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If you like delicious dumplings, cold beer, and having plenty of cash left in your wallet, you need to eat here.

I like to think of myself as a pretty upbeat guy, but there are two sights that can dash my spirits: an empty beer glass, or a plate devoid of gyoza, as pot stickers are called in Japan. Thankfully, we recently visited a restaurant in Tokyo where neither of those is an issue, thanks to an all-you-can-eat gyoza and all-you-can-drink beer deal that’s a fantastic value.

Osho is Japan’s most popular chain of gyoza-centric restaurants. While the core menu is the same at all locations, each branch also has a bit of leeway in offering unique dishes or discounts. In the case of the Suidobashi branch in central Tokyo, customers can order two hours’ worth of limitless gyoza and beer as part of a multi-course meal.

▼ Osho

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As if that wasn’t enough, the package costs just 2,000 yen (US$19) for women and 2,500 for men. Since Osho makes some of the tastiest gyoza in Japan, we were immediately onboard. We weren’t quite sure how high we should let our hopes get for the five accompanying dishes, though. At such low prices, were our gyoza and beer going to be served alongside such measly fare as spartan salads and pickles?

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Nope! Shortly after we asked for the all-you-can-eat-and-drink deal, the waiter brought over an opulent spread of some of Osho’s best non-gyoza items.

▼ Karaage (Japanese-style fried chicken)

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▼ Chashu pork slices

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▼ Shrimp with chili sauce

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▼ Stir-fried noodles

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▼ Szechuan-style twice-cooked pork

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While there aren’t any refills for the five non-gyoza food items, there was plenty to go around for our group of four diners.

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With food on the table and mugs in hand, our team got started, and soon enough the main attraction arrived as the staff set down the first to come of many, many plates of gyoza.

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Gyoza and beverages were replenished in rapid succession as the meal went on. Along with beer, your drink options include sours (shochu cocktails) and soft drinks.

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Unlike some other all-you-can-eat deals at casual restaurants in Japan, the Suidobashi Osho doesn’t require you to make a reservation prior to the day you feel like gorging yourself. You can just show up and ask for the limitless meal, although it might still be wise to call ahead if you’ve got an especially large group. Oh, and the all-you-can-eat-and-drink package is only available for groups of four or more, although honestly, if you can’t round up three people willing to go along on this decadent endeavor, you might want to consider finding new friends.

Restaurant information
Osho (Suidobashi branch) / 王将(水道橋店)
Address: Tokyo-to, Chiyoda-ku, Misakicho 2-18-4
東京都千代田区三崎町2-18-4
Open: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. (Sunday-Monday), 11 a.m. – 2:30 a.m. (Tuesday-Saturday)
Website

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