Kohien — Restaurant in Tokyo

English: As the clock struck 11:45 AM, a queue had already begun to snake its way outside the restaurant, a testament to its popularity.

Japanese: 平日11時45分開店前に並ぶ。お店に到着すると、すでに25人ほどの行列ができていました。人気店であることは間違いありませんね。年配の方も並んでいるので、期待が高まります。

The Buzzing Atmosphere:

English: Upon arrival, I was greeted by a lively queue of around 25 patrons, their ages spanning across generations, creating a warm and inviting ambiance. The anticipation was palpable, fueled by the presence of elderly diners who clearly held the restaurant in high regard.

Japanese: 年齢層は高めから若者まで幅広く、老若男女に愛されている雰囲気が伝わってきます。人気店であることは間違いありませんね。年配の方も並んでいるので、期待が高まります。

The Second Line:

English: As the doors swung open, the queue swiftly rematerialized, with many customers unable to secure a seat during the first seating. Listening to the orders around me, it was clear that the curry held a special place in many hearts. Tempted as I was, I remained steadfast in my decision, opting for the signature Chicken Noodle Stew (1500 yen) and the Five-Star Fried Rice.

Japanese: 開店と同時に待ち行列ができました。周りの人の注文を聞いていると、カレーを注文している人が多いようです。絶対美味しいやつだなと思いつつ、私は心に決めた特製とり煮込そば（1500円）と五目チャーハンを注文しました。

The Five-Star Fried Rice:

English: The Five-Star Fried Rice arrived first, its presentation a bit haphazard but its taste undeniably satisfying.

Japanese: 五目チャーハンは最初に運ばれてきました。盛り付けは少し雑でしたが、味は良かったです。

The Chicken Noodle Stew:

English: The Chicken Noodle Stew, served in an earthenware pot, initially raised my hopes. However, upon closer inspection, it became apparent that the stew had been pre-cooked and simply transferred to the chilled pot, rendering the earthenware itself lukewarm. The noodles, unfortunately, were clumped together, making them rather cumbersome to eat. While the flavors were commendable, the presentation left much to be desired.

Japanese: 特製とり煮込そばは、土鍋で提供されます。しかし、別鍋で調理したものを冷たい土鍋に移し替えているため、土鍋自体は熱くありませんでした。そばは中で絡まってしまっていて、食べにくかったです。塊でついてくるような感じでした。味は良かったのですが、盛り付けのセンスが残念でした。

The Verdict:

English: Overall, the flavors were undoubtedly impressive. However, the presentation and serving methods left room for improvement. A touch more attention to detail in these aspects would have undoubtedly elevated the dining experience. Despite these shortcomings, it was evident that the restaurant's allure lay primarily in its delectable cuisine.

Japanese: 全体的に味は良かったのですが、盛り付けや提供方法に改善の余地があると感じました。もう少し丁寧に盛り付けていただければ、より満足度の高い一杯になったと思います。でもそれにも勝る味に皆さん惹かれているということでしょうね

Closing Remarks:

English: As I bid farewell to the establishment, a lingering sense of satisfaction lingered. While the presentation could have been more refined, the flavors had undoubtedly left a lasting...

Old interior with waiters dressed in suites. Seems fancy but customers come in tshirts and sneakers. Hidden in the alley of roppongi but pretty crowded. Social distancing in place but they didn't check our temperatures or asked to sanitize our hands when we came in. Ordered chicken cashew stirfry, shrimp spring roll, chicken broiled noodle soup which is a must. Very tasty and big portions. Recommend to come in a group of four of more if you want to try multiple dishes since each dish is relatively big for sharing. Ordered two bottles of beer and three desserts. Total came out...

We visited on May 17. It's been so long since I've been back that I forget how long it's been since I've been here. It was around 11pm, early for a Friday night in Roppongi, but the restaurant was nearly full! After eating yakiniku at Ushigoro in Nishi-Azabu, we walked to the restaurant to let the meat digest, and the three of us had chicken stewed soba noodles and hot and sour noodles. The chicken stewed soba brought back memories of the unchanged taste! I think this is a very useful Chinese restaurant for late at night or when you want to have one more restaurant to finish...