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10 Must-Try Gyoza Restaurants in Tokyo

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Although sometimes thought of as a side dish, a set meal starring gyoza—typically served with soup and rice—can really hit the spot. If you're craving some gyoza goodness, these ten Tokyo-based restaurants serve up delectable dumplings that are sure to leave you satisfied!

Namae no Nai Gyozaya - Mita

The Namae no Nai Gyozaya (literally "The Unnamed Gyoza Shop") in Mita can a little difficult to enter due to the red noren curtain above the doorway, but there are some seriously delicious gyoza dumplings to be had in this establishment. They panfry their dumplings to perfection, and balance the meal with rice and soup.

Sweet Baozi - Jimbocho

Opened in 1964, Sweet Baozi (or suwi-to po-tzu, スヰートポーヅ in Japanese) is a well-established gyoza restaurant. Lunchtimes are usually busy with local salarymen queuing out of the entrance. Instead of the typical gyoza dumplings where the skin is closed at the edges, this restaurant's specialty is to wrap the skin around the filling inside, so the juices leak out a little. The red miso soup at this establishment goes really well with the gyoza!

Kairaku - Ikebukuro

The set meals at Kairaku (開楽本店) consist of three gyoza dumplings. That might not seem like a lot, but these dumplings are so large you'll no doubt feel satisfied by the end of the meal! The skin of the dumplings has a nice, springy texture, and the accompanying soup is a mix of both seafood and meat.

Fight Gyoza - Sugamo

The skin on the dumplings at Fight Gyoza (ファイト餃子) has a doughy, bread-like texture. The filling is incredibly hot, so be careful when you dig in! The pickled vegetables, miso soup and rice that accompanies the gyoza is a nice, balanced meal.

Azumatei - Ikebukuro

The gyoza dumplings at Azumatei (東亭) are delicious, but the rice is even more so! The soup and the pickled vegetables are also super tasty, and many customers come here for the set meal that combines all these elements together.

Shoryu - Ueno

At Shoryu (昇龍), they call their set meals "gyoza rice." The naming convention is said to come from a secret dish hidden in these simple elements. Since it's so mysterious, the dish is not merely a "set meal," but something more.

Ginza Tenryu Tokyo Soramachi - Oshiage

For those who love gyoza, Ginza Tenryu Tokyo Soramachi (銀座天龍 東京ソラマチ) is the place to be. The name is a mouthful, but so are the dumplings, and the filling is juicy and plentiful—especially when combined with rice.

Daikoku - Shibuya

The gyoza dumplings at Daikoku (大穀) are served with a homemade miso sauce that goes really well with rice! The dumplings are usually accompanied with soup and kimchi—and the kimchi is all-you-can-eat, which is an added bonus for kimchi lovers!

Taikourou - Tokyo Station

Taikourou (泰興楼) is a well-established Chinese restaurant which opened its doors in 1949. The jumbo dumplings are famous at this restaurant, as well as the self-service all-you-can-eat rice at lunchtime!

Daikichi-Hanten - Ushigome-Kagurazaka

The set meals at Daikichi-Hanten (大吉飯店) are accompanied by natto, the gooey fermented soybeans that are so divisive. Miso soup and Szechuan pickles also help make the set meals here unforgettable.

Read the original article in Japanese from All About via the link below.

- allabout.co.jp (Japanese)