Karen

Meatball set meals coated in sweet-and-sour sauce, alongside homemade gyoza browned until fragrant. 花蓮 in Nishi-Waseda is a Chinese-style restaurant to drop into when you want a satisfying meal without any fuss. The popular meatballs are nicely browned on the outside and soft to the bite, with a tangy, full-flavoured sauce that goes well with steamed white rice.

Set meals include stir-fried chives and liver, marked “Ace” on the menu, as well as grilled meat with a rich garlic-soy sauce and spicy mapo tofu. Each comes with white rice, soup and pickles, making for a satisfying choice at lunch or dinner. For noodles, there is hot-and-sour soup noodles with a lively balance of acidity and heat, the signature special 花蓮 noodles, and Cantonese-style noodles with vegetables. They can also be enjoyed with fragrant fried rice.

There is also plenty to choose from among the smaller dishes: homemade spring rolls with crisp, generously filled wrappers, large pork shumai, and chilled plates of century egg or gizzard. Order a few dim sum dishes with beer or Shaoxing wine, or settle in with a set meal on your own; there is room to enjoy the meal at your own pace.