Murakoshi

When a craving for an old-fashioned neighbourhood Chinese-style restaurant strikes, Murakoshi’s menu can make choosing difficult. The restaurant sits on a side street in Higashi-Yotsugi, Katsushika City, and offers a wide range of dishes. The classic ramen is a simple, comforting bowl, with a light soy sauce broth. Pair it with gomoku fried rice, accented with crab and shiitake, or gyoza with a fragrant browned crust, and the meal has the satisfying feel of a classic neighbourhood Chinese-style diner.

There is plenty of variety among the noodles, too: tanmen with a balanced topping of vegetables in a salt-flavoured broth; Canton men and Tenshin men served piping hot beneath a thickened sauce; and crisp katayaki soba. For a more substantial rice-based meal, options include a Chinese-style rice bowl, hoikoro rice, and set meals such as ginger pork or fried chicken.

Inside, there are counter seats as well as tables, making Murakoshi a comfortable choice for a casual solo lunch. With its unpretentious feel and focus on daytime service, it is a place to enjoy a hearty meal without ceremony.