I had been curious about the Chinese restaurant in Nishi-Chofu for a while. Finally, I got to go there after being rejected a few times. The lunch set was a good deal, but I had a hard time deciding and ended up choosing the Gomoku Ramen with Gyoza. I even went for the fried rice (went overboard). The Ramen Gyoza Chahan is a dream triple combo set that everyone envies. Surprisingly, the Gomoku Ramen here has chikuwa (fish cake) in it! It was probably my first time having Gomoku Ramen with chikuwa (laughs). The taste was the true essence of satisfaction. I was so happy to finally visit this restaurant that I had been wanting to go to. It was delicious, and I will definitely go back to try their set meals next time.

I will have the stir-fried pork and sliced green pepper set meal for 900 yen. It's just past 12 pm on a weekday. There are two groups of customers before me - an elderly man and a younger man. This place suits men well, doesn't it? The stir-fried pork and green pepper is like a Chinese dish called "青椒肉絲". The green peppers are crunchy. It's delicious and freshly made. The soup is a crispy Chinese soup. There is also cold tofu and pickles. It follows the protocol for set meals. The elderly man is working alone. I can only wish him good health and hope that there will be a successor.

It was a visit a little after 1 pm on the weekend. I had been curious about this Chinese restaurant in town for a while, and it was a bit far from the station. I sat at the counter and ordered the Service B set (ramen and half fried rice) for 800 yen. The other menu items were also priced very affordably. The ramen was served in about 6 minutes. It came with a small slice of chashu, green onions, menma, and naruto, and had a very simple appearance. The soup was quite light and not too salty. The noodles were medium-thin curly noodles. The half fried rice had a generous portion, not exactly half, and was not dry but not too moist either. Overall, the flavors were a bit on the mild side. But for 800 yen, I was very satisfied. I'm curious about trying other menu items as well.

Pork and vegetable simmered dish for 700 yen! The vegetables include cabbage, bell peppers, bamboo shoots, wood ear mushrooms, and various other types of vegetables. This alone makes you feel the cost performance is good. The spicy flavor is also delicious. Keep up the good work, Chinatown restaurant. I will visit again. Thank you for the meal.

Neighborhood lunch... Today for lunch, I came to Hanazono. It's a local Chinese restaurant run by an old man. The interior has about 5 counter seats and 2 four-person tatami seats. It's almost full during lunchtime. Today, I had the bean sprout noodles for 650 yen, with bean sprouts, carrots, leeks, wood ear mushrooms, and pork belly stir-fried and poured over the noodles. The ramen itself is a light soy sauce flavor, but when combined with the bean sprout stir-fry topping, it's quite delicious. I watched the old man cook while waiting, and his skillful hands were captivating. Thank you for the meal today.

I'll have the ramen and fried rice set for 800 yen. It's just before 12 on a weekday. There are a few customers ahead of me. More customers are coming in. It seems to be popular. The soup is a bit light in flavor, which is healthy and good. The chashu has a strong flavor, creating an interesting contrast. The noodles are firm and satisfying. The fried rice is moist yet crispy, well seasoned. It's a place where you can eat regularly. They have a wide variety of menu items besides noodles. That might be the real highlight. The cozy interior is run by the chef alone. It's a place I'd like to visit sometime.

Hanaen seems to be managed solely by the owner, without his wife or son in sight. The restaurant has a long history dating back to the 1930s when Japanese soba shops and Chinese noodle shops were popular. Today, I ordered the Tanmen, which was light and easy to eat, typical of their subtly flavored dishes. The chef skillfully prepared the dish with a rhythmic chopping and cooking technique. The noodles were slightly firm, so I ended up ordering a half portion of fried rice as well. The fried rice had a deliciously crispy texture and savory aroma. Despite the unhealthy ingredients, the meal was devilishly satisfying for the price of 950 yen. I highly recommend a visit to Hanaen for a tasty and affordable meal.

