Chinese food and craft beer–it’s not a combination you often encounter. But if it exists anywhere, we thought, we might find it in the Noge area–and find it we did. Cocoro no Tuki offers true-to-style Chinese dishes alongside a fine beer selection. The narrow, single-room bar is separated from the cooking area by a clear partition, allowing you to watch your food prepared. This is almost as enjoyable as eating it.
Proprietor Atsushi Tanaka spent nearly three decades as a chef at Chinese Restaurant PEKING in Tokyo’s Shiba Park Hotel so you can expect top-notch cuisine. For traditional fare, go with Umakara Mabodofu (spicy stir-fried tofu, ¥600), Special Shumai (4 for ¥700), or Shikakui Kurosubuta (cubed sweet & sour pork, 1p ¥600 / 2p ¥1100). I also recommend the Kikurage to Tamago no Itame (mushroom & egg sauté, ¥750) and trying any of the delightful surprises that appear on the daily special menu.
As Tanaka goes about his work over the stove, your mouth will be watering from the aromatics. Give your taste buds a pleasant distraction and order a beer. Cocoro no Tuki pours from six taps of craft beer (280ml ¥900~ / 360ml ¥1100~ / 473ml ¥1400~) and an occasional cider with a mainly domestic focus, though there is commonly one import.
Like many bars in Noge, the 2nd floor establishment has enough space to snuggly fit a maximum of ten. Single customers or small groups are the norm. Tanaka busily runs the place on his own, but will chat with guests if he has downtime. Note that there is no smoking inside.