"Beef grilled gyoza" with plenty of beef

One of the most indispensable accompaniments to ramen is gyoza (dumplings). Niu Bai Wei's  gyoza are dumplings filled with beef with almost no vegetables. They are also very tasty!

– Are gyoza really popular in China?

Hitsu-san: "Yes, for Chinese people, dumplings are a staple food. However, grilled dumplings are not a major dish, but mainly sui-gyoza (boiled dumplings). The skin of Japanese gyoza is very thin, isn't it? But Chinese dumplings have a thicker, firmer skin.

So when I eat gyoza, I eat a lot of gyoza without eating rice. Gyoza sauce is also basically eaten with black vinegar. Please try it with black vinegar today! ”

Grilled beef gyoza 380 yen

I tried it with Hitsu-san's recommended way of eating, but I didn't know that black vinegar would go so well with gyoza! It was delicious with plenty of homemade chili oil.

– Do you ever eat fried dumplings?

Hitsu-san:“If there are leftover boiled dumplings, I sometimes bake them the next morning. Oh! Another thing that makes dumplings different is that cabbage is not used in China. Chinese cabbage is used. We don’t have garlic in it, too."

I didn't know that the way of eating gyoza, which should have been introduced from China, is so different between Japan and China. It's all I don't know yet.

A favorite of Japanese people, “Fried eggplant with spicy sauce”

Fried eggplant with spicy sauce 780 yen

They also has a wide variety of menu items that go well with sake. Other than ramen, to-go is available, so it's nice to have a drink at home.

Among the dishes, the fried eggplant with spicy sauce was the staff's favorite. The sweet and spicy fried eggplant is a hit with everyone's taste buds.

– Oh yeah, how did you find this place?

Hitsu-san: "When I was walking down Osu Shopping Arcade to go out for lunch, a staff member was preparing to open a restaurant. When I heard that it was opening, I came to eat immediately.

Since then, I've been completely hooked (laughs). Also, the owner's accent was similar to my mother's, so maybe he's from Shandong? When I asked, he said yes, and talking with the owner reminds me of my mother and makes me feel nostalgic. I also felt a strong sense of closeness. ”

Special chicken wings & shrimp lettuce fried rice

Next is the popular menu of the restaurant, “Special chicken wings (580 yen)” and “Shrimp lettuce fried rice (680 yen)”.

Special chicken wings 580 yen

There is no doubt that you will be addicted to the chicken wings, which are topped with a sweet and salty sauce and plenty of black pepper.

Shrimp lettuce fried rice 680 yen

Shrimp lettuce fried rice is also irresistible with crispy shrimp and crispy lettuce. As a Japanese, fried rice is indispensable when you come with ramen and gyoza.

If you think about it, it's all carbohydrates, but it's delicious, so I can't stop eating it. No matter what you eat, it's really delicious!

Niu Bai Wei's, secret chili oil

This homemade chili oil is the cornerstone of Niu Bai Wei's cuisine. The chili oil, which is prepared by hand and left to rest overnight, is of course great for gyoza sauce, but it also goes well with salads, steamed pork, and anything else!

It can be purchased at the store for 500 yen per bottle. How about a souvenir when you go home? There is no doubt that home cooking will be one rank up.

Hitsu-san and his wife, the owner.

At Niu Bai Wei, you can enjoy a variety of Chinese dishes, including Lanzhou ramen, from lunch to dinner. All of them are exquisite, so be sure to visit them!

Through this interview, I learned that there is a big difference between the Chinese food that we usually eat and the authentic Chinese food. By learning about other cultures, you will become aware of your own culture. Thank you very much for today, Hitsu-san and the owner couple!