In the area from Chofu to Nishi-Chofu, there is a popular Chinese restaurant that is known to locals alongside "Hachiman" san. I visited the restaurant on my day off around 12 o'clock and found the counter seats full with other customers, so I sat at a table instead. I ordered a bottle of beer for 550 yen from the self-serve fridge next to the counter, which used to be 50 yen cheaper before the consumption tax increase. I also ordered the usual gyoza for 450 yen, which also saw a price increase of 50 yen. The owner of the restaurant starts wrapping the gyoza filling and preparing ingredients like garlic and ginger only after receiving orders. I later moved to the counter seat as the previous customers' orders were still being prepared. I enjoyed a mini chilled tofu with my beer before ordering another one. The gyoza, when served, looked plump with a generous amount of vegetable filling and a hint of garlic. I then ordered the "gomoku soba" for 700 yen, which also saw a price increase of 50 yen. The gomoku soba here had a variety of ingredients like pork belly, wood ear mushrooms, carrots, bamboo shoots, naruto fish cakes, chives, etc., all stir-fried and coated in a slightly thick sauce. It also came with a slice of grilled pork on top. The soy sauce-based soup had a subtle sweetness and the noodles were thin, slightly wavy, with good chewiness. It was a delicious meal as always.

Hanazono is located near Nishi-Chofu Station. It has an old-fashioned charm, like a traditional Chinese restaurant in town. I had been curious about it for a while, but finally went in with my mother. We ordered the "Niku Soba," which is ramen with stir-fried pork and green peppers in a soy sauce base. The chef, who seemed to be running the place by himself, carefully chopped and stir-fried the green peppers and pork. The taste was undeniably delicious. The green peppers and pork were not overcooked, and I finished it in no time. The portion size wasn't too big, so I wished I had ordered the gyoza or another menu item. I think I'll try the set meal next time! There are many items on the menu, so I would like to go back again.

Chofu City, Tokyo, Shimoishihara. A town Chinese restaurant with a strong Showa era vibe. Established around 1975. The nearest station is Nishi-chofu Station on the Keio Line. Located along Shinagawa Street. It's a famous place, isn't it? (*´-`) In the same city, the area near Nishi-chofu and Tachikawa is not visited much, but there are still ramen shops and town Chinese restaurants that I haven't visited yet (^-^*) On a weekend afternoon, I peeked into this long-established "Kaen" restaurant. Before 1 p.m., there were 6 customers already seated. No customers came in later. The master is running the place alone. Self-service for water. Payment is made after ordering verbally φ(･ω･｀) ◆Today's Order◆ Stir-Fried Leek and Liver Set Meal 800 yen Liver with no smell, carefully prepared. Fried once and then stir-fried with vegetables. The saltiness and oiliness are just right. The crispiness of the vegetables is exquisite (´^ω^) The rice goes well with it. The ramen soup is also good. The silent and dignified master in his 70s to 80s. He handles the Cantonese wok skillfully (´▽｀*) Seems to like historical shows. The first was a special program about Queen Himiko of ancient Japan. When I was the only customer left, he took a break and started watching the NHK Taiga Drama "Kirin ga Kuru". As I studied history in college (specializing in ancient Western history...), I'm enjoying this Taiga Drama so much♪ I wonder how they will lead up to the Incident at Honno-ji ((o(^∇^)o)) Since the master is quite old, I hope he stays healthy and continues to run the business slowly and steadily (’-’*)♪ #SmallSumoWrestler #TownChineseRestaurantExplorationSquad #SupportLocal2020Fall⑤ #Showa #ShinagawaStreet #ChineseCuisine #Ramen #Gyoza #FriedRice #SetMeal #LikelyToVisitAgain #NextTimeWillTryTheGomokuSobaAndGyoza

