I visited the dining hall inside the House of Representatives First Members' Office Building in Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, which is adjacent to the National Diet Building. In order to enter, you need a valid reason as it is not allowed to enter just for the purpose of dining. Before entering, there is a baggage inspection. Most people who visit the Members' Office Building quickly leave after finishing their business. However, many people may not know that there is a dining hall inside, so it may be difficult to find without prior knowledge. It is recommended to schedule a visit to the dining hall as a special occasion. The dining hall is only open for lunch, with the last order at 2:30 PM. The menu is extensive, making it hard to choose. I wanted to try the "Diet Lunch," but I had already eaten lunch before my visit, so I had to give up on fried foods. I also wanted to try the mapo tofu cooked by a disciple of Chen Kenmin. Soba enthusiasts should not miss the "Diet Soba." Some reviewers have written harsh comments about the taste, but it is important to note that this is a cafeteria where you can eat for less than 1000 yen. They are doing their best within that range. Additionally, there is a souvenir shop inside the building that sells unique items only available there. Therefore, consider this as a piece of information when visiting the Members' Office Building. If you did not know about it, most people tend to leave immediately after finishing their business. (I did the same on my previous visit, and I regretted it, so I wanted to retry it someday).

I had the "National Diet Curry" at the first cafeteria of the House of Representatives. I was tempted by the cold noodles, but since I was here, I decided to try the curry named after the parliament. It arrived quickly. To my surprise, the curry was dark, so I thought it might be beef curry, but it turned out to be tripe curry. Tripe is the only thing I don't like, so I left that part and just ate two bowls of rice. I was really full. The soup was quite salty. I was happy to have two pieces of pickles. I was able to taste the parliament for 800 yen.

The set meal with hamburger and ginger pork is a good deal. However, you cannot order it between 12:00 and 12:30 during lunchtime. The taste is quite meaty, with the hamburger being on the dry side. Maybe it's because it's like a cafeteria food, so it's acceptable. The price is a bit over 1000 yen, maybe that's just the Tokyo price. Thank you for the meal.

I have been to the Diet Members' Building before, when it was an old building, but that was many years ago. This time, I decided to have lunch here during a break from work. I feel like a tourist. I'll buy some souvenirs later! There is only one cafeteria, but it seems that multiple shops are inside, and the bills are separate. The sushi is served by a shop called Hatsuhana. There is a section with a sushi counter separated off. Are they having a private meal and don't want to be seen here? (laughs) Oh, there is also a space partitioned off for Diet members only. I couldn't help but look around. In addition to that, there are options like the Parliament Lunch (like a lunch for adults), daily specials (limited menu at a great price), curry, Chinese, Western food, and typical cafeteria menu items. I ordered the sushi set meal for 900 yen. It comes with udon. It's cheap. The taste is nothing remarkable, but it's a valuable experience, so I appreciate it even more. I'll also post a photo of my companion's Parliament set meal.

This is a dining hall located on the basement floor of the House of Representatives Members' Office Building. Inside the dining area, there is a sushi restaurant called "Hatsuhana" that has been around for a long time. This restaurant operates separately. You can also enjoy omakase sushi at the counter. The menu here is different from the House of Representatives Members' Dining Hall in the parliament. The payment is done afterwards, and you can order at your table, unlike the House of Councillors Members' Dining Hall where you pay in advance. It's a step forward that they now accept PayPay. The addition of a salad bar is a new feature! In terms of taste, it used to be said that the House of Representatives < House of Councillors < House of Councillors, so the menu includes various limited-time and partnership items, as well as the salad bar. Today, I had the Parliament Curry. I also had the salad bar. Ordering the salad bar separately costs 800 yen, but as a set, it's only 390 yen. The curry set is 1190 yen, which is not cheap, so I feel like going to Akasaka for lunch instead. It's not too expensive, not cheap, just average. It's quite pricey if you consider it as a company cafeteria. It's understandable why many people opt for the soba restaurants within the parliament. Although it's called Parliament Curry, the taste varies depending on where it's served. Here, it's a thick and dark curry with a rich flavor. The meat is a bit tough. The meat is just okay. It has a spicy kick and a hint of acidity. The dressing for the salad bar, especially the onion dressing, was delicious!

I was pleased with the katsudon, so this time I tried the tenju. It may not be flashy, but it has a stable and delicious taste like a company cafeteria meal. It's nice to have someone who does their job diligently without anyone praising them. The amount of rice, the thickness and sweetness of the tempura sauce, everything is just right. And of course, the tempura is freshly fried.

