Wakabayashi

Wakabayashi puts a different spin on sweet-and-sour pork, a dish often served in bite-sized pieces with vegetables. Here, a whole slice of pork belly is quickly fried, then coated in a slightly sweet sauce with a mellow tang. No extra vegetables are added, and the dish is served with a knife and fork. Diners have noted its generous piece of meat, sometimes served with lemon, and enjoyed the citrus alongside the sauce. Starting with the signature pork and trying it with a squeeze of lemon is one way to get a taste of the restaurant’s style.

Mapo tofu is another house speciality, with a choice of flavour and heat. The spicy version is made with house-made chilli oil and green Sichuan peppercorns; the sweet miso version is described as a Japanese-style take, combining red and white miso with sake and other ingredients. Choose the sweet miso for more savoury depth without as much heat, or the spicy version for the peppercorn’s fragrance. One diner enjoyed the mapo tofu for its savoury flavour and restrained heat, so there is an option beyond extreme spice.

For a different main dish, consider the fluffy, soft-centred tenshinhan or Mao Zedong chicken, generously dusted with the restaurant’s own blended spice mix. The tenshinhan has a soy sauce-based seasoning, with a soft, thick sauce covering everything apart from the egg, bamboo shoots and spring onions. Diners have praised the egg’s light texture and the hearty portion. The chicken is intended to offer more than spice alone, and one diner described it as a savoury, spicy accompaniment to a drink. The small plates also suit a meal built around sharing several dishes. Diners who visited for weekday lunch have reported sets that include a main dish, a small side, rice, soup and dessert.

The Tennoji MIO Plaza Building branch is on M2F and offers dine-in seating, including counter seats. It can work for a solo meal or for sharing dishes with a group. Whether you drop in for weekday lunch or an early drink, you can start with a signature dish and add small plates to suit your appetite.