Lisa George
If you dream of gyoza, you might be in the correct place. Join us as we look for the biggest Tokyo gyoza. Cheap, fast, and delicious, gyoza does all of it.
Are you right here for the love of gyoza? It’s not exhausting to fall in love with these little packages of crispy bottoms, tender tops, and juicy meaty insides. I can’t keep in mind after I had my first gyoza, however, I can let you know that my love for gyoza runs deep. I legitimately love all the meals in Tokyo, however after I’m there, there’s a particular gyoza-sized gap in my coronary heart that simply must be crammed. When you’re keen on gyoza as a lot as I (and Mike!) do, the solely logical factor to do when in Tokyo is: GYOZA HUNT.
Some things we realized from our intensive examine in Tokyo gyoza homes:
- Gyoza homes have a comparatively restricted menu: gyoza, rice, some small sides, and beer.
- Most folks order meat gyoza. Some locations additionally provide vegetable/yasai gyoza, however, I’d say that meat is customary.
- Generally, gyozas include garlic or without. The workers will ask you, “niniku?” and the reply ought to at all times be hai/sure. If for some purpose, you’re a vampire and don’t like garlic, you may say; niniku janai. Side notice: heaps of the newer, hip gyoza locations don’t have garlic of their gyozas – the lack of garlic is meant to be so business peeps can get pleasure from gyoza without worrying about garlic breath.
- Gyoza typically comes yaki (pan-fried) or sui (boiled). I say go for an order of every – normally everybody goes for yaki as a result of hiya crispy bottoms, however, sui actually let the gyoza taste shine and their tender and silky texture will go away you wanting extra.
- The sauces are as essential as the gyoza. There will at all times be shoyu (soy sauce), su (vinegar), and a few types of rayu (chili oil) or chili sauce. Mix them up as you please in the tiny dishes which can be set at each desk and dip to your coronary heart’s content material.
- The customary order is about 2 plates of gyoza – 6 gyoza per plate, per individual – however gyoza homes are fairly relaxed, so when you solely need to order one per individual, it’s no large deal.
- Gyoza, very like ramen, isn’t actually the sort of place the place you eat and linger, however, there are a bunch of new model gyoza locations popping up, so if a long-ass gyoza meal is your factor, maintain studying to listen to all about it!
Gyoza no Fukuho
Gyoza no Fukuho is our absolute favorite gyoza place. No frills, no nonsense, and the greatest tasting gyoza round. There are a number of places – it’s a series – however, the one we go to most is correct subsequent to Shinjuku Gyoen. There’s a lunch particular for 590 yen that will get you 2 orders of gyoza, a fluffy bowl of rice, and a bowl of seaweed soup. It’s the BOMB.
With skinny skins and simply the correct quantity of filling, the yaki-gyoza are crisp however not overly oily, extraordinarily flavorful with an excellent hit of garlic. The sui gyoza is tender, silky and juicy. If you’re in search of an affordable and scrumptious lunch in Tokyo look no additional as a result of who doesn’t love rice and gyoza?
Bonus, together with the customary soy, vinegar, and scorching sauce, additionally they have a bit pot of pink miso and packets of karashi, scorching Japanese mustard.
Gyoza no Fukuho Rating: 5/5
Kanda Gyoza
Kanda Gyoza is an old-fashioned gyoza home with many branches in Tokyo. They serve a bunch of different Chinese meals too (gyozas are referred to as Chinese meals in Japan), however, they’re most well-known for his or her gyoza. They have large kurobuta gyoza which can be scrumptious, however much more than the pork gyoza, we love their veggie gyozas. They’re juicy, thicker-skinned, and sort of on the greater aspect.
Kanda Gyoza Rating: 4/5
Harajuku Gyoza Rou
This is the place that exhibits up most while you do a search on “must eat gyoza in Tokyo.” Cheap, pleasant, and scrumptious, this little gap in the wall in the again streets of Aoyama, simply off of Cat Street, is unquestionably serviceable and fairly good when you’re simply starting your gyoza journey. But, I’ll say, give it a go if they’ve got a line. For some purpose, there nearly at all times is until you’re there at Three in the morning.
The gyoza at Gyoza Rou are thin-skinned (an indication of an excellent Japanese gyoza), juicy and when you select it, full of garlic-y taste. I’ve to say that it’s a real hole-in-wall or as a lot of a hole-in-the-wall as you’ll discover in Tokyo. I really feel like the place hasn’t been cleaned since the 80s, however, most Tokyoites and vacationers have fairly fond reminiscences of hitting this place up throughout late nights.
Harajuku Gyoza Rou Rating: 2/5
Gyoza Bar Comme a Paris
If you’re in search of extra of an evening time bar really feel, Comme a Paris is the place to be. While most gyoza homes have beer as the drink of alternative, this cozy Aoyama bar pairs their gyoza with wine or champagne by the glass. Their gyoza is proudly garlic-free and comes with three completely different dipping sauces: tomato, white miso, and black chili oil. The skins are skinny and tender, the bottoms crunchy, and the varieties inventive. We beloved the onion gratin gyoza, a tackle French onion soup with a tacky gyoza standing in for the conventional crouton.
I additionally particularly beloved it as a result of they’ve fries on the menu and gyoza and fries go collectively nearly in addition to gyoza and rice.
Gyoza Bar Comme a Paris Rating: 3/5
Kitchen Tachikichi Gyoza
This Omotesando gyoza joint is way hipster and sort of all about aesthetics with their cute blue tiled counters and customized glasses and plates. But don’t fear, they’re not nearly trying good – the gyozas at Tachikichi occur to be scrumptious. They a lot bigger then what you usually see in Tokyo so if you wish to lower down in your regular order, you’ll nonetheless be full. They have barely thicker skins and the pork used is sourced from Yamagata.
As at all times, the lunch set is your only option. I went with the 2 set possibility: 2 every of yaki, sui, and age/deep fried. The units include salad, kimchi, and limitless serve your self-rice and miso soup!
Kitchen Tachikichi Gyoza Rating: 3/5
Anda Gyoza
Anda has an enthralling, quaint room and a Michelin bib gourmand suggestion. Their gyoza is Taiwanese model with thicker skins flavored with roasted brown oats and so they’re extra jiaozi than gyoza, with a tortellini form. All of the gyoza listed here are served sui/boiled and have fascinating taste mixtures like pork and daikon, carrot and curry, rooster and ginger. The lunch set rice appears like a plain bowl with pickles, however, there’s a little bonus pork hidden at the backside, so combine all of it up earlier than devouring.
Anda Gyoza Rating: 2/5
Awaya Gyoza
Another one of these hipster locations that serve gyoza and booze in a cheery, fashionable hipster area. Awaya is situated in Kichijoji so while you’re drained of purchasing, pop on in. We preferred the tacky gyoza: crispy pan-fried pork gyoza topped off with a slice of American model cheese. Sounds prefer it it’d be unhealthy, but it surely was so good.
Awaya Gyoza Rating: 2/5
And there you might have it, all the information it’s essential to go forth by yourself gyoza journey in Tokyo. To be sincere, there are TONNES of gyoza locations in Tokyo so let me know which place is your favourite. We’re at all times on the in search of gyoza!
Note: The gyoza score relies purely on style alone, not the environment.
