I visited a restaurant I was curious about, Gyoza-bo Hiko. I sat at the counter and there was a master and two female staff members. I started with a draft beer, which was served in a small glass for 550 yen. I ordered two servings of pan-fried gyoza for 500 yen per serving. They looked good with wings attached, but they were just okay. I was a bit disappointed as I had high expectations. In my opinion, a certain franchise restaurant offers better value and taste. Thank you for the meal.

On March 2021, our second stop was at Gyoza Sakana Hiko. The restaurant is located facing a rotary square, and it is clear from the sign outside that they specialize in gyoza. Upon entering, we were seated in a raised tatami area. The place was almost full from the moment we arrived until we left, with the counter being particularly crowded. We ordered a variety of gyoza and another specialty dish called steamed basket. The draft beer was served in a frozen glass. The taste of the gyoza was typical of what you would expect from an izakaya. The steamed basket dish was simply steamed ingredients, resembling a home-cooked meal. It seems like a place more focused on drinking and having a light snack rather than enjoying delicious food.

I visited Kitami on 10/29/2019. Today's dinner was in Kitami. The meeting place was here at "Gyoza-bo Hiko" where the friendly master was in charge. The main gyoza was crispy with wings, delicious! The conversation with the master was enjoyable and the drinks kept flowing. Also, the steamed dish in a steamer was delicious. I had steamed pork and vegetables with ponzu sauce, it was refreshing and I could eat a lot (lol). I'm sorry I don't have a photo of the steamer. I drank too much (lol). There is a counter so it's easy to come alone. Thank you for the meal!

Local favorite spot. When you open the door, the lively and bustling interior welcomes you. Various types of keep bottles are lined up neatly. The owner and cheerful staff work seamlessly together, creating a warm atmosphere inside. Visited for the first time after meeting a senior guide on the street. - Grilled dumplings: ¥500 - Steamed dumplings: ¥500 - "Choten" (a dish): ¥400 Our stomachs are full, we've had quite a few drinks, and we have an early morning tomorrow, so let's have a quick drink and head home. Cheers with a refreshing Black Nikka highball. While listening to many interesting stories, we quickly devour the wing-tipped dumplings. When the steamed dumplings arrive in a steamer, we can't help but laugh at the steam escaping. Despite being full, we are intrigued by the slimy natto being cooked behind the counter and decide to order the recommended "Choten" dish. Its fluffy texture and sweetness complement the highball perfectly. The enjoyable time passes by quickly. Thank you for the delicious meal.

The desired store in Jiman Village had a sign saying "Closed for the day", which was a bit disappointing. However, I found a new-looking restaurant nearby with a counter and a raised seating area to the left. The menu seemed to focus on dumplings and steamed dishes. I couldn't decide between onion or cabbage dumplings, but the owner recommended chicken and cabbage, so I ordered that. The water dumplings arrived first, they were small but delicious, with plenty of chives. The steamed dish had a generous portion with chicken and lots of cabbage. The flavors were simple, with the option of sesame dressing or ponzu sauce. Overall, I was happy to find a place to eat during my business trip, and I also enjoyed a late-night soba noodles at another restaurant later. Thank you, K-san, for your company next time!

There was a small gathering in Kitami. Lately, I've been staying in various places, so today I'm thinking of heading back. When I go out drinking with two people, we usually stay overnight, but today I'm alone so I'll have someone pick me up. Do I have to stay until the second round if I can make it back after the first round? I'm not sure, so I'll wait for a message. Meanwhile, my wife went to take a bath. When she said she was done, I replied, "I'm heading there from the bath," so I thought, "Okay, I have some time!" and felt like having a beer. I just walked into the nearby store because I was short on time. The store is new, apparently relocated from the food stall village. The counter has 6 seats and is full, and the raised area is also full, but I found one empty seat at the counter and sat down. I ordered a beer and water dumplings. Water dumplings, huh? Is this what water dumplings look like? It doesn't look appetizing at all. This is a dumpling specialty store, right? This doesn't look good at all. Presentation is important. Water dumplings vary greatly depending on the store. These water dumplings might be the worst I've ever had. Maybe it's because of the grated radish? I can taste a bit of acidity, and the filling is mostly vegetables, not enough meat for me, a meat lover. It's a disappointing and regrettable water dumpling. "I'm here," I received an angry message with exclamation marks. Okay, I have to go quickly. Later, I found out she said, "I waited for 20 minutes!" She was "angry Jiro." Spent 1,300 yen. Thanks for letting me kill time.