Local TV show "Kyoto Chishin" aired on September 6, 2020 featured the owner of French Motoi located on the corner of Tomikoji Street and Nijo Street. Unlike traditional French restaurants, Motoi has a unique concept. Despite previous attempts to visit, the reviewer finally made it to the restaurant. Interestingly, just across the street on Tomikoji Street, there is another rising star in the world of Kyoto dumplings, Gyoza Gozukon. The two restaurants are separated by a mere 230 meters, with Gyoza Gozukon offering a similar dish of steamed chicken and vegetables. Motoi has a cozy interior with an open kitchen, an 8-seat counter, and 4 tables. The atmosphere is more like a cafe with a touch of blue, rather than the typical red-themed Chinese restaurant. On the day of the visit, all the customers were women, and the staff included two male members in moss green hats and T-shirts, along with one female staff member. The reviewer opted for the Motoi Gyoza set, which included 8 pieces of Motoi Gyoza, a side dish, miso soup, rice, and pickles. The gyoza was enjoyed with various condiments such as olive oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and chili oil. The miso soup was packed with ingredients like okra, lotus root, burdock, snow peas, radish, peanuts, spinach, pumpkin, sweet potato, carrots, and more, making it a standout dish. The rice served at Motoi was exceptional, and the reviewer noted that it was one of the best they had tasted recently. The reviewer suggested that the perfect pairing would be the pickles with a warm cup of "Koto Junmai Sake" from Sasaki Sake Brewery. Overall, the reviewer was impressed by the attention to detail in Motoi's dishes and expressed a desire to return for dinner to try out more gyoza varieties. In conclusion, the reviewer recommended adding Gyoza Gozukon and Motoi to the list of top gyoza restaurants in Kyoto. Despite the fierce competition in Kyoto's gyoza scene, these two establishments stood out for their unique offerings.

I heard that the chef from French cuisine restaurant MOTOI had opened a shop in Shijo-Karasuma, so I decided to stop by while shopping. The lunch set of dumplings was priced over 1000 yen, which was quite bold. My wife ordered the Papa Dumpling Set, while I ordered the MOTOI Dumpling Set. Since it came with exactly 8 dumplings, we decided to share. The Papa Dumplings had a delicious flavor of vegetables and meat without much garlic. We were recommended to eat them with rock salt and olive oil, but the strong aroma of the salt and oil somewhat overpowered the flavor of the dumplings. So, just a little dab might be better. On the other hand, the MOTOI Dumplings were more traditional. They had a crispy texture and a juicy taste, and even when dipped in soy sauce, chili oil, and vinegar, the dumplings remained the star. They were really delicious. Looking at the menu, it seemed more like wine and dumplings rather than beer and dumplings. That was the impression I got from the menu. I thought about coming back next time for something other than lunch. Thank you for the meal. #MOTOI #MOTOI Dumplings #Chef MOTOI's Papa Dumplings #MOTOI Dumpling #MOTOI Dumpling Lunch Set

MOTOI Gyoza, a gyoza shop produced by MOTOI, Papa Gyoza, and Celery Gyoza. Upon entering, three young men and women in their twenties, which sparked curiosity and high expectations. However, the flavors were personally found lacking. Papa Gyoza had a hint of coriander that added a refreshing touch, which was excellent, but none of the three dishes were finished. I apologize for not being able to finish them.

MOTOI's new venture is a dumpling restaurant. I had been curious about this place, and I was glad that they offer all-day service starting from lunchtime. I visited during lunchtime, so I was able to order a set meal. The MOTOI dumpling set includes 8 dumplings with a gentle and easy-to-eat Kyoto-style flavor. It also comes with a chicken salad, miso soup, rice, and pickles. The miso soup had various seasonal vegetables like winter melon, eggplant, and green beans. I was impressed by the attention to detail. There are both counter and table seating, making it easy to visit alone. Surprisingly, there were many foreign customers. It was my first time eating a regular meal surrounded by foreign customers in Kyoto. Thank you for the meal.

