01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Set on the 1 floor of Motomachi Wellness Park, a complex that makes use of the former Motomachi Elementary School building, by you Bunkyo Shokudo brings together the nostalgic character of the old schoolhouse and dishes with a contemporary touch. The dining room has the warmth of natural wood, with generously spaced tables and counter seats. There is also a terrace for fine-weather dining.
Mix and match lunch plates and set meals
The lunchtime highlight is the Choose-your-own Plate Lunch, which lets you build your own plate by picking 2 side dishes from that day's selection. Set meals and plates come with accompaniments such as sixteen-grain rice, salad, a small side dish and soup, making for a satisfying, balanced lunch. The chicken tatsuta-age is fried until crisp and aromatic, and comes with a choice of black vinegar or tartar sauce. Other substantial options include a richly flavoured simmered hamburger steak and a fragrant, classic gapao made in earnest.
Spiced and herb-scented tapas and craft drinks
In the evening, the menu turns to individually served dishes with a modern take on Asian flavours. The warm plates include boiled dumplings with house-made chilli oil sauce and pan-fried gyoza with black vinegar sauce and aromatic vegetables, as well as fried spring rolls with minced lamb and herbs, and breaded shrimp paste with plum sauce. Their lively textures and spiced flavours make them appealing choices to share. Salt-koji pork wraps, served with vegetables and condiments, and soft-shell crab and egg stir-fried with curry, its rich egg coating the spices, are also well suited to a shared table.
Drinks range from the house-brewed Katsuragi Yuzu beer, made with yuzu from Nishidaimon Farm, to cava and shochu. Craft cola and house-made ginger ale offer distinctive options for those not drinking alcohol. Whether stopping in for a solo lunch or an easy evening toast, diners can settle into their own kind of meal in this quiet part of Hongo.
