The restaurant opened about 15 years ago, and I was impressed to see such a nice place in this town where I spent about 25 years ago. This place offers hot pot for reservations of 4 or more people, but luckily I was able to get in without a reservation. The restaurant has expanded and added more table seats, with two entrances. This time, I sat at the main counter and enjoyed some drinks. I had a draft beer and Shaoxing wine. The menu doesn't have rice dishes, only dumplings and some small dishes. The jellyfish appetizer was refreshing, and the pan-fried dumplings were crispy and flavorful with a unique spice blend. The Sichuan-style boiled dumplings were spicy but the umami flavor stood out, complemented by a refreshing citrus sauce. The steamed dumplings were vegetarian, yet rich in flavor and very satisfying. I also added shrimp dumplings, which were delicious with a whole shrimp in each dumpling. The service was friendly, and overall, it's a great restaurant that I highly recommend!

I heard that it's quite difficult to make a reservation at this popular restaurant, so I was a bit nervous thinking it might be a fancy place. However, when I actually visited, I was pleasantly surprised. At the counter, I found that the atmosphere was friendly and welcoming, with regular customers and the owner chatting happily. I had a great time and it was a memorable experience. I fell in love with the owner's personality, the atmosphere of the restaurant, and the delicious food, so I gave it a 5-star rating. The day before, I couldn't get a reservation and the restaurant was full, so I gave up. But the next day, about 20 minutes before the last order, I decided to stop by and see if there were any available seats. I asked if it would be okay for a solo diner to come in, and they said yes! I was finally able to dine there. I joined a group of regular customers, a man and a woman, and sat in between them. The first floor had only counter seats, and even though it was close to the last order time, they welcomed me. They handed me a menu and I ordered a highball, as well as two types of dumplings - "Hua Gyoza" (grilled dumplings with wings) and "Hakkai Gyoza" (steamed vegetarian dumplings). I also ordered finely shredded potatoes as a snack. The finely shredded potatoes were served first and they were deliciously crispy. It was a popular menu item and I was glad I ordered it. The highball was strong and great! The customer next to me kindly offered me some sausage. The friendly atmosphere was wonderful, and I felt grateful for the blissful moment during my visit to this restaurant, part of my journey to visit the top 100 restaurants on Tabelog. Next, the "Hua Gyoza" arrived - they were beautifully round and looked delicious. I was instructed to eat them as they were, and they were handed to me with a smile across the counter. Both the skin and the filling were delicious. Then, the "Hakkai Gyoza" arrived in a steamer basket. They were served on lettuce and looked well-steamed. They were also quite tasty. In Chinese cuisine, dumplings often have thick skins, but these were just right. I had a great experience at this restaurant and I'm glad I discovered it. It's located right near Asagaya Station. This restaurant was selected as a Bib Gourmand in the Tabelog Top 100 Gyoza Restaurants in 2021.

Gyoza restaurant "Buta-Hakkai" in Asagaya. Full house. Seated after 25 minutes. Ready in 10 minutes. - "Hana Gyoza" (680 yen): Winged grilled gyoza. It has star anise inside, giving it a unique flavor. Goes well with black vinegar. Delicious! - "Hakkai Gyoza" (640 yen): Steamed gyoza with five different fillings. Shiitake mushrooms, thick tofu, and jellyfish-like filling provide a nice texture. Also goes well with black vinegar. - "Sichuan-style Spicy Gyoza in Chili Oil" (680 yen): Has a strong flavor of coriander and chili oil, but not too spicy.

It was a last-minute reservation request, and surprisingly I was able to secure a table for around 6 pm on a weekday. It had been about 15-16 years since my last visit, and I was worried that it might be difficult to get a reservation now that the restaurant has become popular. The restaurant is conveniently located near Asagaya Station. Upon entering, I was directed to a separate building next door, which was clean and had a cozy atmosphere with a moderate number of seats. The food was delicious, especially the water dumplings and preserved egg tofu. I look forward to returning in the colder months to try their hot pot dishes with a group of 4-5 people. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

We made a reservation for 6 people and entered the restaurant. Be careful as there are two entrances. It was a bit disappointing that we couldn't order hot pot without a reservation. It would have been helpful to know this when making the reservation. The dumplings were delicious with a variety of options, but they weren't as good as the score on Tabelog. They also offer Shaoxing wine and other drinks.

Visited around 9 pm. The place was busy but we were able to get in easily. The dumplings were delicious and the atmosphere of the restaurant was nice. The mushroom flavor in the Eight Precepts Dumplings was strong. The flavors of the Chinese Dumplings were something you can't replicate at home. However, maybe because we had eaten barbecue before, or just a matter of personal preference, I love dumplings but wasn't so impressed that I would want to come back again. It was a bit disappointing considering our high expectations. I'll have to give it another try when I'm really hungry.