In September 2023, I visited a restaurant called "Tokyo Butaman" in Ebisu. This place specializes in Osaka's soul food, Butaman, which is a steamed pork bun. The owner is the grandson of the founder of the famous Osaka souvenir Butaman shop "551 Horai." I tried two Butaman for 500 yen and enjoyed the fluffy dough filled with pork and onions. It was a delicious treat that I would recommend trying if you have the chance.

The skin of the pork bun is called "neta" and the filling is called "kayaku." This review is about a restaurant called 551 Horai, which has a nostalgic Chinese-style facade that is very appealing. The reviewer mentions having eaten at Horai in Kyoto Station before and remembers the taste of the kayaku being very Horai-like. The reviewer enjoys the soft and light texture of the bun, as well as the richness of the fat and the satisfying feeling after eating. They prefer the neta over the kayaku, praising its elasticity and sweetness. The reviewer also mentions that the price of 250 yen is reasonable for such high quality. They express their love for pork buns and appreciate them as a soul food of Osaka. Overall, they are glad to have come to Tokyo and enjoyed the meal at the restaurant.

This shop is located right near Ebisu Station. I found out about it when an acquaintance who lives far away asked me if I knew this Tokyo shop. It turns out that it was founded by the grandson of the founder of 551. I heard from my acquaintance that there is usually a line, but when I went on a weekday around 4 pm, I was able to enter without waiting at all, finished paying in less than a minute, and left the store. I passed by someone with the same paper bag, so it seems I just missed the previous customer. I thought it was only for takeout, but there were drinks in the showcase and a small table at the edge of the store, so maybe you can eat there as well? I bought two items for 500 yen this time. It was quite late for lunch, but two pieces were just right for a meal. If you want to have it as a snack, one piece would be enough. I ate it right away (within 5 minutes), and it was a bit cold, so I regret not warming it up...lol. However, even though it was cold, the taste was still strong and delicious. I would like to compare it with 551 if I have the chance. They also sold shumai, which I didn't buy this time, but I will try next time. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I had always been curious about Tokyo Butaman. Finally, I was able to buy it while going out for drinks in Ebisu as I had always intended to. It only took about 5 minutes to arrive after leaving the west exit. The eat-in space can only fit about one person, so takeout is recommended! Each butaman costs 250 yen. When I bought it, I thought it was smaller than 551, but after eating it, I was completely satisfied with just one! It comes with karashi (Japanese mustard), but I found the seasoning to be just right as it is. Most of all, the dough is incredibly delicious!! The filling is also meaty and tasty, but I was impressed by the dough ^_^ They also sell boxes with 2, 3, or 5 butaman in them, but you can also ask for them to be individually wrapped in paper, making it a nice gift for each person at a small gathering. If you know someone from the Kanto region who knows 551, they will probably be quite happy! They offer both paper and plastic bags for packaging.

Nikuman for 250 yen. There was no line today, maybe because of the rain. The nikuman was a good size, with a white and soft filling that had a unique taste. The minced meat inside was finely chopped and had a modern Japanese flavor. The skin was chewy and delicious. Some may not like the lack of the red and single-eyed appearance typical of Chinese-style nikuman, but in terms of Japanese nikuman, it is good value for money and tasty.

A typhoon is approaching. On days like this, popular restaurants tend to be less crowded, so I went to find something to eat. As expected, there was a line... actually, no one was lining up at all! Maybe the hype has died down?! This place sells pork buns where the grandson of 551 Horai opened up a shop. I also bought some delicious shumai and ate the pork buns in the shop. The dough was chewy with a hint of sweetness. The meat was chunky and tasty. Ah, this is it. It's similar. And the shumai was cheap and delicious too. I might buy it again. Thank you for the meal.

This shop, famous for inheriting the taste of the renowned Osaka restaurant 551, offers delicious pork buns. I ordered two meat buns. The taste is quite different from 551, with a rich sweetness from vegetables such as onions. The skin is relatively thick and chewy, making it very easy to eat. It would be handy as a souvenir. Thank you for the delicious meal.

