Gyoza @ Gyoza Ichiban, Sawara Ward, Fukuoka

 

Usually served as a side dish of a snack, the humble dumpling is usually enjoyed like a proper travel companion to other more filling dishes. However, this said travel companion would like to take the wheel and send you on a delicious ride. This is where Gyoza Ichiban comes in. 

Old school menu

Located close to the Fujisaki station, there isn't much explanation needed to describe what this izakaya-style restaurant is all about. Dumplings are put front and center in all their glory. The place is vibrant and rustic, typical of a classic izakaya establishment. So as such, they have an extensive menu befitting of an izakaya. But we are here for the dumplings and as such that is the order of the day.

They look like gems!

I was pretty famished at this point and it was getting pretty late. So I ordered a plate of prawn dumplings, another plate of squid dumplings, and lastly a pot of boiled dumplings. The dumplings range from 450 yen to 650 yen a portion depending on the type of dumplings. And for this round, I got myself a good pint of Kirin to wash it all down. 

Such artistry...

If you like dumplings then this is definitely the place to be. Each gyoza has been seared well on one end but still soft and supple on another. The skin was well wrapped and almost paper-thin. It was so thin that you can even see the ingredients inside! Expertly done. The filling was fantastic as well. The shrimp dumplings remind me of har gao you can get from a fine dim sum place. The squid on the other hand has a more springy and rubbery bite to it. In terms of looks, both of them are similar. What tells them apart is the filling, which is distinctly different. 

Time for a saucy bath

In terms of flavour, both are great. Both were packed with some well seasoned minced pork which help round out the dumplings. Chives are aplenty as well, giving it a more fragrant edge. Totally spellbinding, although a bit greasy. Each plate was 520 yen a pop, which was a steal considering a plate has 10 dumplings. If you like to add a bit more to the dumplings, then I strongly recommend the dipping sauce and the spicy yuzu paste that comes with each table. The experience is definitely amplified with the extra savouriness, spice, and zesty edge. 

Steamy

The boiled gyozas are pretty good too. The skins are thicker and more doughy, as expected. However, they are lacking a little in terms of flavour. Do not get me wrong. They are good but compared to the grilled ones that came beforehand, they are far superior. A pot of this came with 8 dumplings. A little smaller. It should be noted that the dumplings were served in boiled water and not a soup stock. So that liquid that came in the pot is a little bland. 

If you are naming your place after a dish, it better be good.
Luckily it was. 

So if you are a fan of dumplings, you would do yourself a service by coming to this joint. Even if you are not but just enjoy good food with a great pint, this is something you should try too. Fancy a go? The address is as follows:

2 Chome-2 Momochi, Sawara Ward, Fukuoka, 814-0006