I visited for lunch. It was a bit past lunchtime and the table seats were full. There were 4 sunken kotatsu tables, but only one was available so I sat there. The lunch menu had set meals like tantanmen, half fried rice or half curry, but I ordered my favorite liver and leek set meal. It arrived in about 10 minutes. The liver was plentiful in the liver and leek set meal. Is it leek and liver set meal? Or liver and leek set meal? I think it's liver and leek. Well, let's eat! The liver and leek dish was piping hot. The liver was firm and thick, with no unpleasant smell, very delicious! The rice went down smoothly. There seemed to be a little less leek... the presence of bean sprouts was too strong, so the leek didn't stand out much... It was delicious, thank you for the meal.

The atmosphere, taste, and cost performance are all great! We sat in the back tatami room with our family. We ordered fried rice, dumplings, mapo tofu, negi chashu, and everything was very satisfying and generous in portion. The staff were friendly and kind, even giving candy to the children, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere of a local Chinese restaurant. The negi chashu came in both large and small sizes, and we ordered the small one, but it was already a generous portion! The mapo tofu was also served in a soup-like quantity, it was a great dining experience in a fantastic atmosphere.

Get off at Gotanda Station, walk for about 10 minutes, and you will find this shop that was founded by the younger brother of the owner of Heiwa-ken in Osaki that I visited the other day. The difference and common points, and how to order the Char Siu Ramen, quick service. Compared to the shop in Osaki, the soup here is clear. The balance of the soup base and broth is excellent and delicious. The character is quite different, but both shops have very delicious soup. Here also uses homemade noodles, with a strong, curly, thin noodle that goes really well with the soup and is very delicious. The Char Siu is tender and tasty. Even though the styles are different, both shops have evolved independently, resulting in each becoming a wonderful shop with its own unique personality. ✨

Lunch: Tanmen B Set ¥1,150 (tax included) One of the familiar names you often see in town Chinese restaurants is Heiwa-ken. There is also a "Heiwa-ken" located about an 8-minute walk from Osaki Hirokoji Station. It's also about a 10-minute walk from Gotanda Station. I visited around 12:00 on a weekday. The exterior of the restaurant is like a model of a town Chinese restaurant, with a mature-looking noren curtain. When you pass through the noren curtain, there are table seats in the front and tatami seats in the back, all with a mature atmosphere. At this point, the customer base is 100% middle-aged men (later some women customers arrived). There were two middle-aged men looking grumpy talking about work, and I ended up sharing a table with them at a 4-person table. The menu and autographed color photos of celebrities are posted all over the wall. The table menu offers many set menus. In fact, it seems like you can make anything a set. There are three types of set menus for noodles: A, B, and C, as shown below: A Set... Choice of half fried rice or half curry B Set... Half Chuka-don (Chinese-style rice bowl) and noodles C Set... Half rice and pickles I ordered the "Tanmen" B Set. The noodles that the middle-aged men were eating looked very delicious. It arrived in about 5-6 minutes. The Tanmen had toppings of cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, and pork. The soup had a strong chicken bone flavor, but it wasn't as rich as it looked, rather on the lighter side. The noodles were thin and curly, and not very well separated, which was a downside, but I didn't mind the noodles themselves. In fact, I liked that they had a cheap and good quality feel. The Chuka-don had more sauce than toppings, and the sauce was quite sweet, making me crave for more white rice. The balance between the light Tanmen and the sweet Chuka-don might not be the best haha. There are many filling menu items that match the middle-aged men working in the area. Let's go with an empty stomach.