From Hiiragi-san, this place is quite close to Ebisu station. When I visited, the only option was pork buns, but recently they have started selling shumai and sweet vinegar dumplings as well. I used to order pork buns in a set of 4 until the year before last, but last year there were quite a few reviews saying "there is less filling" and "even if the price goes up, please put the same amount of filling as before" - (this may only apply to online orders). The minimum order for delivery is 10 pieces, so if there is less filling, it would be too sad... so I didn't order. Therefore, I wanted to try this place. I couldn't tell much of a difference from 551, but since this one was delicious too, I would like to buy it again when I come to Ebisu. May 2023 - Rating: 3.49

A specialty pork bun shop opened in 2021. Not nikuman, but pork bun! It seems that this shop was opened by the grandson of the founder of the famous Osaka "551 Horai". Although you can meet them at department store events, 551 has a policy of not expanding outside of Kansai. So, it was quite unexpected to see this related shop open. The pork bun costs 250 yen. The skin is elastic and has a mochi-like texture, reminiscent of "551". The filling, like 551, is additive-free. The meat is juicy and delicious. It seems to be a mix of the shoulder, leg, and belly parts, just like 551. Compared to 551, the flavor is not as distinctive. It is lighter in taste with a strong sweetness of onions, making it more refreshing. The scent also seems lighter. (Speaking of 551, eating inside the Shinkansen can be overwhelming with the strong smell, known as "551 terrorism" haha) The addictive flavor of 551 is not present, but it is delicious as a pork bun. By the way, I also bought some trivia about 551, which is quite niche, so feel free to take a look if you're interested. Thank you for the meal! [551] 551 was established in 1945. Pork buns have been sold since 1946. The name of the shop comes from the fact that the telephone number at the time of establishment was "551". Furthermore, they aim to be the best in taste and service. They sell an average of 170,000 buns per day!? The pork bun costs 190 yen. They have 60 stores in Kansai (there are even 6 stores in Namba Station where the main store is located!), and 19 restaurants where you can eat more than just pork buns. However, they do not expand outside of Kansai. They aim to cook the fermented dough at the central factory within 150 minutes, which is why they do not open stores in distant locations. They occasionally participate in department store events, but they can provide them because they knead the dough on the spot. Their online store only offers refrigerated buns! (They have a strong commitment to quality, with a 5-day shelf life from production, and the buns at the Horai main store are frozen, showing their dedication) [551 Horai and Horai Honkan] 551 Horai was established in 1945 as a spin-off from the founding Horai Shokudo. In 1964, three founding members split into separate companies, Horai Co., Ltd. (551 Horai), Horai Honkan Co., Ltd., and Horai Betsukan Co., Ltd. (Currently, Horai Betsukan does not exist) [Difference between Nikuman and Butaman naming] In the Kansai region, there is a culture of beef (such as Matsusaka beef, Kobe beef, Tajima beef, Omi beef, beef tendons in oden, beef in nikujaga, beef cutlets, etc.), so when it comes to meat, it's beef, hence the name "pork bun". Not only in Osaka but also in Kobe, restaurants like Roushouki, Ikkannro, and Shikourou serve pork buns. Looking at it from a historical perspective, Kansai has been prosperous in cattle farming, leading to the dominance of a beef culture. Additionally, Kobe had a foreign settlement, so Western meat-eating culture was introduced early on. Also, the brand power of 551. They used to air commercials heavily featuring "pork buns" (Sometimes they're there, sometimes they're not). But around the time when convenience stores expanded nationwide in the 90s, brands like Nakamuraya and Imuraya were selling meat buns, so even people from Kansai sometimes call them "nikuman"! When thinking about this, I wondered about Chinatown in Kobe having pork buns, and in Yokohama and Nagasaki? When I looked into it, the famous Chinese bun in Nagasaki, Momotaro, is a pork bun, and the famous Chinese bun in Yokohama, Edo Sei, is also a pork bun. In regions with Chinatowns, there is a culture of eating various meats like lamb and frog in China, so they call them pork buns to distinguish them, that's my analysis.

The skin becomes sweeter the more you chew, making it delicious on its own. The filling inside is also excellent, with a perfect balance of meatiness, fat, and umami that is satisfying to eat. Adding mustard in the middle of the meal provides a spicy kick and aroma that keeps you interested until the end. It's a great value with a good portion size.

I visited around 4:00 pm on a weekday. There were two groups waiting outside, but I was able to buy right away. It was a little disappointing if you expect the 551 itself, but as a pork bun, it was delicious. It seems they have started handling chilled products recently, so I would definitely like to buy again.

