A note on the words: baijiu is a clear Chinese grain spirit, usually bottled at strengths well above whisky, with a heavy, funky perfume that people either love or brace themselves against; mixed with soda it becomes a baijiu highball, a highball being simply spirit and soda over ice. Wonton are thin-skinned dumplings served in broth, and baozi are the fatter steamed buns filled with meat. Kakuni is pork belly simmered slowly in soy and sugar until the fat turns to jelly. Gizzards are the muscular part of a bird’s stomach, chewy and lean, and hearts are exactly that, both standard Japanese drinking food. Daytime drinking is a recognized genre here rather than a confession.
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Roushu Ho on Tabelog (English) — opening hours, payment details and the Japanese address are kept up to date there, not here.
Hey, this is Hangover Meshi. This time I went to Okachimachi! There is a Chinese restaurant there — is restaurant even the word? — with an extraordinary atmosphere: Roushu Ho. I turned up meaning to do a bit of daytime drinking, and found the place already in full swing.
Somehow this does not look like Japan anymore, ha. That is a sign straight from over there. Of the menu written out in Chinese characters, about the only things I can read are wonton and baozi, ha. Even so, there were plenty of people inside and the room was loud and lively. It looks seriously like the real thing, so in we go! And in we went.
There are just barely little Japanese glosses attached, so understanding it is somehow possible, ha.
We settled on the a la carte approach and ordered whatever we felt like as we went.
The way it works is that you pour the spirit and the soda into the glass yourself and mix it to taste. Being able to set the strength properly is a nice touch. Then again, this is something like 56 percent, so it is seriously strong liquor. One sip and the flavor has real character to it, ha. It probably comes into its own alongside oily, strongly seasoned food.
Wait — the board said 400 yen, but really? Ha. Or is that 400 yen per person, I wonder. A pretty generous plate. Tender and delicious!
I have a feeling this was gizzards and hearts, stir-fried. Cheap as well. Seasoned the way it would be over there, and good.
Around this point the baijiu gradually starts tasting better and better.
180 yen! Cheap. Tender braised pork belly with the flavor cooked right through it. Down to the springiness of the fat, this is kakuni made properly. And it is good that you can order a single piece!
How to put it — the place really does feel like being over there, and every dish on the menu is seasoned in earnest. Above all, thanks to the baijiu, you get thoroughly, thoroughly drunk, ha. One baijiu highball is enough to have a good time, and even that comes out fairly strong, so do take care, ha. It was a thoroughly enjoyable drink, but here and there my memory of it has gone faint. Please drink carefully.
Roushu Ho (Chinese / Okachimachi Station, Naka-okachimachi Station, Ueno-hirokoji Station)
Tabelog lunch rating ★★★☆☆ 3.4
I ate here and paid for it myself. Nothing on this site is a comped meal.
