Hyperlocal Tokyo

The Mapo Tofu is packed with large chunks of diced beef! I visited "Lao Sichuan Piaoxiang Xiaoyuan", a Chinese restaurant that was newly selected as one of the top 100 restaurants in Japan, located an 8-minute walk from Rokkonsen Station. I arrived 10 minutes before opening on a weekday and there was no wait. I was able to enter as soon as it opened. I ordered the Beef Mapo Tofu from the Piaoxiang Xiaoyuan lunch set for 1,870 yen. It comes with rice (refills available), soup (refills available), and four kinds of appetizers of the day. The four appetizers were served immediately. They included Mozuku in a spicy and sour soup, black bone chicken egg, chicken simmered in turmeric, and pickles. The appetizers had a nice balance of sourness, making them perfect for starting the meal. The main course was served in about 10 minutes. The Mapo Tofu was packed with large chunks of diced beef brisket. I thought it would be completely tender, but it had a nice bite to it, and the meaty flavor was rich and blended well with the Mapo sauce. The Mapo Tofu wasn't as spicy as it looked, and it had a rich, savory flavor that was delicious. I had a second helping of rice and was full, but I enjoyed the meal until the very end. Other menu items in the lunch set include: - White fish with fragrant sauce infused with Sichuan peppercorns - Spicy and sweet and sour stir-fried chicken karaage

【Spicy and Delicious】 I had a lunch meeting with a friend. We went to "Lao Szechuan Pianxiang Xiaoyuan" (Lao Szechuan Fragrant Courtyard), a Sichuan restaurant in Roppongi Hills. It's a bit of a mouthful, and I had only been there once before. I made a reservation for a table only. However, my friend, who apparently has a very delicate palate, can't handle spicy food. I think I made a mistake with the reservation... Luckily, there was a dish on the lunch menu that had zero chili pepper marks, meaning it was completely non-spicy. She chose the "Haiwei Noodles [Soup]" (¥1,980 including tax). It's a soup noodle dish made with dried seafood. Strangely, even though it's a soup noodle, it also comes with a "soup of the day." I, on the other hand, went for the "Beef Mapo Tofu" (¥1,870 including tax), which had two chili pepper marks, indicating it was quite spicy. I also ordered a "Cold Oolong Tea" (¥880 including tax) to cool things down. First, we were served a plate of four appetizers that come with the lunch set. It included steamed chicken, tripe, pickles, and more. The tripe was surprisingly spicy but incredibly delicious. We also ordered "Three Delicacies Siumai" (2 pieces, ¥880 including tax) to share. It's a mix of shrimp, crab, squid, and pork filling. The flavor is already seasoned, and it's packed with umami. You don't need to eat it with soy sauce or mustard (they don't even have them on the table). It's simply delicious. We also ordered "Shrimp and Yellow Chive Stick Spring Rolls" (2 pieces, ¥880 including tax) as an extra. They're a bit thinner than regular spring rolls. They're crispy and crunchy, and they're delicious. They're also pre-seasoned, so you don't need to add any soy sauce or anything. They're just good. Then, our main course, the "Beef Mapo Tofu" (¥1,870 including tax), arrived. It looked almost completely red. It's mapo tofu with diced beef brisket. It's a perfect match for white rice. The spiciness is quite intense, both in terms of the numbing sensation and the heat. The combination of the braised beef and the tofu, along with their textures, makes for a delicious and varied experience. We didn't order dessert and finished our lunch. I worked up a good sweat. The only downside was that we had to wait almost 5 minutes at the register because the cashier was absent. That was a bit disappointing. Maybe it's the current labor shortage. This is a restaurant that you expect a higher level of service than a typical Chinese restaurant, so it would be great if they could improve this aspect.

2024/5/XX (Lunch) I've been to the Azabu-Jūban location several times and it's one of my favorite Sichuan restaurants with high-quality food. It's owned by Mr. Igeta, who introduced "Yodare-dori" (Sichuan-style chicken) to Japan. Since it was during Golden Week, I made a reservation just in case, but it was empty throughout my visit. They offer both lunch courses and lunch sets, and I ordered the following this time: ◾️ Piāoxiāng Xiǎoyuàn Lunch Set (Homemade Soft Mapo Tofu with Diced Beef) @1,870 yen (tax included) ※ Includes 4 types of appetizers, rice, and soup of the day The soup of the day was a flavorful and savory broth with chicken, shiitake mushrooms, and wood ear mushrooms. It was delicious. The appetizers were well-seasoned and tasty, but compared to the ones I had at the Azabu-Jūban location, they felt a bit lacking in both quality and quantity. The main dish, Mapo Tofu, had a mild spiciness with a unique spice flavor. It was a delicious Mapo Tofu that focused more on umami than spiciness. The tender beef added another layer of flavor. While it had a different character than "Sichuan Ranten" or "Chen Mapo Tofu," it was a very delicious spicy and savory Mapo Tofu. The restaurant is compact but spacious enough to sit comfortably and enjoy a relaxing meal. The service was polite and attentive, although it seemed like some staff members were still learning. My wife ordered the Sichuan-style Spicy Sweet and Sour Chicken, and the dumplings and Chengdu Dan Dan Noodles that came with the set were also delicious. I believe everything they serve is above average Chinese cuisine. I'd like to try ordering a la carte next time I visit. Thank you for the delicious meal.

I ordered the Mapo Tofu set for ¥1980. The Mapo Tofu was sweet and had a mild Sichuan peppercorn flavor. I prefer it a bit spicier. The soup was delicious! I also tried the Almond Tofu for ¥980. Considering the location, the price-performance ratio was a bit underwhelming.

It's delicious, but it always seems empty, maybe because of the slightly intimidating atmosphere? Haha. Lunch prices start around ¥2,000, so it's definitely Roppongi Hills pricing.