◆ Ramen registration number 7009 • 453rd bowl of 2024 ◆ Shimokitazawa Gyoza Akashi (Koenji South, Suginami-ku, Tokyo) ◆ Jiang Zhi Mian ¥990; Fried Rice ¥880 ● Instagram: tsukasa_no_ramen tsukasan777 ● Twitter: tsukasan2010 ===========

I heard that someone from "Mintai" in Shimokitazawa opened a new restaurant under the elevated bridge at Koenji Station (Mashita), so I went to check it out. The restaurant's name is "Shimokitako Gyoza Akashi." When I visited on a weekend afternoon, it was still quite empty. After being seated, I ordered a "bottle of beer (Kirin)" and "Shimokitako gyoza." The gyoza was safely delicious! Then I decided to add "fried rice" to my order. The fried rice at "Mintai" is a deep red and well-browned, giving it a rich flavor, but the fried rice at this new place was a fluffy bright yellow, almost like it was made with saffron rice. As others have noted in their reviews, the flavor was weak. If I were eating it on its own, I would quickly get bored. I think this restaurant has mixed reviews.

It's rare for fried rice and ramen to be not delicious, but I recently had a disappointing experience! Both dishes had very weak flavors and felt empty. Despite there being only two other tables occupied, the wait time was long. I had been looking forward to visiting since a new place opened up in Mashita, so it was very disappointing.

A restaurant where everything is tasteless. I became worried wondering if it was affected by COVID, as everything I ate had no flavor. The ramen, fried rice, and gyoza were all bland. The previous restaurant that used to be here didn't last long either, so I suspect this one won't be around for much longer either.

A new restaurant has opened in the dining area under the elevated track at Koenji Station, just a one-minute walk away. The interior has seven tables for four people and two tables for two. It is said that the owner trained at a long-established Chinese restaurant called Mintei in Shimokitazawa. During lunchtime, there are many set menu options suitable for lunch. In the evening, you can enjoy a drink along with dishes like gyoza, making it a great place for a casual night out. I had the lunch set of five gyoza and a half serving of fried rice. The gyoza had a chewy skin with delicious filling, making it quite hearty and tasty. It definitely makes you want a beer! The fried rice was juicy with a prominent egg flavor, which was also delicious. I hear there are many options available on the dinner menu, so I’ll definitely visit again in the evening.

I visited "Shimokita Gyoza Akashi," which just opened this month in Koenji, for the first time! The manager has trained for 20 years at the famous Shimokitazawa shop "Mintei" (I'm not sure if "training" is the right word after that long) and there’s an experienced chef who previously worked for 10 years at "Nishinba" and 14 years at "Uojin" (Nishinba is in Shimokitazawa and Uojin is in Ishigaki Island). News of their new restaurant spread before the opening, and the Koenji community was excited for it! I arrived around 12:45 PM and was surprised to find no customers ahead of me (though two groups came after me!). I ordered the value A set (a half-sized Chinese noodle soup and half-sized fried rice) for 990 yen. While this might seem reasonable, there are many places in Koenji where you can get a ramen dish and another item for less than 1000 yen, so the value perception of 990 yen for half-and-half may not be the same here. Just to clarify, I’m only talking about the price! According to reviews, the fried rice at Mintei is red, while this one is yellow. Indeed, it was beautifully yellow! The half-fried rice had a sticky texture that I love—definitely not the usual fluffy kind. The half-sized Chinese noodle soup was an orthodox, gentle-tasting bowl. I actually haven’t been to Mintei, so I’m curious if their flavors are similar—I’ll have to check it out soon. The staff recommended the "Shimokita Gyoza," but since I didn't have much time and wasn’t very hungry, I skipped it this time. I regret not trying it, so I’ll definitely order gyoza next time! Having a drink and some gyoza in the evening sounds nice as well. By the way, I was curious about the "Shimokita Gyoza" name—is there a specific style of gyoza associated with that name? It feels similar to how you might say there’s a Kameido Gyoza restaurant opening in Ueno or an Omiya Napolitan shop opening in Urawa. Oh, I’m starting to overthink things—once I get curious, I can’t stop! Laughs

They offer set meals as well as à la carte dishes. In the evening, it has a vibe like a Chinese izakaya where you can also enjoy drinks. The atmosphere feels a bit upscale for a Chinese restaurant! The à la carte menu is quite diverse, which is nice. The mapo tofu is served in a hot iron pot, and it was pretty delicious! However, I thought the overall portion sizes were a bit small. The prices are on the higher side too. Personally, I think it would be better if there were a bit more value for the cost! Koenji has many dining options, so I hope they continue to thrive in the future. Thank you for the meal!

