Review of the National Gyoza Festival in Sendai

Website:  http://gyoza.strikingly.com

Address:  Kokusai Center Subway Station.   

Map:  Check on their website.

Sunday, July 2^nd from 10 am to 4 pm.

For more info, please read my initial posting of this event HERE.

When I realized in the late afternoon that it would not rain today, I decided to venture on out and fight the crowds at the famed Gyoza Matsuri.  I was concerned that with today’s heat and humidity that waiting in line with a bunch of strangers for a small sampling of food might not make for an enjoyable afternoon.

But to my surprise upon arrival at around 3 pm, I discovered that the event was NOT crowded at all!  In fact, all but two of the gyoza stalls had lines.  There were lots of people there, but no lines.

This was the size of the crowd

For my first sampling, I chose the Utsunomiya Gyoza, which did have a line.  Of course it had a line; Utsnomiya and gyoza go hand-in-hand.  I had to wait a WHOLE five-stomach growling-minutes.  I was unable to find a seat under a tent so I went to one of the many standing tables available.  

This was good gyoza!  Crispy on the outside with a flavorful filling.  And at five dumplings for 300 yen, I recommend this one! 

There were 5.  I was starving and ate 1 before I took the photo.  Oops.

Next, I moseyed on over to the other stall that had a loooooooong line (I waited three-minutes tops) for a jumbo Tsu Gyoza from Mie Prefecture.  This was one puffy pot sticker reportedly registering 15 cm in length.  (This time I was able to find a seat under a tent, but it was so hot it didn’t feel like the shade helped that much.)  The wrapping was thick and a bit crispy, stuffed with all the flavors that you’d expect.  This was good, but I liked the Utsunomiya Gyoza better.

One chubby gyoza

For what I thought was my final taste testing, I decided to try the Fukushima Gyoza, as that booth had accumulated a short line.  Apparently, Fukushima Gyoza is popular due to its emphasis on vegetable fillings, and for the fact that 700 of these gyoza can be cooked at the same time.  This gyoza was very good!  I recommend this one, too!  Very similar to the Utsunomiya Gyoza.  

Fukushima Gyoza

How many gyoza do you see?

While waiting in line, I ran into my friend, Fumika, who graciously invited me to join her and her friend.  They had purchased the Hachiman Gyoza from Fukuoka Prefecture, which uses yuzu pepper as a condiment, and offered me a dumpling.

We all first tried the gyoza without the yuzu pepper.  It was good, as I detected a slight sweetness to it.  Then we all tried the yuzu pepper by itself.  The yuza flavoring was sour, the pepper strong.  I guess that was to be expected.

Hachiman Gyoza

I suspect that since it’s supposed to be sunny tomorrow, that’s when the crowds will flock to this event, so I’m glad I battled the heat today.   

Also, if the tents are crowded, you might want to try the Kokusai Center Station viewing platform.  There are tables, chairs, steps, and most importantly, shade!  

If you try some of the other gyoza, please let me know what you thought of it.

Have fun if you go!

From the Kokusai Center Station Viewing Platform

National Gyoza Festival in Sendai 全国餃子祭りin仙台 022-259-3712

Website:  http://gyoza.strikingly.com

Address:  Kokusai Center Subway Station.   

Map:  Check on their website.

Saturday, July 1^st from 10 am to 6 pm, and Sunday, July 2^nd from 10 am to 4 pm.

I stopped by late Sunday afternoon during last year’s festivities, and some of the gyoza booths had already sold out, while other stalls had lines that were more than a 40-minute wait.  This proved to be an extremely popular event in 2016.

Still, it was fun to sit, eat, and watch the crowd enjoy themselves.  I also got a glimpse of Gyoza Man (?-I don’t know he calls himself).

Gyoza Man?  Mr. Gyoza Head?

Kirin Beer is once again hosting this gyoza extravaganza and there are live performances scheduled throughout the event.  

All the vendors are selling their gyoza packages for 300 yen, which are usually four dumplings per pack.

I’m sorry, but I really don’t remember my impressions on the pot stickers from last year, but I’ll add a few photos just to give you an idea.

Hope to see you there!

Brother Ken ブラザー軒 022-222-1171

Website:  http://brother-ken.com/history/history.html

Address:  仙台市青葉区一番町4-2-20.   Located between Hirose-dori and Jozenji-dori.  Walking down Ichibancho from Hirose-dori, turn right down the side street when you hit the 7-11 on your left-hand side, and the picture of Marilyn Monroe on the right.  Brother Ken will be on your right-hand side.

Map:  Scroll down below.

Open from 11:30 am till 8 pm, but lunch is till 2 pm.  Closed Thursdays and holidays.

Like many of you, I’ve walked by the area between Hirose-dori and Jozen-ji dori a thousand times, but I never noticed this restaurant, which is surprising since this restaurant has been in existence for over 100 years.

Brother Ken, which specializes in Chinese cuisine, was recommended to me recently by my student, Chiaki, who seems to know a thing or two about fine dining.  

Upon entering, it appears as if you are in a hotel lobby rather than a restaurant, as there are no noticeable restaurant-style chairs or tables in view, but instead sofas and coffee tables.  The hostess guided my wife and me to a small room in the rear with about seven tables.  As we were escorted to our table, I noticed a separate dining room, as well as a staircase leading up and down, giving the impression that this restaurant is quite spacious.

Whilst perusing the menu, disappointment was soon met for a couple of reasons:  

1) The primary lunch set, which consisted of pork, was sold out.

2) The secondary lunch set, which was not sold out, consisted of fish.

This was fine with my seafood-loving wife, but this severely limited my options.  The a la carte menu offered a vast array of dishes, so I considered ordering the karage chicken (840 yen) and perhaps a side platter to go with it, but I knew the cost of ordering two separate dishes would not only up the price, but may not be worth it as I am not a big eater.

