▼I usually get takeaway here, but today I ate in and had a mapo tofu rice bowl.▼The mapo tofu itself is the slightly dark-colored kind. Perhaps it’s the umami of the tianmianjiang coming through. I prefer the kind where doubanjiang’s aroma and heat take center stage, but this restaurant’s version was delicious in its own way too. There’s so much depth to mapo tofu.▼Takeaway is their main focus, and among those dishes I recommend the よだれ鶏, the tofu and offal stew, and the various gyoza. They’re a little pricey, but clearly a lot of work goes into them, and I think they’re all very delicious.▼Keeping a business going this long in Nishimagome, this dining wasteland, must take tremendous effort. A delicious restaurant right by the station is something I’m very grateful for. Wishing them prosperity for many years to come. Thank you for another lovely meal today.

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Authentic mapo tofu. It comes with sansho, and a sweet-and-spicy sauce can also be served separately. More importantly, the portion was so huge it was genuinely hard to finish, haha. There was twice as much as I expected. Even in these times, it was packed with rice. I wish they offered a half-size portion for half this price... Also, perhaps it can’t be helped with the recent rise in rice prices, but the rice isn’t very tasty. The mapo tofu’s flavor was very much to my liking, but the spices call for caution if you have a sensitive stomach. ¥1200

A Chinese deli shop a 1-minute walk from Nishimagome Station. They currently operate exclusively for takeaway and delivery. Around 20 items are displayed, from staples such as mapo tofu to dishes such as gomoku ankake yakisoba. I bought the following 2 items labeled as shop recommendations. ・6色餃子(572円) ・よだれ鶏(540円) ----- 【6色餃子(572円)】 One pack contains 6 different gyoza: Iwachu pork, chicken and burdock, century egg and tofu, shrimp, salmon, and tantan. Not just the fillings but the wrapper colors vary too—so much care goes into them~. Each has its own distinctive flavor as well. The shrimp and salmon have clear seafood flavors, while the century egg and tofu has a strong, mellow umami without any pungency, which seems perfect with drinks. The regular Iwachu pork and chicken-and-burdock gyoza are delicious too. 【よだれ鶏(540円)】 The sauce on this よだれ鶏 has a delicious spicy kick. Personally, I liked it more than the よだれ鶏 served at a famous Chinese restaurant. It goes well with both rice and alcoholic drinks. There was more than I expected, so even sharing it between 2 people was satisfying. This よだれ sauce is also sold separately, so buying some to recreate various dishes at home sounds good. ----- I was satisfied to enjoy authentic Chinese food even without dining in. Thank you for the meal.

A friend who has lived in this neighborhood for a long time bought me mapo tofu when I was feeling low. I’d heard about it, and it really is authentic Chinese food! It seems spicy but isn’t extremely hot—is that the flavor of douchi? It has wonderful depth. Even though I had no appetite, I polished off a big bowl of rice with this mapo tofu ^ ^ I’d like to try other things too. Since I didn’t actually visit the shop myself, I gave service and atmosphere slightly lower stars.

I almost ended up stranded for lunch in Nishimagome,, There’s a small shop about a 1-minute walk from Nishimagome Station, and it’s hard to tell what it is from the outside~. Anyway, I saw customers eating something inside, so I went in and found a winning Chinese?! place. 『ラリアン』 You could describe it as one of those everyday deli shops selling side dishes for lunch or dinner. It was quiet, with neighborhood residents coming and going. You can’t eat in, but the owner showcases Chinese cooking. Apparently, they previously ran a successful Chinese restaurant in Ikejiri, but for family reasons opened this shop in Nishimagome, close to home, three years ago. That’s what ↑ was written. There were lots of noodles and Chinese dishes, most over 1000円, so I hesitated, but with nowhere else to eat I ordered 「海鮮豆乳生姜煮込み麺」, and it was insanely good! And the accompanying chili oil called 「よだれ」 was irresistibly delicious. I looked it up and they sell it too~. I’ll definitely go buy some! Scallop meat, wood ear mushrooms, mushrooms, Chinese cabbage, carrots, bamboo shoots, komatsuna, ginkgo nuts, go ji berries—the amount of ingredients was incredible!! The chewiness of the gyoza I ordered on the side was irresistible. In another location, this place could have lines out the door. Maybe the shop just doesn’t stand out. As the reviews say, even if tastes differ, you end up concluding it’s delicious! Apparently it won おおTAイチオシグルメ2019年. I hear the shrimp mapo tofu is good, so I’ll have that next time.

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