Chinmaya Higashijujo

The tantanmen centres on the depth of sesame, with a choice of spice levels adding a personal touch. The menu describes a bowl made with carefully selected sesame and a considered roasting process, bringing together the savoury flavour of minced meat and zha jiang with the sweetness of vinegar. Diners have also praised the creamy, sesame-forward broth, its heat and the way it complements the thin noodles. Spice levels start at half-spicy; the menu lists surcharges for levels from 1 spice upwards. Choose a milder bowl or turn up the heat.

For a more substantial meal, pair the tantanmen with Chenmahan: rice topped with mapo tofu. One diner who tried the set enjoyed the sesame flavour of the tantanmen alongside the heat of the Chenmahan, and found even the regular spice level plenty hot. The set makes it easy to try both; ordering just the tantanmen is another option if you would rather keep things lighter on the spice.

Lunch options listed include sweet-and-sour prawns, yurinchi chicken and twice-cooked pork set meals, as well as Tenshinhan and Chinese noodle sets. There are choices beyond the spicy noodles and rice dishes. Menu materials show multiple listings for set-meal contents and prices, so check the details when you visit.

Add a small plate to your meal with soup dumplings. The menu suggests first making a small hole in the base of the wrapper to sip the broth, then dipping the dumpling in vinegar and soy sauce. Pan-fried gyoza and house-made boiled dumplings are also available, alongside other dim sum. The Higashijujo branch has lunch and dinner menus, with options ranging from noodles and rice at lunchtime to individual dishes in the evening.