A few years ago, frog hot pot was quite popular in China, and I never expected to be able to eat it in Japan! There was a restaurant in the fierce Chinatown of Ikebukuro West Exit. The frog hot pot is a two-tiered style, with frogs only on the top tier and various options on the bottom tier. We chose spare ribs! It was quite filling, and we also ordered other dishes here and there, so the four of us were full! The taste was just as delicious as the one we had in China! I still want to eat it again!

When you usually eat Chinese dishes arranged in a Japanese style, sometimes you start to miss the authentic Chinese flavors. Among the many authentic Chinese restaurants in Ikebukuro, there is one that stands out, with the smell of the food reaching outside the building. Both the staff and customers are from China. It's convenient that the menu is not on a tablet. Today, I had tripe salad, frog hot pot, duck blood stir-fry, Sichuan pickles, simmered tripe, pickled fish with sour cabbage, and cauliflower hot pot. They were all incredibly delicious, reminding me of the flavors I had in Chengdu. These dishes definitely go well with rice, and the pickles are so good. Finally, I poured the broth from the pickled fish over the rice. Oh, it was so delicious! Thank you for the feast. If this restaurant were near my home, I would come here every day.

[Takakoen] Toyoshima-ku, Nishi-Ikebukuro 1-28-6, Daiwa Sangyo Building 3F 11:00-0:00 (Last order for food 23:45, last order for drinks 23:45) Authentic Chinese cuisine, starting from 2000 yen. I went to eat authentic Chinese food in Ikebukuro. The staff and customers were mostly Chinese (I hardly saw any Japanese people). The menu had various types of meat, but I didn't dare to try them. A Chinese friend had once told me that the chicken dish tasted delicious, so I'll try it someday... haha. The tea-smoked duck I ordered this time was smoked duck meat, light and easy to eat. The lamb skewers had a delicious flavor of cumin and other spices. The scallion pancake was crispy, but it seemed to lack the fragrant taste of green onions. If you go with a large group, you can enjoy a variety of dishes, so I'll go with a group next time. 👩‍🍳

In Japan, there is a dish called "chicken momiji" which is not commonly eaten, it refers to the feet part of the chicken. I had always wanted to try it after seeing it in a Chinese gourmet manga that I love called "Tetsunabe no Jan", and my wish finally came true! It was full of collagen and had a surprisingly spicy flavor with a good amount of chili peppers. I went to the restaurant alone and ordered just this dish during a quiet time, but I didn't feel uncomfortable at all and was able to relax fully. This place is now added to my list of solo dining spots when I want to enjoy some deep Chinese cuisine. ✌️

For dinner in Ikebukuro, I randomly walked into a restaurant in the Chinatown area near the north exit of Ikebukuro Station. It is located on top of a building that exudes a Chinese atmosphere. The interior of the restaurant is stylish and authentic Chinese cuisine, and I was seated in a semi-private room. I always get lost in the extensive menu of authentic Chinese restaurants. There are posters of crayfish dishes in the restaurant. Since it is a large store, the dishes are cooked quickly and brought one after another, filling the table in no time. Everything is delicious, but the stir-fried bamboo shoots and eggs had a unique taste that was subtly sweet and addictive. With a capacity of around 100 people, this restaurant seems suitable for large group gatherings in Ikebukuro.

