Black spicy beef and pork dumplings at Tiger Gyoza taste a lot better than they look. (Eric Guzman/Stars and Stripes)
Black spicy beef and pork dumplings at Tiger Gyoza taste a lot better than they look. (Eric Guzman/Stars and Stripes)
There are 14 types of dumplings, a staple in many a Tokyo eatery, to choose from at Tiger Gyoza Hall, as the name would suggest. (Eric Guzman/Stars and Stripes)
Gyoza smothered in cheese appears more like lasagna than dumplings at Tiger Gyoza Hall in Tokyo. (Eric Guzman/Stars and Stripes)
Gyoza is a staple at many a Tokyo eatery, but rarely is it the main attraction.
That changes at Tiger Gyoza Hall, 10 minutes from Shibuya Station in the ever-busy Udagawa-cho neighborhood.
The steamed and often lightly fried dumplings are to local Chinese restaurants what french fries are to the everyday American burger joint. Tiger Gyoza Hall’s menu transforms them from a side dish into the menu’s main attraction, serving up 14 styles that range from traditional pork and vegetable gyoza to cheese-grilled versions that appear to be more lasagna than dumpling.
There are other items on the menu, such as ramen, if you’re not in the mood for gyoza, but the dumpling menu should be enough to satisfy even the hungriest customers.
To avoid falling behind on this year’s wacky food trends, Tiger Gyoza Hall offers both Thai-style dumplings infused with a sriracha-like chili sauce and a “hot and spicy black meat” gyoza.
Chain restaurants like Burger King and McDonalds are offering black burgers this fall, and Tiger Gyoza Hall’s answer is arguably the most palatable. Healthier and not as salty as its squid ink-infused competitors, Tiger Gyoza Hall’s black dumplings are the clear winner for health conscious-types looking for their fill of blackened eats.
Know a restaurant or entertainment spot you’d like to see reviewed in After Hours? Email Paul Alexander at alexander.paul@stripes.com.
Tiger Gyoza HallAccess: Shibuya Station (Hachiko Gate)
Hours: 11 a.m to 4 a.m.
Costs: A plate of dumplings can run anywhere from 400 yen to 1,200 yen depending on style and portion size.
Food: Gyoza (dumplings) are the menu’s main attraction.
Drinks: There are teas and soft drinks available, but the selection of Chinese, Korean and Japanese liquors are sure to impress those who prefer alcoholic beverages.
Menus: English menus are available, but there usually is an English-speaking staffer on hand to assist should any questions arise.
Phone: 03 (6427) 0427. Reservations are recommended if you’re coming later in the evening. Seating is plentiful, but fills up fast at night.