This time, I’d like to introduce a Chinese restaurant that opened in Koenji on July 11. The location is just a short walk from the north exit of JR Sobu Line and Chuo Line’s Koenji Station. The business hours are as follows: Monday to Friday from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM (last order at 2:30 PM) and 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM (last order at 10:00 PM). On weekends and holidays, it is open from 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM (last order at 10:00 PM). I visited around 5:30 PM on a weekday. There were quite a few flowers at the entrance! The owner is likely an independent chef who worked for 20 years at the well-known Chinese restaurant "Mintei" in Shimokitazawa. The restaurant seems to have a decent number of seats, with about 30 table seats. I chose a table on the right side, away from the kitchen. There was a menu at my seat. The highlights include: - **Recommended Dishes:** - Shimokitazawa Gyoza (5 pieces) - 600 yen - Fried Rice (with soup) - 800 yen - Misaki Beef Fried Rice (with soup) - 1,200 yen - Chinese Soba - 800 yen - Chashu Noodles - 1,200 yen - Large Ramen (add 200 yen) - Large Fried Rice (add 200 yen) (Lunch price +100 yen) - Fried Noodles with Sauce - 1,000 yen - **Lunch Special Sets (990 yen each):** - Set A: Half Chinese Soba + Half Fried Rice - Set B: Shimokitazawa Gyoza (5) + Half Fried Rice - Set C: Shimokitazawa Gyoza (5) + Half Chinese Soba - **Set Meals (includes rice, soup, and salad):** - Liver and Chinese Chive Set - 850 yen - Mapo Tofu Set - 1,000 yen - Fried Chicken with Oil and Vinegar Set - 1,100 yen - **A la Carte:** - Stir-fried Liver and Chive - 700 yen - Stir-fried Eggs, Tomatoes, and Wood Ear Mushrooms - 700 yen - Stir-fried Bean Sprouts - 350 yen - Other various dishes priced from 700 yen to 1,500 yen. - **Fried Snacks:** - Chicken Wings (3 pieces) - 350 yen - Chinese-style French Fries - 500 yen - **Cold Dishes:** - Century Egg with Cucumber - 350 yen - Century Egg with Tofu - 350 yen - Various other cold items priced around 300 to 800 yen. - **Soups and Rice:** - Egg Soup and Sea Lettuce Soup - 350 yen each - Rice - 300 yen - **Desserts:** - Mango Pudding, Almond Jelly, and Sesame Balls - 350 yen each **Beverages:** A range of beers, non-alcoholic options, highballs, and various wines are available, along with many soft drinks. For dinner, it feels more like a Chinese izakaya. The menu is extensive, and with the owner’s background from "Mintei," I decided to order the Fried Rice (800 yen) and the restaurant's signature Shimokitazawa Gyoza (600 yen). Since it was newly opened, the restaurant was not very crowded around 5 PM, but by 6 PM, around five people came in. After about a 10-minute wait, both the fried rice and soup, along with the Shimokitazawa Gyoza, arrived. The fried rice looked yellow—no, more like golden fried rice! Although it tasted quite different from "Mintei," the gyoza appeared ordinary. The fried rice had a light flavor, somewhat softer than typical fried rice. I preferred a stronger seasoning, but overall, it was good. The gyoza was also quite nice! This ordinary taste is something rare. The prices are reasonable, and with an abundant menu, I thought this would be a go-to place if it were closer to my home. Thank you for the meal!

"Kōenji Mashita Shimokitazawa Gyoza Akashi" Kōenji ✔︎ Lunch B Set ¥990 - Half Ramen & Half Fried Rice This new restaurant opened on July 12th (Friday). In hindsight, since the restaurant's name features gyoza, I should have ordered a gyoza set instead. They also serve drinks in the evening, so I'll visit again! #ShimokitazawaGyozaAkashi #KōenjiMashita #TownChineseDining #TownChinese #NewlyOpened #NewRestaurant #KōenjiGourmet #KōenjiLunch #SalarymanLunch #TokyoGourmet #NoodleSoup #FriedRice #foodstagram

On July 12, a famous restaurant known for its pink fried rice, "Mintei," opened its outlet in Koenji. The chef has a solid 20 years of experience from Mintei. At the entrance, there was a flower stand from "Mintei," and people couldn't stop taking pictures! Now, let’s talk about the main event—the fried rice. It's not pink like the original, but rather an overwhelming yellow, reminiscent of Golden Frieza. For a moment, I thought they served me curry fried rice because of the striking color. According to the chef, "Since the training location's fried rice was pink, I decided to go with a golden theme this time." P.S. They’re very active on Instagram! There are also places not listed on Tabelog! "Revival! Mako Ramen" https://www.instagram.com/mako_inogashira/?igshid=MTIyMzRjYmRlZg%3D%3D

Just a 2-minute walk from the north exit of Koenji Station, I tried the B set for 990 yen at Shimokita Gyoza Akashi. This town Chinese restaurant opened yesterday in Koenji Mashita, and the manager worked for 20 years at Minten in Shimokitazawa. I arrived at 11:30 to find 3 customers ahead of me and 8 arriving after. Once I entered, it was clear that the interior was entirely from the previous restaurant. There were 5 staff members in total, both in the kitchen and dining area. I placed my order verbally, and after about 15 minutes, my food arrived. The B set includes 5 Shimokita gyoza and half a serving of fried rice. Given the manager's background at Minten, I expected the fried rice to be the signature red style, but it turned out to be yellow rice. I thought it might have a curry flavor, but it didn’t taste like curry at all, and it was surprisingly bland, lacking any flavor. However, the gyoza were packed with meat and quite delicious. I wished there had been a soup with the fried rice set, but I finished my meal. All in all, thank you for the meal!

Despite claiming to sell out of gyoza, there isn't much emphasis on it. Looking at the menu, it's hard to understand the unique selling points of this town-style Chinese restaurant, as it feels somewhat lacking compared to others. The taste is as others have mentioned—it aligns with my thoughts. I believe that a typical town Chinese restaurant should serve bold flavors that you scoop and savor. I think the owner should properly read reviews on platforms like Tabelog or Google. Considering the high rent in this location, I hope they reflect on these points.

After work, I stopped by for a bit and was able to enjoy a drink at just the right time!