At the newly opened Xinchao near Sangenjaya Station you get way more than just a sprinkling of cilantro atop your meal. They've pretty much devoted their entire menu to the herb. We went along to check it out and see if it lives up to all the cilantro hype.
Featuring dishes such as a Lotus Stem Salad (¥880) and Asari Pho (¥850), Xinchao’s menu clearly favours Southeast Asian cuisine and healthy foods made with fresh ingredients (with at least one of those being cilantro, natch). We ordered the aptly named Divine Shrimp Cilantro Pesto Pasta (¥1,000), which arrived with so much cilantro on top that we actually had to push it to the side just to see the pasta underneath. The Tofu with Cilantro and Egg (¥530) and Spicy Lamb Stir Fry (¥980) were also stacked with cilantro. (Though the lamb is already quite spicy, those who like to punish their palate can add Xinchao’s homemade hot sauce to pack an extra punch.) The drinks menu doesn't disappoint either, featuring concoctions like Cilantro Sour, Cilantro Mojito and a rich Cilantro Smoothie. The most popular item on the menu, we're told, is the Cilantro Rocket (¥500), which is a large handful of fresh cilantro served in a small vase. Go figure.
Xinchao is open seven days a week from 5pm, and stays open until 2am on weekdays, and 4am on Fridays, Saturdays, and days before national holidays. As with all food trend spots in Tokyo, it gets pretty booked up but if you head over a little later on in the evening, you can usually find a spot. Map and contact details here.
