Waseda WeeklyWaseda Weekly

The hearty bowls provide outstanding stamina making them is attractive.
"Chinese restaurant Daishin"

[Interview, text and photography]
Waseda Weekly Reporter (SJC Student Staff)
Rinka Nishimura School of Human Sciences

Sayamagaoka Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line is the closest station to Tokorozawa Campus along with Kotesashi Station. There is a restaurant about a 5-minute walk from this station that has a reputation as a "delicious and filling place to eat! Its name is "Daishin. It is a Chinese restaurant rooted in the community, where you can enjoy ramen and rice bowls for around 1,000 yen.

Not only locals, but also members of the athletic clubs at Tokorozawa Campus, such as the track and field club, swimming club, and ski club, frequent the shop, and it is not uncommon to see long lines on certain days. Recently, the number of customers from overseas has also been increasing.

The exterior of the shop. The black walls and large "Daishin" sign are the landmarks.

The name of the shop comes from one character each from the names of the owners, Shingo Komoda, and Daigo Ishihara, who have been running the shop together since the shop was founded.

The interior of the restaurant is decorated with autographs given every year by members of the track and field club who participated in the Hakone Ekiden, showing how much support the restaurant gives to many students. With a commitment to "not wanting to disappoint with the quantity," every menu item is impressively large and delicious! This is a restaurant where you can not only be full, but also thoroughly satisfied. From the menu of over 110 items, we tried the "Stamina Kimchi Fried Rice" and the "Pork Tororo Rice Bowl," which are especially popular among students.

Left photo: Inside the restaurant. There are 6 counter seats and 12 table seats, creating a relaxed  atmosphere.
Right photo: Autographs of the track and field club members are displayed in the raised tatami area at the back of the store. They are signed by the coach and the runners who participated.

First up is the "Stamina Kimchi Fried Rice," commonly known as "Stamina Meal." This dish, piled high on a large plate, was a "request menu item" created in response to a customer's request for "pork kimchi on top of fried rice." The moment it was placed on the table, the visual impact was so striking that we couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow!"

A generous portion of fragrant fried rice topped with egg, spring onion, fish cake, and other ingredients is topped with a generous amount of spicy pork kimchi and a soft-boiled egg. The fried rice is seasoned with a strong soy sauce base. The accompanying soup is made with chicken bones and a touch of pork bone. The rich flavor is enhanced by the soy sauce, which contains scallop broth. The rich flavor of the fried rice and soup, combined with the crunchiness of the kimchi, satisfies your cravings and keeps you coming back for more. Adding the soft-boiled egg midway through the meal gives it a mellow flavor, making it a dish you won't tire of until the very end.

"Stamina Kimchi Fried Rice" 1,150 yen. Comes with soup.

Next up was the "Pork Tororo Rice Bowl." This is also a popular dish among students, and its appearance is sure to fill your stomach even before you start eating. The bowl is filled with white rice, topped with a generous amount of grated Chinese yam (tororo) On top of that is sweet and spicy pork, chopped green onions, and an egg yolk. When you break the egg yolk and eat it, the richness increases, adding depth to the flavor, which is one of its charms. The soft texture of the tororo is an exquisite match for the strong flavor of the pork, and although it is a rice bowl, it can be eaten in no time. It is the perfect way to end a day of hard work.

"Pork Tororo Rice Bowl" 1,050 yen. This also comes with soup.

Daishin is a popular spot for members of various sports clubs to refuel after practice. They serve hearty meals, so if you can't finish it all, you can pack it up and take it home. They're also considerate enough to provide food delivery to the dormitories of the sports clubs, even on rainy days.

If you're visiting Tokorozawa Campus, be sure to stop by to try some food that will satisfy both your heart and your stomach. You're sure to find something on the menu that you love!

Store Information
[Store name】 Chinese Daishin
[Address】Sayamagaoka 1-2990-27, Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture
[TEL】04-2947-5004
[Opening hours】11:30-15:00, 17:00-21:00
[Closed days】Tuesday

*All prices in the article include tax.

A word from the owner, Mr. Komoda, to Waseda students.

"Thank you to all the Waseda students who visit our restaurant! Thank you for always eating neatly!"