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Dad's home-style cooking, made with care and attention to detail.
"Teishoku Waseda-ya"

[Interview, writing, and photography]
Waseda Weekly Reporter
Nagisa Nishimura, 4th year student School of Culture, Media and Society

It's about a 5-minute walk from the west gate of Waseda Campus towards Takadanobaba. As you make your way down to the basement, overwhelmed by the rows of menus and signs, you'll find "Teishoku WASEDA-ya." This is a set meal restaurant run by a husband and wife, which has been satisfying the appetites of Waseda students and office workers since 1999.

Seeing the shop name, a combination of the capital English word "WASEDA" and the hiragana character "ya," some people might wonder, "What kind of shop is this?" In fact, that's exactly what the owner, Shimomura, intended! Located in the basement of Waseda Street, which is home to many restaurants, he deliberately chose an impactful name to make people stop and think, "Hmm?"

Photo on the left: Waseda Bear greets you at the entrance.
Photo on the right: There are 13 seats. The shop has a nostalgic and calming atmosphere.

In front of the door is a large Waseda Bear plush toy. Apparently, this Waseda Bear was left behind by a student who was studying at Waseda University from the United States. He visited the shop almost every day, and was so happy that the couple who run it treated him like family that they gave him the bear as a gift. As this story illustrates, there is a warmth in the shop that naturally puts your heart at ease. Even I, visiting the shop for the first time, felt like saying "I'm home" rather than "Excuse me for intruding."

The owner recommends the most popular dish, the "Ginger Pork and Fried Chicken Set Meal." The combination sounds delicious just from the name, but when it's actually brought to your table, you can't help but smile at the generous portion size.

"Ginger Pork and Fried Chicken Set Meal" 1,150 yen

Ginger pork is a dish made with pork, chives, and onions. The firm texture of the pork, the crispness of the chives, and the sweetness of the onions that develop as they cook all go together perfectly. The flavors of ginger and chives add a nice accent, and the gentle sweetness of the onions brings everything together mellowly, making it a dish that will have you wanting another bite!

What surprised me the most was the restaurant's signature fried chicken. Apparently, they fry one whole chicken cut into three large pieces, so it was a bit bigger than I had imagined! The crispy, golden-brown coating made a satisfying crunching sound, and with every bite, the juicy flavor of the meat spread throughout my mouth. Despite its generous portion size, it had a light aftertaste that didn't feel greasy at all. Before I knew it, I had polished off both pieces of fried chicken in the set. The set meal also came with rice, miso soup, and pickled radish. This is what a set meal should be! A truly satisfying dish.

Next up was the "WASEDA Don." Like the restaurant's name, it has a striking name, and the contents are no less impressive! It's a truly indulgent bowl, allowing you to enjoy both ginger-fried pork loin and fried chicken together.

"WASEDA Don" 890 yen. The sweet and spicy sauce is addictive.

The key to its deliciousness is the homemade sauce made with apples, alcohol, onions, garlic, and ginger. When you taste it, you first feel the sweetness, but then the flavor of ginger comes in, creating a deep, sweet and spicy taste. This sauce coats the ginger pork perfectly and soaks into the white rice as well... and then you add the fragrant fried chicken and the refreshing shredded cabbage. The cabbage absorbs the rich flavor of the sauce, so it's not heavy and you can't stop eating. With the perfect combination of ginger pork, fried chicken, and white rice, this is truly a dream bowl for students.

The owner says extremely particular about the taste, aiming for customers to feel like they're eating their mother's cooking the moment they take a bite. He says that since there are many set meal restaurants in Waseda, customers won't become repeat customers unless they feel that the taste is different. As this dedication is evident, the rich seasoning is layered with the delicious flavors of various ingredients, allowing you to experience a different taste with every bite.

Photo on the left: Signs lined up along the staircase. The playful designs are apparently handmade by the shop owner.
Photo on the right: There are so many affordable side dishes to choose from that you'll want to add to your set meal!

"Teishoku WASEDA-ya" is a restaurant where many former Waseda University students return after graduation, saying they "feel nostalgic." Because of its close relationship with customers, the restaurant offers seasonal limited-time menus created based on customer requests, such as summer curry rice which starts around May and winter pork  soup which appears around October. The pork soup in particular is said to be so addictive that people who try it once become hooked. Apparently, customers start asking "Is it available yet?" and "When will it be available?" from around the end of August.

This was my first visit to "Teishoku Waseda-ya," and I was completely captivated by the warm atmosphere of the restaurant and the personalities of the couple who run it. By the time I finished my interview, I had decided in my heart, "Next time, I'll come back to eat the pork soup and say 'I'm back!'"

"Teishoku WASEDA-ya" has been satisfying the appetites of Waseda University students for many years. Students frequent the restaurant during their school days, graduate, and then return again. Perhaps these human connections are also part of the restaurant's charm. We encourage you all to visit "Teishoku WASEDA-ya" at least once. On your way home with a full stomach, you'll surely be thinking, "I'll come back again."

店舗情報
【店名】定食 WASEDAや
【住所】東京都新宿区西早稲田3-19-1 B1F
【TEL】03-5155-3265
【営業時間】月曜日～土曜日：11:30～15:00（ラストオーダー 14:50）、
17:00～22:00（ラストオーダー 21:50）
【定休日】日曜日・祝日

* Payment can be made by cash, card, or PayPay (only for payments of 500 yen or more).
* All prices mentioned in this article are inclusive of tax.

A message from Mr. and Mrs. Shimomura, who run the shop, to Waseda University students.

"Please come and try the fried chicken at 'Teishoku WASEDA-ya' at least once before you die!"