One of my high school friends who had been on a mission in Singapore has returned home, so today, 8 of us gathered for a meal. I took the role of organizer and chose a place called "Kawakaen Honten" in Shinjuku Kabukicho, where you can enjoy authentic Sichuan cuisine. I made a reservation through Tabelog, and we met at the restaurant at 7:00 pm on Saturday. We had pre-booked the "4,500 yen course" with a 2-hour all-you-can-drink option. The alcoholic drinks included in the all-you-can-drink menu were "draft beer," "shochu," "sour," "chu-hi," "Shaoxing wine," and "baijiu." It's rare to have "baijiu" available, so we all started with a toast of "draft beer" to celebrate his return. We didn't chug it down like in a Chinese "ganbei" toast. The meal consisted of 13 dishes, which kept coming one after another. - Jellyfish - Sichuan-style chicken with fragrant sauce - Refreshing celery salad - Century egg tofu - Stir-fried shrimp and ginkgo nuts - Special spicy chicken stir-fry - Sea bream with chili oil - Special teppanyaki-style dumplings - Homemade dried pork and celery stir-fry - Sichuan-style stir-fried green beans - Mapo tofu - Kawaka fried rice - Almond jelly Since it's Sichuan cuisine, most of the dishes were spicy, so families with children should be cautious. Especially, the "sea bream with chili oil" was extremely spicy, and the "Kawaka fried rice" was quite spicy as well. This made the beer go down smoothly. However, all the dishes were delicious, with no disappointments except for the fact that the "mapo tofu" was surprisingly salty. After eating all that and enjoying the all-you-can-drink option, the bill came out to 4,950 yen per person, which was slightly higher than expected. I showed the reservation screen from Tabelog to the staff and even had them confirm with the higher-ups, but the amount remained the same. It was a small amount, and since it was a special meal, I paid the requested amount, but as the organizer, it didn't sit well with me. Nevertheless, the food was delicious. Thank you for the meal. Tabelog, please refund the money haha.

Just a 4-5 minute walk from Shinjuku Station, this Sichuan restaurant is a must-visit in the area. I've been here multiple times, and this time I came back to recommend their delicious mapo tofu. The depth of flavor and perfect balance of Sichuan pepper and spiciness make their mapo tofu truly outstanding. I also tried their lamb hot pot this time, and the slight gaminess of the lamb combined with the spiciness was addictive. Thanks to this restaurant, my stomach is full of happiness once again. Thank you for the delicious meal!

Arrived around 11:30 am on a weekday. There were no customers, and one of the staff members was eating. I ordered the mapo tofu set meal for 880 yen, which came with salad, soup, and pickles. The portion of mapo tofu was generous! I was prepared for it, but it was spicy!! However, it had good flavor! Even though I don't like leaving food, the spiciness was too much for me, so I had to give up. It was delicious though... Sorry to the staff at the restaurant. Thank you for the meal!

Mapo tofu for 880 yen. I found out that a famous restaurant started serving lunch, so I decided to visit for the first time. I arrived at 11:30 am, expecting a crowd, but it was unexpectedly empty. A staff member was eating in the dining area. No other customers arrived until the end. The taste was good, serving authentic Sichuan cuisine.

Visited with 4 classmates from high school. It was relatively empty and comfortable, probably because it's during the Obon holiday. The spiciness seemed to be toned down for Japanese tastes, but all the dishes were delicious. The performance for the all-you-can-drink course was also good. The staff were flexible and accommodating, which was appreciated. Will definitely come back again.

