Hello Old Timer

For anyone curious to try gumbo, Hello Old Timer offers a welcoming introduction to an unfamiliar dish. The menu describes this Louisiana tradition as a spiced stew of seafood or meat, okra and aromatics, with a rice-topped version also available. Diners have singled it out as the restaurant’s signature dish, and some say they enjoyed its spicy flavour.

For a hearty meal with rice, consider the hamburger steak simmered in Creole sauce. The tomato-forward sauce is seasoned with a range of spices, and the dish comes with rice and tender-cooked green beans; a larger serving of rice is available. For a sandwich, the Philly cheesesteak pairs thinly sliced beef and sautéed onions with cheddar and vegetables in a baguette, with French fries on the side. Extra cheddar is listed as an option for a richer taste.

Carrot cake and Devil’s food cake make sweet finishes. The carrot cake has a spiced batter with nuts and raisins, topped with cream cheese frosting; the chocolate cake is served with whipped cream. One diner who enjoyed cake at lunch remembered the berry cake and carrot cake in particular.

The restaurant is in Sakae-cho, Nerima. Listed hours are 11:30–15:00, Monday to Saturday; it is closed on Sundays.