Shanghai Piiman

Set back in a side street off the main Kagurazaka stretch, Shanghai Piiman is a classic machi chuka—an everyday neighborhood Chinese eatery—where you can fill up without pretense. The understated interior features simple tables, offering a relaxed setting to enjoy time-honored dishes prepared with swift efficiency.

At the heart of the menu is the ramen, served in a classic style with thin noodles submerged in a light, soothing soy-sauce broth. The smooth noodles catch the broth well, yielding a rustic, comforting flavor that grows on you with every bite. Pairing this ramen with 5 thin-skinned, garlic-rich pan-fried gyoza and rice as part of the Shanghai Set, or ordering it with fragrant fried rice, makes for a reliable, hearty choice on hungrier days.

A cold beer alongside richly seasoned Shanghai yakisoba or bite-sized, easy-to-nibble gyoza captures the casual charm of a neighborhood diner. Generous set meals and combinations are on offer for lunch as well as evening dinners, making it an easy place to drop in solo. Note that payment is cash only, so having cash on hand before visiting is advised.