Harajuku Gyozaro – Heavenly Gyoza in Tokyo, Totally Worth The Long Wait!

One of my most memorable meals in Tokyo was at Harajuku Gyozaro. Even though we had to queue for quite long, it was completely worth it because the delicious gyozas were super satisfying!

Harajuku Gyozaro

Harajuku Gyozaro is a Japanese restaurant famous for its delicious and affordable gyozas.

The queue here is extremely long during peak hours. The restaurant is so popular because their gyozas are really delicious. And six gyozas cost only JPY290, which is very cheap by Tokyo’s standards.

Harajuku Gyozaro Menu

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Once seated, we were handed a tattered menu which looked like it was badly in need of re-lamination.

The simple menu offers just two types of gyozas: Pan Fried Dumplings (6 Pieces JPY 290) and Steamed Dumplings (6 Pieces JPY 290).

There are a few side dishes too. The Boiled Bean Sprouts With Meat Sauce (JPY 250) is a fan favourite.

Other side dishes to consider trying include the Pickled Cabbage (JPY 250) and Cucumber With Miso Sauce (JPY 250).

No Frills Establishment

open kitchen

side tables

We went to Harajuku Gyoza on a Sunday at 6pm, and there was a queue of about 10 people. We had to wait for around 20 minutes to enter the restaurant.

This was actually a pretty short waiting time. During peak hours, the wait can go up to one hour or more. In fact, when we left the restaurant at around 7.15pm, there was a long queue of about 20 people outside!

Harajuku Gyoza is a no-frills establishment where customers dine on wooden counters around a open kitchen. It was interesting to watch the staff cooking the gyozas in front of us.

However, this also meant the restaurant was slightly smoky. There is decent ventilation, but be prepared to leave the restaurant smelling a little like gyoza (who knows, you may even like it).

There are also some tables at the side if you do not wish to sit by the kitchen.

Pan Fried Dumplings

We ordered the Pan Fried Dumplings (JPY 290 for six pieces) and it took quite a while to arrive (close to 20 minutes).

The glistening dumplings were served steaming hot from the frying pan. After blowing on the dumplings to cool them down, I picked up one piece and took my first bite.

Let’s just say this was the best gyoza I had ever eaten!

The skin was wonderfully smooth yet crisp. I bit in further and the savoury sweet juices started oozing out of the tender pork fillings into my mouth. It was heavenly.

This gyoza may well have ruined me for all other gyozas.

Harajuku Gyoza provides vinegar, soy sauce, and chili oil. But I think the fried dumplings are so good that you should just enjoy their original taste without adding any sauce (and this is coming from someone who enjoys strong flavours).

Steamed Dumplings

Initially, we only planned on eating the fried dumplings because we were really full after our earlier food crawl along Takeshita Street.

However, because we loved the fried dumplings so much, we decided to also check out the Steamed Dumplings (JPY 290 for six pieces).

After waiting for another rather long 15 minutes, we were served with the steamed dumplings.

These were fantastic too. The skins had a slippery texture that felt really good in my mouth, and after biting into it, gave way to the sweet savoury flavours of the juicy pork fillings.

Boiled Bean Sprouts

The Boiled Bean Sprouts With Meat Sauce (JPY 250) is very popular with customers too, and it is not hard to see why.

They had a light, crunchy and sweet taste, and tasted great with the savoury meat gravy. I highly recommend ordering this to go along with your gyozas.

Conclusion

Harajuku Gyoza is a must-visit if you are in Tokyo! The gyozas are fantastic and very affordable. This restaurant in Harajuku is also quite tourist friendly and we spotted many foreigners inside. The only downside was that we had to wait quite long for our food to be served after ordering. And be prepared to queue if you visit during peak hours.

What to order: Pan Fried Dumplings (6 pieces for JPY 290), Steamed Dumplings (6 pieces for JPY290), Beansprouts (JPY 250)
English Address: 6-2-4 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
Japanese Address: 〒150-0001 東京都渋谷区神宮前6-2-4
Directions: Six minute walk from Harajuku Station
Opening Hours: | Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 4.30am | Sun: 11.30am – 10pm |
Phone: +813 3406 4743

This article is part of our super awesome Ultimate Tokyo Travel Guide For First Timers. Everything you need to know about Tokyo is just a click away!