Sekikan Nakano

I usually avoid Chuuka food because it tastes nothing like Chinese food even though Chuuka means Chinese. I guess the Japanese has invented their own Chinese food and became their culture. Since this shop has such a high score in google map I decided to give it a try.

I ordered the Mapo Tofu which is a signature dish in Chuuka. Surprising it taste good and has the taste of various spices, which resembles the Chinese Sichuan style food.

Just one set back is that the shop is quite hot because the counter table is just in front of the kitchen.

Good food good price

I had a reservation, so I visited.
The exterior and interior look more like a coffee shop than a Chinese restaurant.

The friendly host and energetic madam are impressive.

The dishes were good, such as the black braised pork and the mapo tofu, which was not spicy.

The restaurant asked for at least 3 bottles of wine, but I ended up ordering 8 bottles lol
Thank you for the meal.

Creative Chinese restaurant right next to the north exit of Nakano Station
Doesn't the exterior of the store look Chinese?
The inside of the store is small and clean.
All of the beautifully arranged plates are delicious.
You should definitely try the pitch-black sweet and sour pork.
The cheerful proprietress will recommend wines that are perfect for the dishes prepared by the host, with entertaining explanations. Part of the fun is listening to the explanation.
A restaurant where you can relax and enjoy creative Chinese food and wine.

A popular restaurant that requires reservations and serves carefully selected wines and creative Chinese cuisine.

From the north exit of Nakano Station, head towards Broadway on Sun Mall, immediately turn right, and walk for about 1 minute to find a shop with brick-like exterior walls.

The emblem of `Sekihanten'' is beautifully illuminated.

The interior of the store has retro incandescent bulbs, warmth, and wood.
The white walls reflect the light, giving it a bright and clean feel.

There are 4 counter seats and several tables that can be arranged.

Receive easy-to-understand explanations from the sommelier's wife.
Only the first order is required (dessert can be added).

Recommended dishes on the menu are marked with a circle, and it is recommended to choose one of the two types of shrimp dishes and then order all the dishes marked with a circle.

Since it was my first time, I ordered according to his instructions.
I asked for today's recommendation and the `persimmon with white dressing and scent of horseback'' written on the separate sheet, and there were 10 dishes in total.

The food is said to be prepared by a chef trained in famous Chinese cuisine, and the food is delivered in the order it is finished.

When it comes to wine, I tell my wife if I want bubble, white, or red wine, and she brings me a few recommended bottles.
The analogies used in this explanation are easy to understand and very interesting, making me listen to them attentively.

Customer service with an indescribable quirk and friendliness.
Even before you eat the food, you'll get absorbed in the atmosphere and get excited and have fun.

〇 Heartland
First, quench your thirst here and then order some wine.

▪️ Assorted 3 appetizers (1 serving)
・Homemade pork
・Red shrimp pickled in Shaoxing wine
・Taro with soy sansho pepper

Peppery char siu, drunken shrimp marinated in Shaoxing wine, and piping hot taro with the scent of Japanese pepper.
The best platter that will make you want sake no matter how hard you try.

〇 Pépin Pét Nat 2020
Sparkling from Alsace, France

▪️Jellyfish and fruit with sweet and sour sauce
・Golden kiwi
・Jellyfish head part

The crunchy texture goes well with the sweet and sour kiwi and the refreshing mint.

▪️Mio chicken drool remover
・Cook the bones to extract the extract and remove the bones.
・Soy sauce, star anise, cloves

Juicy meat that has been cooked with bones and absorbed the extract.
The compatibility with the sauce, which is based on soy sauce and uses star anise and cloves, is absolutely mouth-watering.

▪️Chinese-style stew of seaweed with spices
・Star anise, five spice powder

Moist meat with sweet fat that is full of flavor.
The sauce has an impressive Chinese spice aroma.

▪️ Persimmon white dressing fragrance
・Scallion salt base
・Use firm persimmons
・Horse report (Margao)
・Orange flavored olive oil

Hard persimmons with a slightly sweet taste are coated in a fluffy white dressing.
The scent of lemongrass and the spicy kick bring out the slightly monotonous taste.

〇 Charles Frey Granite Riesling 2021
White wine from Alsace, France

▪️Porcini spring rolls
・Spring rolls using rehydrated porcini juice
・Sakura shrimp, raw mushrooms, eringi mushrooms

When you break the skin crisply, a rich aroma spreads out.
The ultimate product that uses the full flavor of porcini with the flavor of sakura shrimp.

▪️ Stir-fried giant shrimp and celery with fermented mushrooms
・Chrysanthemums from Niigata and Aomori

The texture of the plump shrimp and crunchy celery is harmonized with the sourness of the mushrooms and the bitterness of the chrysanthemums.

〇 Ciù Ciù Sangiovese Saggio 2019
Red wine from Marche, Italy

▪️Braised black vinegar pork
・Chunk pork belly
・Taste, shape, re-flavor and leave to rest for 3 days

This is something I definitely wanted to try.
The jet-black sauce, which seems to absorb even light, is based on Chinese tamari soy sauce.

The surface is finished with potato starch, giving it a crunchy texture even though it's stewed, and the inside is very soft as it traps the meat juices.

It pairs extremely well with the red wine of your choice, and if you drink it after the rich, sour sauce, it will blend in perfectly.

▪️Sekihanten's proud mapo tofu
・Beef pork arabiki

A trifecta of umami, spiciness, and numbing flavor made using three types of bean sauce.

The umami and the stimulation of mustard stimulated my appetite, and the rice went by itself, and I finished the large portion of rice I was given.

▪️Sekihanten style lamb raisin ice cream
・Uses Shaoxing wine
・Caramelized nuts and raisins

Creative Chinese food is always interesting, and the unexpected combinations of ingredients and flavors make you think about it, making it fun to eat.

The marriage between the chef's cooking and the wine recommended by the sommelier's wife is also wonderful.

It's worth coming just to enjoy not only the food, but also the customer service and presentations provided by the wife, who creates a bright and fun atmosphere throughout the restaurant.

If you come here, you'll have a great time enjoying delicious food and wine.

I definitely want to repeat it again.