When you travel to Japan, isn’t Japanese food one of the highlights? Sushi, ramen, okonomiyaki, takoyaki, tonkatsu, sashimi… there are so many options!
In Japan, there is a genre of restaurants called “Local Chinese restaurant.” In Japanese, they are called “machi-chuka.” These are restaurants that serve Chinese cuisine adapted to suit Japanese tastes. The EYT management team has never been to China, so as of June 2024, we can’t articulate the exact differences between “Chinese cuisine” and “machichuka,” which is a bit unfortunate.
However, one thing I can say is that machichuka is not very spicy at all! Even those who can’t handle spiciness can enjoy it without worry. These restaurants are found all over Japan, so be sure to give them a try! They offer rice dishes, snacks, and alcohol, and the prices are reasonable! Most dishes are around 500 to 700 yen, and some can be as cheap as 200 yen. There are both national chain stores and individually owned establishments.
One of the difficulties of traveling abroad is “not being able to read the text.” Japanese uses kanji, hiragana, and katakana, which might make it hard to understand what’s written. So, here’s a tip for finding these restaurants! Look for places with an “authentic Chinese appearance.” It’s a bit abstract, but once you’re in Japan, you’ll likely get a sense of it.
Just as you can recognize a “Japanese look” in design, Japanese people can intuitively recognize a “Southeast Asian look” when visiting a café in Southeast Asia. Similarly, when you’re looking for machichuka, if you see a place with a “Chinese look” in its design, it’s probably a machichuka restaurant!
Now, let me explain what kind of food you can enjoy at machichuka.
Ramen: There are many varieties of light soy sauce ramen. It might be a bit different from the “ramen” that foreigners typically imagine. To be more specific, it falls under the category of “shina soba.”
Fried Rice: Japanese fried rice is probably quite different from the fried rice in other countries. In Japanese, called “cha-han.”It has a rich flavor. It typically includes salt, pepper, chicken broth, soy sauce, green onions, eggs, and char siu (Chinese BBQ pork). You might think it’s just rice stir-fried, but give it a try. You’ll surely be surprised!
Mapo Tofu: Some restaurants might serve it spicy, so if you can’t handle spiciness, it might be helpful to remember the Japanese phrase “karasa hikaeme de onegaishimasu” (please make it less spicy). Generally, most machichuka serve it sweet to mildly spicy. Mapo tofu is made by stir-frying tofu and ground meat with seasonings like doubanjiang (spicy bean paste) and Sichuan pepper. It’s delicious when eaten with rice.
Gyoza: These are dumplings filled with minced meat, vegetables, garlic, and other ingredients, wrapped in a thin dough and then pan-fried. They go perfectly with beer and are a favorite dish among Japanese people. Gyoza is introduced in this article.
Tenshinhan: It consists of thinly cooked eggs on top of rice, topped with a sauce.Tenshinhan might not be available on every menu at restaurants. If you find it on the menu, definitely give it a try! The flavor of the sauce can vary significantly between establishments. Some sauces may be slightly sour, others more light, and some may have a sweet taste!
shrimp chili: It’s stir-fried shrimp in a sweet and spicy sauce made with chili peppers and ketchup. In Japanese, called “ebi chill.”The firm texture of the shrimp and the tangy sauce complement each other perfectly, making it a great match with rice.
Besides the dishes I’ve introduced, there are many other items on the menu! Machichuka restaurants are easy to enter even if you’re dining alone, so solo travelers can enjoy them too!
Of course, going with a group is also no problem at all! You can order a variety of dishes, so it’s fun to go with friends or family!
Machichuka, beloved by Japanese people, why not experience it for yourself?