2020.01.28 (Tue) Rain, First visit, Entered at 13:40, 3 customers before, 3 customers after, Served Tanmen at 13:45 for 650 yen. I went to Tokyo Stadium to watch the ACL playoffs and decided to try the local Chinese restaurant that I had been curious about. I sat at the counter and ordered the Tanmen. The owner, an older gentleman, was running the place. On the table, there were soy sauce, vinegar, chili oil, and GABAN black pepper. The Tanmen arrived in about 5 minutes. The noodles were curly, medium-thick, and yellow in color. They were cooked perfectly, with a nice chewy and springy texture. Personally, I thought the cooking was just right. The toppings included pork, cabbage, bean sprouts, carrots, leeks, and wood ear mushrooms. The pork and vegetables were lightly stir-fried before being seasoned with the broth. The pork was belly meat, juicy and tender, but I wished it was cooked a bit more. There was a decent amount of meat. The vegetables like cabbage were cooked quickly, retaining a crunchy texture. The wood ear mushrooms had a nice firm and chewy texture. The amount of vegetables was just right. The soup was salty, slightly cloudy, and brownish in color. It seemed to have a base of chicken and pork bones, given the pork bone smell in the restaurant. It was rich and slightly thick, with a hint of starch added for a smooth mouthfeel. The soup had an excellent mouthfeel. It seemed to have a strong taste of seasoning and salt. I added some black pepper from the table, which added a nice spicy kick. I finished all the noodles and toppings, leaving about half of the soup. Overall, the soup was rich and delicious, and the noodles were perfectly cooked. The owner's service was very polite. Since he was running the place alone, it might take some time for the food to be served when it's busy. I hope he continues to do well in the future. Thank you for the meal!

It's been a while since it rained, and the cold rain is accompanied by occasional north winds. On days like this, I crave warm Chinese noodles, so I came to Hanaen for their bean sprout chow mein. I heard that a well-known reviewer and their friends recently visited and enjoyed some liver and chive dumplings with beer. Today, the weather is gloomy, and the master is taking a break, reading the newspaper while sipping coffee. I ordered the bean sprout chow mein with firm noodles and a light flavor. The noodles are boiled, vegetables stir-fried, soup added, seasoned, and thickened with potato starch. A little pepper and some chili oil are added for flavor. I enjoy the soup with a ladle, which warms my chilled body. The noodles are firm, and I switch the top and bottom to prevent them from sticking together. I've gotten used to light flavors recently, and I can now appreciate the umami taste better. While food with added flavor can be tasty, excessive seasoning can stress the body. Especially in old age, a light flavor is best for enjoying delicious meals for a long time. So, today's light-flavored bean sprout chow mein was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Between Nishi-Chofu Station and Chofu Station, it takes about 8 minutes to walk from the nearest Nishi-Chofu station. When I visited, I found that there were surprisingly many shops around because it is located along the busy Shinagawa Street. There is a relatively new red noren hanging outside. Inside, a white-haired gentleman who seemed to have just finished some work during lunchtime was reading a newspaper at the table on the left as soon as you enter. Two men were already dining at the right-hand L-shaped counter. The handsome gentleman who resembled Min Tanaka pointed to a table where he was sitting and asked if it was okay to sit there. The interior of the restaurant has a certain amount of history, as it was established in 1975. Speaking of 1975, it was the era of Hiromi Iwasaki's "Romance," Kenji Sawada's "Sugi Yuku Mama ni," and the separation of 22-year-old Kazemachi no 22. I sat at a table with a gentleman who arrived later and ordered a bottle of beer (550 yen), gyoza (400 yen), and stir-fried leeks and liver as a single item (600 yen). The background music was a wide show on TV. I had heard that they make dishes in the order they receive the orders, so I waited patiently. The bottle of beer arrived first, and we toasted. In the morning, it was raining, but the sun was shining in the afternoon, and after walking for a while, the beer went down smoothly. Before the gyoza arrived, my glass was empty, so I told the owner and he kindly allowed me to help myself to a beer from the refrigerator and bring it to the table after uncorking it on the spot. The gyoza arrived, which had a fried appearance due to the amount of oil. There were 5 gyoza, with a lot of vegetables in the filling, giving it a refreshing taste. Shortly after, the stir-fried leeks and liver also arrived. I brought another beer for myself. The liver was well-cooked, and the vegetables were stir-fried with a slightly salty flavor, similar to the filling of the gyoza. It also had a good taste. Two reviewers who love local Chinese restaurants in this area, both considering their health, had been dreaming of visiting this restaurant that they both liked, and thanks to the kind spirit of Mr. Koubatoman, this small dream was realized today.

I didn't even get off at Nishi-Chofu Station on the Keio Line, but walked a bit further to find a Chinese restaurant called "Kaen" in the neighborhood. The interior of the restaurant is clean and not greasy. The earnest owner handles everything alone. When I ordered gyoza, he started wrapping them in dough right after taking the order. Of course, the liver and leek stir-fry is made with freshly cut vegetables. The seasoning is simple and not overly artificial. The gyoza skin is thick and chewy. The only downside might be the limited alcohol menu. It was a cheap and earnest Chinese restaurant created by a sincere owner.

