Hyperlocal Tokyo

The restaurant was clean and spacious, and I was able to sit on a sofa seat. When I entered a little after 11:30, there were still some empty seats, but by a little after 12, there was a decent line. I had read reviews mentioning terrible customer service, so I went in with a sense of anticipation. However, not a single person smiled, and the atmosphere felt like some kind of labor facility. Ah, so this is what it is. The food was neither good nor bad. Having just returned from Taiwan, I was hoping to find some familiar dishes, and the set menu looked good. The customer service was a bit of a concern, as everyone seemed unhappy, and I got the impression that they were content with this level of service. I hope they can work together happily and enjoy themselves.

This place is likely to receive mixed reviews depending on whether it's crowded or not. I've been there twice for lunch, and since there are other similar lunch options in Ueno that are both tastier and cheaper, I haven't been back since. I went there on a weekend morning for their morning set, but it was no longer available. What a bummer! So, I ordered the douhua (tofu pudding) a la carte. I got the red bean one. I was very satisfied. It's amazing to have only things you like in one dish. There was also a small portion of red bean shaved ice, which I also enjoyed. If you're looking for a snack, ordering just the douhua might be the best option. It's a more relaxed and peaceful space than the douhua shop in Okachimachi, so you can enjoy a leisurely escape from the heat. On Sunday morning, there were hardly any customers. I don't think it's worth waiting in line, so I might come back for douhua when it's not crowded.

I ordered the salt water noodles set. It's supposed to be a high-quality noodle, but it was a bit hard and topped with a chunky meat sauce that had a rather ordinary flavor. The taste was monotonous, and there was a lot of noodles. There were no condiments to change the flavor. The almond tofu was made with agar-agar, and the Tianxin was also just average. There was no set with tofu pudding, only a large size. After eating the meal set, there was no way I could fit in the tofu pudding. Around 5 pm on weekdays, you can see many tired families. It's nice to be able to cool off in the clean store, but it's not a taste I'd want to have again.

I visited around 1:00 PM. I had high expectations since it's said to be a branch of the main store in Taipei, but... The menu was ordered by scanning a QR code on my phone. The register was near the exit, and payment was made normally. There were various methods. The elderly couple next to me seemed to be panicking. I ordered the "Pork Belly Set." I went in expecting authentic Taiwanese braised pork rice, but it was unfortunately neatly arranged in a Japanese style. No star anise or other spices were used. I understand that many Japanese people don't like them, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. The menu photo showed a well-braised dish like the authentic one, but the actual dish was lightly braised. The fat was tender, but the meat was quite tough and difficult to chew. The almond tofu was described in other reviews as a gelatin-heavy type, and only the wolfberries gave it a sense of authenticity. Addendum: The waitress was very kind and attentive, refilling my water.

I went there craving douhua, but it turned out to be grainy, like it had been frozen and thawed. The peanuts tasted burnt, as if they had been stored in a scorched pot. It was completely inedible. Such a disappointment.