This photo by Yukiyo Oda, other photos by Takahiro Takiguchi ()
In central Tokyo, finding a good lunch at a cheap price is not always an easy mission.
However, a 7-minute walk from Hardy Barracks in Roppongi will get you a hearty Chinese lunch set for less than 1,000 yen (about $9.41).
Head over to Eiri, just a few blocks away from Roppongi Crossing, for a quality meal cooked by a chef who won the “TV Champion Tokyo” food battle in the Chinese dish competition.
You’ll find the restaurant on the second floor, with an interior covered in colorful Chinese ornaments and paintings. There are plenty of seating options available if you’re bringing a large group.
Eiri serves lunch between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and their lunch menu sets will set you back between 810 to 1,080 yen each.
Choose from more than 20 options including fried chicken, sautéed potato, eggplant and bell pepper, pork and cabbage sautéed with spicy miso, to various noodle and stir-fried rice sets. All sets come with rice, salad, soup and dessert.
I usually order the “tantan toshomen” set for 890 yen, as the dish offers authentic Sichuan flavor.
Toshomen, also known as sword noodles, are created by shaving the dough into a noodle shape directly into boiling water. The hand-shaved pieces have an extremely chewy and springy texture, which helps soak the hot miso and black sesame- seasoned broth.
Stir-fried rice also comes on the side with this set and though it is a simple side dish, the flavors of the egg, minced meat, chopped onion and vegetables pair nicely with the noodles.
Unlike the usual oily and salty Chinese dishes at other places, Eiri’s meals are light and won’t leave you needing a nap in the middle of the workday.
The restaurant offers an English menu and some of its staff speak English. Credit cards are also accepted.
Visit before noon or at around 1:30 p.m. after the lunch rush so you can enjoy your meal without the crowds. Eiri also has five other branches – two in Ikebukuro and three in Toyosu. Eiri is a good option for a nice lunch at a nice price in downtown Tokyo.
Location: 7-18-8 [2F] Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo Hours: Sun – Sat, 11 a.m. – midnight URL: http://www.yongli.tokyo/, https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1307/A130701/13215836/ (Japanese) Tel: 03-5411-5888
