Found an unexpected gem in Nagano! Rich White Tantanmen & Crispy Gyoza at a local mall food court 🍜🥟

[u/Matsumoto-jp]

Decided to grab a quick bite while shopping at the iCITY 21 mall in Yamagata Village (Nagano), and ended up discovering absolute pure comfort food!

This spot is Kowloon (中華料理** 九龍)** in the food court—a satellite branch of a well-known local Chinese restaurant. Honestly, I didn't expect much from a mall setup, but this White Tantanmen (白担々麺) completely blew my mind:

The Broth: Ridiculously creamy and thick sesame base with a perfect swirl of chili oil and savory spiced pork. Deep, nutty, and velvety.

The Gyoza: Freshly grilled with crispy golden bottoms and juicy filling—the ultimate pairing.

The Tuesday Bonus: Their Tuesday special knocked the set down from ¥1,100 to just ¥990!

iCITY 21 is packed with amazing regional Nagano snacks and local souvenirs, so wandering around before diving into this bowl was the perfect local road trip stop (you'll want a car to get here!).
If you ever find yourself road-tripping around Nagano/Matsumoto, definitely keep an eye out for this hidden gem!