I didn't know that there was a branch of the famous Beijing shabu-shabu restaurant "Donglaishun" in Ikebukuro! It's known for its delicious lamb shabu-shabu. I was worried about having shabu-shabu for lunch, but when I called to confirm, they said they serve it for lunch too. So, I visited with my daughter on a Sunday afternoon. As soon as we entered the restaurant, we could smell the lamb, which got us excited. We opted for the all-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink (non-alcoholic) course with a separate charge for the sauce. The condiments were free-flowing, so we loaded up on traditional sesame sauce with coriander. Everything we tried was delicious. They promptly refilled the soup in the pot, and the service was great. When I told my friends who had lived in Shanghai and Beijing, they said the thick noodles and ingredients like shrimp and oysters were not typically used in Beijing. But regardless, the broth was tasty and we enjoyed our meal. The staff and customers were all Chinese, making it feel like we were truly in Beijing. It was interesting to see everyone enjoying shabu-shabu and alcohol in the middle of the day. Chinese people really know how to enjoy their food!

I didn't find it particularly delicious! I ordered the all-you-can-eat option, but some items were out of stock! It's a shame! The service was not bad. The staff were passionate! There are three types of condiments available, and I recommend sesame and spicy flavors.

We were looking for a restaurant where a large group, including children, could go, so we made a reservation at a place with private rooms. The friendly female staff recommended various dishes and brought us a all-you-can-eat menu. The beef and lamb were delicious, and everyone loved the century egg and tofu salad and shrimp balls. The spicy and addictive hot pot was a lot of fun. It was mentioned on a TV show last week, so reservations are likely to become necessary.

I held a pre-birthday party for a friend whose birthday was on Monday this week on Sunday. The place was a restaurant called Tohrojun in Ikebukuro. They serve lamb hot pot, and it is a Japanese branch of an old store established in Beijing in 1903. I really like the condiments for that hot pot, so I ended up going for seconds multiple times. It was delicious, so I want to go again. The food also looks great in photos. Just be aware that they don't speak much Japanese, so it's better to be prepared for that when you visit. #ikebukuro #Tohrojun #hotpot #yummyyummy

As soon as I entered the store, there was a unique scent different from outside. It's a strong smell of condiments. Not recommended for those who don't like it. Some of the staff may not be fluent in Japanese, but they are kind. I had a meal similar to hot pot or shabu-shabu, dipping it in a rich sesame sauce. There are various condiments, so you can enjoy it in different ways.

Quietly enjoying a meal in a private room with my delightful sheep club companions, just like the last time I visited. The place was fully booked by 6 pm, likely due to their recent appearance on morning TV. There seemed to be more Japanese customers compared to last time. It was two days after my third vaccine shot, so I still had a slight fever and felt sluggish in the morning, but a shot of 52-degree white liquor perked me right up. However, we all agreed that we have become weaker lately, so we kept our food and drinks to a minimum. This time, we indulged in crispy sesame pies filled with various meats. The all-you-can-eat option, including alcohol, and additional lamb skewers for 5900 yen per person, still felt like a great deal. Thank you for the feast.

I had some business in Ikebukuro, so I looked up a good hot pot restaurant to satisfy my craving. I think I ordered the lunch set, which came with a variety of ingredients like meat, tofu, vegetables, and mushrooms. The hot pot set was packed with goodies! As someone who always needs rice with my BBQ, shabu-shabu, or sukiyaki, I was happy to see that rice was included. It was my first time trying hot pot and I was surprised by how spicy it was, but the spiciness became addictive and it was really delicious. I don't have a picture, but I also ordered shrimp chili because I was craving it. When it finally arrived, I was shocked by how much there was (laughs), but it was incredibly delicious and I finished it all in no time! This shrimp chili was the best I've ever had in my life. Thank you for the meal. I'll definitely come back here when I crave hot pot again!

I received information from a friend that Toraikun is in Ikebukuro. We made a promise to go there as soon as the situation with COVID-19 settles down. We quickly made a reservation for up to 4 people. It was amazing to find out that it was a 2980 yen all-you-can-eat deal, which is unheard of in China nowadays. The restaurant has a history of over 100 years in China and they brought authentic copper pots, wooden meat trays, and private rooms from the original restaurant in Beijing. We had a toast with our special drinks and enjoyed a happy night.

