Image: Wikimedia Commons
Utsunomiya Gyoza is a local specialty centered on Utsunomiya City in Tochigi Prefecture, known nationwide as one of Japan's leading 'gyoza towns.' During World War II, officers and soldiers of the Army's 14th Division, stationed in Utsunomiya, were dispatched to Manchuria (present-day northeastern China) and other areas, where they are said to have encountered authentic gyoza culture; after the war, returning soldiers brought the recipe back with them, and it spread throughout the city. In 1991, the trade association 'Utsunomiya Gyoza Kai' was formed, and through activities such as installing a gyoza statue, creating gyoza maps, and holding the annual 'Utsunomiya Gyoza Festival' each autumn, the city has pursued community revitalization on the strength of ranking first nationally in household gyoza spending. Featuring a sweet filling generously packed with vegetables such as cabbage, garlic chives, and green onion and only lightly seasoned with garlic, the city is home to more than 200 gyoza restaurants, where the dumplings are enjoyed pan-fried, boiled, or deep-fried in a variety of styles.
Origin
Utsunomiya's beginnings as a 'gyoza town' are said to trace back to the Army's 14th Division, which was stationed in the city during World War II. Officers, soldiers, and others affiliated with the division, garrisoned in Manchuria, became familiar with authentic gyoza there and brought the recipe back to Utsunomiya when they returned home after the war. A shop that opened near JR Utsunomiya Station around 1951 is said to have been the first in the city to serve gyoza, and specialty shops followed one after another thereafter.
History
After the war, gyoza specialty shops such as 'Utsunomiya Minmin' and 'Masashi' opened one after another in Utsunomiya City, and gyoza became established as an everyday food loved by ordinary people. In 1991, the trade association 'Utsunomiya Gyoza Kai' was formed on a proposal from the city's tourism division, which had noted that Utsunomiya consistently ranked among the top cities nationwide in the Family Income and Expenditure Survey's 'gyoza purchases' category. In 1994, a gyoza statue was installed in front of JR Utsunomiya Station as part of a television program feature, and joint public-private promotional activities raised the city's profile as a 'gyoza town' to national recognition.
Features
Utsunomiya Gyoza is characterized by a sweet filling generously packed with vegetables such as cabbage, garlic chives, and green onion, with garlic kept to a minimum. Many shops use pork and domestic vegetables, and beyond pan-fried gyoza with a crispy 'wing' of browned batter, there is also a wide variety of preparations including boiled and deep-fried gyoza. With more than 200 gyoza restaurants packed into the city, each specialty shop has its own character in the thickness of the wrapper, the blend of the filling, and the seasoning of the dipping sauce, drawing many tourists who enjoy comparing different shops' offerings.
Main Ingredients
Food Culture
In a region with an inland climate of hot summers and cold winters, gyoza has long been favored as a stamina food, and residents take pride in being a 'gyoza town' that consistently ranks among the top cities nationwide in gyoza spending. It is customary for families and friends to go on gyoza-shop-hopping outings on holidays, and gyoza is cherished both as a local specialty and as an everyday food.
How It Differs from Home Cooking
At home, gyoza is typically made easily with store-bought wrappers and ground meat, but specialty shops take great care in making their own wrappers from scratch and prepping the vegetables, using eye-catching cooking methods such as pan-frying with a crispy wing. Facilities like Kirasse, where you can sample the flavors of multiple shops in one visit, also offer an enjoyment unique to specialty dining.
Famous Shops
宇都宮みんみん 本店
栃木県宇都宮市馬場通り4-2-3
Founded in 1958, this long-established shop is considered the flagship of Utsunomiya Gyoza. Located along Baba-dori Street, about a 15-minute walk from JR Utsunomiya Station, it is so popular that a line is almost guaranteed. Pan-fried gyoza is offered at an affordable price of around 230 yen for six pieces.
View details →正嗣 宮島町本店
栃木県宇都宮市馬場通り4-3-1
Located about 30 seconds' walk from the Minmin main shop, this simple specialty shop serves only gyoza. The menu has just two items - pan-fried and boiled gyoza - starting at around 280 yen for six pieces. A perennially popular shop with long lines, supported by locals as well.
来らっせ 本店
栃木県宇都宮市二荒町5-11
An antenna shop operated by the Utsunomiya Gyoza Kai, located near Futaarayama Shrine. In addition to permanent booths for five popular shops in the city, including Koran and Minmin, it offers a rotating lineup of gyoza from member shops each day, letting visitors sample and compare flavors.
View details →| Frozen Raw Gyoza (from Utsunomiya Gyoza Kai member shops) | Frozen raw gyoza from member shops such as Minmin can be purchased at kiosks inside Utsunomiya Station and at Kirasse, allowing you to recreate the authentic flavor at home. The Utsunomiya Gyoza Kai's official online store also ships nationwide by refrigerated courier, making it a popular choice as a travel souvenir for home enjoyment.Where to buy →PR |
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