Kakyobeisen at Akihabara, Tokyo

Rare Yunnan Chinese restaurant in Sotokanda serving crossing-the-bridge rice noodles and medicinal hot pot.

Kakyobeisen is a rare specialist in Yunnan Chinese cuisine, located in the Moa Building in Sotokanda, a minute from Suehirocho station. The restaurant has brought chefs from China to recreate authentic dishes from the province, including the namesake guoqiao mixian - crossing-the-bridge rice noodles - and qi guo medicinal hot pot. It is one of very few Yunnan restaurants in Tokyo. The menu also features Chinese porridge and a wide range of medicinal dishes designed for nourishment as much as flavour. All-you-can-eat and drink courses run for two hours at 4,980 yen, with a soft-shelled turtle hot pot among the more unusual options. Private hire and banquet arrangements are available for groups. For diners curious about a regional Chinese cuisine rarely found outside Yunnan itself, Kakyobeisen offers an authentic introduction in the heart of Akihabara. The gentle, aromatic broths make it a soothing alternative to heavier izakaya fare.