Visited at 5:00 pm on December 28th. Couldn't get in right away due to the line, had to wait. Waited for 40 minutes before entering. It was long... I've been to the Ginza branch before, but this time I finally made it to the main store in Kyoto. Since I sat at the counter, I could enjoy watching the staff making the dumplings while waiting. Their skills were amazing. As I was mesmerized, the dumplings arrived. Dumplings for 480 yen, Ginger Dumplings for 480 yen, Beer (small) for 410 yen. Although there were two of us, they served 4 dumplings of each kind on a plate. I appreciated the thoughtful service. It was a bit difficult to share at the counter due to the acrylic board. These dumplings were bite-sized, so we ate them in one bite. The flavor exploded instantly. The skin was thin but filled with plenty of ingredients. The punch of garlic and chives was amazing. It was mainly vegetable-based with plenty of Chinese cabbage and cabbage. We dipped the Ginger Dumplings in the recommended miso sauce. It was also delicious. Actually, the Ginger Dumplings had more of a punch. The beer disappeared at an unbelievable speed due to its deliciousness. It's no wonder there's always a line. I actually wanted to eat about 3 more plates, but had to resist as we were going to another restaurant. As we left, there were about 20 people waiting outside. Thank you for the meal.

"Mishelin Bib Gourmand 2019" "Gyoza Hyakumeiten 2021" [Visit] Easy access from Hankyu Line "Gion Shijo" Station, 5 minutes walk [Queue] Long *Limited entry, on a weekday at 8:45 PM there were 22 people waiting [Order] Verbally *1 drink minimum requirement Ginger gyoza ¥550 Small rice ¥110 Mineral water ¥210 (Gyoza) Lightly fragrant ginger gyoza without garlic, filled with ginger, pork, cabbage, napa cabbage, sesame oil (Table condiments) Homemade miso sauce, vinegar soy sauce [Interior] 10 seats, counter 6 seats, table 4 seats Google Local Guide https://maps.app.goo.gl/zGp2fBXsxi72dRVC6 Instagram https://instagram.com/i.shige_tabearuki?utm_source=qr&igshid=MzNlNGNkZWQ4Mg%3D%3D"

I came to register at 4:00 pm so that I could enter without waiting in line. Luckily, I was the second group as there was already one group ahead of me. I returned to the front of the restaurant just before 5:00 pm and entered immediately. The seats didn't fill up quickly today, but gradually filled up as I was eating. The meat miso and bean sprouts dish arrived. I thought the meat miso alone would go well with beer. I had plans later in the evening, so I had to resist drinking alcohol... frustrating. The shiny rice with "yes" and "no" options arrived. I tried the ginger gyoza with miso sauce as advised, and it was delicious. The ginger gyoza had a strong punch when eaten without any sauce. I tried it with gyoza sauce for the third piece, and it was definitely better with miso sauce. Then came the gyoza with garlic, which had a powerful garlic flavor. It was a flavorful dish that went well with the rice. The restaurant had many foreign guests, and the staff were able to communicate in English, which was refreshing. If I didn't have plans later in the evening, I would have ordered more dishes, but I had to resist and left the restaurant feeling satisfied. I would definitely like to come back to this restaurant again.

I finally went to Infantry San, arrived around 4:30 pm, signed in, and got seated right away around 5:30 pm. I ordered gyoza with garlic chives and ginger gyoza. The gyoza were a bit small in size. It was impressive to see them flipped just before being cooked on both sides. Both were delicious, but the ginger gyoza was the most impressive. The aroma of ginger that spread throughout my mouth was a taste I had never experienced before. Because they were small, I finished them in no time. I will definitely come back again. Thank you for the meal!

I personally think this is the best gyoza specialty store in Kyoto. Finally, with the end of the pandemic, you can now use it outside of late-night hours. Waiting for the gyoza to be cooked at the counter is the best part here, I think. The savory sound coming from the kitchen stimulates the appetite. It's always delicious no matter how many times I come. Thank you for the meal.

■Restaurant Information I came to the Gion area, known for its unique Kansai-style dumplings. When you come here, you definitely want to try the dumplings, so I visited "Gyoza Hohei Gion Honten." Although they have branches in Kanto, I felt the need to experience the main store. I arrived at 8:30 pm and had to wait for about an hour before being seated. The place was mostly filled with foreign tourists. ■What I Ate - Gyoza (8 pieces) ¥550 - Ginger Gyoza (8 pieces) ¥550 - Cucumber Pickles ¥420 - Espresso of Oni Shijimi ¥420 - White Rice ¥310 The food arrived in about 10 minutes. The dumplings were quite small but packed with the savory flavor of meat and the sweetness of vegetables, making them excellent dumplings. I enjoyed both the garlic dumplings and the ginger dumplings. Although the prices for individual items are high, everything was delicious. The service was a bit lacking, but in terms of just enjoying the dumplings, I think it's not a bad place. On my Instagram account "Nonaru Danshi no Tokyo Lunch Meshi," with 70,000 followers, I introduce delicious food from Tokyo and various places across the country!

