Iron pan gyoza (Tetsunabe Gyoza) is a must-try dish in Kitakyushu, Hakata, and Kokura.
These small dumplings are served hot in an iron pan.
The bottoms stay crispy and golden.
Here are five popular places to try Tetsunabe Gyoza.
1. Kokura Tetsunabe Sohonten – A Local Favorite
• Small gyoza with a crispy bottom
• Served sizzling hot
• Great with cold beer
Recommended: Tetsunabe Gyoza
Crispy outside. Juicy inside. Always hot.
Official Website: Kokura Tetsunabe Sohonten
2. Hakata Gion Tetsunabe – Near Hakata Station
• A famous gyoza shop in Hakata
• Started as a street stall
• Crispy skin with a soft filling
Recommended: Hakata Tetsunabe Gyoza
Golden outside with a juicy center.
Official Website: Hakata Gion Tetsunabe
3. Tetsunabe Arae Honten – The Original
• Open since 1962
• Known as the first iron pan gyoza shop
• Loved by locals for years
Recommended: Classic Tetsunabe Gyoza
Light, crispy, and full of flavor.
Official Website: Tetsunabe Arae Honten
4. Honten Tetsunabe Kurosaki
• One of the oldest tetsunabe shops
• Good mix of crispy and juicy
• Popular with locals and visitors
Recommended: Iron Pan Gyoza
Served hot, so every bite stays crisp.
Official Website: Honten Tetsunabe Kurosaki
5. Gyoza no Tacchan
• Big and juicy dumplings
• Comes with a miso sauce
• Good place for food and drinks
Recommended: Jumbo Tetsunabe Gyoza
Large, crispy, and full of meat.
Official Website: Gyoza no Tacchan
Conclusion
Tetsunabe Gyoza is a must when you visit Fukuoka or Kitakyushu.
The dumplings are crispy, juicy, and hot.
These five shops are the best places to try them.
FAQ
Tetsunabe means an iron pan, therefore Tetsunabe Gyoza stay hot and turn crispy while you eat them.
They use pork, cabbage, garlic, chives, and ginger, and therefore the filling tastes rich and juicy.
The meat has soy sauce and sesame oil, so it has strong umami, and the hot pan keeps the flavor inside.
They come in an iron pan, so they stay hot and crispy, however normal gyoza cool down faster.
