Guest Author - Taisha Turner

Gyoza are Japanese dumplings. They are another delicious meal for the budget traveler and expatriate in Japan. They are a good way to lower food costs in the expensive country.

The Japanese love the little dumplings. Gyoza shops are everywhere in Japan. The traveler to this southeast asia country will have no trouble locating a gyoza dining establishment.

Gyoza dumplings' dough is flatten into a circle a little wider than one's palm. The circle is folded in half encasing the filling. The edges are gently pressed together to hold in the filling. They resemble Chinese potstickers. The filling may be any kind of meat, vegetable, seafood or a combination. The gyoza is fried, boiled or a combination per the traveler's preference.

Gyoza, a serving of three dumplings on a plate, are served to the expatriate with a dipping sauce. The dipping sauce is usually a combination of soy sauce and vinegar plus other ingredients. Again, the dipping sauce is per the traveler or expatriate's taste.

This cheap dish starts at JY250. The type of filling determines the price. Order any number of plates and types of gyoza fillings. Expatriates and travelers on a budget try and enjoy this Japanese fast food dining experience. Gyoza restaurants sells other dishes plus beer.

The following are other articles in the "Cheap Eats in Japan" series. Use them as a guide for inexpensive, yet filling dining options while in Japan.

RAMEN NOODLES SHOPS
DONBURI
COLD UDON NOODLES
BENTO LUNCH BOXES

Here are Travel Aids to help you plan and enjoy your trip.

Keep a journal of your dining experiences. Jot down the different foods tried while in Japan. Describe the dish and its taste. By keepnging a journal of the foods as well as the sights, you will recall the events clearly years later. Don't lose memories of your trip. Write them down!



Sign up to receive a copy of the Southeast Asia Travel newsletter. Don't miss the next article.