A long-established authentic chicken cuisine restaurant that has been in Kyoto for over 50 years opened in Ikebukuro on August 19th. The location is on the 12th floor of Tobu Department Store's restaurant area, right near Ikebukuro Station! The restaurant is open from 11:00 to 22:00 continuously. I visited around 2:00 PM by myself. There are about 50 seats, including table seats and tables with partitions for semi-private dining. They serve delicious tea. The dinner menu includes hot pot courses like Mizutaki and Torisuki (priced at 7,000-8,000 yen) and various dishes like Oyakodon, Duck Nanban Soba, and Duck Namba. For lunch, they offer options like Mizutaki set meal (2,200 yen tax included) and Chicken Hittsumabushi (1,980 yen tax included). I was torn between wanting to try Oyakodon, Duck Nanban Soba, and Duck Namba. In the end, I ordered the Oyakodon and Small Duck Nanban Soba set (2,420 yen tax included). They recommended how to eat Chicken Hittsumabushi, but I wish I had ordered it instead. Later I found out that they actually recommend the Duck Namba Udon over the Duck Nanban Soba. They also sell udon souvenirs (to make at home). The wait was about 10 minutes. The Oyakodon and Small Duck Nanban Soba set arrived and looked delicious. They also provided black shichimi and powdered sansho for seasoning, which was nice for flavor variation. First, I tried the Duck Nanban Soba, and it was really delicious! The soba, duck, chicken, and soup were all amazing, with the soba having a delicate texture that matched perfectly with the broth. The Kyoto Kujo Negi also complemented the broth well, creating a truly delicious combination. The duck and chicken toppings were flavorful, with the duck's richness blending well with the broth, and the chicken providing a firm and satisfying texture. Next, I tried the Oyakodon, and it was incredibly tasty! The elegant taste matched the beautiful appearance, with the chicken and egg blending perfectly with the rice, creating a well-balanced and sophisticated adult version of Oyakodon. Adding black shichimi and powdered sansho to both the soba and Oyakodon provided a different flavor experience, which was enjoyable. The black shichimi and powdered sansho were also very delicious, especially when paired with the soba. The female staff's service was excellent, creating a comfortable atmosphere in the restaurant. They also gave me a Tamagoboro as a gift during payment, which was delicious. I'm grateful for the experience and would love to visit this restaurant again. Thank you for the delicious meal!

On July 30, 2023, Sunday, at 13:50, we wrote our name and number of people on the waiting board and waited for our turn. We were the third group in line, not the longest wait on the same floor. We were seated at a 2-person booth at 14:20. We ordered a parent and child donburi, which was flavorful with a delicious broth, and the specialty dish "Kamo Nanba" which was also tasty. The Kirin Ichiban beer was refreshing. The servings were smaller but well-seasoned, suitable for middle-aged and older customers.

I was planning to go to my local soba restaurant as usual, but it turned out to be temporarily closed around Ikebukuro. However, I was really craving soba. Soba in Ikebukuro... I don't have a favorite place there. So, I decided to go to Tobu Ikebukuro as a last resort. As I passed by Hakkian, I noticed they have duck soba. The place was empty. I decided to eat there. When I looked around after being seated, I realized it was completely empty, and no one else came in while I was there. Other restaurants were quite crowded, so I wondered why this one was empty. Anyway, I started with a beer. - Spring Valley Silk Ale I was in the mood for craft beer today. It has a rich aroma and tastes great. I wanted to savor it slowly rather than gulping it down. - Yona Yona Ale I ordered another one in the middle. I really like this beer. The citrusy bitterness is irresistible. It's a shame that there are hardly any dishes that go well with beer here. You can drink it without any snacks, but it would be nice to have some. - Duck Soba The dipping sauce with a strong duck broth and a slightly sweet taste was to my liking. It had plenty of Kujo green onions, and also grilled long onions, which complemented the duck meat well. Unfortunately, the duck meat had a bit of a peculiar taste and a hint of odor, so I didn't find it delicious. On the other hand, the chicken meat in the dish was very sweet and tasty. Since the dipping sauce was on the sweeter side, I added some powdered sansho pepper and black shichimi to give it a bit of a refreshing kick, and it became even more delicious. The soba was slightly chewy and went well with the dipping sauce. However, it was surprising to see that the restaurant was empty throughout the evening on a Monday night. I wonder if there's a reason for it being completely empty in a department store restaurant.

The parent and child bowl and duck soba were delicious! It was quite filling and had good value for money. Unfortunately, the parent and child bowl got a little cold as I ended up eating the soba first. They have various sets, but I wonder if this restaurant is known for its tasty chicken dishes. I'd like to try other dishes as well.

