Hyperlocal Tokyo

I visited Tang Dynasty, Nihonbashi branch. It's located on the 8th floor of the main building of Nihonbashi Takashimaya. I went there for lunch. While many other restaurants around were crowded, I was able to get in without waiting. I was a little worried, but the food was definitely delicious. It seems like a busy restaurant usually, and the service was a bit rushed and made me feel a little uneasy. Today, it was hot outside, so I ordered the shrimp wonton and cold noodle set with summer vegetables for 2,100 yen. The appetizers were delicious and I was full of anticipation for the main course, the cold noodles. The salt-based broth was refreshing and the shrimp wonton and soup went well together. I finished it all in no time. The almond tofu dessert was also delicious and I was very satisfied. For this location, the price was good value and I felt very satisfied. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I had lunch at Tang Court (Tong Cho), a Hong Kong-based sweets restaurant located on the 8th floor of the main building of Nihonbashi Takashimaya. The thin, delicate Hong Kong noodles, the fragrant shrimp wonton, and the easy-to-eat five-flavor stir-fried noodles were all delicious. The mango almond tofu and tapioca coconut milk that came with dessert, as well as the mango pudding that could be added to the set dessert for an additional 400 yen, were also delicious.

This is a great place to go when your stomach is feeling a little weak. The congee is hearty and filling, with plenty of ingredients. I love that they serve a pot of jasmine tea that you can drink as much as you like. The location in Takashimaya attracts a lot of older customers, but the staff is energetic and friendly, and they are very attentive, even asking about food allergies. It's a really nice place.

I always imagined there would be a line during lunch, but even though Takashimaya closed at 7:30 PM, they welcomed me with a smile even after 7 PM. The restaurant is calm and relaxing, and even though it was near closing time, it was almost full. The department store's set menus are the same price at night. They brought a pot of hot tea, my friend ordered the congee set, and I had my favorite wonton noodles. We talked about how this might be the only place where you can get authentic congee. Tang Dynasty's wonton noodles have thin noodles like cold noodles, but they stay firm until the end. It's a strange noodle. The soup has a great aroma, and the wontons are filled with plump shrimp. Of course, we ordered the famous mango pudding for an extra price. The pudding is filled with chunks of mango and topped with a delicious coconut milk sauce. We had a great time for almost two hours, but the staff and customers seemed to take it all in stride. We apologized as we paid, and the staff member smiled and said, "Not at all." Even though the department store had already closed, the elevator stopped on this floor, and a department store employee in a tuxedo took us down to the first floor. Takashimaya in Nihonbashi is amazing! It truly is the best department store in Japan.

I often visit this restaurant for solo lunches, but this time I went with a friend for a Saturday lunch. We were seated in a cozy corner, a level above the main floor, which allowed us to enjoy our meal in a relaxed atmosphere. I had the five-grain congee lunch set, two dim sum dishes, and three desserts, which I swapped for a mango pudding. I think it was around 2100 yen. It was a very satisfying lunch.