Chef's

Oven-roasted chicken thighs with crisp, golden skin, dressed in a signature sauce and finely julienned scallions, crown the Hainan rice bowl at Chef's. The natural juices of the chicken and the refined seasoning mingle over steamed rice, making it a longstanding lunch staple. Located in Shinjuku 1-chome, the restaurant is known for sophisticated Shanghai home-style cooking that draws out the inherent qualities of ingredients rather than relying on heavy oil or aggressive seasoning.

Satisfying Rice Bowls and Noodles for Lunch

At lunch, options alongside the Hainan bowl include the Paiko bowl—crisp-fried pork loin finished with a dark vinegar sauce—and egg fried rice topped with soy-seasoned stir-fried pork. Other midday dishes range from mildly spicy yakisoba tossed with vegetables and ground pork to a gentle Mabo Dou bowl seasoned with fermented black beans and sweet bean sauce. Adding a dim sum side like crisp shrimp spring rolls or a large shaomai turns lunch into a well-rounded meal without leaving a heavy finish.

Evenings Centered on Seasonal Crab and Seafood

Dinner brings a calm table-service setting and a broader repertoire. The meal might open with roasted red bell peppers marinated in honey and lemon, proceed through gently steamed prawns with aromatics or classic black vinegar pork, and peak in season with dishes featuring sweet Shanghai crab meat and rich crab roe folded into silken tofu or fried rice. Sharing dishes alongside Shaoxing wine, still wines, or sparkling wine makes for an unhurried, generous meal.

To finish, consider a soothing scallion noodle soup, followed by a crisp basil sorbet or delicate almond jelly. Dinner is best planned with an advance reservation to comfortably appreciate the subtleties of the kitchen's craft.