I decided to try exploring dumplings in addition to hamburgers. While I have spent time and money on Hamamatsu dumplings in the past, I wanted to enjoy various dumplings other than Hamamatsu dumplings. There may be a supreme dumpling that I have not yet encountered. Therefore, as the first installment of the series titled "Dumpling Pilgrimage," I decided to visit the headquarters of "Gyoza Hei Gion Honten," which has been selected as one of the "Top 100 Gyoza Shops" and has won a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide. Below are the photos that follow.

[Visit Information] - Date: 8/10 (Thu) 21:00 - Price: - Order: [Food] - Gyoza 550 yen - Ginger Gyoza 550 yen - Cucumber in a pot 420 yen - Espresso of Oni Shijimi 420 yen [Drink] - Bottled beer 600 yen [Dishes] The gyoza is overwhelmingly delicious with garlic. Easy to eat with one bite, but my personal favorite is Kitashinchi Tempai. The espresso of Oni Shijimi is rich and good, a must-have for the second bar. [Service] I was concerned about how the staff interacted with overseas tourists. They were joking among themselves, which made me feel uncomfortable. [Ambiance & Customer Base] Many tourists, about 1/3 are inbound tourists. [Busyness] Of course, there is a line. There is a ledger outside where you write your name, but be careful as they closed the sign-up around 19:30 for the last order at 21:30. I revisited around 20:30 and finally got to enter around 21:00.

The interior of the shop was small and narrower than expected. I arrived at the second shop around 8 p.m., wrote my name down, and waited outside. Most of the customers were foreign tourists, and there were also a few people dining alone. I was seated at the counter and ordered ginger dumplings and garlic dumplings that day. The ginger dumplings had a strong ginger flavor, giving off a distinct ginger taste. The garlic dumplings had a very nice garlic aroma from the moment they arrived. Personally, I overwhelmingly preferred the garlic dumplings (lol). Both dumplings were delicious even without dipping sauce! Thank you for the meal~!!

Visited on a weekend night, around 10 pm. Luckily, there were about 4 empty seats so we were able to be seated right away without waiting! Ordered regular gyoza and ginger gyoza, one portion each. As always, they were incredibly delicious! Had a great dinner, and since the portions are small, they go really well with beer. Ended up ordering another portion. Personally, I think these are the best gyoza in Kyoto. Unbeatable. By the time we left, there were about 10 groups waiting outside. Lucky us! Will definitely come back.

On June 17, 2023, Saturday, I had a great time at a restaurant. I had a medium-sized draft beer for ¥580, cucumber pickles for ¥420, potato salad for ¥450, dumplings for ¥550, ginger dumplings for ¥550, espresso with devil clams for ¥420, and a small bowl of rice for ¥110. The total bill came to ¥2970. The food was delicious, and I will definitely be a repeat customer. The restaurant had a high proportion of young women and white foreigners. Customers had to write their names on a board outside and wait to be called. I had to call them to check on the waiting time and was told I had been skipped, so I rushed back and managed to get a table after waiting for 1 hour and 50 minutes. During the wait, I visited another dumpling shop and a ramen shop, and even went back to my hotel to take a nap. My hotel is a 5-minute walk from the restaurant. Interestingly, there is a cabaret club next to my hotel, and I saw a few hostesses and a white Rolls Royce with a man and a woman inside passing by. Although I am in Kyoto, my main purpose for this trip is to visit the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. It is now 5:43 am on May 18, and I am heading to Osaka.

I heard it was a popular restaurant, so I went around 4 p.m. as they open at 5 p.m. There was a board outside the restaurant where you could write your name to wait in line, and there were already 4 names written. I added my name to the list. Even if you are not there when they call your name, it will not be removed from the list, so you can just respond when you arrive. The dumplings, jarred cucumbers, and minced meat and bean sprouts all tasted delicious with white rice.

It was an all delicious dumpling specialty store. The night in Gion was beautiful with the Kamo River sparkling, making it a nice memory to walk around and find the restaurant. The nightlife district in Kyoto was my first time walking through, and when we got closer to the restaurant, there was quite a crowd waiting. I wrote down the name in my notebook and waited for over an hour. The seating was time-limited, but everyone seemed to come right at the last minute. A group of five foreigners was seated at the counter, but they preferred a table, so I thought, "That's my chance!" However, I had to wait for a table to open up for the next person. It's just the restaurant's rule, so I had to accept it, but I got tired of waiting. I ordered a serving of dumplings (8 pieces for ¥500), a "Devil's Clam Espresso" for ¥380, and a small bowl of rice for ¥110. They had a one-drink policy, so I ordered a small beer for ¥410. I wondered what was different about the small beer. The Devil's Clam Espresso was delicious, with a deep umami flavor. The dumplings were crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, the best I've had among the hundred dumpling shops I've visited. It's clear why this place is popular worldwide. They had soy sauce and miso dipping sauces, both delicious. And of course, the dumplings were best served on rice, which was also delicious. Everything was delicious, despite the tired wait in line. It was definitely worth a visit, and I'm happy to have found such delicious dumplings.