If there is a takeout order, they will deliver it, probably. There is a sign outside the restaurant for takeout and delivery. The master, who seems to be the only one working at the Chinese restaurant, is steadily preparing the food. The menu is quite extensive, and it must be tough for one person to handle it all, but the master works at his own pace, so it somehow works out. For example, even if 4-5 people come in at once and their orders are all different, it's okay because he makes each dish one by one. So, be prepared to wait for 20-30 minutes without getting flustered. Today, it seems quiet, and the master is sitting in the tatami room reading the newspaper. He ordered moyashi soba and half fried rice... he's eating too much! Then, he ordered ramen and half fried rice. It's not healthy, but well, no one's watching, and it's delicious. The ramen here has a simple, traditional Chinese noodle soup flavor, and the fried rice is not finely chopped like Naruto, it's just as it is, wild, right? But as long as it's tasty, it's all good. By now, a large amount of insulin must be circulating in the body, but I think I'll start living seriously from tomorrow. Thank you for the meal.

If you walk from Chofu to Nishi-Chofu along Shinagawa Street, you will find this restaurant on your left. When you enter the restaurant, the staff are usually focused on their work, so it's best not to disturb them unnecessarily. However, if you wait too long, they may take 5 to 10 minutes to notice you, so you'll need to find the right timing to speak up. The chef skillfully cooks a high-calorie fried rice dish using a microwave and a wok, but when it arrives, you might be surprised. The egg is usually supposed to wrap around the rice, but they might accidentally overcook it, resulting in a firm and slightly burnt fried rice with a strong sear. You might think you could make a better fried rice yourself, but if you truly appreciate the unique flavors of traditional Chinese street food, you'll understand the importance of this perfectly cooked dish. As for the ramen, it's simple with only naruto, chashu, and a unique addition of shredded egg, which adds a touch of originality to the dish. And don't forget, they only accept cash payments.

Chinese Cuisine Kahen @ Chofu City, TokyoRecommended ★★★★★Parking: NoneVisit date: 2018-05-10Located on Shinagawa Street near Nishi-Chofu Station on the Keio Line, this Chinese set meal restaurant is a favorite of mine. It had been a year since my last visit on April 26, 2017, due to the disappearance of the parking lot next to it and the increasing number of rotating restaurants in the area. I stopped by after shopping at the nearby Keio Store. At lunchtime around 1:00 PM, the counter was almost full. Fortunately, a table opened up just in time for me to grab it. Today's Orders: - Egg, Meat, and Vegetable Stir-Fry Set Meal 700 yen - Shrimp and Egg Stir-Fry Set Meal 800 yen Each set meal comes with cold tofu, kimchi, soup, and rice. I wanted to order the delicious dumplings as well, but I resisted the temptation. Despite the busy crowd, each dish was meticulously prepared one by one, especially the fried items which were double-fried, taking quite some time. Luckily, the dishes of the previous customers were almost served, so my Egg, Meat, and Vegetable Stir-Fry Set Meal arrived in about 15 minutes. I started eating while watching them prepare the Shrimp and Egg Stir-Fry Set Meal. Although I had to wait another 10 minutes for it, the wait was definitely worth it! The meticulous preparation of each dish seems to be one of the secrets to their deliciousness. The Egg, Meat, and Vegetable Stir-Fry Set Meal had a perfect balance of pork, cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, leeks, and scrambled eggs with a deliciously gentle saltiness. The Shrimp and Egg Stir-Fry Set Meal had fluffy eggs, succulent shrimp, a rich sauce, and cabbage that complemented the dish well. The rice was as delicious as ever, which made me happy! The restaurant, located on Shinagawa Street near Nishi-Chofu Station on the Keio Line, has been around for a long time. The silent and serious owner diligently prepares the dishes. Although not quick, the food is very delicious. The restaurant offers a variety of 20 set meals ranging from 650 to 800 yen, making it a delightful place to dine. The prices for ramen range from 500 to 700 yen, while rice dishes start from 500 yen for fried rice, 650 yen for Tenshin-don, and 650 yen for Chinese-style rice bowl. There are also various a la carte options, with dumplings priced at 400 yen. The interior of the restaurant consists of an L-shaped counter, a table for four, and for some reason, a raised tatami table. Many customers dine alone and sit at the counter, immediately placing their orders upon sitting down, a common practice among regulars. The owner meticulously prepares each dish, so when the restaurant is full, there is quite a wait for the food to be served. I had a clear view of the cooking process from my seat, and I observed the preparation of the pork and cabbage miso stir-fry. The pork was first stir-fried, drained on a wire mesh to remove excess oil, followed by stir-frying cabbage, onions, and green peppers, which were also drained of oil. The frying pan was then drained of oil, and miso was added, followed by the cooked meat and vegetables, which were quickly stir-fried. This elaborate process explains the deliciousness of the dish. There used to be a free parking lot right next to the restaurant, but as mentioned earlier, it is no longer available.

