π Local-First — Best in its home region: Hamamatsu.
Hamamatsu Gyoza is a local comfort food known for its light, crispy texture and iconic bean sprouts. But this city offers more than just dumplings. From rich Miso Hormon to savory Enshu-yaki, this guide explores the best local gourmet and deep izakaya culture that make a trip to Shizuoka unforgettable.
Last updated: 2025-12-20
Introduction
Hamamatsu gyoza began as a home-cooked meal and evolved into a regional food culture. As Hamamatsu developed into an industrial city after World War II, many families had both parents working, and pan-fried dumplings became a quick, satisfying dinner. That everyday habit spread from home tables to specialized shops, turning gyoza into one of the city’s most recognized local dishes.
Unlike Tokyo-style gyoza, which focuses on meatiness and strong flavors, Hamamatsu gyoza is filled mostly with cabbage and onion. The result is a lighter, sweeter filling that can be enjoyed every day — a flavor worth traveling for.
π‘ Did You Know?
The "Gyoza War" Rivalry
Hamamatsu isn't just famous for eating gyoza; it's obsessed.
Every year, the city competes fiercely with Utsunomiya City (Tochigi) for the title of "Highest Gyoza Consumption per Household in Japan."
This rivalry is so intense that the annual results make national news. For Hamamatsu locals, eating gyoza is almost a sport!
How to Order
Hamamatsu gyoza isn’t limited to specialty shops. You’ll find it at izakaya pubs, family diners, and even Italian restaurants across the city. Just look for the word “ζ΅ζΎι€ε” (Hamamatsu Gyoza) on the menu — it’s instantly understood. Most places take orders directly from staff, with options like single plates, set meals, or beer pairings.
In Hamamatsu, gyoza isn’t a special-occasion food — it’s a dish shared across the whole town.
What to Try
Hamamatsu Gyoza
It is a vegetable-centered gyoza that uses plenty of cabbage and onions, which are local specialties. Compared to Utsunomiya gyoza or others that emphasize meatiness, the texture is lighter, so you can eat many pieces at once.
The top photo shows the style called "Enban-yaki" (disk grill). They are grilled in a circle on a frying pan, and boiled bean sprouts are added to the hollow in the center. These bean sprouts serve as a palate cleanser to reset the oil in your mouth.
*The gyoza in the photo is the original gyoza from the specialty shop "Hamataro". It uses 7 types of spices including Korean chili pepper, garlic, and ginger. Because a spicy punch is added to the mild Hamamatsu gyoza base, it is recommended for those who like spicy food.
π‘ Did You Know?
Why the Bean Sprouts?
The iconic bean sprouts in the center weren't originally about taste.
Legend has it that when chefs arranged dumplings in a circle to fit as many as possible on a round pan, they needed something to fill the empty space in the middle.
They tried bean sprouts, and it turned out to be the perfect palate cleanser to cut through the oil. A practical solution became a delicious tradition.
Hamamatsu Hormon
In Hamamatsu izakayas, it is standard to eat grilled pork offal (hormon) together with gyoza. The rich miso sauce and the fat of the offal go well with beer.
Enshu Yumebuta Goro-yaki
"Enshu" is the old regional name around Hamamatsu. Enshu Yumebuta is a local pork of this region. It features soft meat and light fat that does not easily cause stomach heaviness. You enjoy it simply with yuzu kosho (citrus chili paste).
Enshu-yaki
It is a savory pancake (okonomiyaki) unique to the Enshu region. It features cubed pickled daikon radish (takuan), a local specialty, inside the batter. The crunchy texture of the takuan inside the fluffy batter acts as an accent.
Ika no Watayaki (Squid Gut Grill)
It is a very simple dish using only fresh squid meat and guts (innards). Seasoning is minimal, but it has the rich flavor of the guts, making it suitable as a snack for alcohol.
Hamanako Nori Dashimaki
It is a rolled omelet with plenty of raw green laver harvested in Lake Hamana. The scent of the seashore spreads the moment you put it in your mouth.
Kuro Hanpen Fry
While hanpen (fish cake) is generally white, Shizuoka hanpen is "black" because sardines and mackerel are kneaded in with the bones. The local style is to fry this and eat it with sauce.
Mikatagahara Jagabata
Potatoes grown on the Mikatagahara plateau in Hamamatsu are known for high starch content and a fluffy texture. To taste the sweetness of the ingredient directly, the simple way of eating with just butter is best.
Tokyo or Trip?
π Local-First — Best in its home region: Hamamatsu.
If you only want to taste Hamamatsu Gyoza, you might find a specialty shop in Tokyo. However, the real reason to visit Hamamatsu is the "synergy of local flavors" introduced in the "What to Try" section.
Hamamatsu is a city where you can enjoy a diverse food tour in a single night. You can start with light, crispy gyoza, move on to rich miso-grilled offal (Hormon) or savory Enshu-yaki, and finish with fresh seafood from Lake Hamana. This specific combination of "Gyoza + Local Izakaya Dishes" creates a dining experience that is impossible to replicate in Tokyo. To fully appreciate the depth of Shizuoka's food culture, a trip here is the only answer.
Explore Nearby
- Hamamatsu Unagi Lunch (Shizuoka) π
- Hon-Maguro Tuna Bowl (Shizuoka) π
- Doteyaki at Shimasho (Nagoya) π’
- Miso Katsu at Yabaton (Nagoya) π·
- Aji-Fry at Hayakawa Port (Odawara) π
Similar Dishes
- Utsunomiya Gyoza (Tochigi) π₯
- Hitokuchi Gyoza (Fukuoka) π₯
- Unagiimo Mont Blanc Soft Serve in Togoshi-Ginza π°
External Links
- Hamamatsu Official Tourism — What is “Hamamatsu Gyoza”? π
- Creative Hamamatsu — Bringing Hamamatsu’s Yaki-Gyoza Culture to the World π
About "Taste of Japan"
Hello, I'm Yuta.
Born in landlocked Yamanashi and having lived in the gourmet city of Sendai for 10 years, I now call Togoshi-Ginza home. My frequent business trips across Japan allow me to constantly explore the diversity of regional flavors.
Why Togoshi-Ginza?
This street is Tokyo’s longest shopping arcade (about 1.3 km), but it holds a special history. It was the very first street in Japan to adopt the "Ginza" name—a tradition that later spread across the country—after receiving bricks from the famous Ginza district following the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake.
My Wish as a Local
I am not a culinary expert. However, as a Japanese local who knows both the convenience of Tokyo and the origins of regional food, I want to share the "atmosphere" and "personal feelings" that you won't find in standard guidebooks.
The Concept: "Tokyo or Trip?"
Visiting every region of Japan in a single trip is nearly impossible. Some food experiences are worth the travel to the source, while others offer a fully satisfying experience right here in Tokyo.
This blog is a guide to help you make that choice. Based in Togoshi-Ginza, I share my honest experiences and "my personal answer" to help you maximize your culinary journey in Japan.
- π Local-First: Best experienced in its home region. Worth a trip.
- π’ Great-in-Tokyo: A nationwide favorite or regional specialty that offers a fully satisfying, authentic experience right here in Tokyo.
- π£ Tokyo-Do-Must: A unique food culture born in or exclusive to Tokyo.