There’s lots to like about Ootake, which just opened last year. For one, its interior is fresh and modern, with natural-toned concrete walls and tiles, and blond timber furniture. We also love its homemade lemon sour, a concoction of fresh lemon, shochu and soda water. More importantly, its flavourful gyoza don’t contain either garlic or nira (although these are available as a side), meaning the dumplings are easy on your stomach and your breath.
Ootake serves several varieties of pork-filled gyoza – the classic yakigyoza, which are fried in a row with the fine, crisp webbing between them (¥539 for six), cheese gyoza, boiled gyoza and, our favourite, boiled gyoza topped with a creamy, spicy sesame sauce and a mound of Japanese parsley (¥539 for six). As far as side dishes go, we can’t look past the double cheese potato salad and housemade pickles.