This is a dumpling restaurant located in Karasuma, Kyoto, but everything from the exterior, interior, atmosphere, and menu of this restaurant is clearly different from that of existing dumpling restaurants. This is because it is positioned as the second brand of the Michelin French restaurant "MOTOI" in Kyoto, and Chef Motoi Maeda focuses on carefully selected ingredients and creates dishes of restaurant quality. First of all, the exterior is a plant-rich, blue and white-themed structure that looks nothing like the image of a dumpling restaurant, but rather resembles a restaurant. The interior also features a stylish space with counter seats and table seats, similar to a bar restaurant. Since summers in Kyoto are hot, I sat down and ordered dumplings while hydrating with a draft beer. There are about 9 different types of dumplings to choose from, so it was a tough decision. I started with a platter of 5 colorful pickled vegetables called "Ohara vegetable nukazuke assortment." Each vegetable was well pickled without losing its original flavor, and they were all delicious. Perfect for a drinking snack and highly recommended. The "Papa Gyoza" is a dumpling created by the chef for his daughter, who he doesn't get to see often, and it does not contain garlic. The taste of shrimp is prominent, followed by a refreshing taste of leeks and ginger. The "Motoi Gyoza," on the other hand, is a classic dumpling with a strong garlic flavor but no unpleasant smell. It's a bit heavier compared to the others, so you can't eat as many. The "Vegetable Gyoza" has a firm texture and taste of cabbage, followed by the taste of shiitake mushrooms. It tastes great when dipped in ma-kikyo miso, vinegar, and eaten together. While the menu mentioned that you can choose either one, I felt that one alone was not enough in terms of taste. The "Bacon and Cheese Mashed Potatoes" were a smooth potato dish with a delicious combination of cheese and bacon. This was a very tasty dish, and I was impressed by the French chef's skills in this area. The "Handmade Syrup Fruit Sour" uses syrup made from carefully selected fruits and is a delightful sour drink. Some may find it a bit too sweet, but the taste is delicious. It can also be served without alcohol, so you can enjoy it as a juice. The various carefully crafted dumplings are not too heavy and easy to eat, but the more you taste, the more complex flavors you will experience, indicating the various details put into them. This may be quite a change for those who prefer simple dumplings from local Chinese restaurants, but it might be a nice change once in a while. It is also a good restaurant for those who are into organic food or have specific preferences.

The atmosphere is extremely stylish. In a good way, you wouldn't think it's a dumpling restaurant at first glance. The dumplings were delicious, and I was very satisfied with the homemade fruit sour served alongside (the photo shows mulberry sour)!

Motoi Gyoza! When it comes to a gyoza restaurant in Kyoto, many people think of Motoi. The location is very convenient, and it's a great place to escape the unbearable summer heat in Kyoto. The lunch menu is reasonably priced and delicious! The gyoza had a light taste with a lot of vegetables.

Kyoto has many dumpling specialty shops, and all of them are delicious, so there are not many disappointments. This time, I searched for a dumpling shop near the hotel and found this place. When I approached the shop, it had a cafe-like atmosphere rather than a dumpling shop, and the customers were mostly women and couples, so I hesitated for a moment to enter alone. However, I decided to go in. The friendly staff guided me to my seat and I was surprised by the variety of dumplings on the menu. They all looked delicious, but since I was alone, I couldn't try them all, so I chose the classic Motoi dumplings and the popular Papa dumplings. Feeling like I might lack protein, I also added the chicken breast confit. The chicken breast arrived first, and unlike the dry ham you make yourself, it was moist and very delicious. The Motoi dumplings were juicy with a hint of garlic flavor, a classic choice. The recommended sauce was a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, and chili oil, which paired well with rice! The Papa dumplings did not contain garlic and had shrimp, chives, and cilantro. I'm not a big fan of cilantro, but the flavor was subtle and not overpowering, so it didn't bother me. The recommended olive oil and salt seasoning was indeed delicious, but not suitable for rice, haha. It would probably go well with alcohol, but I had a rough time the day before from drinking too much, so it was a "No alcohol day" for me. There were also black truffle dumplings and some more expensive options, so I plan to challenge those next time.

