Chugoku Shuka Rantei

The signature dish at Chugoku Shuka Rantei in Sakae, Niiza, is a simple bowl of tantan noodles passed down from the previous generation. Topped only with minced meat and spring onion, it has no pronounced numbing heat. Rather than relying on a rich sesame paste, the dish pairs a light, easy-to-drink broth with medium-thick noodles that retain a pleasant firmness. The restaurant recommends finishing the broth with a small bowl of rice.

Distinctive noodle soups and sides to match

There is a varied selection of noodle dishes, including soupless tantan noodles tossed in house-made sauce, mapo tofu noodles with plenty of broth and spicy, numbing tofu, and pork noodles topped with stir-fried zha cai. In the latter, the saltiness of the pickled mustard greens and pork blends into the soup. Noodle dishes and set meals can be paired with a set of 2 boiled dumplings; you can choose whether or not to have coriander.

Belgian beers in specialist glasses, with small plates for the evening

For a Chinese restaurant, the drinks list is notably broad: Belgian beers range from Trappist ales to lambics, with a dedicated glass for each label. In the evening, settle in with Shaoxing wine or a Dragon Highball and share dishes such as yunbai rou (sliced pork with garlic sauce), bang bang chicken and century egg tofu. Payment is cash only, so it is useful to have cash on hand.