Hōkaen

At Hōkaen, the meatballs are an obvious place to start: even the small portion comes with 8. Visitors describe them as generously sized and hearty, coated in a sweet-and-sour sauce. They can be enjoyed with rice, alongside fried rice, or with a drink, making them easy to fit into different kinds of meals.

Another dish that gives the restaurant its character is curry meshi. Diners describe it as closer to curry rice porridge, making use of a soup base, than to conventional curry rice. Some comments mention the savoury flavour of onion and minced pork; others say they enjoyed mixing in an egg yolk for a milder, creamier taste. It offers a different option from curry that puts heat front and centre. Some diners order it with the meatballs, a combination that makes for a different kind of satisfaction from eating either dish on its own.

For a more substantial meal, there is the classic pairing of ramen and half-size fried rice. One visitor writes of a ramen in soy sauce broth with soft, medium-thin noodles, alongside fried rice made simply with char siu, spring onion and egg. If a stir-fry sounds more appealing, set meals include meat and vegetables or liver with garlic chives; the rice comes with miso soup and pickles, and is available in different sizes. With noodles, rice dishes and set meals to choose from, Hōkaen suits anything from eating alone to sharing dishes such as the meatballs.

One visitor’s account mentions that the food took some time to prepare. It may be worth allowing extra time during busy periods and deciding what to pair with the meatballs or curry meshi.