It's a gyoza feast!
Chao Chao Gyoza, owned by Kengo Nishi, started as a 14-seater restaurant in 1999 and now is a popular joint that's seen all over Japan serving their unique block gyoza. Currently, it has a franchise in Hong Kong and now, it has also arrived in the Philippine shores with two new branches in Bonifacio Global City. The first branch located at the Venice Grand Canal can accommodate up to eighty-nine diners and the W City Center with up to sixty-four diners.
While sushi and ramen are two Japanese dishes which are highly popular, I believe that gyoza should be under the same spotlight as the aforementioned. And at Chao Chao Gyoza, they make sure they are properly highlighted with eleven varieties of gyoza you can actually try. Their loyal customers can't stop talking about the perfectly crisp and chewy thin wrapper their tasty filling of pork and minced vegetables are enveloped in, and now we completely get why.
They've already perfected the art of gyoza but they also have other dishes you can munch on like an order of the Shishamo Karaage (P380/5pcs) which is one of the must-tries. They are small deep fried fish filled with roe; simple yet bursting with flavors. There's also the Tako Karaage (P350) which are bite-sized Japanese octopus covered in batter and deep fried until golden brown and crisp.
Start your gyoza feast with something light with the Long Stick Gyoza with Crab and Shrimp (P300/1 stick; P480/2 sticks) or a simple Shrimp Gyoza (P380/5pcs) to prepare your palate with the exciting and distinct flavors each gyoza have. Chao Chao Gyoza follows the 2:8 golden ratio making sure that the wrapper is made thin as possible, letting you fully grasp the flavor of the carefully selected minced meat and vegetables.
Something kids would find enjoyment from is the Shake Shake Mushroom Gyoza (P300/5 pcs). The same gyoza goodness, deep fried and served with a paper bag where you can shake the dumplings in your choice of powder: plum bonito, corn pottage or butter soy sauce.
It may look like your ordinary fried wing but these Chicken Wing Gyoza (P450/2pcs) are actually stuffed with gyoza. Enjoy it with their sides like the bean sprouts (P80), pickled cabbage (P80) or the lotus root salad (P100), one of two of the premium side dishes available. Also available is the Chicken and Mozzarella Cheese Gyoza (P250/5 pcs) which is a personal favorite and the minty Shiso Green Perilla Gyoza (P220/6pcs), something that will make you feel less guilty after eating plates of gyoza.
Other gyoza options include the Onion Gyoza with Grated Yam and Wasabi Sauce (P300/5 pcs), Onion Gyoza with Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella Cheese (P300/5 pcs) and if you prefer something plain, you can also opt to have the Onion Gyoza (P250/5 pcs) which is a plain version of the two.
Being a two-time winner of best gyoza in Japan, they take pride on their award-winning block gyoza, the Chao Chao Gyoza (P180/1 block; P330/2 blocks), which comes in eight pieces cooked on a griddle for a couple of minutes to achieve a crispy layer on one side which you won't find in other gyoza joints in the market. The Chao Chao Gyoza is also available in set meals ranging from P350 to P650. You can choose from one block or two blocks and it comes with a warm cup Japanese rice, a choice of sides and a mug of local draft beer.
The only dessert on the menu and of course it also has to be a kind of gyoza as well is the Chocolate Gyoza with Vanilla ice cream (P200) and a serving of it will put the cherry on top of your gyoza feast. It has milk chocolate tucked inside their thin and crisp wrapper which you can use to scoop up some vanilla ice cream that's served on the side.
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Chao Chao Gyoza is located at the 2nd Floor of Venice Grand Canal Mall, Upper McKinley and G/F of W City Center, 7th Avenue corner Lane Q, Bonifacio Global City. They're open daily from 11am to 11pm. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Instagram for updates.
