余脂坊
This shop is a large, well-established Chinese restaurant located about 1.5 km southwest of Hachioji Station South Exit on the JR Chuo Line, along the Fujimori Park Street. It has been in business for 29 years. I arrived at the restaurant around 12 o'clock by taxi from Hachioji Station, as it was a bit far to walk. The spacious restaurant had few customers at the time, and I was seated in a box seat on the right side of the back of the entrance. I ordered the Spring Course for 6000 yen, which included assorted appetizers, simmered shark fin, garlic-steamed lobster, stir-fried water spinach with fermented bean curd, fruit-filled sweet and sour pork, dan dan noodles, and dessert. I started with a toast with a draft beer, and the first dish served was the assorted appetizers, including jellyfish with vinegar, shrimp in oil sauce, smoked duck, and sweet and sour pickled root vegetables. The flavors were delicate, but I wished they were a bit stronger to accompany the alcohol. Next was the simmered shark fin, which was rich and delicious, but it made me crave some burnt rice. The garlic-steamed lobster came on a large oval plate, with a herbal and spicy flavor typical of Chinese cuisine, but I would have preferred a simpler taste for the lobster. The stir-fried water spinach with fermented bean curd had a strong garlic and spicy taste, typical of Asian cuisine. The fruit-filled sweet and sour pork was tasty, but the pineapple was a bit too sweet. The dan dan noodles came in a small Chinese bowl with plenty of sesame sauce soup, topped with minced meat stir-fried with bok choy, white and green onions, sesame seeds, chili oil, and looked very appealing. The taste was excellent, and I would love to come back for this dish. The dessert was a sakura-colored bavarois, which was a bit too big, and the taste was average. Overall, the food was delicious, especially the dan dan noodles, which were meticulously prepared with great flavor. If I have the opportunity to come nearby by car again, I would definitely like to try other noodle dishes.