This popular steamed bun eatery originally from Sichuan has 300 stores in China, but this Harajuku shop is its very first international outlet. This bright blue store nestled in the backstreets has a neon-hued interior, with two windows where you can order and pick up your food.
Don’t expect konbini-style giant nikuman here. This shop sells bite-size buns which come in four different flavours: hinabe (hot pot), spicy mala, shiro negi niku (white onion and meat) and mushroom meat. The hinabe is the most popular, made with pork, dried shiitake mushrooms and corn, plus a little bit of sansho pepper to give it a kick. The recipes haven’t been tweaked to suit local tastes, so you know you’re getting the same flavour it tastes exactly the same as the ones served at its original location.
For ¥580, you get a set of four buns – they can be all the same flavour, or one of each. The buns come with a side of special sauce made with tobanjan paste, garlic, ginger, black vinegar and sugar. Pair it with a Taiwanese beer, or a bottle of flavoured iced tea.