The cafeteria in the House of Representatives' First Members' Office Building. You pay after looking at the samples in the glass case and receive a ticket. You sit at your preferred seat, and the waiting floor staff checks your ticket. Then they bring the ordered dish. The system has been refined through trial and error over the years. I usually go for noodles, but recently I've been hooked on the pork cutlet bowl. I wasn't expecting much, just wanted to try it out. The pork cutlet bowl arrived with miso soup, simmered hijiki seaweed, and pickled daikon radish, a typical combination. I took a sip of the miso soup. Wow, what is this miso soup! Perfect temperature and my preferred sweetness and richness. The radish was just right in tenderness, delicious. This is no ordinary miso soup. The pork cutlet bowl had a classic, firm egg topping. The flavor was traditional, with a strong soy sauce taste. A truly nostalgic pork cutlet bowl for laborers. The pork cutlet had a rich pork flavor, tender and tasty. I grabbed the bowl and quickly devoured it. The cafeteria in the Members' Office Building may seem plain, but the dishes served are solid, down-to-earth meals. And it's all for less than 800 yen. Fully satisfied. Also, I must mention that the staff, surprisingly, were mostly young and cute.

There are very few dining options available for the general public around the National Diet building. Therefore, those involved in the Diet usually eat at the Diet cafeteria (House of Representatives, House of Councillors, Central, soba, gyudon, etc.) or at the dining facilities in the House of Representatives Building No. 1 and No. 2, or the House of Councillors Building, along with their cafes, or the Tully's Coffee located in each. When they get tired of this rotation, they end up going to Akasaka or Tameike-Sanno. Today, I decided to go to the House of Representatives Building No. 1 for the first time in a while. Now, what to eat? I noticed the Taiwan Spicy Ramen for 760 yen including tax, and that's what I chose! First, I bought the meal ticket at the entrance and handed it to the staff on the floor. You can sit anywhere except at the tables reserved for members. The taste was moderately spicy, not outstandingly delicious but not bad either. It's not exceptionally cheap or expensive. It's an ordinary cafeteria, but anyone can use it once they enter the House of Representatives building. There is also a sushi corner where you can enjoy sushi at the counter. It's often said that the order of preference is House of Councillors, House of Representatives Building No. 2, and House of Representatives Building No. 1, but this is quite subjective, so please try it out for yourself.

Located a 2-minute walk from Kokkaigijidomae Station and a 5-minute walk from Nagatacho Station, the First Members' Office Building Cafeteria is situated on the basement floor of the House of Representatives First Members' Office Building. I visited this cafeteria for lunch, after going through the necessary security check and entry procedures. Upon entering the building, I presented my entry pass at the gate, proceeded downstairs via escalator, and found the cafeteria located towards the back on the right-hand side. There is also a Tully's Coffee shop in front of the cafeteria. The entrance is not prominently marked, with just a paper sign saying "cafeteria" on the glass door. Inside, there is a menu display and a showcase, followed by a long corridor leading to the counter. The cafeteria operates on a pre-payment system, where you place your order and pay at the counter before taking a seat. The seating area is quite spacious, with over 200 seats available. There is also a section with booths for smoking, ensuring a well-segregated smoking area. The menu includes options like the "National Diet Bento" for 980 yen, various sushi dishes for around 1,000 yen, Chinese dishes for 760 yen, and Western dishes like "Omelette Rice" for 700 yen. During lunchtime, they also offer specials like the "Menchi Katsu Curry" for 710 yen and the "Sushi Set Meal" for 750 yen. On this visit, I intended to order the National Diet Bento but ended up with the Sushi Set Meal as the former was sold out. The set included Chirashi Sushi, Nigiri Sushi, Udon, and Cold Tofu. The Chirashi Sushi had a decent selection of toppings, but the Octopus lacked freshness. The Nigiri Sushi was okay, with Hamachi and Squid, but the vinegar rice was a bit strong. The Udon was served in a clear broth and was surprisingly good, with Wakame, Tempura Bits, and Naruto as toppings. Overall, the meal had its positives but lacked standout elements. The pricing was reasonable, but not particularly cheap.

This is the dining hall at the House of Representatives. I come here when I have business because the lunch hours can be inconvenient and there are others with me, but like the kiosk, I wonder if they have the right to set up shop here? It's not bad, but it's not great either. Members of parliament probably have many opportunities to eat outside, but I feel sorry for the people working in the building. The curry costs 760 yen and the pork cutlet curry costs 860 yen. To be honest, the pork cutlet is not that delicious (laughs). The curry is decent enough. It seems like all the parliamentary buildings are the same, but I think the one at the House of Councillors is still better. However, if I didn't have business here, I wouldn't come. It's not like I come to the building just to eat, so I understand why it's like this. Members of parliament probably can't complain either. I hope they take this as a lesson that competition is necessary to avoid this kind of situation.

Pretty well-prepared and delicious! Parliamentary lunch.

The politician ordered a luxurious seafood ten-don for 1,100 yen. The taste was rich, but it seemed like they used high-quality ingredients for the price.

Lunch at the House of Representatives Members' Office Building (host side) was eaten quickly due to their tight schedule. It was a mediocre lunch for older adults.

