From Takadanobaba Station, head towards Waseda Street in the direction of Waseda, and just before Waseda Shochiku, there is a Chinese restaurant. If you climb the stairs next to Sarai Kebab straight up to the 3rd floor, you will find the entrance. I visited for the first time during lunchtime on a weekday. The name of the restaurant is Xiao Jun Gan Chuan Chuan Shan, which I couldn't read at all due to the difficult Chinese characters. Inside the restaurant, there is a lower mezzanine and an upper floor with a unique layout. The interior is mainly black with red chairs, and the wall paintings of demons with flames coming out are a bit scary. The lunch menu is all priced at 850 yen, with set meals and noodles available. The dishes look very spicy based on the photos. The staff will kindly explain the spiciness and types of dishes. I ordered the Beef Fried Rice Set for 850 yen, asking for the spiciness to be mild. You help yourself to the side dishes, which included 4 items: simmered beans, yuba and wood ear mushrooms, leek liver, and stir-fried carrots. The seasoning is strong with a hint of spiciness. A few more customers came in later, all speaking in Chinese for ordering. After about 10 minutes of waiting, the food was served. It came with a miso soup-like broth. The fried rice looked ordinary at first glance. When I tried it, there was no spiciness at all. The diced beef was tender and plentiful. The leeks were quite prominent. The overall seasoning and stir-fry were just right. The side dishes were also good, and the portion was generous. My companion ordered the Beef and Chinese Steamed Buns Roll Stew Set, which came with two rolls and the option for two more. The spiciness was moderate. I paid in cash, but there was an Alipay logo, so PayPay might be accepted. There was a sign for a buffet with over 70 items for 2,680 yen, so I might come back for dinner next time.

Xiao Jun Gan Chuan Chuan Xiang is a Sichuan cuisine restaurant located about 4 minutes east of Waseda Street in Takadanobaba. It is a new branch of the authentic Xiongmao restaurant. Their specialty is skewers and hot pot dishes. The entrance on the first floor facing Waseda Street may seem dark and unwelcoming, but there is actually an elevator on the side. The interior is modern with black and red tones. The third floor seating area has around 30 seats, and there is also a fourth floor. The staff are mostly Chinese and the customers are predominantly Chinese as well, but they communicate well in Japanese. The menu features many 850 yen lunch options, including Chinese stir-fry rice bowls and noodles. I tried the pork offal stir-fry rice bowl set, which arrived promptly. The dish was presented in a large rectangular plate with a generous portion of rice, offal stir-fry, corn and egg soup, and chicken salad. The offal was tender and flavorful, with a nice Chinese spice aroma. The garlic shoots were also delicious. It was a satisfying meal and I enjoyed the casual atmosphere. Students from a Japanese language school started arriving around 12:40, adding to the lively atmosphere. Overall, it is a great place to enjoy authentic Chinese flavors at reasonable prices, with a variety of skewers available at the counter as well. Don't miss out on the surprisingly cheap drinks, like cola for only 60 yen! (with a 500 yen charge)

Don't bother coming here!