Ko Shokudo

Tucked into a quiet corner along the backstreets of Takadanobaba, Ko Shokudo is a dependable spot when craving hearty Chinese home cooking and teishoku-style meal sets. Open the menu and you will find an extensive spread, spanning signature rice bowls and stir-fries to noodle soups, rice vermicelli, and gently stewed side dishes.

The rice bowls command immediate attention, particularly those topped with the shop's popular hongshao rou (braised pork belly). Thick cuts alternating between lean meat and tender fat absorb every drop of the savory-sweet braising liquor, pairing seamlessly with steamed white rice. For those who want more variety, half-and-half combination bowls make it possible to pair the braised pork with options like cola-braised pork or minced pork stir-fried with bamboo shoots on a single plate.

When in the mood for noodles or rice vermicelli, the kitchen prepares fragrant Jiangxi-style fried rice vermicelli imbued with the breath of the wok, alongside hearty pork trotter noodles and beef glass noodle soup. The chew of the vermicelli tossed together with thoroughly cooked ingredients offers just as much satisfaction as the rice dishes.

Side dishes provide plenty of leeway to round out a meal, featuring braised duck wings, chicken feet, delicate wontons, and chimaki dumplings. Operating straight through from 11:00 to 23:00, it is an easygoing canteen for a solo lunch, a post-work dinner, or a quick takeout order.