Founded in 1953 as a food stall near Hamamatsu Station, Ishimatsu Gyoza has grown into a popular local favorite with five locations, attracting fans from all over Japan.

This time, we stopped by Ishimatsu Gyoza Main Store in Hirakuchi, Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu City.

Founded in 1953 as a food stall near Hamamatsu Station, Ishimatsu Gyoza has grown into a popular local favorite with five locations, attracting fans from all over Japan.

The bean sprouts, now a hallmark of Hamamatsu gyoza, were first introduced by Ishimatsu Gyoza.

Now, let’s take a closer look at Ishimatsu Gyoza.

What Kind of Shop is Ishimatsu Gyoza?

Founded in 1953, Ishimatsu Gyoza started as a small food stall near Hamamatsu Station.

Back then, gyoza were cooked on a frying pan using a portable gas stove.

As more and more customers came, the first owner wondered how he could cook a larger number of gyoza at once.

After some trial and error, he discovered that arranging the gyoza in a circle along the edge of the pan allowed him to cook many at once efficiently—a method that has become a hallmark of the shop.

Photo courtesy of Ishimatsu Gyoza – First Owner, 1954

The first owner compared the process of turning gyoza in the frying pan to the wheels of a carriage, and named the circular arrangement of cooked gyoza “Kurumamori”.

This Kurumamori style has become a signature way of serving Hamamatsu gyoza.

Even today, 20 or 25 gyoza are served in the Kurumamori style.

Rather than using commercial gyoza cookers, the gyoza are still carefully cooked using the original frying pan and wooden lid, just as they were back in the early days.

Another symbol of Hamamatsu gyoza is the bean sprouts, and it was Ishimatsu Gyoza that first started serving them.

The first owner came up with the idea because he felt the center of the circular gyoza looked empty, and “appearance is part of the taste.”

That’s how boiled bean sprouts were added.

The bean sprouts are boiled in hot water and flavored with a touch of sesame oil for a subtle aroma.

Photo courtesy of Ishimatsu Gyoza – Interior, 1978

With a history spanning 72 years, Ishimatsu Gyoza now has four locations in Shizuoka Prefecture.

In addition to their classic pan-fried gyoza, the menu also features fried gyoza, boiled gyoza, and popular side dishes such as miso horumon, Chinese noodles, and fried rice.

Even as a long-established shop, they offer innovative gyoza dishes as well.

Ishimatsu Gyoza: Commitment to Their Gyoza

The filling at Ishimatsu Gyoza mainly consists of cabbage and pork, blended in a ratio of seven parts cabbage to three parts pork.

The special binding mixture, created through the first owner’s careful experimentation, brings out the maximum flavor of the vegetables and pork, concentrating their deliciousness inside the gyoza wrapper.

The gyoza wrappers are thin and chewy, highlighting the natural sweetness of the cabbage and creating a flavor that never gets tiring—so you can enjoy as many as you like.

A slightly sweet special vinegar-soy sauce is said to be the key to Ishimatsu Gyoza’s distinctive taste.

The accompanying bean sprouts help refresh your palate, and the gyoza are so delicious that even women are said to easily finish 20 pieces in one sitting.

Recommended Menu at Ishimatsu Gyoza

Next, let’s take a look at some of Ishimatsu Gyoza’s recommended menu items.

① Most Popular | 20-Piece Ishimatsu Gyoza (Single Order)

This time, we tried the most popular Kurumamori pan-fried gyoza with 20 pieces!

The circular arrangement, or Kurumamori, looks absolutely beautiful.

Despite the generous portion, the thin wrappers make them easy to eat bite after bite.

The natural sweetness of the cabbage stands out, perfectly complemented by the dipping sauce.

By taking bites of the accompanying bean sprouts in between, we finished all 20 pieces in no time!

② Store Manager’s Recommendation | Teritama Gyoza (5 Pieces)

These gyoza are topped with a special egg salad, teriyaki sauce, and crispy onion chips!

They’re also a big hit with children.

First, you’ll be surprised by the appearance—the egg salad really stands out on top of the gyoza.

The sweetness of the gyoza pairs perfectly with the slightly salty egg salad.