Three years ago, when my family came to visit, we had hot pot. When you think of China, celebrations involve lamb meat, and the restaurant's interior is a vibrant red design. There was a vegetable station like a salad bar where you could pick your vegetables and cook them in the bubbling hot soup around the pot, making it a healthy and enjoyable experience!

I went to Higashi Laijun in Ikebukuro with a coupon for drinks. Despite it being in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak during the Chinese New Year, I decided to go as I thought that not many tourists would visit such a deep Chinese restaurant in Ikebukuro. As a result, the restaurant was empty. I wondered if it was because of the virus or if Chinese residents in Japan had returned home for the holiday. All the staff were wearing masks. The location was surprisingly good for the value of the coupon. The participants, including myself, had not expected such an easily accessible location and had been searching for a back alley. The interior was very luxurious, with spacious seating. It is said to be a famous restaurant in Beijing. They didn't have beer (extra charge), but they had a great selection of highballs. The all-you-can-drink course with hot pot was only 2480 yen, a great deal. The hot pot served was called "Jingtai Lan," a traditional craft from Beijing, with charcoal inside, giving it a retro feel. You could choose between traditional sesame sauce or Sichuan pepper sauce, and I chose the latter. The toppings were self-service, with plenty of coriander and other options available. The presentation was beautiful, with beef and lamb as the meat options and a variety of vegetables. It was incredibly delicious! There were also a few other dishes included, but I couldn't finish them all because I was so full. There was a peanut and spinach salad, chicken with Sichuan pepper oil, and a sesame baked bun from Higashi Laijun. The bun was not sweet, with a crispy pastry-like texture, and it was also delicious. I definitely want to visit again.

Blog "Tokyu Line, Foodie Adventures" - https://asante.blog/ I visited this restaurant with my colleagues from work. Although I don't often go to Ikebukuro, this restaurant is a Japanese branch of a long-established Beijing restaurant that has been around for over 100 years. Previously, with the same group of friends, we had hot pot at the Haidilao Hot Pot Shinjuku branch, which is a restaurant that you can fully enjoy if you are Chinese, and this restaurant is similar. We had one Chinese person in our group, so we felt at ease heading to the restaurant. This place is famous for its delicious lamb, so we started with lamb skewers. These skewers were generously seasoned with cumin, giving them a curry-like flavor, but the deliciousness of the lamb itself shone through. We also tried the popular lamb head meat and tripe appetizers, with the tripe being exceptionally tasty. Next, we moved on to lamb shabu-shabu. The high-quality lamb meat, described as a "national-grade non-material national heritage," was served on a unique plate that really stood out. We cooked the lamb in the hot pot and dipped it in a peanut sauce, which was truly delicious. The spinach, enoki mushrooms, and Chinese tofu were also tasty, but the meat was the highlight, and we ended up ordering and finishing 10 plates of meat among the four of us. Finally, we enjoyed a crepe-like dessert and left completely satisfied. The service was a bit slow, perhaps because they are still getting the hang of things, but the taste of the lamb shabu-shabu was truly exceptional and worth the wait. However, I think it may not be as enjoyable for Japanese people alone, as there were hardly any Japanese customers in the restaurant. There are still so many flavors out there that I have yet to discover. Thank you for the meal.

Hot pot does not refer to a spicy dish, but rather to a type of cooking vessel that combines a heat source with a pot for soup. As someone who loves spicy food, I enjoy eating spicy hot pot, but my favorite is actually the thinly sliced lamb cooked in a light broth at the bottom of the pot, then dipped in a unique sauce made with sesame paste, chives, and fermented tofu called "shuan yangrou." I think this is the king of Chinese hot pot. Unfortunately, it's not very common in Japan. However, while attending the Yoyogi China Festival, I discovered that the famous Beijing restaurant Dong Lai Shun had a booth. I got their card and visited their Ikebukuro location the following week. I ordered the cheapest frozen lamb meat for shabu-shabu, as it cooks nicely that way. They provided all the necessary condiments for the sauce. It was delicious. I will definitely gather my friends to go back again.