- Oyakodon and Komame Namba Set ⏩ This visual, you shouldn't look at it when you're hungry. Oyakodon, which is already topped with a raw egg, looks even more delicious without the additional yolk. The egg is so creamy and perfectly cooked, and the chicken is tender and juicy. Achieving this perfect level of doneness is quite difficult when making it at home. The Komame Namba Set with double carbohydrates is a lifesaver and will definitely fill you up. The gentle broth of the Komame Namba with added duck extract is delicious. - Duck Nanban Soba and Tamago Kake Gohan Set ⏩ I love Tamago Kake Gohan, it's like a drink to me. I know eating too fast is not good, but I just can't help it when it comes to Tamago Kake Gohan. And then there's the soba! The soy sauce-based broth is delicious, and the soba is soft and almost like a drink too. I prefer my soba a bit firmer, but the abundance of green onions adds a nice crunch that balances it out. The large piece of duck is incredibly moist and flavorful. I am definitely full now.

I went during the day and it wasn't too bad, so I decided to go at night as well. However, the basic experience was the same during both times. What I realized at night was that if you don't order hot pot, there aren't many other options available. There are a few combinations of rice dishes and noodle dishes, and the rest is ordering individual items. I was hoping for more of a set meal style, so although the food and service were not bad, I don't think I will be going back again.

The tamago kake gohan (rice with raw egg) was delicious and rich. It's a high-end dish, so if the price is the same, I might go somewhere else. Housewives don't want to spend money on something they can make themselves. During weekend lunchtime, most restaurants had decent lines but the wait times were relatively short and easy to get in. We were able to chat leisurely even after eating. The soba seed panna cotta, maybe sweetened with wasanbon sugar? It was light and you could eat as many as you want. Of course, the duck nanban soba was also delicious. Next time, I might try the chicken hitsumabushi!

The Tobu restaurant area is always crowded during lunchtime, but this place is easy to get into. They even let two people use a spacious 4-person table. No wait, relaxed atmosphere, that's already worth it. We ordered the delicious parent-child rice bowl, slightly stretched soba set, and the classic set meal. The food alone was just okay, but with the excellent service, no wait time, clean interior, and spacious seating, it's a win overall!

I went shopping at Tobu Department Store and stopped by this restaurant on my way back. The restaurant street opens at 11 o'clock. There were many restaurants with long lines, but this one had only one group of customers ahead of us, so we could easily get in. We ordered the "Mizutaki set meal" and "Oyakodon with duck nanban udon". The oyakodon was sweet with a raw egg on top, very delicious. The famous duck nanban udon had a light and sweet soup, which was decent. The Mizutaki set meal came with a boiling hot pot of mizutaki, which you dip in ponzu sauce before eating. The soup had a light flavor, so it was tasty on its own as well. The service was friendly and the atmosphere was nice. Thank you for the meal.

In Tobu Ikebukuro's restaurant area Spice, there is a relatively new restaurant. Even during busy hours, the waiting line is relatively short, and sometimes there is no line at all. I went to see why. The system is to wait by signing on a list at the storefront. However, despite the restaurant appearing empty, it takes a while to be seated. It's unclear how long the wait will be, so two out of the five groups ahead of us left midway. After a short wait, we were finally called, but the person calling us was surprisingly unfriendly. The restaurant is spacious and has a relaxing atmosphere with a Japanese design and tables are spacious. The staff in the back are very polite. I ordered the relatively inexpensive duck soba from the lunch menu. However, what actually came out was a dish with lots of green onions that looked delicious. The broth was flavorful, the duck was decent, and the Kyoto-style slightly soft udon was tasty. My partner had the oyakodon, which wasn't very filling but tasted good. Overall, apart from the initial impression at the entrance, there were no problems, but I can't help feeling that the negative impression there might be causing them to lose customers.

I ordered the oyakodon and the small duck Nanba set. The oyakodon had a creamy egg and the chicken and sweet sauce went really well together. It was delicious. The duck Nanba also had tasty Kujo green onions soaked in broth. The restaurant is located inside a department store with plenty of seating, making it a convenient place to dine.

Hachiokian is a long-established chicken cuisine restaurant that has been in Kyoto for over 50 years. I recently visited their Ikebukuro Tobu store, which opened in August 2022, and the food was delicious. ------------------------------------------ ▪️ Duck Nanban Soba 1,500 yen (excluding tax) ------------------------------------------ This dish consists of plenty of Kujo green onions and Kyoto duck on top of soba noodles. You can enjoy the difference in texture between grilled onions and diced onions, as well as the rich flavor of the duck broth that permeates your body. I also bought chicken curry as a souvenir. The restaurant is beautiful, and since I visited on a weekday evening, there was plenty of seating available. There are power outlets at the tables, which seems convenient for charging your phone.

