Nikuman-Ya Gyoza

Dumplings Los Angeles

“The best in Southern California.” That’s quite a claim from LA Times deputy Food editor Betty Hallock. She was talking about Nikuman-Ya, Kenichi Usui’s stall in Gardena’s Marukai Market, which serves weekend-only gyoza. I was compelled to drive to the South Bay the day the article first ran for pan-fried Japanese dumplings. Hallock just might be right in her best-in-SoCal assessment. No surprise, since she has a firm handle on Japanese cuisine.

The operation is simple enough. Order at a stainless steel counter next to glass fronted kitchen, where the chef makes thin dumpling skins, which crisp up on the griddle and wear caramelized flour skirts. Nikuman-Ya sells Gyoza (7 for $6.25) with pork or chicken filling, but let’s get real. Chicken dumplings are for the birds. Of course I ordered pork, which were juicy, scallion flecked beauties that arrived in seven conjoined wrappers. They provide soy sauce for dipping, if you need any embellishment, though the gyoza stand alone.

Dose of Vitamin P spotlights my favorite pork dish from the previous week.

Address: 1620 W Redondo Beach Boulevard, Gardena, CA 90247
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Joshua Lurie

Joshua Lurie founded FoodGPS in 2005. Read about him here.

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