Why not give your usual gyoza a delicious twist with this special version?

③ Limited-Time | Lake Hamana Aosa Gyoza (10 Pieces)

Available from October 25, 2025, this special gyoza was developed jointly by Ishimatsu Gyoza and the Research Club of Hamamatsu Commercial High School.

The filling features Aosa seaweed from Lake Hamana, which reaches its peak season in winter.

The dipping sauce is a surprising nori seaweed paste (nori tsukudani), which goes perfectly with the gyoza.

Of course, you can also enjoy it with the regular Ishimatsu Gyoza sauce according to your preference.

③ Recommended Menu | Fried Rice

Hearty and satisfying!

The fluffy, moist fried rice is made with a special sauce and comes with a side of soup.

Photo courtesy of Ishimatsu Gyoza

Why not enjoy it together with your gyoza?

Ishimatsu Gyoza Main Store – Store Information

Address: 252-1 Hirakuchi, Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu-shi

Phone: 053-586-8522

Hours:
11:00 AM – 2:30 PM (Last Order 2:00 PM)
5:00 PM – 8:30 PM (Last Order 8:00 PM)
Weekends and holidays: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM (Last Order 9:00 PM)

Open Year-Round

Numbered ticket system: Available

In addition to waiting at the store, you can also choose to be notified via LINE or phone—a convenient option for visitors.

The waiting area is spacious, and we were surprised by all the autographs on display!

Main Store Seating: 120 seats

Seating Types:
Counter: 8 seats
Tables for 2: 4 tables
Sofa seats for 4–6: 6 sets
Tables for 4: 4 tables
Tables for 6: 4 tables
Private rooms: 3 rooms

Shop: Yes (frozen gyoza available for purchase)

Official Website: https://1402.jp/

Main Store Access:
From the Shin-Tomei Expressway Hamamatsu/Hamakita IC, head toward Hamamatsu for about 10 minutes → Continue straight on Route 152 for about 6 km, the store is at the Hirakuchi Honmura intersection.

Parking: 64 spaces

Photo courtesy of Ishimatsu Gyoza

Ishimatsu Gyoza Store List

Including the main store, Ishimatsu Gyoza has four locations in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Ishimatsu Gyoza Main Store

Address: 252-1 Hirakuchi, Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu

Phone: 053-586-8522

Hours: 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM (Last Order 2:00 PM), 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM (Last Order 8:00 PM)
Weekends and holidays: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM (Last Order 9:00 PM)

Open Year-Round

JR Hamamatsu Station Store

Address: 1F Meiwain Ekimachi West, 6-1 Sunayama-cho, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu (inside Hamamatsu Station)

Phone: 053-415-8655

Hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Last Order 9:30 PM)

Open Year-Round

Shin-Tomei Store

Address: 36 Oidaira, Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu (NEOPASA Hamamatsu Up Line Food Court, Shin-Tomei Expressway)

Phone: 053-582-1102

Hours: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Last Order 9:00 PM)

Open Year-Round

ASTY Shizuoka Store

Address: West Building, ASTY Shizuoka, 47 Kurogane-cho, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka

Phone: 054-293-6211

Hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Last Order 9:00 PM)

Open Year-Round

A Message from Mr. Naoki Matsumura, Manager of Ishimatsu Gyoza Main Store

Hamamatsu gyoza has gained recognition in recent years as a popular B-grade gourmet dish and now enjoys nationwide popularity.

Founded in 1953 near Hamamatsu Station, our shop is celebrating its 72nd year this year.

Proud of the unchanged flavor and passion passed down from our first owner, we continue striving to bring Ishimatsu Gyoza to as many customers as possible and share countless smiles.

We look forward to welcoming you to our store!

￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣

This time, we introduced Ishimatsu Gyoza.

During busy periods, the main store alone prepares up to 10,000 gyoza per day—a testament to its popularity.

Many visitors come from outside Shizuoka Prefecture, making up about 30% of customers on weekdays and around 50% on weekends.

The original Hamamatsu gyoza is light and never gets tiring, with a flavor that makes you want to come back again and again.

Special Thanks to: Ishimatsu Gyoza

Photos Courtesy of: Ishimatsu Gyoza