Visited the restaurant on a cold day in October, feeling like having some an-kake style dishes. It had been a while since I last visited in winter last year. I ordered the moyashi soba for 600 yen as soon as the shop opened, got some water, and sat at the counter seat. The master brought the dish to me shortly after, and I dug in. The soup was deliciously familiar, with a gentle and stable taste. The slightly white, thick sauce coated the noodles as I enjoyed them. The flavor of soy sauce soaked into the noodles, and the aroma of the wheat noodles was delightful. It was truly delicious. Thank you for the meal. Food I tried: - Moyashi soba (soy sauce sauce) for 600 yen: Delicious and great value. - Niku soba for 700 yen: Tasty and flavorful. - Miso ramen for 650 yen: Red miso with a great taste. - Half-chan set for 750 yen: Simple ramen taste with decent char siu. - Gomoku soba (soy sauce sauce) for 650 yen: Delicious with lots of meat and extra char siu. - Niku yasai itame for 450 yen: Slightly salty but tasty. - Yasai ramen for 600 yen: Refreshing taste with a generous portion of meat and vegetables. - Tenshin men for 650 yen: Sweet and sour sauce with a unique taste. - Yakisoba for 500 yen: Dry sauce yakisoba with well-cooked noodles.

December 2016 Visit ------------------------ Today, I really felt like eating the Gomoku Soba for 650 yen, so I came here (￣^￣)ゞ I arrived around 11:45, probably the first customer of the day, and as usual, I sat at the counter, placed my order, and watched as they started cutting the meat and vegetables... Shortly after, my order arrived! The Gomoku Soba here is commonly known as Cantonese noodles. Typically, Cantonese noodles consist of a soy sauce-based soup topped with meat, cabbage-based vegetables, and seafood all sealed with a soy sauce-based sauce. Some places use Chinese cabbage instead of regular cabbage. The unique thing about this place is that instead of seafood, they top it with thick slices of char siu! It's affordable, and I think it's great (^^ゞ Another feature is that even though nothing stands out, the balance between the soup, noodles, sauce, and ingredients is excellent, and they all collaborate really well and get tastier as time goes by. So, for me, the moment when the noodles absorb the flavors of the soup and sauce is pure bliss (￣+ー￣) I left feeling full and satisfied once again, thank you for the meal (￣▽￣) October 2016 Visit ------------------------ On a chilly day that felt like autumn, I suddenly craved a warm sauce-covered ramen. Maybe Moyashi Soba (￣+ー￣) So, around 11:30, I came to this place. I placed my order with the owner, poured myself some water, and sat at the counter waiting. There were no other customers... After a while, the dish arrived with a "thank you for waiting." First, I tasted the soup from the side of the sauce... it had a gentle flavor. The classic soy sauce soup with a slightly soy-flavored sauce on top of stir-fried bean sprouts and vegetables, with a good amount of thickness. The ingredients included meat, wood ear mushrooms, carrots, onions, and a small amount of chives. The noodles were medium-thick and curly, without losing their texture even after some time, allowing the soup to soak in. The happiness of slowly melting the sauce's umami into the soup while enjoying each bite... (￣▽￣) It warmed me up, thank you for the meal (￣+ー￣) June 2016 Visit ------------------------ I arrived around 11:45 on a weekday, probably the first customer of the day, and then more and more people started coming in. It's a popular place (￣^￣)ゞ This time, I had already decided on the Yakisoba for 500 yen. The owner started making it, cutting the vegetables and meat meticulously, so it took a bit of time. But their work is efficient. It can't be helped (￣^￣)ゞ The Yakisoba that arrived was a dry-style Yakisoba with meat, bean sprouts, cabbage, carrots, onions, and steamed noodles, all stir-fried with a soy sauce-based sauce. The portion was very generous, so I left feeling full and satisfied, it was delicious (￣+ー￣) It's a good choice for the hot weather (￣^￣)ゞ Food Records ------------■ Moyashi Soba (Soy Sauce Sauce) 600 yen The ingredients and flavors were traditional and well-stir-fried, very delicious and great value!