Enkaen

Perched on the 2th floor of a building along the main street in Kagurazaka, Enkaen offers an expansive selection of Chinese fare ranging from textured à la carte dishes to robustly spiced noodle and rice specialties. A signature dish worth exploring early on is the deep-fried eggplant, rooted in rural Fujian cooking. Fresh out of the fryer, it offers a remarkably light, crisp bite that yields to tender eggplant within, earning praise among diners for its straightforward yet addictive flavor. When a craving calls for bolder heat, the kitchen delivers with sizzling clay-pot mapo tofu—where the numbing punch of Sichuan peppercorns meets the rich depth of fermented chili bean paste—and spiced dandan noodles perfumed with aromatic herbs.

Varied Lunch Sets and a Generous Half-and-Half Combo

Midday visits are particularly accommodating thanks to set meals accompanied by free refills of rice. Beyond standard options like mapo tofu or chili shrimp, the restaurant caters to indecisive appetites with a generous half-and-half set. Diners can select either mapo tofu or sweet-and-sour pork as their centerpiece, rounded out with chili shrimp, spring rolls, salad, and soup arranged together on one satisfying plate. For a smooth finish, the delicate, melt-in-the-mouth almond jelly makes a refreshing dessert choice.

Sharing Starters and Small Plates into the Evening

At dinner, the menu lends itself naturally to sharing small plates alongside beer, wine, or Chinese spirits. Savory bites that pair easily with drinks include spicy saliva chicken, crisp pea shoots flashed in a wok with salt, and deep-fried chicken drizzled with sweet-and-sour yulin sauce. Seating options include dining tables and an outdoor terrace, with table-only reservations available for dinner gatherings, making it a flexible stop for groups of varying sizes and occasions.