"Heiwaken" is the third Chinese restaurant in the area, following the ones in front of Taisho University in Gotanda and in the residential area of Nishi-Koyama. The location is right behind TOC. This area is a hidden gem for lunch, with cheap and tasty set meal shops like Malaysian cuisine "Chiribari" and fried food "Tonkin". The small, slightly faded yellow tent shop had table seats and a raised seating area in the back. About half of the seats were filled with customers, and we were instructed to share a table with a couple. It was a bit cramped! However, a two-person table opened up quickly, and we were able to move there with the staff's permission. But in the end, we ended up sharing a table with an older man. Although the capacity is over 20 seats, it tends to get full during lunchtime. Be prepared to share a table. Now, for the order, the sweet and sour pork set was a good deal on Wednesdays and Thursdays, priced at 850 yen reduced to 800 yen. Sweet and Sour Pork Set 800 yen Half-Fried Rice 350 yen I wanted to try the fried rice, so I also ordered a half portion. The staff suggested ordering the items separately, but I was fine with the set. The sweet and sour pork seemed popular, as about 60% of the customers ordered it. The dishes were served in 6-7 minutes. The sweet and sour pork looked delicious. The pork belly was deep-fried, juicy, and flavorful. The thick sauce had a good balance of sourness and sweetness, enhancing the taste of the pork. The stir-fried bell peppers, carrots, onions, and bamboo shoots were cooked just right. Delicious. The white rice went well with the dish. The rice was cooked perfectly. There were about six slices of pork, providing a satisfying meal. It was a bit tough, but not a problem. The half-fried rice had plenty of diced char siu. The combination with egg-coated rice grains was not bad, but it was a bit dry and not oily enough. It felt like mixed rice. Lately, I seem to come across these dry fried rice dishes quite often. Maybe I prefer the oily and shiny kind. The sweet and sour pork was delicious. It's amazing that you can enjoy this set meal for 800 yen. They also reduced the price of the half-fried rice from 400 yen to 350 yen in the set. The La Chan set also seems affordable, and dishes like liver and leek also look tasty. It's no wonder they are always full."

I visited the restaurant in the early afternoon on a weekday. I had the sweet and sour pork set meal, which was a great deal that day. The chunks of meat were tender and delicious. The atmosphere of the restaurant made me feel like I was back at home, and I could relax and enjoy my meal.

I felt like eating fried rice, so I googled "Gotanda fried rice" and the first shop that came up was this one. I checked on Tabelog and found another Chinese restaurant with the same name nearby. It's located behind Gotanda TOC. The exterior looks like an izakaya, which makes it a bit intimidating to enter if you're just looking for a meal, but I went in. There was only one other group of customers inside, and the atmosphere was calm with wooden tables. It's a small place, but I thought it was clean. They also have a selection of shochu, so you can enjoy some drinks too. I ordered the fried rice and half ramen set, which cost 950 yen. As for the food, I found the fried rice a bit heavy. The meat was chunky, and the rice was more soy sauce colored than fluffy. I think getting the half portion was a good choice. The half ramen that came with the set was very light but delicious. It seems they use homemade noodles, so I'd like to try that as the main dish next time. Thank you for the meal.

Gotanda Heiwa-ken "Char siu wantanmen" and "shumai" I was curious about this mysterious Chinese restaurant, so I decided to order the wantanmen first. The char siu was heavenly, and I finished it off with a nod and left the restaurant! Cheers! #Gotanda gourmet #Let's drink at a local Chinese restaurant #Gotanda #Heiwa-ken #Chinese soba #Ramen #Char siu #Wantanmen #Local Chinese restaurant #Food porn #ramen #Foodie #Yummy #Japan trip #Famous restaurant #Tokyo gourmet #Sake, tears, men, and side dishes.

I frequently visit a Chinese restaurant near my company. The menu, flavors, and atmosphere are all what you would expect from a typical neighborhood Chinese restaurant, making it a great place to eat. Neighborhood Chinese restaurants seem to be disappearing, so I consider this place to be an endangered gem. I love the menu at neighborhood Chinese restaurants, so I want to visit this place often. The mapo tofu is consistently delicious with a Japanese twist, and I highly recommend it! I personally don't like the Sichuan-style mapo tofu, so I hope it disappears from this world. The other menu items are also consistently tasty. Delicious! The best! I strongly recommend this place to anyone who loves neighborhood Chinese restaurants.

Chinatown in the city, it's an oasis for salarymen. Chinatown in the city, it's a never-ending path of the Chinese. I've been on a journey to find my favorite Chinatown in the city for 15 years now. I still haven't found the best one yet... The shop near TOC Building has a very authentic Chinatown vibe with a lot of history. My colleague who went with me said the Mapo Ramen was delicious, but I ordered the Meat and Vegetable Set Meal. The result was neither good nor bad. I regret not listening and ordering the recommended Mapo Ramen. If I ever come back, I will definitely order the Mapo Ramen without hesitation.

