"Numbness dishes" have been drawing attention since around 2018 in Japan. Many people are addicted to the spiciness of feeling numb. Such dishes have been gaining popularity through SNS and media. Numbness dishes make you feel numbness and spiciness with Chinese pepper (Hua Jiao), used in Chinese Sichuan cuisine.

In China, the taste is generally divided into five categories: "sour," "sweet," "bitter," "pungent," and "salty." But in Sichuan, China, "numbness" is added to the taste. It is common to express dishes with six flavors, with the addition of "ma"(numbness). For example, "Mala," which is often seen in Sichuan cuisine, refers to the taste of "numbness" and "spicy." Chinese pepper creates the taste of "numbness." Recently, many prosperous stores sell numb dishes. SHIBIRE NOODLE Rosokuya-Ginza Store is one of them.

The storekeeper has been focused on Chinese food and finally opened this restaurant in 2017 at Ginza, Tokyo. He has expanded his business in Osaka and Hokkaido as well. "Rosoku" means "candle" in English. Before opening the store, the location was called "Gas Light Street." The owner loves good old things, and he remembered the days when candles were standard before the gas lamps became widespread. He wished to recreate the old days' atmosphere and named his restaurant like that.

The menu includes four types of noodles, "Mapo tofu noodle(Stir-fried beancurd in hot sauce)," "Dandan noodles"(Szechuan dish of noodles covered with a sauce of sesame paste and chili oil), "Hot and sour soup noodles," and "Juiceless Dandan noodles," as well as "Mapo rice" and "Rice with stewed diced pork rice." The restaurant uses several kinds of peppers ordered from Sichuan and Wakayama prefecture because the taste and aroma change depending on the type of peppers. The noodles are either medium-thick or thin noodles ordered from the Mikawaya Noodle factory.

The signature dish is "Mapo noodles." The mapo tofu is made of stir-fried special soy sauce with minced pork, green onions, leaf garlic, silken tofu, and finished with homemade chili oil and high-quality Hanyuan Sichuan Pepper. Various ingredients ride enough to cover the noodle.

"Grape Pepper Oil" prepared on the table goes well with "Dandan Noodles." The lush and refreshing feeling is irresistibly attractive, and you can enjoy a different flavor from the standard taste.

Why don't you try this unique taste at Rosokuya together?