Hyperlocal Tokyo

Roppongi has a lot of unexpected places. I searched for a Chinese restaurant and found this one with the best reviews nearby, so I decided to visit. The restaurant had a more upscale, nighttime atmosphere, which was a bit surprising. I looked for the menu and found that they only had one lunch option. I ordered it right away, and it came with noodles and rice. It was quite delicious. There's no menu, but the atmosphere is nice, so I'd like to try it out at night sometime. There are no private rooms, but there's a loft-like area that could be used as a semi-private space.

This is a renowned restaurant where you can enjoy authentic and high-quality Chinese regional cuisine. I visited for lunch and had the Yunnan Tofu Clay Pot Rice. It seems like their lunch menu only has one option. The Yunnan Tofu is a sweet and spicy tofu dish, and it appears to be finely crumbled as it's been stirred. This was my first time trying this dish, and I was amazed by its deliciousness. The Yunnan Tofu, with its slightly sweet and intensely spicy flavor, combined with scallions and other Chinese ingredients I wasn't familiar with, perfectly complemented the rice. The combination with the indica rice was exquisite, bringing out a unique charm and flavor that you wouldn't find in Japanese rice or Japanese cuisine. Although I only had lunch this time, the skillful preparation of the dishes made me want to try dinner as well. I definitely plan to try their dinner menu sometime soon. I arrived shortly after they opened, but customers kept coming in one after another. It's truly a remarkable establishment.

This hidden gem is so tucked away that you might even get lost finding the entrance! It's perfect for a date or a night out with friends, and the authentic Chinese food is truly exceptional. Everything we tried was delicious, but the sweet and sour pork and the shrimp fried rice are absolute must-tries! The Shaoxing wine is rich in amino acids, so you won't even get a hangover...

A Relaxed Lunch with Clay Pot Rice: "Black Cat Night" in Roppongi

Located about a 3-minute walk from Exit 6 of Roppongi Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, "Kuro Neko Ya Roppongi" is a Chinese restaurant. They also have locations in Ginza and Akasaka. This restaurant offers a selection of Chinese regional dishes and specialty sake, and has been selected as one of the "Tabelog China Cuisine TOKYO 100 Best" in 2021 and 2023. I've been wanting to try this place for a long time, and finally got the chance to visit. The entrance door is quite impressive, and the interior has about 40 seats, including counter seats, tables, and a loft area. They have classic dishes, but also many unique dishes that you can only find here, so it's a lot of fun. I forgot to take a picture, but you absolutely have to try the sweet and sour pork. The pork is braised, and it's both large and delicious. They also have rare dishes like duck tongue and brains, which are both delicious. I also ordered the five-flavor fried noodles and fried rice, and the fried rice was especially good. The food, atmosphere, and overall experience were excellent!