"Gyoza no Ohsho" Launches New Concept Store to Target Female Market!

Text & Photos byKavanagh
 
Originating in Kyoto, "Gyoza no Ohsho" is one of Japan's most well-known Chinese cuisine chain restaurants, with outlets all over the country. When you can't decide what to eat, heading to "Gyoza no Ohsho" is always a solid choice.

However, Ohsho has traditionally been a "male-oriented" spot—if a group of girls (sparkles) wants to chat and hang out, they’d never say, “Hey, let’s go to Gyoza no Ohsho!” But that’s all changed.

Because this year, a new-style "Gyoza no Ohsho" concept store, the "GYOZA OHSHO Karasuma Oike Shop" (GYOZA OHSHO is the Japanese pronunciation of "Gyoza no Ohsho"), was launched, aiming to attract female customers and let girls feel the Ohsho charm too.

That day, I visited this new-style GYOZA OHSHO with the (not actually official) president of the Gyoza no Ohsho Fan Club, "Kyoto Traveler" senior. We went to experience the appeal of the new GYOZA OHSHO firsthand.

The GYOZA OHSHO Karasuma Oike Shop is located at the corner of a small alley near Karasuma-dori on Oike-dori—it’s in a very visible spot and easy to find.

The interior, decorated with natural wood and gray stone slabs, has a trendy vibe, giving off slight Muji café and Italian pasta restaurant feels.

After being seated, we started with a beer to calm the nerves.

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, don’t drive after drinking.

For the full menu,click here

The Menu. Unlike the typical Ohsho menu, which is full of manly, rugged simplicity, the GYOZA OHSHO Karasuma Oike Shop’s menu is sleek and Western-inspired—more like a high-end Western restaurant’s menu than a Chinese eatery’s. After browsing the menu, I genuinely admired the creative mind behind the GYOZA OHSHO Karasuma Oike Shop: this person really understands what women want!

First: Every à la carte dish comes with a "half portion" option, perfectly matching the female mindset of “I want to try everything but can’t finish a full portion.”

Second: The menu emphasizes natural, domestic ingredients, with many healthy and beauty-beneficial dishes—perfect for women who “want to eat without gaining weight, and ideally look even better too.”

GYOZA OHSHO, you’ve got it down! I, your humble ladies’ man, am impressed!

The glass sauce bottles are also stylish, but be careful—hold the bottle itself, not the tube-like protrusion on top, because that’s what I did, and the whole sauce bottle came off, spilling sauce all over the woman next to me. Super embarrassing.

Senior Kyoto Traveler uncreatively ordered the "Gyoza Set Meal" (6 pieces) for ¥720. It’s just six gyoza, served with rice and sides.

I ordered spicy fried shrimp (half portion).

Plus some fried chicken (half portion) and a bowl of plain rice.

The spicy shrimp and fried chicken were tasty, though not amazingly better than expected.

But I’m not a teenage girl—I couldn’t get full on just half portions, so I ended up ordering a solo serving of gyoza. Ohsho’s gyoza are seriously delicious!

By the time we left, the shop was packed, and there was already a line forming outside.

The GYOZA OHSHO Karasuma Oike Shop is bold in trying new ideas, hoping to attract female diners to eat and dine out at Ohsho. Their efforts seem to be paying off so far, as I spotted quite a few female customers in the store that day.

However, since female customers often suffer from “can’t decide-itis” (the table next to me took twenty minutes to order), and girls love to chat, the turnover rate at GYOZA OHSHO Karasuma Oike Shop is definitely lower than at regular Ohsho stores—a business risk. But I think attracting girls who wouldn’t normally eat at Ohsho might increase their willingness to try other Ohsho locations.

GYOZA OHSHO Karasuma Oike Shop
Business Hours: Monday–Saturday 11:00–24:00 (Last Order 23:30), Sundays & Holidays 11:00–22:00 (Last Order 21:30).
Closed: None.
Transportation: Get off at Kyoto City Bus stop "Horikawa Gokoku" and walk for five minutes / Exit at subway Tōzai Line "Karasuma Gokoku" Station and walk for one minute.

Cavana @ Kyoto - Stay Freely.
Cavana x Japan Travel Craze