I have been rejected so many times before. This time, I arrived at the shop one hour before opening on a weekday! I was able to put my name on the waiting list as number one. While waiting, I strolled around and when I came back 15 minutes before opening, the area in front of the shop was crowded with people. I ordered both the 8-piece dishes of "with" and "without", so a total of 16 pieces, but they were small so I could eat them up quickly. Both were crispy and delicious, but I recommend the "with" option. Finally, my wish came true, and I was able to get some frozen souvenirs as well. I was satisfied.

Kuma Log 3.8‍❄️ Today's drink started with "Gyoza Infantry" at Gyo-Bee. I enjoyed some leek gyoza and ginger gyoza, they were extremely delicious!‍❄️ #Gyoza #GyozaInfantry #GyozaInfantryGionMainStore #Ginger #GingerGyoza #GingerGyozaWithMisoSauce #MisoSauce #KyotoGourmet #Kyoto #KyotoGyoza #Gion #GionGyoza #GionGourmet #Gyo-Bee #Leek #LeekGyoza #Chilly #StayHealthyAndAvoidCatchingACold

Visited the long-awaited Gyoza Infantry Gion Honten! I arrived at 4:30, 30 minutes before opening, and was able to get in on the first round after putting my name on the waiting list. Enjoyed the gyoza (leek and garlic), ginger gyoza, and jar cucumber! It was a luxurious time comparing the flavors of two types of gyoza while refreshing my palate with the jar cucumber!

Dumplings with or without for 500 yen each, chicken and ginger soup for 480 yen, and draft beer for 530 yen? It was raining, so I thought it wouldn't be crowded, but I peeked inside anyway. As I suspected, it wasn't that crowded. Even though there were only 3 groups waiting, I still waited for 20 minutes. I ordered a beer right away. Turns out, I still don't like beer. I prefer garlic dumplings over ginger. The ginger miso sauce was interesting though. Both dishes came with 8 small dumplings. The chicken and ginger soup had chicken pieces instead of meatballs. I didn't mind that, and I enjoyed seeing the staff chatting while preparing the food. They mentioned how difficult it was to deliver to Maruyama Park during cherry blossom season. Apart from that, there wasn't much else I liked. The small dumplings might be suitable for women, but they weren't filling enough for me. The slightly cramped interior of the restaurant was also a bit bothersome. Overall, it was okay for the price. Thank you for the meal.

Nearby, there are famous dumpling restaurants like "Senzamon Ten" and "Marushin Hanten," but I think this restaurant stands out in Gion. You may have to wait to get in, but if you write your name on the board, you can leave the vicinity of the restaurant until it's your turn, making the wait relatively easy. It operates on a one-drink minimum, but the dumplings are inexpensive, so you can enjoy them even more with a beer or highball.

Exterior The shop is located in the heart of Gion, which is a popular tourist spot in Kyoto. The building blends in perfectly with the traditional atmosphere of Gion. The nearest station is just a 1-minute walk from the Keihan Main Line. Entry This is a very popular restaurant, and reservations are not accepted. Here's how you can enter: 1) Write your name and number of people on the reception ticket placed in front of the store before opening. 2) When it's time to open, your name will be called for entry, so make sure to be nearby. The restaurant is not very big, so if you want to enter early, it's best to write your name on the ticket early. Interior The interior has a cozy izakaya (Japanese pub) atmosphere. There are a total of 10 seats, with 6 seats at the counter and 4 seats at tables. I was seated at the counter, where I could watch the gyoza being cooked right in front of me on a large square griddle. Menu The menu is limited to gyoza, appetizers, and white rice. There are two types of gyoza: garlic "with" and ginger gyoza "without". The drink menu mainly consists of alcoholic beverages. I ordered a medium draft beer, a cucumber appetizer served in a jar, and a meat miso bean sprout dish. Gyoza The gyoza had a perfect sear on them. The lighter ones in the front are the ginger gyoza "without", while the darker ones in the back are the garlic gyoza "with". The recommended sauce for "without" is the special miso sauce, and for "with" it's the special sauce. The gyoza were small but came in a good portion of 8 pieces per serving. The skin was thin, crispy, and had a deep flavor. Chicken and Ginger Soup For dessert, I had a chicken and ginger soup instead of rice. The soup had a rich chicken flavor with a strong ginger kick. The chicken was tender and paired well with the soup. Review "I will definitely come back!"

I visited the main branch of "Hohei" in Kyoto and was able to enjoy some delicious gyoza. Although I had to wait for an hour, the taste was worth it. Many foreign tourists were also dining there.

Ordered two regular gyoza and one ginger gyoza. The gyoza were small and bite-sized, allowing me to eat them whole while still hot. The gyoza had a punch from the garlic, but the thin skin made it easy to eat quickly with chopsticks. The ginger gyoza in between added a nice change of flavor, preventing me from getting bored and I finished them all in no time. The gyoza-beer-gyoza combo was a winning formula, leading to a complete victory in taste. Finished off with a clam espresso to take a breather and end the meal. Thank you for the delicious meal!