Old-style Chinese restaurants have appeared on these pages before. Some are thankfully still in business, whereas others have sadly shut up shop forever — their owners having died or were simply too old to carry on.
This one, however, is still very much a going concern, as despite being in operation for 48 years, the couple in charge show no sign of hanging up their pots and pans just yet. An incredible little place not far at all from the busy and bustling streets of Shinjuku, but both its interior and exterior seem to be from a very different time. One when life was a bit slower and convenient but dull chain restaurants didn’t dominate the city’s streets.
Sean says
My favorite kind of lunch spot! 🙂
Lee says
Mine too. They never disappoint.
Wes says
I’m loving the colors of the interior shots. They are very emblematic of a different time. Keep photographing these places Lee.
Lee says
Thanks a lot. I definitely intend to. Always special to eat in them. Often good to photograph cos of those colours you mentioned as well.
cdilla says
A lovely looking place – all the more welcoming because of the smiles.
It reminds me in size and layout of that one in Higashi Asakusa we visited last easter.
Lee says
Yes, really lovely owners. Ah, yeah, that’s a good call. This one is a little bit bigger, but similar in many ways. Just as enjoyable too.
Richard says
There was a place like this in Sangubashi, where I lived! Their smiling faces demonstrate that they are very much ‘still going strong.’
Lee says
Yeah, they really are. No signs of stopping any time soon it seems. A regular stream of customers too. Both young and old.
Linda says
I love seeing people give you the stink-eye but it’s fun to see people smiling at you once in a while too.
Lee says
Haha, yes, smiles like this make a very welcome change.
Jen in NZ says
I think the gentleman’s smile may be the most genuine one I’ve seen in all your collection. Really special.
Lee says
Thank you. It was definitely one of those smiles that came naturally and utterly unprompted.
YTSL says
Lovely photos of the place and proprietors! Question: are these old-style Chinese restaurants run by ethnic Japanese or Chinese? Also, is the food “Japan”-ized? I’m curious because there are some foods that the Japanese consider Chinese that we think of as Japanese (e.g., ramen) and also some foods that are seen as Japanese but have Korean origins/influences: e.g., yakiniku but also Morioka’s reimen.
Lee says
Thanks a lot. A very special little place.
These old-style chuka restaurants are always run by Japanese. A kind that were apparently really popular in the post-war years, and so now, decades later, they are slowly but surely disappearing. Definitely food that is for Japanese tastes, but to some degree or other that’s almost always the case I guess, isn’t it? Interestingly they all have pretty much the same menu too, but each with their subtle style or taste. I almost always opt for chahan and gyoza. Like comfort/soul food for me in many ways. A simple enough dish, but there’s always a difference between each place.