Hatsumi

Ginger pork rice is one of the first dishes to catch the eye on Hatsumi’s meal menu. Made with pork loin and finished with house-made sauce, it comes with miso soup and pickles, and an extra-large serving of rice costs nothing extra. One diner said the generous slices of thinly cut pork had a sweet-and-savoury, ginger-forward flavour that went well with the rice and made for a satisfying meal. Another lunchtime visitor enjoyed a garlic pork ginger-yaki set meal with salad, miso soup and pickles, describing the portion as just right and easy to finish. The pork set meals offer a choice between ginger-yaki and garlic-yaki, depending on what you fancy.

The daily lunch box is another lunchtime draw. One diner recalled eating it in the restaurant, served in a bento style rather than as a takeaway box, and appreciated being able to try a variety of side dishes. Another visitor also noted the number of items on the menu, offering a different experience from a set meal centred on a single main dish. Daily options range from menchi and shrimp with mayonnaise to grilled fish. One lunchtime visitor reported that the day’s lunch box had sold out by the time they arrived later in the day.

For a café-style meal, Napolitan is another option. One lunchtime diner described the freshly boiled, old-fashioned-style pasta as pleasantly chewy, with plenty of vegetables, and noted that it came with a salad. The menu also features pilaf, old-fashioned curry rice and omurice. For something lighter, there is grilled egg toast or a mixed sandwich filled with ham, lettuce, tomato and cucumber. Udon options range from moon-viewing and kitsune udon to Hatsumi udon, with fried tofu, shrimp, egg, wild vegetables and pork.

Hatsumi, in Nishi-Shinkoiwa, Katsushika-ku, is used as a café during the day and an izakaya in the evening. Beer and other alcoholic drinks are available for those considering a drink later in the day. The listing states that payment is cash only.