On the last evening,I wanted to have a drink at a machi-chuka (町中華),the kind of small backstreet Chinese place you might find somewhere in Japan. But I chose poorly,and ended up leaving with a full stomachfrom food I didn’t really enjoy. For reference, machi-chuka refers tosmall, slightly worn neighborhood Chinese restaurantsthat mainly serve things like chuka soba (ramen),chahang (fried rice), and gyoza (dumpling). They also offer simple Chinese dishes,so you can have a drink there too.The kind of place you sometimes see in Japanese dramas or films. Apparently,these small places don’t survive well in smaller cities like Karatsu.You have to…