A wide selection of unique Chinese buns with panda motifs
Roishin is located along Chinatown Boulevard, one of the busiest areas in Yokohama's Chinatown, and is about a 5-minute walk from Motomachi-Chukagai Station. The restaurant's landmarks are a tasteful sign with the word "Roishin" written in yellow letters on a red background and a retro-looking facade featuring a panda and a boy and girl.
This alone is enough to make the store easy to find, but the business model is also quite unique: although they sell a variety of foods outside the store, the main focus inside is on miscellaneous goods, not food.
Looking back at its history, the store was founded in 1955 (Showa 30), making it a long-established establishment. Panda buns were first sold in 1995, the 40th anniversary of the store's founding, and currently, the store offers a lineup of nine flavors, with one new flavor added each month.
This store has such a wonderful dual nature, so let's start by introducing the appeal of its food section.
Panda buns are known for their attention to detail and flavor.
The two main food items are Chinese steamed buns and Tianjin sweet chestnuts, and the simplicity of not serving fried foods or drinks is also a point of interest. Instead, there is a wide selection of Chinese steamed buns, and the one that really catches your eye is the "Panda Bun" (350 yen including tax).
The flavor of the filling on these adorable panda-shaped steamed buns varies depending on the color of the dough. White is the "Original Panda Bun (Chocolate Custard)," pink is the "Strawberry Panda Bun," green is the "Vegetable Panda Bun," and the white one with red cheeks is the simple "Bean Panda Bun." Just looking at the colorful visuals is fun.
Also, the "Pork Kakuni Bun" filled with juicy meat is shaped like a pig's face instead of a panda, while the "Peach Bun" filled with smooth bean paste and white peach pulp is shaped like a peach. Some of the products have visuals that make sense. You'll probably end up wanting to buy them all.
From those, we selected the "Strawberry Panda Bun," which is popular among women and children. It is filled with strawberry-flavored custard and has a slightly sweet and sour creamy taste. The black parts of the panda, such as its eyes and mouth, are colored with black sesame dough, and attention has been paid to even the smallest details.
Not only are they delicious, but they also come in a wide variety of photogenic steamed buns, making them so popular that they form queues to get in. Apparently, on busy days they sell more than 500 buns.
Over 2,000 Chinese goods await you in the store
If you come to Lao Wei Xin, you should also enjoy looking for souvenirs in the general goods section. The entrance to the store is next to the food section, and as soon as you step inside, you'll be greeted by over 2,000 Chinese goods. There is a wide variety of categories, including original Chinese dresses, Chinese accessories, key chains, traditional Chinese festival items, Chinese Tai Chi clothing, Feng Shui items, costumes such as Jiangshi, large Chinese dance fans, interior items, ethnic minority crafts, and classical Chinese tableware.
As expected, the most popular items are goods with a panda motif. The designs, which are characteristic of "Lao Ishin," who knows the charm of pandas inside and out, are sure to satisfy even the most panda-loving people. In addition, it seems that feng shui goods, which can be easily enjoyed, have also been gaining popularity recently.
In addition to the gourmet experience, Roisin also offers a unique lineup of goods. If you are looking for a slightly unusual souvenir from Yokohama Chinatown, be sure to visit the store.
Roisin
| address | ： | 145 Yamashitacho, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture |
|---|---|---|
| phone | ： | 045-681-6811 |
| business hours | ： | 10:30～20:45 |
| Closed Day | ： | none |
| payment | ： | Cash, credit card, electronic money |
| web | ： | https://www.rouishin.com/ |
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The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
