Dandadan Sakaba - Enjoy Juicy Fried Gyoza and Stuffed Chicken Wings

Dandadan Sakaba- Eat Exquisite Fried Gyoza

While you’re sightseeing in Japan, how about trying some fried gyoza? It’s a Japanese creation that’s undergoing a unique evolution! We particularly recommend Dandadan Sakaba, an izakaya which focuses on gyoza.
As of March 2018, Dandandan Sakaba has 53 branches, primarily in Tokyo and Kanagawa, with locations in places like Shibuya, Ikebukuro, and Shinjuku.
Normally, fried gyoza is eaten with soy sauce and other condiments but at Dandadan Sakaba, it is eaten plain, without any sauce. The interior is bright, and the staff is enthusiastic and friendly. Dandadan Sakaba’s charm lies not only in its delicious food but also in the pleasant times you can have there. We visited their main location in Chofu to ask about their gyoza as well as recommended beverages to go with it!

The Delicious Dishes at Dandadan Sakaba

1. The Original Juicy Fried Gyoza

A two-person serving of the Original Juicy Fried Gyoza

If you visit Dandadan Sakaba, you should definitely order the Original Juicy Fried Gyoza (440 yen per person). The skin is made with whole wheat flour, and the carefully prepared gyoza contains hand-selected pork.

Photo provided by NATTY SWANKY

You don7t need any condiments for them. The savory broth that emerges from the juicy center fills your mouth, and pairs with the sweetness of the pork. Enjoy a textural contrast between the springy center and the crispy gyoza skin. 

2. Get Gyoza Chicken Wings to Snack On

The gyoza chicken wings (470 yen) are stuffed with gyoza filling and have a lot of volume. They are a popular snack alongside beer.

3. Crispy Chinese-Style Fried Chicken

Another popular item on the menu is the Chinese-style fried chicken (690 yen). The chicken is lightly fried, then coated with an original sauce, for a refreshing taste. It comes with plenty of vegetables and a large amount of meat, so it is easy to share it with a group.

4. Hoppy

If you come to Dandadan Sakaba, you can also try some Hoppy (480 yen), which is produced in Chofu where the restaurant we visited is located. It is a healthy, beer-like, non-alcoholic mixer for shochu (a distilled alcohol made from rice or barley). The second glass of shochu is poured from a large kettle. The more shochu you add, the stronger it will get, so be careful.

A Multiple-Language Menu for International Visitors!

The menu is available in English, Chinese (Simplified) and Korean at all locations, and there are photos of some of the dishes as well. Generally, the staff speaks Japanese, but all of them will try their best to speak some English as well, so feel free to ask them for help. At the restaurant we visited, the staff communicated with the international visitors using simple English and gestures. They appreciate visitors from all over the world so they try their best to make everyone feel at home.

Pay Attention to the Paintings and Menu Boards

You can sense the vitality from the letters on the menu boards all over the restaurant. We were told that the workers there paint the signs themselves before opening.

There are impressive Japanese and Chinese paintings on the wall as well. Each Dandadan Sakaba location has different paintings, so make sure to have a look.

The staff uniforms have aprons emblazoned with the Dandadan Sakaba logo, and towels twisted into headbands. These close go perfectly with the overall atmosphere of the restaurant.

Dandadan Sakaba in the Words of the Creator 

When we asked President Yuji Iseki about how Dandadan Sakaba was created, he said that he wanted to simply enjoy beer and gyoza. In Japan, if you want to eat gyoza, in most cases you have to go to either a Chinese restaurant or a ramen shop. He wanted to create a place where you could have gyoza as the main dish and enjoy it alongside a couple of drinks.

Over the course of a year, he researched recipes for the most delicious gyoza and started Dandadan Sakaba as an izakaya where you could enjoy the texture gyoza as a centerpiece of the meal. The first location opened in Mr. Iseki’s hometown of Chofu, and now the franchise is growing. The fact that Dandadan Sakaba locations has taken roots in many locations and is beloved by residents, shows that Mr. Iseki’s vision is being honored. While it is considered a gyoza bar, many people also come just to enjoy gyoza as their main dish. 

Why don't you visit to savor some exquisite gyoza for yourself?

Nikujiru Gyoza Dandadan Chofu Sohonten

1-44-4 Fuda, Chofu-shi, Tokyo 182-0024 FRANK. 1

In cooperation with: NATTY SWANKY