Kawakaen Main Store Shinjuku Nishiguchi/Tokyo @Kawakaen Kawakaen Main Store Address: 2F Homura Building, 1-16-12 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Business Hours: Dinner [Mon-Sun] 17:00-23:00, Lunch [Tue-Sun] 11:00-14:30 A genuine Chinese restaurant in Shinjuku Nishiguchi. The menu had a lot of spicy Sichuan dishes, but I chose ones that seemed less spicy! The mapo tofu was spicy but had a good flavor. #TokyoGourmet #TokyoDinner #AuthenticChinese #ShinjukuNishiguchi #ShinjukuNishiguchiGourmet #ShinjukuChinese #ChineseCuisine #WantToConnectWithPeopleWhoLikeDeliciousFood #WantToConnectWithGourmetLovers #TokyoTop100Restaurants

Since the first visit during the early days of the pandemic, I was looking forward to revisiting this place that left a strong impression with their delicious mapo tofu. This time, I decided to try the course menu. It was delicious! And the amount and variety of dishes were just incredible. Two of us couldn't finish all the food. The mapo tofu seemed to have lost some of its initial impact and now just tasted very spicy. A bit disappointing. Next time, I think I'll try ordering a la carte with fewer items. For those with a big appetite, the course menu is definitely worth it!

I visited for the second time. This time, I ordered a 5,000 yen course. The first half of the meal had a mild flavor, but from the middle, the punch of the spicy and numbing taste was wonderful. There were six of us, and there was so much food that we couldn't finish it, so next time we plan to order a la carte.

Spicy and delicious mapo tofu set meal for 880 yen. It has a real kick of spices, but not too overwhelming for Japanese taste buds. The portion size is quite generous, so be aware. I noticed that all the other customers were speaking in foreign languages with the staff, so this place must be popular among people from the original country. Personally, I enjoyed the touch of sweet miso flavor in the dish. It's so tasty that I want to come back with friends next time to share and try more dishes together.

Visited with about 10 friends. Despite being a Friday night, we were able to make a reservation even the day before. Located in a building in Kabukicho, it was quite noisy. All seats allow smoking, so the inside was filled with smoke. Where did the Tokyo Metropolitan Ordinance to Prevent Passive Smoking go? A good place for smokers. The staff only speak basic Japanese. It's fine when it's not crowded, but when it gets busy, orders don't go through. Things we ordered never arrived, but things we didn't order did. If you don't mind the lack of service and cleanliness, it's convenient for a group who just wants to enjoy affordable Chinese home cooking.

The spiciness and deliciousness were as good as ever. I highly recommend the tantanmen and spicy stir-fried chicken. Among Sichuan restaurants, this one is my favorite because of the wide variety of menu options. This was my second visit and I ordered the same dishes as last time, so next time I want to try a wider range of dishes.

"Kawakouen Main Store" has been selected as one of the top 100 Chinese restaurants in the 2021 Tabelog rankings. The restaurant is located on Sakura Street in the Kabukicho district. All the staff are Chinese, and I could hear unfamiliar words being spoken loudly. This time, I tried the classic dish, Mapo Tofu. As it is a Sichuan cuisine restaurant, the dish had a strong numbing and spicy flavor, which was just right. I thoroughly enjoyed the authentic Sichuan cuisine. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal. #Kawakouen #ShinjukuLunch #ChineseCuisine #DeliciousChinese #TokyoChinese #MapoTofu #WantToConnectWithGourmetLovers #GourmetInstagram #Gurunavi #WantToConnectWithGourmetLovers #FoodPornGram #FoodPornographer #TabeLog #FoodStagram #FoodStagrammer #FoodPornism #GourmetTravel #DeliciousIsHappiness #GourmetFriendsWanted #GourmetClub #FoodieGirls #FoodieBoys #WantToConnectWithGourmets #KantoGourmet #FoodReportGram #GourmetReport #GourmetWriter #FoodWriter #BGradeGourmetInformation #TokyoGourmet

Lunch on 06/09 (Friday) at Kawakoen (Senkouen) main store... Mapo tofu set meal for 880 yen... Paid in cash... Good service, fast service, delicious taste, portion size is good, great value for money... It's great to be able to enjoy authentic mapo tofu at a lunch price. It's not too spicy and I think they have adjusted the flavor to suit Japanese taste preferences.

