Ebisugawa Gyoza Nakajima Donguri Branch

In the five years since its opening in Marutamachi in February 2024, Ebisugawa Gyoza Nakajima has become one of the most popular gyoza specialty restaurants in Kyoto. As of August 2024, there are a total of four stores in Kyoto City, and it may be no exaggeration to say that its popularity now surpasses that of Gyoza Hohei, a regular on the 100 best gyoza stores in the Tabelog.

This time I visited the Donguri Branch, the second branch of the Nakajima Gyoza restaurant. I had a small appointment in Shijo-Kawaramachi in the evening, so I used this restaurant to spend some time until the meeting, and I found an interesting summer menu…

A local restaurant in one of the most famous sightseeing spots in Japan… This is what the Ebisugawa Gyoza Nakajima Donguri Branch looks like…

I arrived at Ebisugawa Gyoza Nakajima Donguri Branch at around 6:20 p.m. on this day. There were a few empty seats in the restaurant from the outside, and I easily entered the restaurant without any waiting time.

According to the restaurant’s Tabelog information, there are a total of 31 seats in the restaurant, including 6 counter seats, so even a lone customer like me can use the restaurant without any problem. In fact, during my stay, a woman who seemed to be on her way home from work came in alone, picked up some drinks and gyoza, and left. So there is no need to feel uneasy about being alone, even if you are a woman.

The restaurant is located in Gion, one of the most famous sightseeing spots in Japan, but it does not have a glittering atmosphere at all, and the atmosphere is more like a local teishoku-ya (set meal restaurant). The atmosphere is not at all different from that of the main restaurant in Marutamachi, with its faded retro feel and nostalgic atmosphere. I am impressed by how well they create the atmosphere of this kind of restaurant.

Ordered three items including “chilled gyoza”, a summer-only menu item, at Ebisugawa Gyoza Nakajima Donguri Branch. Now, how do they taste?

Let me introduce in order the 3 items +1 that I ordered at Ebisugawa Gyoza Nakajima Donguri Branch on that day. I was especially curious about the summer-only “chilled gyoza” that I found on the menu. It said “limited quantity,” but thank goodness there were still some left…

Gyoza Deep

First, the standard gyoza deep for two (price: 380 yen x 2 including tax). The gyoza of the day was crispy and grilled, just the way I like it. The vegetables in the filling are coarsely chopped into small pieces, giving them a nice crunchy texture. The garlic is also well seasoned, making me want to throw them into my mouth one after another.

Baisu

The gyoza deep fits perfectly with the Baisu (priced at 550 yen including tax). Personally, I think it is a must-order combination when visiting Ebisugawa Gyoza Nakajima. But be careful not to drink too much, as it is stronger than it looks. One more thing I regret is that the name of the celebrity is not written on the glass. I was quite looking forward to seeing whose name would be on the glass… I guess this is a treat only for the main store?

Cold dumpling

Now, here comes the highlight of the visit. Let’s take a look at two items on the summer-only gyoza menu. First is the chilled gyoza (500 yen per person including tax). They come with a sesame oil-flavored sauce, but adding vinegar to it is recommended. The base of the gyoza is probably Gyoza French, as there is no garlic flavor. The skin is sticky and tangy on the tongue, and I personally found that sensation a bit “meh…”. It is not bad by any means, but I would definitely prefer grilled dumplings with a savory flavor to accompany beer.

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Cold Gyoza Noodles with Sour Soup

Another summer-only item on the menu is the Cold Gyoza Noodles with Sour Soup (priced at 850 yen including tax). The chilled gyoza is used as an ingredient in somen noodles. The chilled gyoza is more delicious here. The sour and refreshing soup has the richness of ground sesame and the aroma of myoga, and the stickiness of the gyoza skin is gone. The somen noodles also retained their firmness and were cooked just right. This may be a good dish to eat even when one’s appetite is down due to the summer heat.

The bill was for the above three dishes plus one. I felt that my expectations were a little too high for the cold gyoza, which is a summer-only menu item, but for the standard grilled gyoza, I felt that the stability of the menu was excellent. I think this is a perfect place for a light drink, especially before going home. It is closer to the main station than the main branch of Nakajima, which is located in Marutamachi, so please stop by when you change trains or buses!

Examples of other menu items at Ebisugawa Gyoza Nakajima Donguri Branch (prices include tax)

• Nakajima’s fried noodles with red bean paste 890 yen
• Stir-fried squid and garlic sprouts 850 yen
• Stir-fried shrimp with tomato and egg (fried egg) 730 yen
• Fried rice 690 yen
• Nakajima’s boiled chicken 690 yen
• Egg fried pork 690 yen
• Fried chicken 690 yen

How about a cold beer and gyoza after a soak in the public bathhouse, which is available by reservation only? To get to the Ebisugawa Gyoza Nakajima Donguri Branch, a 5-minute walk from the nearest station, Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Electric Railway line.

Ebisugawa Gyoza Nakajima Donguri Branch is also known for its public bathhouse, which is open by reservation only. Gyoza and a public bath may not seem to be related, but isn’t it amazing to think that you can have a nice cold draft beer the moment you get out of a hot bath? In addition to the bath, you can also use the sauna and water bath for 80 minutes on a private basis, with prices starting at 7,700 yen including tax. If you are looking for something a little different for your holiday, why not try this private bath + gyoza and beer set?

Now, here are the details of the restaurant…

It is also a 5-minute walk from Kyoto Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line.

P.S. If you are looking for delicious dumpling in Kyoto, please stop by this article below…