I had lunch at Yakioian on the 12th floor of Tobu Department Store in Ikebukuro on a holiday. This is my second visit. Last time, I had the Chicken Hitsumabushi set, so this time I splurged on the Chicken Mizutaki set for 2,200 yen. The hot pot came with four generous pieces of chicken, along with tofu, napa cabbage, enoki mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and greens. It was very satisfying. In addition to rice, it also came with chawanmushi, simmered hijiki seaweed, pickles, and a small dessert. The chicken in the hot pot was tender with a nice chewy texture, and it tasted delicious with the ponzu soy sauce. It was a very satisfying meal.

I had lunch at Hakkian, a Kyoto chicken restaurant on the 12th floor of Tobu Ikebukuro. It was my first visit since it opened in August this year. The interior has a calm atmosphere and is filled with cleanliness. I ordered the Chicken Hittsumabushi set for 1,980 yen. The rice was covered with a sweet sauce and topped with deliciously grilled chicken. First, I tried it with black shichimi sprinkled on top, then added trefoil and wasabi for the second serving, and finally made it into ochazuke with dashi broth. Everything was delicious. The set also came with chawanmushi and a dessert. My companion had the Oyakodon set for 1,650 yen, which also looked delicious.

I got hooked on Hachikian in Kyoto. The menu structure is slightly different from Kyoto, but almost the same, which was reassuring. I ordered the duck Nanba udon. It was also the same, which was reassuring. I always crave it during the winter season, so it's nice to have it in Ikebukuro without going to Kyoto. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I visited a chicken restaurant called "Hakkian Ikebukuro Tobu Department Store" on the 12th floor of Tobu Department Store in Ikebukuro around 11 am on a day in December 2022. The spacious restaurant had about 3 other customers when I arrived. I was seated at a spacious table and ordered the "Chicken Saikyo Yaki Set Meal" for ¥1,650 after looking at the menu for a while. The dish arrived after about 10 minutes, consisting of the main dish of chicken saikyo yaki, two side dishes, chawanmushi, rice, miso soup, pickles, and a dessert. I tried the okra and sesame dressing side dishes before moving on to the main chicken saikyo yaki. The chicken, marinated in miso, paired well with the rice. Although it lacked juiciness, it had a unique flavor with a hint of sake. Squeezing lemon over it added a nice touch. The chawanmushi with a generous amount of egg had an elegant taste. The miso soup had just the right amount of saltiness. Enjoying the rice, main dish, miso, and pickles with the miso soup was a satisfying experience. After finishing the meal, I enjoyed a small dessert of warabi mochi. Although the prices felt high, the good service and atmosphere made it worth it. "Hakkian" is a great choice for chicken dishes at Tobu Department Store in Ikebukuro.

Ikebukuro Tobu Restaurant Street 12th floor. After Shinjuku Nakamuraya closed, this restaurant took its place. It was around 4 pm on a weekday. I missed lunch... So, I decided to have an early dinner at this restaurant which was still serving lunch. I ordered the "Hachioki Gozen" for 2,750 yen which includes a small hot pot of Mizutaki. I ordered a draft beer (Kirin Ichiban Shibori) and waited while sipping on it. The beer glass was small, so I added a Springley (Silk Ale) halfway through. The meal arrived and it looked quite luxurious. The three side dishes in the Gozen were simmered hijiki seaweed, sautéed burdock root, and soy sauce marinated mushrooms. I didn't have high expectations for these, but they all tasted good. The chawanmushi had a gentle flavor with sweet bean paste on top. The tempura consisted of three pieces of chicken tempura and okra. The chicken tempura was light, crispy, and delicious. I quickly finished all three pieces. I prefer chicken tempura over fried chicken because it's easier to eat. The oyakodon was already seasoned with eggs on top. It looked delicious, so I lightly mixed it and tried it. The eggs were tasty, the rice was firm and delicious, and it went down smoothly. Adding a little black shichimi pepper or sansho pepper enhanced the flavor. I usually drown my oyakodon in soy sauce to mask the egg flavor, but this one was so delicious that I enjoyed it as it was. The Mizutaki hot pot was served boiling hot on the table, emitting a strong aroma of chicken and eggs. I'm a bit sensitive to these smells, so I wrinkled my nose a bit (I'm sorry, I'm too sensitive). However, the chicken in the hot pot had no unpleasant smell, was juicy, sweet, and very delicious. The ponzu sauce was a bit too strong and sour for my taste, so I diluted it with the hot pot soup, which balanced the flavors perfectly. There are many other restaurants that serve better Mizutaki hot pot, but for a quick and satisfying meal for one person, this one was good enough. However, 2,750 yen is a bit expensive... I had it as dinner this time, so I'm satisfied. The Gozen can still be ordered after lunch hours with the same price. Despite being sensitive to certain smells, I don't dislike chicken at all. It's just a bit tricky for me... The parent and child rice bowl at this restaurant would undoubtedly be delicious. I'll come back to try it someday.

