Hyperlocal Tokyo

This retro Showa-era diner is tucked away in a back alley in Toyosu. It's known for its affordable prices and generous portions. Due to its popularity, expect to wait for a table, especially during lunchtime. I waited about 10 minutes in a line of about 5 people before being seated. I ordered the chicken katsu curry (¥650), which was a huge portion for the price. It would definitely be considered a large serving at other restaurants. The staff were friendly and provided excellent service. I had a great lunch experience.

I'm rating this place highly because it's perfect for those who love this kind of atmosphere. The restaurant's ambiance, the food served, everything is pure Showa retro. The main dishes and side dishes are all home-style cooking, which is fantastic. The default serving size for rice is quite large, so if you're not sure, it's best to ask before ordering. It seems like the family takes turns working shifts, and it can get a bit crowded when it's just one person running the place, but that's not what you come here for, so it's still a 5-star experience. It's all about the feeling here. After all, Toyosu is full of fancy, expensive lunches in sleek settings, and it can be a bit overwhelming. This place is the only one of its kind in Toyosu. The "いってらっしゃい" (have a good day) you get when you leave the restaurant gives you the energy to power through the afternoon!

I stumbled upon this place tucked away in the backstreets of Toyosu. It had a real 'legendary eatery' vibe. It was packed, but I decided to wait outside since I was already there. I ordered the curry rice set with a fried egg on top. It was as delicious as I expected and great value for money 👍. It's Japanese curry, but the spices are definitely there! The pork cutlet set that the people behind me ordered looked even better value... I'd definitely come back, but it's a shame they allow smoking 😭. It's significantly cheaper than other places in the area and the food is good, but the space is small so it gets really crowded at lunchtime.

The lunch here is incredibly cheap. It's usually crowded, so be prepared to wait in line. The Tandoori Chicken set was only 500 yen. I was happy to see a fried egg included. (Added on September 26, 2023) The Pork Yakiniku set is 650 yen. It's affordable and delicious. (Added on September 28, 2023) The Natto set is 600 yen. It feels like breakfast. (Added on October 12, 2023) The Herb Chicken set is 500 yen. (Added on November 28, 2023) The Chicken Ginger-Grilled set is 500 yen. (Added on December 6, 2023) The Pork Ginger-Grilled set is 650 yen. (Added on January 12, 2024) The Curry Rice with Fried Egg is 500 yen.

I visited a commercial convention at the International Exhibition Center. Before that, I wanted to make sure I had a good lunch. I used Google and Tabelog on the way there to find a place to eat. This is the restaurant I found. Toyosu is where I spent my kindergarten and early elementary school years. It's the route I took to and from the Doswim Plaza, where the first Seven-Eleven in Japan was located. It's a truly nostalgic place, a downtown area. There was the famous 'Niku no Ichimura' (meat restaurant), a candy store in the back, and a tatami mat shop on the first floor of a run-down Tokyo Metropolitan Government apartment building. In the old days, you could see Tokyo Bay from my house and the fireworks at Harumi were clearly visible. That was a long time ago. I need to get back to the old-fashioned Western-style restaurant in this town. This was my first visit to this place, though I'm not a local. What an atmospheric restaurant! There were a few people in line ahead of me, but they were all at other places. I was so excited, I couldn't contain myself. The main dish seems to be curry. Looking at Tabelog, it seems like the menu used to be more extensive. My colleague had the katsu curry, and I had the pork stir-fry with black pepper. Both dishes arrived in about 5 minutes. The amount of curry and the thickness of the cutlet were quite impressive. It was a very filling meal. Perfect for boys! (laughs) The pork stir-fry with black pepper had a lot of onions, so the meat was a bit overshadowed, but the ginger, garlic, and coarsely ground black pepper added a punch of flavor. It was delicious. The miso soup was a comforting broth, almost like a pork and vegetable soup, with a sweet taste from the vegetables and a good match for the tofu. It made me smile. (✿^‿^) It's become a place I can't visit very often, a place that's close yet far away. But I will definitely come back again. Next time, I'll try the curry. Thank you for the meal.