In the Two-Tama area, a new Nouvelle Chinoise restaurant called "Herbal Chinese STEAMAN" opened on June 4, 2023, which happens to be Steamed Dish Day (lol). The core concept of Herbal Chinese STEAMAN is "Steamed Cuisine x Nouvelle Chinoise" fine casual dining restaurant. Chef Watanabe, who has a French background, aims to create a new form of Chinese cuisine. The name "STEAMAN" is a coined term combining three keywords: "1. STEAM = Steamed Cuisine", "2. TEAM = Teamwork", and "3. HUMAN = People". The Chinese characters represent the chef's cherished passion as "熱血漢" (passionate man) and "蒸気" (steam). The chef is Yoshi Norisada Watanabe, who started at Yawataen Co., Ltd., trained in France, and gained experience at Casita and Park Hyatt Tokyo's "Jirandoru" before founding STEAMAN with Masaharu Masuko. I stopped by after shopping at Tamataka. A la carte menu. Unlike lunch, there was no cold noodles, so I ordered soupless tantanmen and dim sum, among others. [Drink] "Jasmine Tea" [Appetizer] "Steamed Vegetable with Tarragon Mayonnaise" Okra, eggplant, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, zucchini, and carrot. Served with tarragon-infused mayonnaise sauce. All the vegetables were very fresh, with a refreshing texture, and enjoyable on their own. [Dim Sum] "Xiaolongbao" Enjoying the xiaolongbao with ginger on top using a spoon. Juicy pork broth inside the dumpling skin. The chewy texture of the skin was also delightful. [Main] "Soupless Tantanmen" Mix the noodles well before eating. The meat miso seasoning has a rich meaty flavor with soy sauce saltiness, and very little numbing or spiciness. The use of "Sichuan pepper" and chili oil is quite restrained. Breaking the coriander and egg yolk makes it milder, suitable even for children. It's more similar to Zhajiangmian than Tantanmen. The noodles themselves were delicious. It might be a bit underwhelming without spiciness, but it's still tasty. Although not as visually stunning as French cuisine, this restaurant offers authentic Chinese flavors. Chef Watanabe utilizes his French experience to reduce the traditional "oily" image of Chinese cuisine, focusing on enhancing the natural flavors of ingredients in the menu development. They are also planning to introduce gluten-free dim sum, vegan menu, and gluten-free menu in the future.

It's like a casual dim sum restaurant with a Taiwanese vibe. I went on a holiday around 11:30 and it was already full. By 12 o'clock, it was packed. It was my first time there, but it seems to be a very popular place. The food was really delicious! Various types of xiao long bao, shumai, rice, soup, everything was tasty. Even the desserts, not just tofu but also beans and grains, were delicious. I want to try the noodle dishes next time.

Tonight, I had dinner in Futakotamagawa. The Chinese cuisine had a sense of style that was unexpected, with touches of creativity in the dishes. I was told by the staff that the chef is originally from France. They offer a selection of organic wines, which I really enjoyed. I will definitely visit again!

This is my first visit to a restaurant that offers a fusion of French and Nouvelle Chinese cuisine. It is located about a 4-minute walk from Futako-Tamagawa Station on the Tokyu Denentoshi Line. I had the Lu Rou Fan lunch set (1,600 yen). [Food] Lu Rou Fan: A generous portion of Lu Rou (braised pork) on rice, topped with a half-cooked seasoned egg, pickles, and cilantro and mint leaves. It is unusual to see mint leaves along with cilantro. Dim Sum: I had crab xiaolongbao and oolong tea xiaolongbao. The oolong tea xiaolongbao is a unique dish that I have not seen elsewhere. The flavor is different from regular xiaolongbao, with a new sensation of oolong tea spreading in your mouth. It comes with side dishes like mustard greens and pickled cabbage, as well as soup. For dessert, I had tofu pudding. Sitting at the counter, you can watch the dishes being prepared live in front of you, which adds to the dining experience. Thank you for the meal.

Nouvelle Chinois is a French-inspired Chinese restaurant where a French chef prepares Chinese cuisine with reduced oil content. The reviewer tried the lunch set which included Lu Rou Fan for 1400 yen. The portion was decent but the reviewer felt that the value for money was not very high. The tea service was unique, starting with Oolong tea and switching to Jasmine tea as the meal progressed. The Lu Rou Fan had a nice balance of saltiness and spices, and the Xiaolongbao served with it were also tasty. The reviewer was surprised that soy sauce was not needed for either dish. For dessert, they had Tofu Pudding which was light and not too sweet. Overall, the experience was satisfying with a pleasant umami flavor. The reviewer also noted that they offer craft beer, so they are looking forward to trying it for dinner as well.

Herbal Chinese Steamer in Futakotamagawa, located in a new building behind Takashimaya and Yanagikoji, is an interesting restaurant that specializes in steamed dishes. Their recommended dishes include xiaolongbao and shumai steamed right in front of you at the counter. They also offer a variety of other Chinese dishes that can be enjoyed with alcohol, including natural wines. On this day, we tried the Drunk Oysters made with the famous "Reiwa Monster" brand oysters from Ofunato Fishing Port in Iwate Prefecture, marinated in Shaoxing wine, brandy, and seasonings. We also had the Crab Xiaolongbao, Mao Zedong Spice Fried Chicken Breast, and Black Shrimp Chili with a tomato sauce made with squid ink. The restaurant has a stylish and clean atmosphere, and the staff are friendly, making it a comfortable place to dine. Thank you for the delicious meal.

On a Friday night, I tried to enter a Korean restaurant on the second floor of a recently built building behind Takashimaya in Futakotamagawa, but it was full. So I ended up at this place on the same floor. It was also almost full, but since I was alone, I managed to get a seat at the counter. They specialize in steamed dishes, so I decided to try their xiaolongbao, which was delicious. I accidentally ordered the oolong tea xiaolongbao without realizing, but it had a fragrant aroma. I also ordered a few appetizers, and they all had an elegant and deep flavor. I think their preparation is meticulous. They had a variety of natural wines available. The staff was friendly and I enjoyed my experience. I'm thinking of inviting friends next time.

The French chef in the newly opened building serves dim sum and small dishes that evoke a sense of nostalgia, not quite Nouvelle Chinoise but rather Herbal Chinese. The small portions allow for trying a variety of dishes, making it a fun experience for a small group to enjoy together.

Natural wine, craft beer, mezcal, and delicious drinks are plentiful here ♡ Lemon sours made with homemade limoncello are also available. The food is delicious and reasonably priced for the portion size. While the cost performance may not be the best, the friendly service and tasty food make up for it. Unfortunately, there are no photos of the interior or the food. It was a fun experience, most likely.

The xiaolongbao steamed in a bamboo steamer was beautiful and delicious. I want to try more dishes.

It was delicious but not as good as I expected.