■ Niku Soba 700 yen The flavor of the loose noodles was excellent, mixing well with the soy sauce soup for a rich umami taste (￣+ー￣)■ Miso Ramen 650 yen The red-based miso had a taste I liked. Stir-fried bean sprouts, onions, chives, carrots, and a generous amount of meat on top of the noodles, making it very tasty!■ Half Chan Set 750 yen The ramen had a simple Chinese soba flavor. The cha-shu was quite good, so the cha-shu men for 700 yen might be worth trying too. The fried rice was a bit oily...■ Gomoku Soba (Soy Sauce Sauce) 650 yen A delicious Cantonese noodles with cabbage, topped with plenty of meat and an extra slice of cha-shu!■ Niku Yasai Itame 450 yen The soy sauce was a bit weak, but it was slightly salty...■ Yasai Ramen 600 yen A soy sauce ramen topped with a mountain of stir-fried meat and vegetables (^^) Very refreshing flavor and delicious!■ Tempura Men 650 yen A unique taste with sweet vinegar sauce for the first time. There's no crab, but the sweetness and softness of the egg are delicious^_^■ Yakisoba 500 yen Carefully stir-fried steamed noodles with a sauce flavor, without dripping sauce ===========

2016.02 My body was craving Chinese food, and it wanted something hearty. So, I headed to my usual spot, Hanaen, where I sat at a table alone and devoured a beer and a Chinese rice bowl. I sat at the counter, ordered ramen and half fried rice. The chef was busy preparing the chashu, cutting pork loin into four pieces and wrapping them with string. I considered ordering tantanmen but ended up choosing the Five Ingredient Chinese dish for its soy sauce-based flavor. It was delicious, and soon the fried rice arrived. I alternated between rice and noodles, satisfying my body's cravings until I finished both dishes. It was a fulfilling meal. 2016.01 At 1 PM on a weekday, the restaurant was filled with three road construction workers and other customers. I ordered the vegetable stir-fry set, while the workers enjoyed ramen with half fried rice and a couple of beers. I couldn't help but notice how the workers always seem to enjoy a beer during their lunch break. I recalled a taxi driver I saw at Tenya in Ningyocho, who had a beer with his tempura bowl. After finishing their meals, the workers left in their company car. Today, I ordered the fried rice, watching the chef expertly cook it in a wok. However, when the dish arrived, it seemed like a mix of fresh and leftover rice, with unevenly distributed ingredients. Despite the slight disappointment, I managed to finish the dish, feeling a bit let down that I didn't order the soba instead. 2015.11 I had been curious about a Chinese restaurant in the area but hesitated to visit due to a past traumatic dining experience. The place was reminiscent of a certain long-established Chinese restaurant in Karasumoriya, which left me with a sense of unease. Today, I decided to try Hanaen, a more ordinary establishment. As I entered, I noticed the simple layout with tables, a raised seating area, and a counter on the right. The owner was silently cooking in the kitchen. I ordered the bean sprout Chinese dish without hesitation and was pleased with the flavorful sauce and generous pork belly slices. The dish also included crunchy wood ear mushrooms and slightly chewy Chinese noodles. I couldn't resist ordering extra rice, which was perfectly cooked and delicious. Despite craving some pickled vegetables, I decided to forgo them. Overall, I found a good restaurant and enjoyed my meal. I will definitely visit again.