I bought two meat buns for 500 yen (tax included) near the west exit of Ebisu Station, about a 3-minute walk away, with no waiting time. It was around 5 pm on a Sunday and I was a little hungry, so I felt like eating meat buns. When I got home, I steamed them because they had cooled down. The dough was chewy and firm, and the meat filling had a solid texture with a hint of sweetness from the onions. Compared to convenience store pork buns, they were much tastier. I didn't have to wait in line to buy them, but if I feel like eating them again, I would like to stop by. Thank you for the meal.

I heard that a place similar to 551 Horai has opened in Ebisu, but this time I tried their shumai instead of nikuman. The shumai was just average, not good or bad. It's a shame because the nikuman is delicious. I'll go back to buy nikuman next time.

The strongest souvenir from Osaka, "551 Horai", the grandchild of the founder opened a pork bun shop in Ebisu in November 2021. I have never had anything from 551 Horai, but it seems that they faithfully reproduce the recipe. I thought it might be quite crowded on the weekend, but there were no customers in particular, so I entered smoothly during snack time. I bought one pork bun to eat on the spot, six for takeout, and also bought six shumai because they were selling them. The freshly made pork bun is undeniably delicious. The sweetness of the onions comes out firmly, and the dough is slightly sweet, I think? It's perfect for a little snack while walking around. As expected, the taste drops a little no matter how hard you try when you take it home, but it seems like it would be appreciated as a small souvenir. The shumai is large and meaty, yet has a simple taste, perfect for beer or lemon sour. I'll have to eat the freshly made ones next time I have something to do in Ebisu.

When I felt like eating, I remembered that my grandchild's shop is in Ebisu, so I visited the shop with high spirits. The menu was pork buns and shumai, so I bought both. The seasoning of the meat seemed similar! Both were very delicious, so I want to come back again.

Penglai is a little different, but it's definitely delicious! I was able to purchase without waiting in line around 13:00 on Sunday. I ate inside the store, and there were constantly customers coming in. Many people were also buying shumai in addition to pork buns.

On some Saturdays, work can be exhausting. By evening, I was feeling tired and craving something to eat. I remembered the pork bun I had in Osaka and wanted to have it again. I found out that I could get a pork bun from 551 in Ebisu, so I quickly tied my sneakers and headed there. I visited a shop specializing in pork buns and shumai. When I arrived around 4 pm on a Saturday, there was no line and I could easily purchase the pork buns. I shared them with my partner and although they weren't piping hot due to being placed in a box, they tasted just like the 551 buns I had in Tokyo. I felt completely satisfied as there are very few places in Tokyo where you can find this kind of pork bun.

I heard a rumor that you can taste the flavors of 551 Horai in Tokyo, so I decided to visit. I always buy 551 when I go back to Osaka, but I don't go back that often, so I was excited to try it in Tokyo. The shop was smaller than I expected, but I was able to go in without waiting. I bought two pork buns and tried a bite outside. It was delicious, but it seemed a little different... and the spiciness kicked in later. Well, it was still delicious! I might go buy some again.

Ebisu's "Tokyo Butaman" seems to have been created by the grandson of the founder of Osaka's famous 551. I bought one butaman for 250 yen and tried it, and it tasted similar to 551's butaman. The juicy filling of pork and vegetables is chunky and well-seasoned, so you can eat it as it is without any additional condiments. It has less onion compared to 551, making it easier to eat without the unique smell of 551. It reminded me of the nostalgic taste of 551. It was delicious.

January 28, 2023, afternoon. First visit to a pork bun shop with the slogan "The founder of 551's grandson recreates the recipe." There are no 551 branches in Tokyo, so it has been a hot topic since opening. I finally visited as the popularity seems to have calmed down! - Purchased Items: - Pork Bun x1 (Rating: 3.5 stars) - 250 yen - Purchase available from 1 piece - Short wait time due to anticipated production Overall Review: Despite being made to order, the pork bun was served piping hot. It was visually substantial, with a soft skin and a gentle taste of the filling, making it easy to eat in one go. The filling had a hint of sweetness from the onions. Compared to 551's version, this one seemed milder and more universally appealing. Even on a Saturday, I was able to purchase with almost no wait. I enjoyed the taste, so I would definitely stop by again when I have errands nearby. Visit Record: - Date & Waiting Status: - January 28, 2023, 11:43 AM arrival. First visit. - 10 people waiting outside. Purchased at 11:49 AM Location: - Located very close to Ebisu Station on the street level Shop Information: - Small tables available for standing and eating inside - Decided to go for the pork bun due to existing customers Rating Average: - 3.51 based on 238 reviews - 3.46 from 13 My Reviewers - 3.55