Small Chinese restaurant in Nishiogi. The atmosphere is casual and the food is good. One would expect oily, "Chinese-style" cooking, but the flavor is milder. In fact the food is probably home made. The restaurant is run by a Southern Chinese couple. The lady serves at the table: she is nice and helpful. She's been living in Japan for many years and speaks Japanese with a gentle accent. The cook cooks and doesn't speak much. A nice match. The atmosphere and pottery are 100% Chinese. Not pricey. Worth a try.

+1

The exterior is a bit shabby and feels very much like a shop in the suburbs, but the taste is quite authentic. Personally, I especially like the Mapo Tofu, but the fried rice and gyoza are also good. However, it's a bit oily overall, so it might not be for everyone. Also, for some reason, they have things like assorted tempura, (though I've never tried it) the menu is quite chaotic. The owner has a unique character, so it's an interesting place in many ways. 2024/11: Update After not going to Nishi-Ogikubo for a while, it looked like a ruin... Are they really still open in that condition? Did something happen...

I used to stop by for daytime drinking when the Mapo noodles were still super cheap (380 yen?). The master's stories were interesting.

When I was looking at the shop from the road, I was called in, so I wandered in. It's been about 36 years since coming to Japan? Or so he said. While listening to such life stories, for some reason I was peeling ginkgo nuts together, grilling dried squid and ginkgo on the shichirin placed in front of me—of course this is also one of the snacks—I tried going along with the pushy approach. I viewed this place as a social gathering spot rather than a Chinese restaurant. This is a communication dojo. If you don't like it, just say you don't need it and they won't force you. If you want to eat quickly, just say so. They will make it right away. The other party is not Japanese, so if you demand Japanese service, you'll be like, "Huh?". If you find that annoying or can't convey it, you'll probably feel uncomfortable. People like that shouldn't go. The customers who gather here all go home having had a good time. The owner understands this too. Perhaps it's a business format like a Chinese snack bar. A strange social spot where you can forget your daily life. The owner knows the shop is dirty or the things others have written, but he is running this shop and this space for the things he enjoys, with people who enjoy them. I think that's fine.

Honestly, the shop can't be called clean, and after entering I thought maybe I should have just left, but a carefully made Hiyashi Chuka was served. I've only eaten this, but next time I want to try other things.