I visited for lunch. The table seats were full, and there were four tables for four people each in the sunken kotatsu area. I looked at the menu and there were various options, but I ordered the Tanmen and half fried rice set for 950 yen from the lunch menu written on the blackboard. The food arrived in about 5 minutes. The Tanmen had a generous portion with plenty of crunchy vegetables and curly thin noodles. The soup was on the richer side. It was delicious but the portion was too big. The half fried rice was moist rather than fluffy, with good seasoning, but I prefer fluffy fried rice. Overall, it was a satisfying meal.

Yubukuro Kintaro visited a family-owned local Chinese restaurant called "Let's drink at the town Chinese restaurant". It is located quite deep from Yamanote Street, making it difficult to find if you are not familiar with the area. It seems to cater to regular customers, as the phone for delivery orders kept ringing while I was eating. There were many options to choose from, but I couldn't resist ordering the liver and leek stir-fry. And you can even get a large portion for only 900 yen. It's a great deal for being in the heart of the city. The liver and leek dish that came out was rich in bean sprouts. I wish there were more liver and leek in it. Local Chinese restaurants are timeless. I hope they continue for a long time.

The atmosphere is nice~ It's crowded though~ Around noon, there can be long lines! They also have rice bowl dishes, so I was a bit indecisive... Ramen Set A for 850 yen. You can choose between fried rice or curry for the set. I chose fried rice without hesitation! It was served in about 10 minutes. The ramen tasted like the traditional kind. Personally, I felt that the noodles had a nice snack-like texture! As for the fried rice... it was a bit mushy. The taste was average. The portion of noodles was generous and I left feeling satisfied. Thank you for the meal.

During busy lunch hours, sharing tables with strangers is common. Many solo diners, mostly office workers. I ordered the wonton noodles and fried rice set. The soup seemed to be chicken-based, light and delicious. The wontons were textbook perfect with a smooth filling and chewy skin. The noodles were incredibly curly - the curliest I've had in a while. On the other hand, the fried rice seemed to have been prepared in advance as it was slightly cold. Nothing particularly outstanding in terms of taste. For more, check out You Tube channel "butakoma everyday".

This is a shop near my workplace. I used to visit frequently for lunch, but I haven't been there for a long time due to a business trip and telework. I decided to have lunch there after a long time. I was unsure of what to eat, but suddenly felt like having mapo tofu, so I chose mapo noodles instead of the mapo set meal, as I thought the set meal might be too filling. I don't like Sichuan-style mapo tofu, but I love the Japanese-style one. Lately, Sichuan-style mapo tofu has been trending, making it hard to find the delicious Japanese-style one. When I visit a local Chinese restaurant like Heiwa-ken, I can sometimes find the Japanese-style mapo tofu. I knew I could get a tasty Japanese-style mapo tofu at Heiwa-ken because I have been there many times. The mapo noodles were delicious and comforting. The thin and firm noodles had a nostalgic texture. It's a taste that makes you want to eat it frequently. Heiwa-ken is a reliable local Chinese restaurant. I highly recommend it, especially for those craving local Chinese food.

Visited for lunch. Sat at a tatami table with 5 other guests. The menu had a variety of options, but I was drawn to the Peace Champon lunch special. Ordered and it arrived in about 6 minutes. It was a large portion with a noticeable shrimp in the center. The soup tasted like soy sauce, similar to Tanmen. The Champon had a different taste from Nagasaki Champon. Plenty of vegetables and thin, curly noodles. I was full and satisfied. Thank you for the meal.

Lately, I've been craving Chinese-style curry from local restaurants. I remember trying different curries in Yokohama's Chinatown before, but this time it feels different. I don't expect to find amazing curry, but I'm strangely drawn to it. Today, I went to "Heiwa Ken", also known as "Heiwa Ken Nishi-Gotanda", located behind TOC. When I arrived around 11:05 am, the restaurant was already open with only one male customer inside. A young male waiter led me to a table for four. Without even looking at the menu, I ordered the Katsu Curry Rice for 900 yen. About a month and a half ago, I had Katsu Curry at Heiwa Ken in Yutenji, but the frozen Katsu they used left me unsatisfied. This restaurant only serves Katsu Curry and Katsu Don on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, so I assumed they must be using homemade Katsu. It had been 7 and a half years since I last visited this place. The food arrived in 7 minutes. It looked delicious, just like the Chinese-style curry I had imagined. I tasted it. The curry had a decent thickness, with a hint of sweetness from the simmered onions. It lacked sourness and spiciness, tasting like a typical Japanese-style curry from a casual eatery. The ingredients included a pork piece and onions, but it seemed like potatoes and carrots were also cooked in the curry. The Katsu was small and had some peeling on the edges, definitely homemade. It was about 80g of meat, slightly tough, making me think the frozen Katsu might be better. The Katsu was disappointing, but the curry was decent. Heiwa Ken in Nishi-Koyama is the best... Lately, I've been in the mood for Japanese-style Chinese food. I want to find an interesting restaurant.

