A plate full of nostalgia! チャーハン at 『和佐家』” The チャーハン I had at 『和佐家』 was a charming dish with a flavor that somehow felt nostalgic. It had a moist finish, with fragrant soy sauce thoroughly coating every grain of rice. The ingredients are simple—チャーシュー, egg, and scallions—but they blend together in a good balance, bringing out the rice’s savory flavor. The チャーシュー in particular is tender and juicy, and the flavor released with every bite ties the whole チャーハン together. The seasoning and stir-frying are just right, making it satisfying without being too heavy or too light. The seasoning has a gentle, home-cooked quality, and I enjoyed it without getting bored right down to the last bite. The restaurant has a homey atmosphere, a warm space that clearly feels loved by the neighborhood. Easy to drop into and deeply satisfying, the チャーハン at 『和佐家』 was a dish I wanted to eat again!

+3

With the recent boom in neighborhood Chinese restaurants, this place has been getting more attention too. It has been serving 阿佐ヶ谷 for over 30 years at this location, and over 70 years if you count the previous generation before the move. The owner is elderly and white-haired, but the sight of him tossing the wok to make チャーハン is remarkably dignified and captivating. The finished チャーハン is the standard moist style, exactly what you want from a neighborhood Chinese restaurant, and delicious. The soup has a strong stock aroma and a full flavor. The little side dish of bean sprouts is a nice touch too. Their signature dish is スタミナ餃子, but you should avoid it if you plan to meet anyone after eating. The pungent garlic and garlic-chive smell will cause quite a situation. Still, as the name suggests, it seems like it would boost your stamina. The filling is lightly seasoned, so I think it is best eaten with plenty of 餃子 sauce. If you drive, it is along 青梅街道, with paid parking nearby. However, it is in a residential neighborhood, a 7,8-minute walk from the nearest station, 南阿佐ヶ谷駅, and at least 10 minutes from 阿佐ヶ谷駅, so most customers are locals or nearby construction workers. Being loved by locals is what has kept it going this long. I hope it stays around for many more years.

+3

I had the ラーメン and half-portion チャーハン set with 4 餃子. It feels like a neighborhood ラーメン shop that has been around forever. The ラーメン is simple and seafood-based, but the noodles are boiled until very soft, so it is not for people who prefer firm noodles. The チャーハン is good, but heavily seasoned. I ordered the garlic-containing スタミナ餃子, but they only had 3 left, so they added 1 garlic-free ニラ餃子. These were tasty too, but again, strongly seasoned. This restaurant probably will not suit people who prefer mild flavors. Also, this is not a place to visit in summer. Whether they are keeping the air conditioning to a minimum or have it switched off altogether, the heat inside is extreme, so you are guaranteed to sweat buckets if you go in summer. I quickly finished my food and left, but outdoors in the blazing sun actually felt cooler.

+3

I am a repeat customer. Everything is delicious. They really know how to cook. The チャーハン in particular is especially delicious. Separate grains, yet moist. The 餃子 are lightly seasoned, but the vegetables’ savory flavor and garlic come through. They are thoroughly cooked, so the outside is crispy and the inside juicy. The もやしソバ is packed with vegetables—now this is もやしソバ. The タンメン is delicious too. The レバニラ also has lots of vegetables, and the liver is fried. Delicious! With the plain 醤油ラーメン, the soup is especially good. They seem to be an elderly couple; the husband is always taking his frustrations out on his wife, which is perhaps part of the charm. The service is good too. I hope they keep getting along and running the place forever.

+3

A neighborhood Chinese restaurant along 青梅街道 heading from 荻窪駅 toward 阿佐ヶ谷. The building is old, with a retro-looking exterior. Come to think of it, I had never eaten here. I happened to pass by at dinnertime, so I stopped in. About 7 counter seats inside? Looking at the menu, the prices are fairly reasonable. Everyone inside is eating チャーハン. Is 炒飯 this place’s specialty?? In that case, I ordered チャーハン. I waited for my チャーハン while staring intently at the owner tossing his wok. Then the plate arrived❗ The portion was standard, and for a moment I wondered if I should have ordered a large. I put in my spoon and took the first bite. The rice is the wet type, with an incredibly sticky texture. That makes it hot! Unlike separate-grain fried rice, the heat stays trapped in the rice. The ingredients are egg, scallions, and a little 叉焼. The seasoning is soy sauce-based. The flavor itself is not bad. In fact, there are definitely people who prefer チャーハン with this kind of stickiness, and everyone here was eating チャーハン (lol). It makes sense if you think of this kind of チャーハン as a category of its own. Now I want to try the ラーメン too.

+3