Visited on Tue 4/14 around 19:30. The counter on the 1st floor was full, so we were shown to a table on the 2nd floor. A place with a real Kamata-style 'machi-chuka' feel, with a good balance of portion, taste, and service. The first thing that stood out was the meatballs (small). Even though it's 'small', it's a solid portion, the juicy type packed with meaty flavor. The sweet and sour sauce isn't too heavy and is easy to eat. The gyoza are on the small side, with slightly thin skins and fragrant browned bottoms. The filling is well seasoned, good enough to eat as is. The ebi umani has a gentle seasoning, a dish that gives you a breather amid the hearty Chinese food. The gomoku yakisoba is the classic ankake type with plenty of ingredients. Reliably tasty. Then the kare-meshi I ordered out of curiosity. A Chinese-based curry sauce over rice + egg, on the junky side but addictive. Works as a finisher too. Another quietly great thing was the service. The staff were friendly, and I appreciated the thoughtfulness of changing our small plates for each dish. Little things like this raise satisfaction. If you want to 'eat and drink properly' in Kamata, you can't go wrong putting this place on your list. Recommended for days when you want to go all in rather than have a quick drink. ⸻ Date visited: Tue 2026/4/14 around 19:30 Seat: 2nd floor table (1st floor counter was full) Ordered: meatballs (small), gyoza, ebi umani, gomoku yakisoba, kare-meshi Overall: machi-chuka with volume × consistency, high satisfaction🔥

+2

A legendary spot that machi-chuka fans in Kamata should visit at least once. I made my first visit to 'Houkaen', a long-established machi-chuka featured on TV shows like 'Matsuko no Shiranai Sekai' and 'Machi-Chuka de Yarouze'. There was a line before opening, and as soon as it opened it filled up in no time. The well-worn noren, the classic exterior, and the interior that still retains the Showa atmosphere make it a space you'd want to call the 'holy land of machi-chuka'. This time I ordered the signature kare-meshi and meatballs (small). The kare-meshi is a unique style with lots of soup, and when you break the raw egg and mix it in it turns mellow, and suddenly you can't stop eating. Simple yet deep in flavor, I felt a uniqueness you 'can only get here'. The meatballs are large and very filling. Generously coated in sweet and sour sauce, fragrant outside and juicy inside. A classic old-school machi-chuka dish that pairs perfectly with the kare-meshi. Another 'specialty' is that the owner looks just like Cunning Takeyama (lol). Because of that, Takeyama-san actually came to visit in person, and stories like that add to the fun of going. Not just the taste, but the atmosphere of the shop also shows why it has been loved for so many years. If you want to enjoy machi-chuka in Kamata, this is a place I'd love for you to visit at least once. ★★★★★

+3

If you're looking for truly delicious Chinese food in Kamata, the place I'd love you to visit at least once is 'Chugoku Ryori Houkaen'. No matter what you order here, there are truly no misses and everything is superb, but what moved me most was the signature 'meatballs'! The moment they're brought to the table, their large, commanding size makes your heart leap. The outside is fragrant, the inside is plump and juicy, and they're generously coated in a glossy sweet-savory sauce. One bite and you can tell the deep savoriness of the meat is tightly concentrated, so delicious you can't put your chopsticks down. Also, a big appeal of Houkaen's food overall is the 'gentle seasoning' with restrained saltiness. Many people may picture Chinese food as strongly flavored, but here it's a refined finish that makes the most of the ingredients' natural flavors. The aftertaste is clean, so you can enjoy it comfortably to the very end. A wonderful Kamata institution that fills both your stomach and your heart. I really want everyone to experience the deliciousness of those superb meatballs and the gentle flavors that soak into your body! If you are looking for truly delicious Chinese food in Kamata, you must visit "Houkaen." While every dish on the menu is absolutely wonderful, the absolute standout that you cannot miss is their famous meatballs! As soon as they are served, you will be delighted by their generous, large size. The outside is perfectly savory, while the inside remains fluffy and juicy, all beautifully coated in a glossy, sweet and savory sauce. With every bite, you can taste the deeply concentrated flavor of the meat—it is an unforgettable masterpiece. Another wonderful highlight of Houkaen is that all of their dishes feature a gentle, well-balanced flavor with less salt. Unlike typically heavy Chinese food, the cooking here enhances the natural flavors of the ingredients, making it light, comforting, and delicious until the very last bite. It is a fantastic restaurant in Kamata that satisfies both your stomach and your soul. You should definitely stop by to experience these incredible meatballs and their comforting, gentle flavors!

+3

Someone I know booked this long-established, popular Chinese restaurant in Kamata for us, and we enjoyed lots of dishes in the 2nd floor seating. The exterior aside, the interior also has a Showa-retro feel. The owner, who looks just like Cunning Takeyama, runs it single-handedly, so the food takes a bit of time to come out, but we got to enjoy gently flavored dishes with relatively restrained seasoning, which is rare for a Chinese restaurant.

+3

Visited around 14:00 on a weekday. There were only two groups before us and they left soon, so for most of the time it was just us, and the food came right after ordering. We weren't 'made to wait a long time' like in other people's reviews. We ordered fried rice, tanmen, gyoza (4 pieces), and meatballs (8 pieces). The meatballs were very tasty, just as rumored. The fried rice and tanmen were a little light in flavor. The gyoza felt like they had slightly too little filling. Overall it was delicious. Thanks for the meal.

+1