It's a relatively new restaurant located in the Tobu Department Store restaurant area in Ikebukuro. They offer a chicken sukiyaki set. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a warm smile and led to a cozy two-person table with a bench. The atmosphere was bright and clean, although a bit unsettling. We ordered the Hakkai Gozen set which came with egg over rice and tempura. The tempura was served with salt, but I prefer tempura sauce. The tempura was soft and flavorful, with a gentle coating. The chicken sukiyaki had a rich and hot soup with a strong flavor, best enjoyed with ponzu sauce. The chicken was tender and flavorful, and the tofu was large and delicious. The vegetables in the soup were also tasty. The egg over rice had a sweet sauce, so I added some soy sauce to balance it out. The rice was cooked perfectly, and the miso soup was just right. The dessert consisted of three types of sweets which were all fresh and delightful. Overall, the meal was satisfying, and I appreciated the option to order a single serving of the chicken sukiyaki. The staff was friendly and accommodating, making the dining experience enjoyable.

I went to a relatively new restaurant after exercising because I didn't feel like preparing dinner at home. The seating arrangement was a bit disappointing as I was seated right next to the only other customers in the restaurant, even though there were plenty of empty tables. I ordered the classic Oyako-don set meal for 1650 yen, and it was delicious. The Oyako-don came with powdered sansho pepper and black shichimi pepper as condiments, which added a nice kick to the dish. I also noticed other appetizing menu items like Mizutaki that I would like to try in the future. Overall, a good dining experience with room for improvement in seating arrangements.

The ingredients are of high quality and delicious, but a bit expensive. This restaurant is located on the 12th floor of the Tobu Department Store in Ikebukuro, newly opened in the space previously occupied by "Shinjuku Nakamuraya" which closed on June 30, 2022. The atmosphere feels like semi-private table seating. The service is polite with staff in kimono attire, but they seem a bit absent-minded. I struggled with the menu, and was disappointed to find out that I couldn't order the fried chicken that comes with the children's set, which looked very similar to the one from a udon shop called "Hama" in Uzumasa, Kyoto. I might have to bring someone's child next time! (laughs) The "Oyakodon and Duck Nanba Set" (2,420 yen) - as shown in the photo. It seems to be a restaurant from Kyoto, but personally, I'm not very familiar with it. Since it's a newly opened restaurant, I don't want to make definitive statements after only eating there once. The Oyakodon, both the chicken and egg, are delicious. The broth also has a refined umami taste. The black shichimi pepper and sansho pepper from Haruo Ryogoku are good accents. The Duck Nanba has a good name and serves udon as a matter of course, rather than the typical duck nanban. The duck meat and Kujo green onions have a high-quality taste. The balance of sweet and spicy in the broth is rich and satisfying. Even the pickles reminiscent of Doi's shibazuke are well-balanced. Overall, it was a delightful meal. However, it still feels a bit expensive. While it may be acceptable in Tokyo, this set could easily be found in a casual eatery in Kyoto. A similar Oyakodon made with Kyoto red chicken from Tamakichi in Shin-Omiya Shopping Street, or a Duck Nanba made with duck meat from Toriyoshi in Nishiki Market, would probably cost around 1,000 to 1,500 yen combined. When considering this, it feels a bit tough. I would like to try their course menu next time, perhaps with sukiyaki. (By Kyonatsu Shukuu, September 6, 2022)

I recently visited a new restaurant in the Tobu Ikebukuro restaurant area. I decided to try their weekday lunch menu out of curiosity. It was not as crowded as other restaurants during the usual lunch hours. I ordered the oyakodon (chicken and egg rice bowl) and the small duck namabu set. The eggs in the oyakodon were slightly runny, the chicken was tender and juicy. The yolk of the raw egg was sweet, and the crunchy onions added a nice touch. The duck namabu udon had a slightly sweet broth, which I found to be quite nice. The duck meat was tender and flavorful. Overall, the food was good, but at 2200 yen (excluding tax), it felt a bit expensive for a weekday lunch. The seating arrangement allowed for social distancing, which was good for COVID-19 prevention. Thank you for the meal.