01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Walking through the neighborhood of Higashi-Jujo around lunchtime brings you to Jiyuken, a Chinese restaurant with a tidy facade and an impeccably clean, welcoming interior. Alongside regular tables, a semicircular counter makes it easy to sit down for a meal comfortably on your own.
Delicate Chicken Ramen Paired with Fragrant Fried Rice
For a truly satisfying lunch, the roast pork fried rice and chicken ramen set immediately stands out. The chicken ramen can be ordered with either a salt or soy sauce broth, featuring thin noodles submerged in a gentle, clear soup that feels soothing with every sip. Its partner on the tray, the fried rice, is stir-fried into light, separate grains seasoned with savory diced chashu pork, making it an effortless accompaniment to the ramen broth.
From Savory Starchy Rice Bowls to Small Plates
If you prefer a rice bowl as your center, the gomoku umani-don—featuring mixed ingredients coated in a savory, glossy sauce—and the seafood variation with squid and shrimp are both enticing options. The kitchen also turns out a selection of small dishes, including steamed chicken with scallion sauce, blanched cuttlefish, and crisp pan-fried gyoza, which pair naturally with a bottle of beer or Shaoxing wine.
Payment is cash only, so make sure to carry yen in coins or banknotes before you arrive. Jiyuken remains the kind of neighborhood Chinese eatery you seek out when you want a quiet, dependable plate for everyday lunch.
