Korinbo

Surprisingly easy to find in Nakano Broadway - we happened across it rather than having to search for it. We tried some sides rather than a set meal and they were so tasty and very reasonably priced. Wish we'd ordered more!

So by now I have already had dinner here twice. I guess for me if I go to Nakano Broadway it's a must go restaurant.
The place is very small with just a bar sitting space area, but really cozy. The owner, who's the one preparing the food, is so lovely and helpful, and will kindly show you the options in the menu that do not contain egg, therefore vegan, which are the majority of them. The first day I went the daily menu was vegan, so I ordered that. Some plates are tastier than others but overall the food is very good and super well priced for quality, quantity and the "food made at home" feel to it. After eating here I felt very good so I appreaciate that too. I just really love this place!
Definitely give it a try if you're around Nakano.

delicious

After spending some time longer than we thought toy shopping, my husband and I were in some serious need of food quick. Located on level 2 just at the end of the mall we found Korinbo. The lady who owns it is SO lovely, it was like being looked after by a mum! She was so sweet to us with recommendations for vegan (me) and vege options. The food was prepared entirely by her and we were given green tea while waiting. The food was filling, I got something fried, some streamed Veges, some pickled Veges, rice and a broth. The owner gives you tips on which condiments to use on what etc while you are eating. I was really full. My lunch cost around 970 yen, which I think was the average here.

I used to live very close by- I loved how there was a vegan restaurant in Nakano Broadway, but I am a health-focused vegan, and I avoid added oils, especially vegetable oil.When I asked if she (the owner/cook) could make the dish with little to no oil, she glared at me, made her "least oily dish", which was still too greasy to eat. I ended up just paying and not eating, so she asked me not to come back.(I didn't even complain to her!! Or at all. I just didn't eat it.)

Korinbo is the place to go to if you're in the mood for some homestyle cooking. The owner is a friendly Taiwanese lady (incidentally her brother is world-renowned artist TF Chen) and coming to eat here is like being served a meal at her home. The menu is fairly limited consisting of maybe 5-6 items but it is all very good and all vegetarian. I'm not sure if the owner speaks English but the menu items are all accompanied with pictures. I recommend trying their teishoku or higaeri set meals. Adding to the homely feel is the space, which is tiny. It seats maybe 6 at most, seated around a counter, so it's not a place to go to if you're in a large group. I've been coming to Korinbo for over five years and it's always on my list of places to go whenever I'm in Tokyo. It's located in Nakano Broadway mall which is a mecca for anime/tokusatsu geeks if you're into that sort of thing.

It's a little hard to find, but here are rough directions: Get off at Nakano station and take the north exit. Follow the path 50m to the brightly lit walkway of covered shops and continue walking for another 200-300m. Eventually you'll see a sign overhead for Nakano Broadway and an escalator. Don't take the escalator as it goes to the 3rd floor. Instead veer right and take the stairs to the 2nd floor. Head to the NW corner of the mall. If you have trouble finding it, look for 香林坊 on the mall map.