Luckily for me, I am married to a very kind and thoughtful lady.  She said, “How about if we order the third lunch set (1575 yen) and you order the karage chicken, then we just split everything?”

I love you, baby!

The lunch set my better half had chosen came with a choice of yakisoba or Chinese noodles, hors d’ oeuvre, a Chinese dumpling, fried spring rolls, and a dessert.  My wife asked for the yakisoba.

The hors d’ oeuvre was a tangy mix of pork and salad.  While the portion size was rather small, it was quite appetizing.

令菜

The karage chicken was tender and full of flavor, although the breaded-battered coating could have been just a bit crispier.  Still, I was quite satisfied.

鶏の唐揚げ

The yakisoba serving was generous and tasted quite nice, despite the hint of a seafood taste.  No wonder, as shrimp and squid were added in the mix.     

五目焼きそば

The fried spring rolls were OUTSTANDING!  I broke apart a bit of the fried wrapping and I found it to be super crispy and savory in its own right.  The succulent flavorings of the ingredients inside just made it all the more delicious!  The accompanying Chinese dumpling was quite large and also scrumptious!  I would have gladly requested another order of this platter had I a bigger appetite.

焼売と春巻

I didn’t touch the desert that came with the lunch set, as it didn’t look too appealing to me, but my wife enjoyed it.

デザート

In fact, she stated, “I would definitely come back here again!”  

So, in a nutshell, that about says it all.  

In addition to their Chinese dishes, Brother Ken also offers a variety of curries, omelets, and desserts.

I’ve mentioned this restaurant to a number of Sendai-ites who have heard good things about it.  I don’t think you would go wrong dining at Brother Ken.

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Chuukaya Shokudou Chinese Restaurant 中嘉屋食堂 022-748-1215

Website:  http://www.minpantin.co.jp/

Address:  仙台市太白区長町7丁目20番15号.  Located in The Mall Part 2 in Nagamachi-minami.  It’s on the 3^rd floor next to the sushi restaurant and underneath MOVIX. 

Map:  Click the "Location" link below.

Open: Not sure, but I imagine anytime The Mall Part 2 is open, which is 10 am to 9 pm.

This restaurant has different locations including one on the 1^st floor of Sendai Station, however, the one in Sendai Station isn’t very good in my opinion.  


I like the fried breaded chicken (ユリンチ定食 ) and the sweet and sour pork with veggies platters.  They've recently introduced a new menu with lots of meat dishes that also look good.  The set menu comes with entrée, rice, egg flower soup, macaroni salad (usually), and some type of tsukemono (which I don’t like).  I also like the chocolate ice cream there.  My wife likes the ramen though on this day she had the かた揚げ五目焼そば.       

Yurinchi Set Meal                

If you happen to see a movie at Movix that day, show the waitress your ticket stub.  They sometimes have a free drink or half price ice cream campaign.

Yakisoba

We eat here quite often because it's always a safe bet that we'll be satisfied with our meal.  

Wantsu-chi (Wan-zu-ji?) 万豚記 022-249-3336

Set Meal Menu for the Saturday that I went

Gyoza Set Meal *I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT CURRENTLY WANTSU-CHI IS CLOSED.  FOR A WHILE, THEIR WEBSITE STATED THAT THEY WERE "TEMPORARILY" CLOSED.  BUT NOW THE WEBSITE IS ALSO DOWN SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL RE-OPEN.  THE STREET THEY WERE LOCATED ON WAS HIT VERY HARD BY THE EARTHQUAKE AND MANY SHOPS HAVE BEEN TORN DOWN.  I WAS HOPING THEY WERE GOING TO REMODEL BUT WHO KNOWS?  HERE'S HOPING FOR THE BEST. Website:  Not their official site, but one with info on them:                     http://www.kiwa-group.co.jp/restaurant/t100214.html

Address:  宮城県仙台市太白区長町1-4-1.  Located in between the Nagamachi and Nagamachi-ichome Subway Stations on the same road.  Also on the same side of the street as the Nagamachi JR Station.

Map:  Scroll down to the bottom.

Hours:  Closed Tuesdays.

            Wednesdays – Mondays:   11:00 – 3:00    and   6:00 – 11:30 pm.

            Sundays:   11:00 – 3:00   and    6:00 – 9:30 pm.

Great Chinese food.  I especially like the big gyoza set meal!  It’s not the set that is big, but it’s the gyoza: Around 13 centimeters or so.  The set meal comes with rice, egg soup, a bean sprout salad (that has miniscule bits of chicken) and a white gelatin dessert (杏仁豆腐).  I don’t like the dessert because … I’m picky, but the wife loves it.   My wife also gives the ramen a big thumbs up.  Other choices I like are the さくさくchicken set meal and the pork with cabbage set. 

They sometimes play Beatles or cheesy 80’s music.  When it’s 80’s night, I keep thinking, “懐かしい! I haven’t heard that song in years.  Oh yeah, I didn’t like that song did I?”

This restaurant chain actually has a few different locations in Sendai and they all have different names (which is helpful-hmmmf).  I went to one a long time ago on Minami-machi dori across from the old Brother Building that's called Benitorazen  紅虎禅.  Walking from Sendai Station it’s before you get to Meidi-ya Import Store on the same side of the street.  It’s next to a small conbini.  That restaurant had a different menu, but it was still very good.     

There is also one in Yamatomachi that I’ve heard is also very good, and the website lists one in Izumi.  Let me know if you’ve been to any of these or any others I don’t know about.

The Nagamachi location has free parking but it’s down the street.   Your best bet would be to pull over and run in and ask the staff where to park.                  

Unfortunately, they have no stamp card nor do they have a non-smoking section.

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