Located on the 2nd floor of a building in Kabukicho, Shinjuku, is the Sichuan restaurant "Kawakaen Main Store." At 5:30 pm on a weekday, there were no customers. I wonder why foreigners don't bother to enter Chinese restaurants like this in Kabukicho, even though the area is full of foreigners. All the staff members are Chinese, and all the waitresses are women. On this humid day, the beer tasted exceptionally good. - Kawaka Special Mapo Tofu: 1,080 yen It looks like it's packed with plenty of Sichuan peppercorns, and it seems to have a good balance of numbing and spicy flavors. The tofu is soft, the spiciness is moderate, the numbing sensation is just right, and there's plenty of broth. It's well put together and delicious, but personally, I wish it had a bit more spiciness and numbing sensation. The portion is generous, so it's better to share it with everyone. Thank you for the meal. *Check out my blog for more restaurant recommendations. Come visit us♬ -------------------------------------------------------------------- Also, come visit Shinagawa Ikko's official blog♬ https://ikkos-films.com/ Instagram【IKKO'S FILMS】 https://www.instagram.com/ikkos_films/

I saw reviews saying that the spiciness was not authentic and the numbness was lacking, but personally, I don't think that's the case. It's been a while since I visited China, but I felt that the spiciness and deliciousness were genuine. The location and appearance don't give off the impression of a restaurant serving authentic flavors in the heart of Kabukicho. Those who happen to stop by will surely be surprised by the taste. Highly recommended.

Located a 5-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, this restaurant is situated right as you enter Kabukicho. It's one of my favorite places to eat Sichuan cuisine in Shinjuku. Here is what I ordered: - Sichuan Mapo Tofu - Taiwanese Highland Pea Shoots - Lamb Hot Pot - Chili Prawns (Menu names are approximate, haha) The Mapo Tofu is a must-order. The way they use Sichuan pepper in this dish is just perfect - not too spicy but with a depth of flavor. It's consistently delicious and I always have to get it. The Lamb Hot Pot was a new try for me this time, and it exceeded my expectations in terms of flavor! I was surprised by how tasty it was, with no gaminess in the lamb meat. I was impressed by how good it was and I definitely recommend it to others. I was also surprised that the staff remembered my face for some reason, but that added to the unexpected charm of the place, haha. Overall, it's a delicious and recommended restaurant. Thank you for the meal! Other information: - Visited on a weekday around 8:00 PM - Seating: Table - Number of people: 2 - Cleanliness of the restaurant (out of 5): 3.0 - Cleanliness of the restroom (out of 5): 2.5 - Staff service (out of 5): 4.5

