cooked through. Both the tender skin and chicken meat are rich in flavor, and the soy-based sauce is incredibly delicious. Definitely a must-try dish, though deboning the chicken may require some effort, the flavorful meat around the bones is worth it.
- Stone Pot Vegetable Rice with Jinhua Ham (¥980): Served in a pot-like dish, this dish was indeed a generous serving. It resembles fried rice, with a strong salty flavor from the ham and oil. The rice is more moist than fluffy, and the Jinhua ham acts more as a seasoning than a main ingredient, providing a strong salty umami flavor with a hint of uniqueness. Despite being quite different from the typical fried rice found in Japanese-style Chinese restaurants, this dish is surprisingly delicious.
[Final Thoughts] When I asked the staff about the cuisine, they mentioned that they aim to faithfully recreate the traditional flavors of old Shanghai. While I'm not entirely sure how it differs from modern Shanghai cuisine, I politely acknowledged their efforts. The bill for today's meal came to a total of ¥3,380. Thank you for the wonderful meal.