At 12:30 on a weekday, I returned to Japan after two weeks and couldn't decide what to eat. I was thinking about having soba, but when I passed by Motoi Gyozu, I saw that it was open and couldn't resist going in. This time, I tried the Premium Papa Gyoza. It had shrimp and herbs instead of garlic, giving it a gentle yet elegant flavor. I was recommended to eat it with salt and olive oil, and it was a perfect combination. During the early evening on weekdays, they have a happy hour where sparkling wine is half price, making it easy to feel happy in an instant when paired with the gyoza.

"Located right near Nishiki Market, 'Motoi Gyoza' is said to be the second brand of the French fine dining restaurant 'Restaurant Motoi' that has been featured in the Michelin Guide for 11 consecutive years. The restaurant has a lovely café-like atmosphere. The Papa Gyoza for 900 yen was delicious when eaten with salt and olive oil. The Motoi Gyoza for 700 yen had plenty of garlic, but it was so tasty that it didn't bother me at all. The drool chicken was moist and juicy, and the sauce was exquisite."

I had various types of dumplings in a stylish space that didn't feel like a typical dumpling restaurant. The photo shows cheese fondue dumplings. There were many other kinds of dumplings that paired well with wine, which was interesting! I ordered dumplings with cilantro, but even though I usually don't like cilantro, the flavor was subtle and easy to eat. Thank you for the delicious meal! ♫

For dinner tonight, I'm thinking of going to Motoi Gyoza in Kyoto. I remember how delicious the shumai I had from Motoi restaurant last week was. The location of Motoi Gyoza is convenient, located between Kawaramachi and Shijo, along Yanaginobanba street. The menu offers traditional Motoi Gyoza, Papa Gyoza with ginger and coriander, black truffle Gyoza, and luxurious shrimp Gyoza. I decided to try the Papa Gyoza, which had a nice kick to it with ginger and coriander. The freshly baked Gyoza was recommended to be eaten with olive oil and salt, and it was truly delicious. I took the leftovers home, which included 3 shrimp Gyoza, 3 black truffle Gyoza, 4 Papa Gyoza, and 4 Motoi Gyoza. The shrimp Gyoza was particularly delightful, with a firm texture and great flavor. It's a new type of Gyoza that combines elements of Italian ravioli. These Gyoza not only pair well with beer but also with wine. Overall, it was a delicious meal.

First visit in May 2023 (No.4515) 1. Purpose of visit - Chose as the 7th stop on the first day of a Kyoto trip 2. Shop information - Genre on Tabelog: Gyoza, Cafe, Izakaya - Opened on November 22, 2022 - Second brand of Kyoto French restaurant "Restaurant MOTOI" - French restaurant has received Michelin ☆ 10 consecutive years, The Tabelog Award 2018-2023 Bronze consecutive award-winning super famous restaurant - Business hours: 11:00-21:00 - Closed on Mondays (open if Monday is a holiday, closed on the following Tuesday) - Seating capacity: 24 seats 3. Crowdedness and atmosphere on the day of visit - Visited around 19:40 on a weekday, with 6 customers already seated and no customers behind - Atmosphere similar to a cafe 4. Customer service - Service was according to the manual 5. Ordered items - 1 drink + assorted appetizers for 1,000 yen - Small glass of draft beer with a lot of foam - Appetizers included lentils, potato salad, pate?, and cold chicken breast confit - Papa Gyoza (8 pieces) for 900 yen - Gyoza based on the chef of MOTOI's daughter's recipe, with pork, shrimp, cilantro, and chives, juicy and with a bouncy texture - No garlic used, ginger used to enhance the overall flavor - Recommended way to eat is with olive oil + salt, but also delicious on its own - Thank you for the meal.

Visited a stylish dumpling restaurant with a variety of menu options centered around dumplings. Ordered the Motoi, Celery, and Black Truffle dumplings. They were cooked to a crispy and juicy perfection. Each dumpling had a decent portion size. Each dumpling had a recommended way of eating it, and the Celery with vinegar and pepper was particularly tasty. The downside is that each plate comes with 6 to 8 dumplings, making it difficult to order for smaller groups. There are no reservations, and customers are seated on a first-come, first-served basis.

