Houtenkaku — Restaurant in Yokohama

Houtenkaku is the first Shanghai Pan-fried bun specialist shop that we saw when we entered the Chinatown Main Street. There was a snaking long queue of people waiting to purchase these pan-fried buns. So we have to try it out!

We waited for ~15mins. Chefs were efficient and fast, as orders are prepared in bulk. There are two types of pan-fried buns - seafood (green) and pork (white). We ordered 3 of each.

Our first impression was that the pan-fried buns were smaller than expected for the price. That’s actually okay, so long the taste is heavenly. Unfortunately that’s not really the case. The seafood buns were not piping hot and that’s because they were already prepared and cooked a while back and they are only served together when the pork buns are cooked. Then skin was also quite thick, and the inner fillings were lesser than expected. The saving grace for the seafood bun is that at least the prawns within the fillings tasted fresh.

All in all, quite a disappointing experience. This is definitely not the best Shanghai pan-fried buns we have eaten. Later on as we walked further down the street, we saw many other shops selling Shanghai pan-fried buns as well. In our opinion there’s no need to spend time queuing up here, as the other shops might offer more tasty...

中華街で焼き小籠包を試してきました。焼き小籠包と言えば、焼き上げられた皮がパリッとした食感で、中からジューシーなスープがあふれ出す絶品の一品です。中華街にあるこのお店は、評判通りの美味しさでした。

まず、店内の雰囲気はとてもリラックスしていて、カジュアルな感じが良かったです。スタッフの方々もとてもフレンドリーで、迅速かつ丁寧なサービスを提供してくれました。席に着くと、すぐに焼き小籠包が運ばれてきて、待つことなく美味しい料理が楽しめました。

焼き小籠包は、見た目からして食欲をそそります。皮はパリッと焼き上げられており、一口噛むとサクサクとした食感が楽しめます。中の具材は、ジューシーな豚肉とともにスープがたっぷり入っていて、口に入れるとその豊かな味わいが広がります。特に驚いたのは、焼きの加減が絶妙で、スープが全く漏れず、しかも皮がカリカリに焼き上げられている点です。

スープの風味は深みがあり、また、具材の豚肉の質も非常に高く、全体としてとてもバランスの取れた味わいでした。見た目も美しく、見た瞬間から美味しさを感じることができました。600円という価格も非常にリーズナブルで、質の高い料理を楽しむには最適です。

店舗の立地も便利で、中華街の散策ついでに立ち寄るのにぴったりです。周辺の賑やかな雰囲気を楽しみながら、美味しい焼き小籠包を堪能できるので、観光客にも地元の方にもおすすめのスポットです。

全体として、今回の食事体験は非常に満足のいくものでした。焼き小籠包が好きな方にはぜひ試してほしい一品ですし、まだ未体験の方もぜひこの機会に訪れてみてください。きっと、その美味しさに驚くことでしょう。また次回もぜひ立ち寄りたいと思っています！

. I recently had the pleasure of trying pan-fried soup dumplings in Chinatown, and it was a fantastic experience. Pan-fried soup dumplings are known for their crispy, golden-brown exterior and the rich, juicy soup that bursts out when you take a bite. This particular spot in Chinatown lived up to its excellent reputation.

First off, the ambiance of the restaurant was very relaxed and casual, which made for a comfortable dining experience. The staff were incredibly friendly and provided quick and attentive service. The dumplings arrived at our table promptly, and we didn’t have to wait long to enjoy our meal.

The pan-fried soup dumplings were visually appealing and definitely lived up to expectations. The skin was perfectly crisped, offering a delightful crunch with each bite. Inside, the dumplings were packed with a generous amount of savory pork filling and soup. The balance was just right—the dumplings were crispy without any of the soup leaking out, and the frying was done to perfection.

The flavor of the soup was rich and deep, and the quality of the pork was top-notch, making the overall taste very well-balanced. The dish was not only delicious but also beautifully presented, adding to the overall enjoyment. At 600 yen, it was a very reasonable price for such a high-quality dish.

The restaurant's location was convenient, making it a great place to stop by while exploring Chinatown. The lively atmosphere of the area complemented the dining experience, making it a perfect spot for both tourists and locals.

Overall, this dining experience was highly satisfying. If you enjoy pan-fried soup dumplings, I would definitely recommend giving this place a try. Even if you haven't had them before, this is a great opportunity to experience something truly delicious. I’m already looking forward to returning on...

Must try their 上海蟹味噌小籠包（蟹粉小笼/Crab Tomalley Steamed Dumpings）. Palette wise, they were the closest things to Shanghai that I have ever had during my time in Japan.

You will witness people waiting in long line specifically for their 生煎包（焼き小籠包/Fried dumplings）. I tried them. They were nothing special. I would applaud the amount of soup that they were able to keep inside the dumpling with such a thin skin. However, the supposed-to-be crunchy and crispy crust was a little too flaky and pasty. A near miss to perfection.

When you are visiting the China Town, anywhere in the world, you are there to indulge good food, but not to enjoy good service. Hence, top notch service is seldom expected. I have no idea why some reviews are giving them a fuss about...