01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
A spoonful of Eika’s well-fried, fluffy rice brings generous chunks of char siu and a satisfying peppery kick. In the residential neighbourhood of Shirasagi, Nakano, Eika is an easygoing Chinese restaurant for everyday meals or an early-evening drink. Its other speciality is handmade gyoza, with a robust flavour that goes particularly well with a cold bottled beer.
The set meals and rice dishes have plenty of character. Eika-don, named after the restaurant, has a bright sweet-and-sour finish that keeps you reaching for another bite. Other options include shrimp and egg with cabbage in sweet-and-sour sauce, fragrant stir-fried pork liver with garlic chives and bean sprouts, and stir-fried meat and vegetables, all cooked with care.
The noodle menu ranges from ramen, with springy noodles that take to the broth, to fried noodles with a crisp exterior and sauce clinging to the thick strands. There is also a seasonal take on chilled Chinese noodles. In the evening, small plates such as fried wontons, mini mapo tofu and a refreshing bean-sprout salad with finely sliced char siu make good drinking snacks, with highballs and Hoppy among the drinks. The dining room has table seating and children’s tableware, making it comfortable for solo lunches as well as meals shared with family or friends.