This day, we were invited by the master of the famous Sichuan cuisine restaurant "Shinkiro" in Itabashi to go to a unique Chinese restaurant called "Chikkoen" with four people. The location of the restaurant is just 10 seconds away from the north exit of Ikebukuro Station. We arrived at 6:04 pm on this day. The restaurant is located on the 3rd floor of a building immediately after exiting the north exit. As you get off the elevator on the 3rd floor, you will see the entrance to the restaurant right away. On the left side is the karaoke reception and on the right side is "Chikkoen". Interestingly, this karaoke is also owned by the same management as Chikkoen, and you can even order food from inside the karaoke box. When you enter the restaurant, you will see large tanks with fish inside! But these are not for decoration, they are ingredients for the dishes (laughs). There are various types of fish, including alligator fish, in the tanks. Originally, this place started as a Dalian-style seafood restaurant, but now they offer a variety of Chinese cuisine such as Inner Mongolian and Sichuan dishes. The restaurant mainly has table seating with around 106 seats. There are also private rooms available for more private gatherings. The staff are Chinese, but they speak Japanese without any issues. It's common for Chinese restaurants in Ikebukuro to have staff who don't speak Japanese (laughs). We sat down and started with Asahi Super Dry (550 yen) for a toast! The appetizer was stir-fried peanuts, which were nicely salted and deliciously crunchy. The main reason we came here today was to try a special dish called "Double Frog Seafood Soupless Charcoal Pot (6,880 yen)"! This dish was something else (laughs). When we ordered it, something incredible arrived (laughs). The price was impressive, and so was the portion! Is this pot specifically for this dish? Well, first of all, is this even a pot? (laughs) The pot has a two-tier structure, with the top part called the "first tier" and the bottom part called the "second tier". You can choose two main ingredients from crab, large shrimp, spare ribs, tripe, pig's feet, and chicken cartilage for the second tier. We chose crab and large shrimp! Oh wait! The menu says you can choose the main ingredients for the first tier, but it's the opposite. The first tier includes frog, cauliflower, enoki mushrooms, leeks, french fries, celery, shiitake mushrooms, ma hua (mahua), onions, chili peppers, garlic, and ginger... The second tier includes crab, large shrimp, cauliflower, enoki mushrooms, leeks, french fries, celery, shiitake mushrooms, ma hua (mahua), onions, chili peppers, garlic, and ginger... The difference between the first and second tier is that the first tier includes frog, while the second tier includes crab and large shrimp. Everything else is the same. The dish was already cooked when it arrived. Despite being called a pot, there was no soup, it was more like a spicy seafood stir-fry. Well, whether frog can be considered seafood is another question... However, the staff managed to carry it without spilling anything (laughs). The tip of the pot acts as a lid, and when you peek inside, you'll see charcoal. This is to keep the dish warm and prevent it from getting cold. But is there really a need for such an elaborate pot? (laughs) We tried the dish, and the shrimp can be eaten with the shell on, but the crab is not soft-shell crab, so the shell is hard and you can only nibble on it. The flavor is spicy and numbing, with chili peppers, cumin, and Sichuan pepper working perfectly together. This is actually quite delicious. Everyone, after the first bite, was like "delicious!" and groaning like goats or sheep (laughs). And then, the moment of truth, the frog meat! Personally, I have eaten frog many times, but if you didn't tell me, I would think it's just chicken meat. There's no hint of a strange smell. The highlight for me was the ma hua (mahua)! This is a Chinese snack, sweet and cookie-like... and it surprisingly goes well with the spicy flavor. The pot was too much for four people, and we couldn't finish it in the end.

In Ikebukuro, I have been exploring lunch spots with a lunch passport and I became obsessed with the Chinese food here. Finding shrimp chili for only 500 yen was too good to be true. The place is a bit hard to find, located on the 3rd floor near the north exit of Ikebukuro station. Once you get off the elevator, you'll see a lot of crayfish tanks at the entrance, with lobsters and other seafood inside. The restaurant is quite spacious and bright. I ordered the shrimp chili set and it came out pretty quickly. There were plenty of shrimp in the dish, and for the price with the lunch passport, it was a steal. It was delicious and I left feeling very satisfied. The other menu items also looked appealing, so I definitely want to go back again.

"Tikukoen" (Chikukoen) One day, I joined a large party with friends, including my girlfriend, for a private year-end party. The location was a building on the 3rd floor just outside the north exit of JR Ikebukuro Station, which was convenient but a bit difficult to find. I learned that the window glass window sign is a good landmark for first-timers, so it's best to follow the windows of the building with your eyes. According to Gurunavi, this restaurant with a total of 100 seats offers private karaoke rooms and serves dishes mainly in large plates based on the grand menu, with the menu being left to the organizer. -Omitted- As for the dishes, the appetizer platter (lotus root slices, tofu skin, duck gizzard, duck neck, duck tongue) was surprisingly well-seasoned and tasty, with spices toned down to be more palatable for Japanese diners. The husband and wife lung slices were a Sichuan classic appetizer, featuring beef tripe in a spicy sauce. The surprise came with the braised fish maw, where each person was served a portion of shark fin. It was a sudden shift from regional dishes to a luxurious line-up, but surprisingly enjoyable as we savored the shark fin. The Mongolian-style grilled lamb chops, a specialty of the restaurant, had a crispy exterior and a tender, flavorful interior, complemented by a cumin-spiced sauce for added flavor. The beef and green pepper stir-fry featured beef, green peppers, cauliflower, and an oyster-flavored sauce. The shrimp and scallop stir-fry with cashew nuts was a savory mix of shrimp, scallops, and cashew nuts. Another surprise was the Cantonese-style steamed fish, which was tender and flavorful, with no lack of skin tenderness or sauce flavor. The Sichuan-style stewed dish of blood tofu, beef tripe, and cow stomach was rich and hearty. The crab meat and tofu soup featured crab meat, tofu, and an egg white thickened soup. The fried rice with preserved vegetables was flavorful and satisfying, while the sesame balls were freshly fried and filled with red bean paste. The fruit platter consisted of oranges, pineapples, and dragon fruit. The dishes were brought out one after another, creating a lively atmosphere at the table. Since our table was all female, we ate at a slower pace than the tables with men, allowing for more time to chat with friends. I was so focused on eating that I didn't drink much that day. It was my first time dining at this restaurant, and I was impressed by the wide range of popular Chinese dishes they offered, all of which were well-prepared and enjoyable. Overall, I thought it was a versatile and skillful restaurant.