"Curry that wins over the parliament"

"Congressional Pork Cutlet Curry"

Congressional Curry (800 yen) Regular Curry ===========

I had plans to visit a lawmaker's office and decided to have lunch at a restaurant called "House of Representatives First Member Building Cafeteria". This cafeteria is located within a complex where many Tokyo offices of House of Representatives members are situated. There are three buildings - House of Representatives First, House of Representatives Second, and the House of Councillors, with the First Member Building being the southernmost building, closer to the Prime Minister's residence. At the entrance of the building, visitors are required to confirm their destination and undergo a baggage check. This strict security check is likely due to recent terrorism concerns. After submitting an entry form at the reception, an ad hoc entry permit is issued only after confirmation of the destination. Finally, I was able to enter the premises by showing the entry permit at the gate. The cafeteria is located towards the west side in the basement. Since it was just past noon, there were quite a few customers, but the cafeteria was spacious enough to accommodate everyone. At the entrance, there is an order counter where you place your order and make payment before entering. I ordered the beef curry, which cost 760 yen. The interior of the cafeteria is very clean and the furniture, like the chairs and tables, is quite elegant and sturdy, fitting for a government cafeteria. The clientele mainly consists of people in dark suits, likely related to lawmakers. It's quite a challenge to stick to formal attire in this era of "Cool Biz". I even recognized some lawmakers dining alone at their designated tables. Some prefer dining in groups. I noticed a journalist sitting at the next table, looking a bit tired. I placed the receipt I received at the entrance on the table, and a staff member promptly came to assist me. The staff members were very friendly and their uniform in black matched nicely with their black leather shoes. The staff's behavior and service greatly influence the overall impression of the cafeteria. The curry had a thick texture with a spicy aftertaste. It had a significant acidity, making it a flavorful curry. Upon researching, I found out that the cafeteria is operated by the Western Food Compass Group, a major company in the government cafeteria management sector. The House of Representatives Second Member Building Cafeteria is operated by the Chiyoda Catering Center. Despite both cafeterias offering curry at a fixed price of 760 yen, they seem to have a subtle relationship in terms of ownership, with the Western Food Compass Group being the parent company and the Chiyoda Catering Center being the subsidiary. Since the two buildings are connected by an underground passage, both cafeterias are easily accessible, but I prefer this one. After 12:45, the cafeteria becomes less crowded, making it easier to secure a seat.

The building next to the back of the National Diet Building is a 7-story building consisting of the House of Representatives Members' Office Building, the House of Councillors Members' Office Building, and the House of Representatives Members' Second Office Building. The upper floors (2nd to 7th) are where the offices of the members of the parliament are located, while the 1st floor houses meeting rooms and the offices of political parties. In the basement, there are a cafeteria, a shop, a barber shop, and even a massage room. Upon entering, visitors undergo a security check, complete the reception process, and then use an IC card entry pass with an embedded IC chip to enter through an automatic ticket gate. Visitors can take an escalator down to the cafeteria. The menu offers a variety of options such as Japanese, Western, Chinese, and sushi dishes, mostly priced between 700 to 1,000 yen. There is a spacious area with a special room for members of parliament. I had the "Diet Bento" for 980 yen (tax included), which featured rice shaped like a member's badge, topped with flying fish roe and egg, simmered carrots and pumpkin, tamagoyaki, kamaboko, spaghetti with mayonnaise, shredded cabbage and pickles, sashimi with shrimp, squid, and tuna, and nigiri sushi with squid and sea bream. The miso soup included seaweed and green onions. Upon leaving, visitors pass through the automatic ticket gate and return the IC card entry pass to the collection box. Thank you for the meal. As of December 15th, Prime Minister Abe has decided to postpone the dissolution of the Diet. The next general election is expected to be delayed until after next autumn.

Revisiting the ending: Should you eat the omakase at Hatsuhana? It might be better to eat something made by Hatsuhana at the dining hall. I had seafood tendon before, with shrimp, squid, sillago, and pumpkin on top. The batter was thick and it looked like it would cause heartburn... and it did cause heartburn. On a second visit, the eel at Hatsuhana has improved and is now decent. At 1500 yen, it's a good deal. They no longer use a blacked-out bottle for the Sansho pepper from SB. The seafood bowl made by Hatsuhana is a good deal. On a third visit... I tried the eel rice bowl and it was terrible... the skin was like rubber. Rating: 2.5 points Price/Value: 500/800 yen Highlights: The quality has declined... the management has changed. I confirmed again in November 2013 at the first Diet Member's Office building! The eel had become terribly bad. The eel skin was like rubber, I have never eaten such a bad eel before! It's now at the bottom of the list. *Rating: The price you think is acceptable to pay compared to the regular price *Please be aware that smoking can alter the taste of the food. Overall, the review describes a decline in quality and taste at Hatsuhana, with the eel being particularly disappointing. The reviewer suggests looking for other options and would not recommend revisiting the restaurant.