Gyoza Nakayoshi is a fairly large (60 seat) gyoza izakaya that has been drawing crowds for over 30 years. The interior has a touch of Showa-retro charm; walls are plastered with vintage posters and placards of the signatures of famous diners, and shelves are lined with bottles of whisky and shochu with the names of their owners inscribed, awaiting the regulars’ next visit.
The restaurant’s unique offering is Hakata-style gyoza (¥550 per serving of approximately ten), from Hakata city in Kyushu. The dumplings are cooked and served in a cast-iron pan, which creates a crisp and flaky exterior. The filling is a combination of pork, cabbage and garlic chives with kikurage (wood-ear mushrooms), which provide a slightly crunchy texture. Slim crescents that fit snugly fit into the pan, the gyoza’s size and lightness make them a good pairing with beer.
For seasoning, there’s a couple of extra options: yuzukosho (a pungent paste of yuzu zest and chilli) and aka kosho (a hot red paste of chilli, sesame oil and sesame seeds). The side dishes include izakaya classics like oden, potato salad, spicy cod roe and chive omelette.