After finishing shopping in Ikebukuro, my companion and I decided to go eat Chinese food at this restaurant. It is located right outside the north exit of Ikebukuro Station. The interior of the restaurant is well-equipped with chandeliers, karaoke rooms, and private rooms, all of which give off a clean and wonderful atmosphere. We tried dishes such as fish and pickled mustard greens stew, tantan noodles, and bone-in lamb (I forgot the name of the dish). I usually avoid spicy food, but the Sichuan cuisine here is really delicious! The dishes here are not just spicy, but also packed with flavor. In particular, the fish and pickled mustard greens stew was so tasty that I finished all the soup. They offer a variety of course options, making it convenient for gatherings and parties. I would definitely like to visit again if I have the chance. Thank you for the meal!

The taste and atmosphere were both good. However, I thought the cost performance was good. The place may be a bit difficult for Japanese people to enter because of its strong Chinese vibe, but if you muster up the courage to go in, you may discover something you can't experience at Japanese restaurants.

The authentic Chinese cuisine here is not tailored to suit my taste, but rather true to its origins. The dishes are heavily spiced, making them quite hot to the palate.

It was delicious! Really delicious! The portion was big and I couldn't finish it, but I will definitely go again! (lol) (≧∇≦)

We made a reservation for a shabu-shabu all-you-can-eat course. For an additional 150 yen per person, you can choose from 2 types of broth. There were plenty of vegetables, unlimited meat, and also included fried chicken and noodles, all of which we were very satisfied with. You can also choose from about 8 types of broth. We reserved a semi-private room, so we were able to relax. One thing that bothered us was that the staff did not seem to have a clear understanding of the course. The first staff member who explained the course to us said that beef and pork were all-you-can-eat, and vegetables were self-service. However, in reality, only pork was available for unlimited servings, and my companion was scolded by another staff member for taking vegetables without permission. We also had to ask for the noodles to be served, they were not automatically brought to us. We would like to see this issue addressed more thoroughly.

Cheap!! Delicious!! It was my first time trying carp. (It seems to be similar to sea bream in Japan)

It was delicious! The portion was also generous!

On November 23, 2016, I was looking for a venue for a year-end party in Ikebukuro. Although there are still few reviews here, it caught my eye because a reliable friend had given it a good rating. On this day, I had a small study session in Saitama, and after that, I decided to visit the restaurant alone for a taste test or preview. However, five other participants from the study session ended up following me. The group consisted of a married couple from Osaka, a young couple from Tokyo, and a single woman from Tokyo. We all fit perfectly in a private room for six people. There was a sign above the entrance of the restaurant saying "Mongolian-style lamb chops for 5,800 yen now 3,980 yen!" Despite the diverse group, everyone was okay with lamb and cilantro, so we started with the lamb chops. The young man from Tokyo ordered a rare drink called Jäger Ice Shot. It was served in a very small glass. Since I was in charge of ordering, I selected various appetizers without taking notes or pictures of the menu, so the names of the dishes are approximate. The saliva chicken for 880 yen had a strong taste of Sichuan pepper or something similar, making my mouth tingle. The cilantro salad with onions and potatoes for 780 yen was refreshing and had peanuts in it. The octopus cucumber for 680 yen had a mild spiciness. The spinach salad for 780 yen had tuna and mentaiko on top. The lamb chops for 3,980 yen arrived. Unlike other large grilled dishes, these were smaller than expected, with thin and slightly dried-out meat. There were two types of sauce and plenty of nuts as toppings. The fish soup for 1,380 yen was a hit. It was served in a large pot with a thick and flavorful white fish. The leafy greens in the soup were similar to pickled mustard greens. The cumin stir-fried lamb for 1,280 yen was delicious, with a crispy texture and plenty of condiments. The Osaka woman picked at the leftovers on her plate, saying she would use them as snacks. I ordered two plates of grilled eggplant for 480 yen, thinking everyone would enjoy them, but the Osaka woman and the young man from Tokyo didn't like them, so each person ended up with one piece. The grilled eggplant had a crispy skin and was served with a refreshing radish-based condiment. The grilled green onion cake for 200 yen and the five ingredients fried rice for 880 yen were well-received by everyone. The green onion cake had a texture similar to grated potatoes and was a great value at 200 yen per piece. The lack of staff made the service a bit slow, with delays in bringing drinks and attending to our needs. After about three hours, the bill came to 26,751 yen (prices mentioned in the review are excluding tax). Since we didn't opt for the all-you-can-drink option, the three heavy drinkers (all women) ended up drinking a lot, so the total bill was understandable. We decided to hold our year-end party here next week and made a reservation.