Dumpling House — Restaurant in Misawa

Oh man, if you're in Misawa and haven't hit up Dumpling House yet, you're seriously missing out. As someone who travels the world chasing the best culinary experiences—from street food stalls in Bangkok to high-end bistros in Paris—I've sampled flavors from every corner of the globe. But on my recent trip to Japan, I made it a point to explore Misawa's dining scene, devouring everything from casual greasy spoons to upscale sushi havens downtown. Hands down, Dumpling House stands out as the absolute best restaurant in Misawa. This unassuming little Chinese spot, tucked away in Matsuzonocho, has a cozy vibe that feels like stepping into a friend's kitchen, far from the sterile formality of some international eateries I've encountered. First off, the dumplings are legendary—easily rivaling the dim sum masters I've tried in Hong Kong. I always kick things off with the pan-fried variety: those crispy golden bottoms that crunch perfectly, giving way to a juicy pork and veggie filling seasoned to absolute perfection. Dip them in their house-made chili oil blended with soy sauce, and it's pure heaven on a plate. On my last visit, I ventured into the steamed shrimp dumplings, which were incredibly light and fresh, like delicate pillows bursting with seafood bliss. But don't overlook the rest of the menu; it's packed with winners. The black pepper chicken delivers a spicy, tender kick with that irresistible wok-char smokiness I've craved in places like Singapore's hawker centers. And the jumbo shrimp fried rice? It's a generous heap of plump shrimp, crisp veggies, and fluffy rice that's never too oily—portions that could feed a famished traveler like me after a long flight. What really elevates Dumpling House above the global spots I've frequented is the service. The staff are incredibly friendly, patiently navigating my broken Japanese with warm smiles, spot-on recommendations, and a genuine welcoming vibe. It seems family-run, which infuses that personal touch you rarely get in bigger cities. Prices are a steal too—dinner for two clocks in around 3,500 yen, offering way better value than some overpriced fusion joints I've hit in New York or London. Stack it up against local favorites and Dumpling House pulls ahead with its authentic, soul-warming flavors and that unbeatable homey atmosphere. In a town where dining options might seem limited compared to metropolises like Tokyo, this place is an absolute gem that reminds me why I travel: for those unexpected discoveries that hit the spot every time. If you're craving comfort food with a worldly twist, drop everything and go.

Five stars without hesitation—the best in Misawa, and a standout in my global adventures! *

World...

They offer an all you can eat in 120 minutes buffet with over 80 items for 3450 yen if you're a male and about 3250 yen if you're a female. That's pretty cool in itself. I, myself, chose not to indulge in the buffet and flipped through the 30+ pages of their menu and chose 2 separate entrees. Their Mapo Tofu and Tonkotsu Ramen. One Chinese dish and one Japanese dish. The tofu dish itself tasted exactly like the ones served in Taipei, Taiwan. Absolutely delicious. Authentic Chinese cuisine is served here. The Tonkotsu ramen tasted nothing like ramen but tasted almost identical to Bone Broth Soup known as Seolleongtang. So it was a pleasant surprise and tasty in its own right. If you want bone broth with noodles, it will please your taste buds. If you order their ramen, expecting ramen, you'll set yourself up for disappointment. Would I come back? 100% authentic Chinese food and there's still 29 menu pages I...

From my personal opinion, I would rather not eat here unless I really had to. I appreciate the staff, I think they are honestly great. I've only ever had take out dumplings before, and all versions have been good. With their little take-out soy sauce/shoyu containers, to the amount of pieces you get, golden. Dining-in, however, was a different experience. For a family or group of friends, I would see how this place would be beneficial. Everyone loves a good all-you-can eat restaurant. There's a fairly good amount of options to an extent.

Ice cream: matcha 3/10 (very powdery, it didn't necessarily taste like ice cream, moreso just the matcha powder). Vanilla 6/10 (described by someone as a birthday cake flavor)

Shrimp fried rice 🍤: 6/10 you get one piece of shrimp. The rest is just rice.

Crispy wonton: 4/10 it's mainly just wonton chips. 1/16th of a piece has meat, the rest is just crispy wonton chips.

Sumai/pork hash: 3/10 not what I was hoping for from what I am used to (as with other dishes). The meat was a interesting consistency. I felt like it was frozen beforehand. Which would be fine. Like the little holder it is in though.

Melon soda: 7/10 mainly just juice syrup. But good.

私の個人的な意見ですが、本当に必要がない限り、ここでは食事をしないほうがいいと思います。 スタッフには感謝しています。彼らは本当に素晴らしいと思います。 これまで餃子はテイクアウトしかしたことがありませんでしたが、どのバージョンも美味しかったです。 持ち帰り用の小さな醤油/醤油の容器は、手に入る量に応じて黄金色になります。 しかし、ダイニングインは別の経験でした。 家族や友人のグループにとって、この場所がどれほど有益であるかがわかります。 美味しい食べ放題のお店はみんな大好きです。 ある程度、かなりの量のオプションがあります。

アイスクリーム: 抹茶 3/10 (非常に粉っぽく、必ずしもアイスクリームのような味ではなく、むしろ抹茶パウダーだけです)。 バニラ 6/10 (誰かが誕生日ケーキの味と表現しました)

エビチャーハン 🍤: 6/10 エビ 1 尾がもらえます。 あとはご飯だけです。

サクサクワンタン：4/10 主にワンタンチップスです。 1/16に肉が入っていて、残りはサクサクのワンタンチップスだけです。

スマイ/ポークハッシュ：3/10（他の料理と同様に）私が慣れているものから期待していたものではありません。 肉は興味深い一貫性でした。 事前に凍ってたような気がしました。 それはそれでいいでしょう。 入っている小さなホルダーのように。

メロンソーダ：7/10...