I went around 3 o'clock during Golden Week and it was not crowded. The food was delicious and served at a normal speed. The shochu highball tasted like juice. The dumplings were thick and very tasty. The staff explained everything well and recommended a delicious sauce. I want to go back again.

I had the Premium Papa Gyoza lunch. It was said to have cilantro instead of garlic, but I didn't really notice the unique aroma of cilantro. It came with salad and miso soup, making it a very satisfying lunch.

"Selected as a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide Kyoto 2022/2023. This is the second-line restaurant of 'Restaurant MOTOI,' which has been awarded one Michelin star continuously from 2013 to 2023. I ordered the Papa Gyoza (900 yen). The dish is based on the gyoza that Chef Maeda of MOTOI created for his daughter, using slightly larger-sized shrimp to enhance the crunchy texture. The addition of chives and a touch of cilantro adds a sharpness to the flavor, while ginger is used to tighten the overall taste instead of garlic. It is recommended to enjoy it with the olive oil and salt set on the table. If you like this review, please follow the account and save the restaurant."

I used it for dinner in Kyoto. "Motoi," a French restaurant in Kyoto that I visited two years ago in the spring. The Chinese-born chef Maeda Motoi, who gained popularity with his take-out dumplings during the corona pandemic, has now opened a restaurant. When I visited, there was a line outside. I signed up and waited outside. The staff kindly provided chairs inside because it was cold. I heard that he was in charge of appetizers at Motoi. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was like a dining bar. They offered an appetizer set with one drink (1000 yen) and a special combination of "Motoi Gyoza" and "Papa Gyoza." The appetizer set included a salad of lentils and bacon, mashed potatoes, country-style pate, and chicken breast confit. The drink was sparkling wine. This lineup seems to be typical of a French background. The "Papa Gyoza" is a dumpling that Chef Maeda made without chives or garlic for his young daughter, with cilantro as an accent. It is enjoyed with salt and olive oil. The "Motoi Gyoza" has chives and garlic. Both have a gentle taste. The staff pulled out chairs for us, showing Motoi's characteristic service. They also had a variety of homemade fruit liqueurs. It was a popular restaurant bustling with young people.

I visited a dumpling restaurant run by a Michelin-starred French chef and was intrigued. I arrived around 11 am without a reservation, but the place was relatively empty and I was seated at the counter right away. I ordered the Motoi Gyoza lunch set, which came with 8 dumplings, rice, miso soup, pickles, salad, and topped with chicken confit. Unlike the typical juicy and oily dumplings, these were quite light with a strong sweetness and a noticeable taste of the skin. Despite being garlic-infused, I could hardly taste the aroma or flavor of garlic. The dumplings had a light sear, allowing me to enjoy the chewiness of the skin. They were not heavy, so I could have eaten many more plates. The interior of the restaurant was dimly lit, with a chic atmosphere featuring a marble-patterned counter and dried flowers, which was not typical of a dumpling restaurant. There were several types of fruit preserves displayed on the counter, which seemed like they could be enjoyed as fruit sours.

At the Michelin Guide-certified Kyoto restaurant "Restaurant MOTOI," you can enjoy original dumplings in a stylish setting. They use herbs from their own farm in their salads and serve sour drinks made with homemade syrup, making it a great option for those who prefer natural ingredients. Their dumplings are made without additives or chemical seasonings. The "MOTOI Dumplings" are rich in garlic, offering a flavorful experience. The "Miso Dumplings" combine soybean fermented seasoning, miso, with ground meat for a unique flavor and texture. They also offer seasonal limited edition dumplings and allergy-friendly options to cater to a wide range of needs. Experience delicious dumplings at "Restaurant MOTOI," certified by Michelin, and enjoy a new dumpling experience.

It was delicious and cheap♡ It was great to have various types of dumplings and ways to eat them♡ The attitude of the female staff was bad and it annoyed me a bit. The phone manners were also bad, and I even thought about not going. The atmosphere of the restaurant was good and the food was delicious, but the overall impression was ruined by the bad attitude.