During a recent social meet-up in Urawa, my associate and I decided on the popular Chinese dumpling eatery Jun Din Rou. The chain started in Japan in 2005, inspired by the small basket "bao" (steamed bun) restaurant "Jingding Lou" in Taiwan. From there it has now grown to nearly 40 restaurants, with some even now outside Japan.
The Urawa branch is located on the third floor of one of the many Atré station buildings that Japan Railways has developed in recent years to maximise commercial activity with its "captive audience" of train users.
We didn't get the best seats in the house, with a view the Urawa Station taxi pool and Isetan and Corso buildings, but ours was at least comfortable and commodious.
We didn't get the best seats in the house, with a view the Urawa Station taxi pool and Isetan and Corso buildings, but ours was at least comfortable and commodious.
The basic concept of Jun Din Rou seems to be to create a relaxing Chinese restaurant vibe that is welcoming to all kinds of diners, especially lone women, who can often feel intimidated by the "brasher" style of more conventional Chinese restaurants where everybody shouts all the time.
Choosing from the lunch menu, I selected the tantanmen set. This included a tasty appetizer, two pieces of tofu with shrimp topped with shiodare (salt tare sauce) and negi.
This was followed by four shorompo dumplings in a bamboo steamer. Shorompo is a type of soup dumpling, with a delicate, thin pastry wrapper enclosing a filling of meat (usually pork) and a savoury broth. When you bite into it, the juice is released, so watch out! We were recommended to have it with kurozu (black vinegar) with freshly shredded ginger, which hit the spot!
This was followed by four shorompo dumplings in a bamboo steamer. Shorompo is a type of soup dumpling, with a delicate, thin pastry wrapper enclosing a filling of meat (usually pork) and a savoury broth. When you bite into it, the juice is released, so watch out! We were recommended to have it with kurozu (black vinegar) with freshly shredded ginger, which hit the spot!
The main course, tantanmen, is basically noodles in a very rich white sesame soup -- quite spicy!!! My companion had the same as me, except for the main course, opting for gomoku chahan (five ingredient fried rice).
As mentioned, the business model is to tap into the large crowd of female diners, so some of the portions may be on the smaller side for hearty diners, but I had no problems with my portions. Although, if needed, it is also relatively easy to upsize or downsize your meal using the ordering tablet at each table. Oolong tea was also served with pot at each table (hot in Winter, cold in Summer, as Japan only has two seasons now according to popular belief).
The total cost for a satisfying lunch for two was a very reasonable 3,600 yen (around $25 or £19).
Address: Urawa Station Atré Building 3F
Contact: 048-711-9837, Website
Open: 11:00~22:00
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