Gyoza City

Welcome to Utsunomiya, the City of Gyoza!

  • Where

    City Center

  • What

    Food

Sample Gyoza at one (or more!) of the 300+ Gyoza Shops in the City

With over 300 gyoza restaurants in the city, Utsunomiya is the perfect place to sample a wide variety of gyoza. The choices can be overwhelming, so we’re recommending a few unique gyoza shops to get you started!

Utsunomiya first gained a reputation as a Gyoza City in 1987, when a survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications revealed that residents of Utsunomiya purchased more gyoza per household than any other city in Japan. In 2001, the Utsunomiya Gyoza Association was formed to increase publicity and support tourism in the city.

Utsunomiya Minmin Honten: Masters of Gyoza

Utsunomiya Minmin Honten: Masters of Gyoza
Utsunomiya Minmin Honten: Masters of Gyoza
Utsunomiya Minmin Honten: Masters of Gyoza

Utsunomiya Minmin Honten is one of Utsunomiya’s oldest and most popular gyoza shops. Be prepared to wait in line for these dumplings! With multiple locations in the city, Utsunomiya Minmin Honten serves thousands of freshly-made gyoza daily.

Utsunomiya Minmin Honten: Masters of Gyoza

Classic Gyoza at Affordable Prices

Classic gyoza is prepared in three different ways: Yaki (pan-fried), Age (deep-fried), or Sui (boiled). If you’re new to gyoza or have trouble deciding on a favorite style, don’t worry! You can sample all three varieties here for only 810 yen (USD 8).

Aogen: Miso & Gyoza

Aogen: Miso & Gyoza
Aogen: Miso & Gyoza

For a unique take on gyoza, try Aogen Miso and Gyoza shop. Aogen has been producing miso in the Utsunomiya area for over 300 years and in 1989, they opened their first shop featuring gyoza.

Aogen: Miso & Gyoza

Gyoza with a Twist

Wondering what to order? The two most popular options at Aogen are their pan-fried gyoza topped with miso sauce and scallions and boiled gyoza served in miso soup.

Menmen: A Neighborhood Favorite

Menmen: A Neighborhood Favorite
Menmen: A Neighborhood Favorite

Nestled in a residential neighborhood away from Utsunomiya’s Gyoza Street, this gyoza shop has a dedicated local customer base. Menmen opened in 1989 as a Chinese restaurant and is still popular for its ramen and fried rice dishes.

Menmen: A Neighborhood Favorite

Crispy “Winged” Gyoza

Menmen’s unique draw is their crispy “winged” gyoza. Unlike standard pan-fried gyoza, Menmen’s dumplings have a very wide crispy base, giving the impression of “wings” linking the dumplings together.

Gyoza no An: Elevating the Gyoza Experience

Gyoza no An: Elevating the Gyoza Experience
Gyoza no An: Elevating the Gyoza Experience

Gyoza no An is one of Utsunomiya’s newest gyoza shops, and the owner and staff seek to elevate the gyoza-eating experience using locally-sourced ingredients in a stylish location. Luxurious leather stools are situated around a U-shaped bar made of Oya stone so each diner has a view of the chef at work. Be sure to ask the staff about Gyoza no An’s custom shochu and wine pairings from their extensive collection.

Gyoza no An: Elevating the Gyoza Experience

Stylish Location

The interior of Gyoza no An was designed by the owner, a local architect. Each wall features a different classic Japanese building material. Oya Stone, Kanuma Soil, and traditional clay roof tile materials come together to give the space a stylish, modern appearance.

Gyoza no An: Elevating the Gyoza Experience

Experimental Gyoza

Gyoza no An’s French-trained chef delights in creating experimental gyoza that push customers to change their opinion of gyoza as cheap, fast food. Locally-sourced ingredients are used to create flavors like Gyoza Pescatore and Truffle-Flavored Gyoza.

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We recommend using the "Google Travel" planning tool when planning your trip to Utsunomiya, which offers up-to-date hours of operation and information on local venues. You can also use Google Travel to make reservations and compare the cost and availability of hotels and airline tickets.

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