Hamamatsu, in Shizuoka Prefecture, is famous for gyoza even within Japan. Among the countless gyoza specialists, a handful of so-called famous shops are impossible to get into without lining up. Out of those, I visited a place called Mutsugiku in downtown Hamamatsu.

The front entrance

The dining room is quite large, but it filled up in no time. And since the line of people waiting keeps growing, you are not allowed to stay at a table for more than an hour.

Inside

It is a famous shop with a long history, but the interior is pretty modern.

Hamamatsu gyoza

I figured gyoza could only differ so much, but true to a famous shop with a queue, it is definitely delicious. Hard to imagine making it much better than this.

Horumon-yaki

Ordering only gyoza felt a bit off, so I got this as a side to go with drinks. A little heavily seasoned, but pretty good.

You cannot eat gyoza without a beer.

Buta miso-yaki

We ended up ordering everything on the shop’s short menu. This dish was quite good too.

Ramen

The clear broth is tasty too. It was so popular that it was not easy to eat at a relaxed pace, but it was a really wonderful place. Touring famous local shops out in the regions is a real pleasure.

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