Bao Buns vs Gyoza: Which Japanese Street Food Should You Try?

Can’t decide between a pillowy bao bun or a pan-fried gyoza? You are not alone, they are two of the most popular orders on the Yakinori starters menu, and while they are both Japanese street food staples, they are built completely differently. Here is how to choose.

What’s the Difference?

Bao buns are soft, steamed buns, fluffy and pillowy on the outside, stuffed generously with a filling and finished with sauce. They are eaten in a few bites, more like a handheld sandwich than a dumpling.

Gyoza are pan-fried dumplings, a thin wrapper folded around a filling, crisped on one side and served with a dipping sauce on the side. They are smaller, shareable in a pile, and all about that contrast between the crispy base and soft top.

In short: bao is soft and fluffy, gyoza is crisp and dippable. Different textures, different eating experience, which is exactly why so many people order both.

The Bao Bun Lineup at Yakinori

• Karaage Chicken Bao: Firecracker sauce, crunchy cucumber, sriracha mayo, spring onion, crispy shallots, sesame chilli. The spiciest of the three.

• Firecracker Cauliflower Bao: The vegan option, built around crispy cauliflower with that same firecracker kick.

• Teriyaki Duck Bao: Sticky teriyaki duck, crunchy cucumber, spring onion, shichimi umami chilli. Rich and slightly sweet.

The Gyoza Lineup at Yakinori

• Chicken Gyoza: Pan-fried, served with sriracha mayo and spring onion. The customer favourite, and it shows up in most of the sharing meal deals.

• Vegan Yasai Vegetable Gyoza: Packed with veg, served with a shichimi sesame soy dip.

So Which Should You Order?

• Want something light and shareable with the table? Go for gyoza, they are built for passing around.

• Want something spicy and filling? Go for bao, the Karaage Chicken Bao packs the most punch.

• Can’t choose which one to order gyoza or bao? Order both. Most Yakinori sharing platters and meal deals already put bao buns and gyoza side by side, so you do not have to pick just one.

Craving Both?

Head to your nearest Yakinori, we are in Birmingham, Bristol, Selly Oak, or Solihull and try them side by side. Or start with a Meal Deal for Four, which lets the whole table sample a bit of everything. Prefer to eat at home? You can also order through Deliveroo, Uber Eats, or Just Eat.

Happy Eating!