チャイナエクスプレス Ryu — Restaurant in Joetsu

Hidden Gem with Amazing Gyoza!

We stumbled upon this little place and I’m so glad we did! The gyoza lunch set was absolutely fantastic - perfectly crispy on the bottom with tender, juicy filling. But what really made the experience special was watching the chef prepare everything. You can see the skill and care that goes into each dumpling, and it’s clear this isn’t just fast food - it’s craftsmanship.

The lunch set was generous and well-priced, with the gyoza as the star but everything else fresh and flavorful too. The atmosphere is cozy and authentic, and the owner clearly takes pride in what they do. This is exactly the kind of local spot that deserves more recognition.

If you’re in the area and want genuine, delicious food made with passion, definitely stop by. The gyoza alone is worth the trip, but I have a feeling everything on the menu is made with the same attention to detail. I’ll definitely be back to try more!

Highly recommend supporting this small business - great food, great value, and you can tell they really care about what they serve.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

He is willing to play...

I was going to leave reviews for all the places I've eaten at in Japan in a couple week but this place is special and it'd be a disservice to wait. I was able to practice my Japanese frankly for the first time in 2 weeks because the owner is kind and down to earth. We conversed with the aid of translators but it was a deeper connection than any other place I've been to. A very cozy restaurant with a home cooked meal atmosphere. Great food and worth the price. Definitely a night I'll...

10/10 the place to eat around Jōetsumyōkō Station. The ingredients are fresh and made from scratch from the moment you order.

The chef/owner is super hospitable and friendly. He will use Google translate to speak with you. Even wished us a safe trip.

We ordered spicy shrimp fried rice, handmade gyoza, vegetable stir fry and bang bang chicken. All very delicious.

An unexpected find with an...