I had been curious about this restaurant for a while. Exiting from the east exit of Shinjuku Station and walking towards Kabukicho, you will pass through the gate of Kabukicho Sakura Street and take the second road on the left. There is a building on the left side with a prominent sign that reads 'Kawa Kaen'. Upon taking the elevator up, there was a sign saying "Open" and a notice regarding COVID-19 prevention measures on the door. Inside the entrance, the restaurant expands to the left side, with the kitchen in the back left, a counter with 6 seats in the front, table seats along the wall, and bench seating on the right side and back. On the shelf in front of the counter, there are Chinese liquor, whiskey, and wine lined up. The restaurant is relatively small in size, with Chinese decorations on the walls but not overly flashy. It was a little before 12:15, so it was a bit early, and there were no other customers. The lunch menu is as follows (in Chinese, but easily understandable for Japanese people): Mapo Tofu Set Meal 800 yen, Shredded Pork with Green Peppers Set Meal 800 yen, Dry-fried Shrimp Set Meal 800 yen, Twice-cooked Pork Set Meal 800 yen, Dan Dan Noodles Set Meal 800 yen, Five-ingredient Hot Noodles Set Meal 800 yen, Five-ingredient Fried Rice Set Meal 800 yen, Kawa Kaen Spicy Fried Rice Set Meal 800 yen. I had planned to try the Mapo Tofu, so I ordered the Mapo Tofu Set Meal without hesitation. A few minutes later, the soup was brought first, followed by salad, pickled vegetables, rice, and then the Mapo Tofu. It only took about 5 minutes for everything to be served, so the service was very fast. Mapo Tofu: There was more than I expected, and the aroma of Sichuan pepper rose up with the steam, stimulating my appetite! Ground Sichuan pepper and chopped green onions were sprinkled on top. The silky tofu was well seasoned with Chinese seasonings like Doubanjiang and minced pork, making it deliciously flavorful! When you put garlic, Doubanjiang, minced pickled vegetables (?), and Sichuan pepper in your mouth, the texture is sandy and the flavor spreads out, adding richness and depth to the dish. The taste is strong and quite salty. The consistency is a bit loose (probably because there is a lot of tofu, minced meat, and other ingredients in it). There was a lot of chili oil, so I had to drain some oil while eating, but it wasn't too heavy. The balance between spiciness and numbness was good, but the saltiness was overwhelming. The minced pickled vegetables add bitterness, umami, and saltiness, enhancing the flavor of the Mapo Tofu, but there was too much of it. There was a lot of food, and it was too salty, so I left some. Salad: Cabbage, red cabbage, carrots, and lettuce with a sweet sesame dressing. Pickled Vegetables: Tossed with chili oil. It was slightly soft but not bad in taste. I usually love this, but I left it because all the side dishes were too salty. Soup: Silken tofu, carrots, young shoots, and egg in a thickened soup. It was hearty with lots of ingredients but a bit too salty. Rice: The bowl was small, but it was piled up high, so the portion was decent. The rice was slightly soft (not as fluffy as individual grains of rice) which I personally like. The combination of silky tofu, well-seasoned minced pork, garlic, Doubanjiang, pickled vegetables, and Sichuan pepper was delicious, but it was too salty. The chili oil was generous, which is typical for Mapo Tofu, so it was tolerable. The tofu didn't release any water, indicating that the cooking basics were properly done. The balance between spiciness and numbness was good, and the flavor was deep, so it was a shame that it was so salty. Some may think to adjust with rice, but you can't eat that much rice alone, and this level of saltiness would be bad for your health if you finished it. (Ordering for a few people ==========

I visited this restaurant based on my memory of a previous visit to a spicy event where I was left wanting more. Inside the restaurant, I immediately felt like "this is the place!" and everyone got excited. We tried the grilled beef tongue and honeycomb tripe with sauce, topped with cilantro as an accent. It had a spiciness level of 3 out of 5, but it was delicious and had a rich umami flavor. I will definitely come back for this dish. We also had the special spicy chicken cartilage stir-fry, which was full of ingredients. It had a spiciness level of 1 out of 5, so we added some extra chili peppers. It seems like you can enjoy it with a 3 out of 5 spiciness level with the chili peppers. All the dishes were served in large portions, so even though we wanted to try more, our stomachs were full... We didn't find what we were looking for at the second restaurant we visited. It would be even better if they offered half-size portions. It was nice to be able to talk about our memories of spiciness with everyone. Thank you for the delicious meal.

We went to a second restaurant because our customer from afar wanted to try different foods. They really wanted to try Sichuan lamb hot pot, so we brought them here. We ordered the lamb dish (name unknown) and the prawns in chili sauce. The lamb had a unique flavor that paired well with the spiciness. It's one of my favorite lamb dishes! The prawns in chili sauce were delicious, and it was interesting to see them served with heads on. We visited around 9:00 PM on a weekday, sat at a table with 3 people, and rated the restaurant's cleanliness 3 out of 5. The staff's service was excellent, receiving a 5 out of 5.

Having a daytime drink with a male friend, we visited this restaurant and were recommended the Chinese dishes by the host. We ordered beer, mapo tofu, and fried rice, all of which were delicious. The dishes were a bit spicy but very tasty, especially the mapo tofu and fried rice. The staff was friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was casual. Overall, it was a great place to enjoy authentic Sichuan cuisine at a reasonable price. We will definitely visit again.

We went to a restaurant with a 5500 yen all-you-can-drink course, and the food was so delicious that we couldn't finish it all. The celery appetizer, spicy stir-fried bee larvae and beef tongue were especially tasty. The whole meal was refreshing and spicy, making us feel happy throughout. I regret not eating more to enjoy it with the Shaoxing wine. If you order the course, make sure to come with a good appetite! We will definitely visit again.