01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Directly connected to Aoyama-itchome Station on the 1th basement floor of the Aoyama Building, Hibiyaen is an easy stop for Chinese cuisine without stepping out into the weather. At lunchtime, the dining room fills quickly with local office workers, with solo guests smoothly seated around large circular tables.
A prime draw on the menu is the dandan noodles. The soup balances sesame paste richness with moderate chile heat, coating firm, slender noodles in a broth diners often finish to the bottom of the bowl. Options include toppings such as crunchy pickled mustard stems (zha cai) or sliced char siu, alongside variations like brothless dandan noodles and versions with takana greens.
Sharing equal billing among regulars is the Sichuan mapo tofu. Soft curds of tofu come draped in minced pork and fragrant garlic, spiced with chile heat and the distinct numbing punch of Sichuan peppercorns. Portion sizes are generous, pairing naturally with bowls of plain rice.
The broader menu features a wide spread of dim sum and stir-fried dishes, from chewy pan-fried dumplings and soupy xiaolongbao to sweet-and-sour pork with black vinegar. For dessert, diners can round out their meals with smooth mango pudding or almond jelly.
In the evening, the restaurant shifts comfortably toward small plates paired with beer or wine, alongside multi-course banquets centered around lazy Susans. For a hearty Chinese meal around Aoyama-itchome, it serves as a dependable neighborhood fixture day and night.
