In front of Niihikari Station, there is a bar called "Maruken Sakaba". The three of us sat at a table in the clean and beautiful interior. They have a variety of dumplings as their main dish. The menu is not very extensive, but they have interesting items like horse meat yukhoe and plenty of takoyaki sets. If you order a Mega Highball or Lemon Sour, you can try your luck with a challenge where a black-bearded man will appear and you may get a free drink. I ordered four drinks but unfortunately didn't win.

Gyoza izakaya in front of Shin-Ishikiri Station. The restaurant always stands out with its bright lights. It's not a very common sight as it focuses on gyoza, but it's actually operated by the Marshe Group, known for restaurants like Suiko Den and Hakken Den! I've wanted to try it since moving here, and finally had the chance during the 8 days my wife and dog were visiting her parents. Despite it being the middle of Obon, there were only about 20% of the usual customers when I visited around 9:00 PM on the 14th. Lucky me! I was alone, but there was a small counter for 4 people, so it worked out well. The interior was also brightly lit, maybe a bit too much. I ordered the Maruken Gyoza single, Mizu Gyoza single, Maruken Salad, and a bottle of beer. The Maruken Gyoza is a standard type without garlic, with 5 pieces in a single order. I used ponzu and chili oil from the table condiments. The filling is predominantly vegetables, a bit too much filling compared to the skin. The filling is light and not very juicy, making it a denser type of gyoza. The taste is not bad. The Mizu Gyoza is different from pan-fried gyoza and is eaten with a special miso sauce. The sauce is slightly sweet and delicious. Also without garlic, the skin is chewy but the filling lacks juiciness, making it a denser type of gyoza. The Maruken Salad had a Caesar dressing with a slightly acidic taste. It consisted of a large amount of shredded cabbage, radish, and cherry tomatoes, with a crispy topping adding flavor. It lacked visual appeal but was a simple, leafy salad. The service was friendly, and considering the amount I ate, the cost of 1600 yen felt cheap. If you like gyoza with a dense filling, this place might be good for you.

Gyoza Shokudo Maruken Shin-Ishikiri Store @ Higashiosaka City, Higashiyamacho, near Kintetsu and Keihan lines Shin-Ishikiri Station, about a 3-minute walk away, [Gyoza Shokudo Maruken Shin-Ishikiri Store]. It's a blog ⇒ Kawauchi's everyday meal, sometimes alcohol. Taking advantage of the Saturday off, I went to Nara for training for three consecutive weeks. On the last day of the journey back. My partner is also busy with work, so is it okay to have a simple dinner tonight... (^▽^;) To satisfy myself, I decided to go to this place in front of Shin-Ishikiri Station, which opened in February this year for takeout. It's a shop of the Maruken group that operates "Suikoden" and "Hakken Den". The official website is here ⇒ Gyoza Shokudo Maruken I had already decided by looking at my smartphone, so I just told the cashier my order. After placing the order, I looked around the store and... it was packed with customers, as it was just before 7 pm on Saturday. Many customers were also taking out, and there were 2-3 people waiting after me. After waiting for about 25 minutes, I finally received my order. I brought it home, took it out of the bag, and lined it up... it was quite a volume... (^▽^;) I usually don't transfer it to a plate, but since I'm posting it on my blog... (laughs) There was a buzz on SNS about "My husband got angry when I served sashimi in the pack on New Year's Day", but... it reduces the amount of washing and reduces the wife's efforts, and it's environmentally friendly. In our house, I usually do the dishes... (laughs) Instead of complaining, you should move it yourself... (laughs) Let's eat. ◆Brooklyn Sorachi Ace A Saison-style beer born in Hokkaido and raised in New York, using hops from Sorachi Ace in Hokkaido. A beer with a refreshing and pleasant lemongrass-like aroma. ◆Homemade! Maruken Gyoza Single (5 pieces) 198 yen Thin skin with a lot of vegetables in the filling. Overall, it has a subtle ginger flavor. The cabbage is crispy and has a good texture. The vinegar soy sauce that comes with it is surprisingly sweet. ◆Garlic Fried Gyoza Single (5 pieces) 264 yen It looks exactly the same as Maruken Gyoza. However, this one is spicy with a punch of garlic. As I thought, gyoza is more delicious with garlic. ◆Hand-wrapped Water Gyoza Single (5 pieces) 308 yen The thick skin has a chewy texture. When dipped in a miso-based miso sauce, the balance with the refreshing filling without garlic is good. ◆Chicken Wing Gyoza (1 piece) 209 yen The domestic chicken wings are packed with gyoza filling. The crispy and fragrant skin, and the spicy seasoning, are enough to eat as is without anything else. ◆Drooling Chicken 528 yen "Mouthwatering chicken" in Chinese. It means chicken that is so delicious that it makes you drool. A spicy sauce with a hint of Sichuan pepper. The cilantro is also a good accent. ◆Brooklyn Defender IPA A beer developed by Brooklyn Brewery's master brewer for an American comics event. It was originally limited to the event, but it became a regular product due to its great reputation. A beer with a tropical fruit-like aroma, a firm bitterness, and a refreshing aftertaste. ◆Shrimp Mayo 638 yen The batter is thick and feels a bit heavy, but the shrimp is firm. It seems just right for my partner, but I want more mayonnaise to be thick and creamy... (laughs) Because I'm a person who likes rich flavors... (laughs) With 4 types of gyoza, 3 side dishes, and a total of 2,829 yen. Huh!? Is it so cheap, and can a couple fill up their stomachs? It took time to bring it home.