Lunch on April 13th (Tuesday). Afternoon visit to the dentist at Sengakuji. Before that, decided to have lunch in Gotanda. Noticed there were two Chinese restaurants named Heiwa-ken in close proximity. One near Gotanda Station (Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku) and another near Osaki Station (Osaki, Shinagawa-ku). Chose to go to the former today. Walked south on Sakurada Street from Gotanda Station, then headed west on Yamanote Street and turned left to the back side of TOC where the restaurant is located. It was about a 10-minute walk from the station. At 12:40 PM, most seats were taken and I shared a table with other customers. After contemplating the menu, I ordered the Ramen (500 yen) set A (850 yen), where I could choose either half-fried rice or half-curry as an additional dish. I chose half-fried rice. The ramen arrived, with a simple Tokyo-style chicken broth soy sauce soup and slightly white curly noodles that were chewy, which I liked. The fried rice was slightly moist and had a hint of sweetness, with a jasmine-like flavor. It was delicious. Customers kept coming in, and the place was almost full throughout. Everyone seemed like regulars. The bill came to 800 yen for some reason. When I left the restaurant, it was raining. Today, Osaka Prefecture reported over 1000 new cases for the first time, with 1099 cases. Hyogo Prefecture also had a record high of 391 cases. Tokyo reported 510 cases, with 80 new cases of the UK variant N501Y. Aichi Prefecture, which had 168 cases, is considering requesting priority measures to prevent the spread. The nationwide total was 3444 cases. Today, the government decided to release treated water containing tritium from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean. They clearly expressed their intention to push through despite opposition from fishing industry workers concerned about reputational damage. Even though there was a 10-year period to consider countermeasures. As someone said, "In the end, it's all about money." Perhaps those decision-makers are unable to truly consider the perspective of the local community, despite their eloquent words.

I had a delicious lunch at my favorite Chinese restaurant in town. The dish I enjoyed was called "Heiwaken Champon," which looked like Tanmen or Vegetable Salt Ramen. It was not Nagasaki Champon, but it stood out with its delicious broth. My companion had the "Sweet and Sour Pork Set" on their special day known as "Sweet and Sour Pork Day." The restaurant is located in a convenient spot behind Gotanda TOC. It's a 10-minute walk from Gotanda Station West Exit, or a 1-2 minute walk from the Jyonan Shinkin Bank Honten bus stop on the Shibuya-bound Tokyu bus.

Salt Ramen Set (Half Curry) for 850 yen. Animal-based or dried ingredient-based? Salt soup with thin curly noodles and slightly firm texture. Pork arm? Chashu, white negi (green onions), thin menma (bamboo shoots), naruto (fish cake), and seaweed. Finally visited Heiwa-ken in Nishi-Gotanda, which I had bookmarked for a long time. Saw Tamachan drinking at BSTBS Machichuka. There are two tables near the entrance, and a fairly spacious tatami room in the back. Was guided to a table as a solo diner. Around 2 PM, there were 3-4 customers already seated and 2 more arrived later. Ordered verbally and paid at the end. The soup was clear and the curry was yellow, both looked delicious. The crisp salt soup had a subtle umami flavor that I enjoyed. The homemade thin curly noodles were slightly firm and unique, reminding me of Yonezawa noodles. They were slurpy and chewy, very tasty. The yellow curry was similar to the one at Heiwa-ken in Yutenji, not too spicy and easy to eat. The meat was chunky and added a nice touch. Heiwa-ken never disappoints, I also want to visit the other two locations in Gotanda and Nishi-Koyama.