snowdrop
Monday training ends before 2 pm, followed by lunch as a regular schedule. However, it's a tricky time to find a place to eat because it's past the usual lunch hours. That's why I checked out Li Jia-style dumplings. As the name suggests, this place is famous for its dumplings. When it comes to authentic Chinese dumplings, it's usually the boiled dumplings. I found myself craving boiled dumplings again. Namba area has quite a few Chinese restaurants that are open all day (some even 24 hours), with Li Jia-style dumplings operating from 11:00 to 2:00 in the morning. This is convenient for me. However, the entrance to the restaurant is a bit unclear from the outside, and you have to go all the way up to the 7th floor of the building. When the elevator door opened, it didn't look like the restaurant was open, but there were customers inside! I was surprised. The staff came out and we were able to enter, but the previous customer was smoking, so I was seated at a table far away from the smoking area. The table had a large tub filled with used hand towels right next to it. I wasn't sure about this atmosphere, but I tried to focus on the dumplings. Li Jia-style dumplings offer a wider variety compared to the dumplings I had at Shanghai-style dumplings the other day. They had dumplings with chives, shrimp and cabbage, celery, coriander, perilla leaves, and even lobster... lobster? I had to try the lobster dumplings, it was too intriguing. I also ordered dumplings with coriander and natto for their unique flavors. There was a set of 6 types of dumplings (12 pieces) that I missed out on, including lobster dumplings. The dumplings were different from Shanghai-style dumplings as they were more moist and didn't dry out. They were a bit soft and didn't have a firm texture. The folding of the dumplings was elegant, and it showed the skill of the chef. However, the lobster dumplings... lobster? I think they had dried shrimp in them, but I couldn't even taste the shrimp, let alone lobster. It cost ¥528 for 4 pieces, and I wouldn't recommend it based on taste alone. The coriander dumplings, on the other hand, were delicious. But no matter how many dumplings I ate, I never felt full. I could've eaten more, but I had to leave soon as I wanted to kill time before my next appointment. The owner was friendly and talked to me as I left, but the atmosphere wasn't very relaxing. It's probably better to visit in the evening, especially during off-peak hours when they have a semi-operating stance. The variety of dumplings was enjoyable, and I was interested in trying other dishes as well, but the 7th floor is quite a trek.