Met up with a friend in Ikebukuro and decided to have dinner together. We met at the north exit and while waiting for my friend, I noticed a Chinese-like atmosphere around me. I remembered seeing Donglaishun before, so I decided to visit the restaurant. Donglaishun is known for its Beijing-style hot pot, specifically for its lamb dishes. I found out that this restaurant is the first branch in Japan, as there are no other branches nationwide. We ordered an orthodox red copper pot hot pot with lamb rolls, Chinese cabbage, and chrysanthemum greens. We also ordered individual dishes like Emperor Qianlong's Chinese cabbage, beef tripe slices, secret sugar garlic, and Donglaishun lamb dumplings. The hot pot arrived, and even though I wanted to try the ceramic pot, we went with the red copper pot this time. The pot was heated with charcoal, just like the famous hot pot restaurant Ryusuiro in Kanda. We enjoyed the individual dishes while waiting for the water to boil. The Chinese cabbage in sesame dressing had a great texture and flavor, the secret sugar garlic was a sweet and tangy treat, the beef tripe slices were spicy and appetizing, and the lamb dumplings were aromatic and delicious. Once the water boiled, we made our dipping sauce using the condiments provided and started enjoying the lamb hot pot. The lamb was tender and flavorful, and we ended up ordering more. We also tried the scallion pancake, which was crispy and not greasy. Overall, it was a delicious hot pot experience at Donglaishun.

The all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu lunch for 1800 yen exceeded my expectations! I forgot to take photos of the menu, so I'm sorry! The hot pot was a copper pot from Beijing with a chimney-like structure in the middle to control the heat. It was my first time experiencing this and I was excited. There was only one type of soup available, which was a clear soup (not spicy). When eating shabu-shabu, be careful not to dip the meat directly into the soup. The menu included lamb, beef, chicken, and meatballs, and I was surprised by the quality of the lamb and beef. The lettuce was fresh, and there were a variety of options like mushrooms, tofu, and even fried bread sticks. They provided a sesame sauce at the beginning (included in the course) and additional sauces were available for a fee. You can mix and match sauces to create your own. Personally, I would recommend this place over a certain hot pot restaurant in the East exit. If you want a simple hot pot experience, definitely give this place a try!

The main store in Beijing seems to be very famous. It is a halal restaurant with a 100-year history, known especially for its hot pot lamb dishes. Although it is now a chain with locations throughout China, it was surprising to find a branch in Ikebukuro, Japan. There are many different types of Chinese hot pot restaurants, such as Mongolian, Chongqing, Northeastern, and Taiwanese styles, each with their own unique flavors. Recently, a popular Beijing-style hot pot restaurant called "Tong Lai Jun" opened in Tokyo, known for its lamb dishes. The restaurant is located on the 6th floor of a building near Otsuka Station, and offers a traditional Chinese dining experience. The menu includes various types of soup bases and ingredients, with options like lamb, beef, seafood, and vegetables. The charcoal-fired hot pot ensures that the food is cooked perfectly without overheating. Overall, Tong Lai Jun offers a unique and authentic Chinese hot pot experience in the heart of Tokyo.

Located on the 6th floor of a building that houses the "Ikebukuro Engeijo," East Ruisun offers authentic Chinese cuisine, including hot pot shabu-shabu with Beijing traditional craft "Jingtai Lan." Enjoy a variety of dishes such as East Ruisun Copper Pot Mala Soup for 680 yen, East Ruisun Secret Sesame Sauce for 300 yen, and premium ingredients like Wagyu beef and lamb. Additionally, a selection of vegetables and ingredients are available for you to choose from.

The all-you-can-eat was quite satisfying. The meat was fresh and the menu was extensive. However, the dessert was a bit disappointing as it didn't taste like the authentic Beijing flavor.

Visited with an old friend of 15 years. While Sichuan-style hot pot is common in Japan, Beijing-style hot pot is quite rare. In Beijing-style hot pot, the broth is not heavily seasoned, and you add flavor to the ingredients as you pick them out using condiments and sauces. This time, we ordered Beijing hot pot with sesame sauce x2, Donglaishun hand-cut lamb x6, oysters, white fish x2, vegetables, drooling chicken, sesame grilled bread, sweet grilled bread, and alcohol. Condiments were available in a buffet style, and we chose scallions, chili oil, almonds, and cilantro. The lamb had no gamey taste and was surprisingly delicious, even for someone like me who isn't a fan of lamb. The cold dishes and bread were authentically Chinese, so those accustomed to Japanese-style Chinese food may need to be a bit cautious. I would definitely like to visit again.

It's average.