Hyperlocal Tokyo

This is a Chinese restaurant in Toyosu. Unlike the branch near Toyosu Station intersection (which specializes in chicken and noodles), this location offers a menu featuring hand-cut noodles. While you can order items individually, it seems like the small bowl of almond tofu is included even with single orders. This is great for those who want a little something sweet. The Mala Hand-Cut Noodles (¥930) I ordered came with a layer of chili oil on top, preventing steam from escaping. However, when you lift the noodles or dip into the soup, hot steam rises. The Mala flavor was just right. It was a milder spiciness compared to the Mapo Tofu I had at the branch. The thick, chewy hand-cut noodles were delicious. This location is less crowded than the branch near the station, making it a good alternative if the other one is busy.

Located about a 5-minute walk from Toyosu Station, it's easy to find as it's a straight path. Apparently, there's another branch of this Gyoza Izakaya closer to the station. We were able to get a table for four without a reservation before 6:00 PM on a Sunday. Around 7:00 PM, it was packed with families and locals. The exterior and interior of the restaurant were clean and had a nice atmosphere. All the dishes were delicious and the portions were decent. The menu was extensive, so it would be fun to try various Chinese dishes with a group. It was also reasonably priced. ◆ Fried Gyoza (¥390) Lots of meat and chives. Maybe it had star anise? I liked the chewy, slightly thick skin. ◆ Salad Gyoza (¥690) The salad and fried gyoza went well together. ◆ Beef Black Fried Rice with Lettuce and Egg (¥840) The crispy lettuce was delicious. ◆ Corner Highball (¥480) They also had a mega size, which was great! The kitchen is in the center, so you can see the chefs cooking. It was exciting to watch them make the hand-pulled noodles.

This is my go-to spot for work lunches. I eat here almost half the time when I come in to work. Maybe twice a month, though... The restaurant is called "Gyoza" (dumpling), but I've never actually ordered the gyoza. I always get the hand-cut noodles. From the first-floor counter, you can watch the chef expertly slice the dough into thin, flat ribbons that fly through the air before landing in the boiling pot. It's a show in itself! Since the noodles are hand-cut, the thickness varies depending on the location, and you can enjoy subtle differences in texture. The flavor is strong with star anise and Sichuan peppercorns, but there's also a sense of nostalgia. The char siu pork in the char siu noodle dish is also highly recommended. However, the size of the char siu varies depending on where it's cut from the roast, which is a bit of a bummer. The prices are very reasonable, so I'm a regular here.

I visited for lunch on Thursday. The Twice-cooked Pork set meal was ¥950 including tax. The Twice-cooked Pork was on the salty side, and the rice was firm. It was surprisingly busy, even from the outside. They have paper napkins and toothpicks. The counter seats have plenty of space. PayPay payments are accepted.

We stopped by Ariake Arena after a live concert. It was the right decision to make a reservation because customers kept coming in. We stayed for an hour and had hand-cut noodles, chicken wings, dumplings, spicy and sour soup dumplings, and two drinks each. The bill came out to around 5,000 yen, which was incredibly affordable. Everything was delicious too! The waitress who was running the entire restaurant by herself was amazing!