In Hamamatsu, I went for a Chinese lunch at "Chuka Wakabayashi (Rurin)," located in a residential area south of the Hamamatsu Nishi Post Office in Nishi-Iba, in search of the authentic taste of "Chen Mapo Tofu"!
A lunch menu is posted at the entrance, and you can choose from five main dishes. Despite being a set meal style during lunchtime, it's an amazing value at a flat rate of 1,000 yen (tax included)!
The owner, Takashi Terada, trained in Sichuan cuisine for about 20 years and Shanghai cuisine for about 4 years. Four years ago, on July 21, 2018, he opened "Chuka Wakabayashi (Rurin)" in Wakabayashi-cho, Hamamatsu, as a combined residence and restaurant. He built the restaurant as a combined home and shop with the aim of creating a Chinese restaurant loved by the community, and the name "Wakabayashi" comes from the name of the area. Actually, we were surprised to learn that he was a classmate of our friend, but we felt a strange sense of closeness (laughs).
The restaurant has a total of 20 seats: 4 at the counter, 4 tables for 2 people each, and 2 tables for 4 people each, for a total of 16 seats. It's always packed during lunchtime and is so popular that it's difficult to get a seat unless you arrive right when it opens!
Lunch menu: Mapo Tofu (regular size) 1,000 yen (tax included)
All lunch menus come with soup, rice, and a side dish, allowing you to enjoy a hearty main course in a set meal style! You can order rice in small, medium, or large sizes at no extra cost, but please note that the small portion is about the size of a regular serving, and the medium portion is about the size of a large serving. For us, the medium size is just right for my husband and the small size for me.
This is the authentic "Mapo Tofu" that carries on the tradition of Chen Mapo Tofu! The restaurant walls are adorned with photos and autographs of Chen Kenichi, the Iron Chef of Chinese cuisine, and the owner, Mr. Terada, learned authentic Chen Mapo Tofu in China from his master, who has inherited that taste. Using Sichuan pepper and Sichuan pepper oil, they offer Mapo Tofu with the unique numbing sensation of Sichuan pepper that makes it addictive. For lunch, they offer a slightly spicy "regular" version where you can taste the doubanjiang, and for those who want a spicier taste, you can change it to "spicy" for an additional 200 yen. In addition to "regular" and "spicy" on the evening menu, they also offer a salty "white" version that even children can enjoy, and a sweet "sweet" version. The owner, Mr. Terada, has put into practice what he learned from his master, and by offering sweet and spicy versions, he strives to please all customers. It's great that even those who don't like spicy food can enjoy the authentic taste!
”The regular "Mapo Tofu" has a perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavors that will captivate anyone. The "ma" in "Mapo Tofu" seems to come from the word for anesthetic, and this Mapo Tofu is quite addictive, making you crave it from time to time. The chili bean paste and chili oil are all homemade with great care, and the numbing sensation from the Sichuan pepper leaves a lasting deliciousness. This deep flavor is difficult to recreate at home!
Lunch menu item: "Domestic chicken thigh with sweet and sour sauce (limited quantity)" 1,000 yen (tax included)
The limited-quantity "Yurinchi" is also very popular! Made with juicy domestic chicken thigh meat coated in potato starch for a crispy texture, it's served with a sweet and sour sauce with plenty of green onions. The sauce has a mild acidity, making it easy to eat and enjoyable even for young children!
As soon as you sit down at the table, you're served cold water, soup, and a small side dish. The side dish varies from day to day. On this particular day, it was a thick, milky broth soup with beaten egg and seaweed, and a refreshing vermicelli salad with a tangy flavor perfect for summer. You can tell that both dishes are prepared with care and attention!
"Chuka Wakabayashi (Rurin)" is a Chinese restaurant where you can feel the warm personality of the owner, who loves his local area and is beloved by the locals. It's one of my husband and I's favorite Chinese restaurants and we highly recommend it!
Chinese Wakabayashi
Address: 2819-3 Wakabayashi-cho, Minami-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture
TEL: 053-456-0101
Opening hours: 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Closed on: Mondays and the third Sunday of the month.
Parking: Available in front of the store
