Chizukaya

A bowl of vegetable-packed tanmen is a natural place to start at Chizukaya. One diner recalls how the well-stir-fried vegetables and curly noodles came together in the soup, with the broth clinging to the noodles and making the dish enjoyable to the last bite. Some have found the soup hot and rich, while another diner wished it had a little more salt. It is a signature choice for a hearty meal or whenever you want vegetables and noodles in the same bowl.

Add gyoza and the meal takes on a different character. Their pronounced garlic flavour and well-seasoned filling should pair nicely with beer, while another diner singled out their crisp, browned bottoms. Ramen with gyoza is one option; adding gyoza to tanmen is another, making it easy to turn a solo meal into something more substantial with an extra dish.

For something beyond noodles, the fried rice is also worth considering. Diners have noted its light, separate grains, and one person who ordered the gomoku fried rice reported finding large prawns and crab meat in it. Pair it with ramen or gyoza for a classic neighbourhood Chinese-style meal, or let the fried rice take centre stage.

One diner also enjoyed the tenshin-don: its egg was soft rather than overcooked, and the sauce struck a pleasing balance between sweet and sour. Chizukaya offers more than tanmen and fried rice, with rice dishes and other à la carte choices to suit the mood.