Tabelog ratingIppei Hanten (一平飯店) is a high-end restaurant in Motoazabu where chef Ippei Adachi applies modern techniques to Cantonese cuisine. The experience is built around a tasting menu of around 14–15 small, meticulously prepared plates, showcasing precise control of heat, texture, and temperature.
Guests consistently praise the seafood-focused courses, especially the seasonal Shanghai crab menus, which feature dishes like a concentrated one-sip crab broth and comparisons of steamed whole crabs. Other standout plates include a delicate shrimp-filled rice noodle roll (海老チョンファン), stir-fried red eggplant with a fermented tofu sauce (赤茄子と腐乳の炒め煮), and expertly crafted soups. The soft almond tofu dessert (杏仁豆腐) is also a frequent highlight, as are the well-chosen wine and Shaoxing wine pairings.
Some diners find the experience has drawbacks. The small-plate format can leave some feeling the portions are too small for the price. A minority of reviews mention service inconsistencies, such as slow pacing or timing issues, and a few guests found the cooking's delicate, restrained flavours to be too subtle for their taste.
Dinner is by reservation only. Reviewers in 2024–2026 often paid around ¥33,000 for the Shanghai crab omakase course. Drink pairings can add significantly to the cost, with packages around ¥18,000, and several guests reported final bills well over ¥50,000 per person. It offers good value for those seeking top-tier Cantonese cooking, but less so if you expect large portions or are watchful of drink costs.
- Booking: Reservation is required. The restaurant operates with fixed start times (17:00, 18:00, and 19:30), and guests are expected to be punctual.
- Getting There: The restaurant is a 5-minute walk from Azabujuban Station.
- Seating: There are 8 seats at the counter and three private rooms that can seat 2 to 8 people.
- Children: Children are welcome, but only in a private room and for the 17:00 seating.
- Payment: Major credit cards (Visa, Master, JCB, Amex, Diners) are accepted. Electronic money and QR code payments are not. A 10% service charge is added to the bill.
- Staff: Some staff members speak English and Chinese.
- Dress Code: Guests are asked to refrain from wearing strong fragrances.
- Smoking & Parking: The entire restaurant is non-smoking. No parking is available.
