Arakawa's intense neighborhood Chinese joint In the shopping street of a town that hardly anyone but locals seems to visit, a glowing red awning and noren—unmistakably the look of a neighborhood Chinese restaurant. Visited on a Sunday evening, Shoten on the TV Regulars at the counter, the tables, and the raised tatami area—not sure if those are their usual spots—eating while drinking. It's a pretty intense space, but even someone like me who just wandered in somehow ended up relaxing naturally; it's that kind of atmosphere. The menu is basically posted on the walls. Noodles, fried rice, set meals and drinking snacks; behind the counter, the proprietress chats with the regulars while deftly working through the orders one by one. The chatter and the sound of the wok are part of the meal too. The ramen is shoyu, with the dignity of an orthodox Tokyo shitamachi neighborhood Chinese place. The gyoza were juicy, and the fried rice had a little kick of pepper—the kind that keeps the drinks going. Cash only.

A neighborhood Chinese restaurant about a 10-minute walk from Kumanomae Station. An elderly lady runs it by herself, so it takes a while from ordering until the food comes out, and it seems large groups are sometimes turned away even if it's not full. Consider yourself lucky if you get in lol The food is old-school neighborhood Chinese, and the chashu is thick and really delicious! The shumai are simple but warm and fluffy—very satisfying! They use chemical seasonings and it's not flashy in looks or taste, but it's a lovely place that makes you want to go again.

I stopped by 「美華飯店」 at lunchtime on a weekday. Even though it was lunchtime, there was only 1 person at a table, so I could sit right away. I ordered the fried rice I was most after, plus ramen and gyoza. After that, two pairs of customers came in one after another, and the elderly owner looked busy handling them. First the gyoza and fried rice arrived, then the ramen was served. Ramen 550円 Fried rice 750円 Gyoza price? 420円? The fried rice was moist, and the ramen had a nostalgic taste; both are orthodox flavors. But the gyoza alone, for some reason the smell... Good value, a Chinese place loved by locals, where you can soak in a nostalgic mood. The taste is average. Cash only.

美華飯店 It's in my neighborhood, but I went for the first time the other day. The proprietress, probably in her 70s, runs it by herself. That day I had the chashu wonton noodles. 4 slices of chashu just under 1 cm thick, 4.5 wontons, menma and green onion. A gentle, old-fashioned shoyu flavor. A comforting taste. They have lots of set meals too, so next time I'll go for a set meal.

I had the ginger pork, yudofu, fried rice, gyoza, and champon. Everything you order is delicious. The gyoza and white rice in particular are superb—I could eat them again and again. The kind motherly service is soothing.