Gyoza (pot stickers) are small dumplings filled with ingredients such as minced pork and vegetables. They can be cooked a number of ways, including pan-fried, known as ‘yaki gyoza’ which is the most popular way of preparing it in Japan. They can also be deep-fried, known as ‘age-gyoza’, or boiled, known as ‘sui gyoza’. All gyoza are typically eaten with a dipping sauce combination made of soy sauce, vinegar, and a spicy chili oil. Other sauce variations do exist and depend on the restaurant.
Gyoza can be enjoyed at a number of establishments such as a Japanese izakaya, ramen shops, and even by returning to its origins at a Chinese restaurant. The Kamata area in Tokyo, close to Haneda Airport, is a popular for gyoza, with many well-known restaurants, making it hard to choose. Here are a few recommendations to get you started!
Nihao
Nihao is a Chinese restaurant chain, and the originator of the ‘winged gyoza’ which has become a specialty in Kamata. Winged gyoza have a crispy wing shape that occurs when extra flour from the gyoza is fried. Almost all customers who visit this restaurant order the winged gyoza.
- Location: 4 Chome-24-14 Kamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo 144-0052
- Hours: 11:30-22:00
- Access: 3 minutes walk from Keikyu Line, Keikyu Kamata station
- Info: https://ota-tokyo.com/destination/nihao/27685
Huan-Ying
Huan-Ying is another popular gyoza restaurant in the Kamata area. While they also have winged gyoza, the popular dish here is boiled gyoza. They are quite known for their fillings flavored with ginger for a bit of an extra kick!
- Location: 5 Chome-13-26, Kamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo 144-2005
- Hours: (lunch) 11:30–14:00 (dinner)17:00-23:00 *Depends on the day
- Access: 3 minutes walk from JR Keihintouhoku Line, Kamata station
- Info: https://ota-tokyo.com/destination/huanying/27889
Komparu
Komparu is known for its potstickers, which is another style of gyoza that is fried, steamed, then fried again. Komparu potstickers are said to be the juiciest and most filling among all the Kamata gyoza. Their recommended dish is the sakura shrimp gyoza containing Chinese leeks and eggs.
- Location: 4 Chome-5-6, Kamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo, 144-0052
- Hours: 11:30–23:00
- Access: 1 minute walk from Keikyu Line, Keikyu Kamata station
