On a budget in Japan and want some decent Chinese food? Then try Gyoza no Osho (餃子の王将), not to be confused with Osaka Osho (大阪王将）. Gyoza no Osho is a franchise Chinese restaurant that can be found in most parts of Japan. This is a great restaurant for students, travelers, and anyone else eating on a budget.

Gyoza no Osho is also a wallet-friendly place to have a nomikai (drinking party) with friends or coworkers. If you stick with drinking bottled beer, about￥380, you will save lots of money over draft beer.

For food, go with the 3 main food groups, gyoza ￥220, karage (fried chicken) ￥500, and chahan (fried rice) ￥400. The gyoza (potstickers), inspiring the name of the restaurant are obviously the recommended dish, especially when paired with beer. If you have a birthday party at Osho we suggest you eat your age in Gyoza. No particular reason, but wouldn’t it be a good story to tell everyone that you ate 30 gyoza on your 30th birthday?

WARNING: Gyoza are known for creating burps that smell like toxic waste which may irritate the burper and others nearby. Be particularly conscious of limiting gyoza burps while riding trains, elevators, or while in other small spaces with poor ventilation.

UPDATE: Osho is becoming more popular by the day. This popularity is due to constant TV coverage by famous Japanese comedians and the bad economy seems to be attracting more people to Osho because of its cheap food. Osho’s in Tokyo are lined up all the time. You will have get there early, write your name on the waiting list and wait for your name to be called.

Today’s useful phrase:
JAPANESE: 餃子を１０人前下さい！/Gyoza wo juunin mae kudasai!
ENGLISH: Bring me 10 plates of gyoza!
(This would be 60 pcs, so be careful)

Today’s vocabulary:
餃子/Gyoza：Potstickers
飲み会/Nomikai：Drinking Party
唐揚げ/Karage：Fried Chicken
チャーハン/Chahan：Fried Rice