"First part of me was rolled then the other part of me was chopped and stuffed into me..then they threw me in boiling water and some predator ate me quickly thereafter.. but damn if I didn't smell and taste good the whole time. Life rating: 8/10"
I got these on my most recent trip to Japan. As expected it was good, but I didn't expect it to be as good as it was, especially as a big regional chain place. If you're ever on the Kansai side PLEASE get some, the butaman pork buns and the shumai are both great
This 100% After spending quite a bit of time in Kansai and seeing every 551 I passed with a huge line, I subconsciously assumed it was just a tourist thing and it can't be THAT good. The first time I finally tried it, I was proven so wrong. Seriously incredible.
Japan is very creative when it comes cheap convenience items when they decide to supply them on their shelves than America itself. Man the U.S is so tame compared to the Japanese way of stocking and shelving the items for produce. Especially when it comes to the produce section. When it comes to the produce section, the (fruits and vegetables), it all can be traced back to how their regulations in mainly farmer’s trying to control how much pesticide and nitrogen OxyContin they can spray on the craps, so their crops can grow a completely at a faster rate. Just to feed us. It is useful to feed an entire population but at the same time it is harmful for our health. It contains toxins, nitrogen oxides, and other forms of harmful substances in those chemicals.
@@dudejunior1995 That's what I am saying. However, pids in Japan are much cleaner than how Islam and Judaism describes pigs. Pigs are described as filthy animals, but in many countries like Japan and South Korea, pork is eaten a lot and those who do don't suffer from any diseases from them. Just because something was true thousands of years ago, doesn't mean it is now. No hate to those who take their religion seriously. I am just saying that pork nowadays isn't how Islam and Judaism describes them as.
@@jishanbornoWell, not saying you're wrong. But changing Religions customs is not as easy as you think like changing culture. Many religions have a differrent ban for different reasons, for example in India they make Cow as sacred animals and couldn't eat it. Just because people in India know/realized Cow is just farm animals in other belief, doesn't mean they can just suddenly eating it. As for Islam for pork, I believe it was pork is not an animal that you can find easily back then in their dominant region (which is middle east). Hence the believe for not eating pork may have a different reasoning even back then, not just because they see it as dirty animals.
Although 551 Hourai's meat buns originated in Osaka, Kyoto Station is a very beautiful and artistic station from a Japanese point of view, and I think everyone should visit there at least once.
@@StuninRub I don't know what you are trying to convey, 551 Hourai is definitely a food that originated in Namba, Osaka. If I am wrong, why don't you do your own search on the machine you are typing your comment to me?
Definitely check out an asian bakery in your city and try them. The dough is very soft yet mildly springy and sweet, the pork is juicy and savory, and it just works on every level
Some of my family were born in Hawaii, so I was raised on steamed Manapua (basically an oversized char siu bao.) Because of this I am obsessed with any kind of steamed bun. Those Japanese pork buns look amazing. 😮🤤
I’m sure it’s delicious ( I’ll take your word for it); but for two good reasons, I much prefer the original Chinese bun (bao, humbow, bao zi, banh bao, siopao)… I believe it is superior to this and far more preferable for me since I do not live in Tokyo or Japan, and here in the US, the Chinese bao is far easier to find in Asian markets and or restaurants. (Also I am Filipino of Chinese extraction so I am naturally biased, plus vegetarian…so I won’t be missing this version from Gogoichi…lol). 😸👍
Well 551 is basically a Chinese bun chain but sold in Japan...perhaps tweaked a bit to suit the taste of Japanese palates but still essentially Chinese buns.
They always fail to protect people asking for help from stalkers or domestic violence and their investigations are lazy forced confessions. Don’t glorify our embarrassing clowns in uniform
Some people in the comments want to get outraged over nothing so I’m here to tell everyone: foods can be authentic/traditional to more than one country. As an example, when I say croissant, mostly everyone thinks of France, but in France that type of pastries is called “viennoiseries” which very roughly translates to “from Vienna”. So the croissant is actually Austrian then. But wait, it’s actually not because it is believed that the Austrians got it from the Ottomans, which is why the croissant is crescent shaped. So even though the idea of a croissant or croissant like pastries is not French, it is still traditional in France
"The staff here work basically all day stuffing delicious pork in a bun so I can stuff delicious pork into my mouth" caught me off guard, I literally spilled it on my kitten accidentally and choked from trying to laugh😭😭 Overall, another 111/10 video, that all looks awesomely tasty! ❤ Edit: I spilled water on my kitten, not anything weird, ok?-
I don’t normally comment on videos but I had to comment on this one. When I lived in Japan I would eat 551 horai every day before school 😭 brought back so many memories! Thanks for sharing this video!
89’-09’ Howard Stern, OSW Review, Space Ice, Mugen gamer re-creations, 90’s Nicktoon Shorts, and your channel are my YT go-to’s. Thanks for the commitment.
551 is a chain founded by a Taiwanese guy and this is a version of the Taiwanese meat bun. If you think this is good, then the kind you can find almost everywhere in Taiwan will blow you away. Remember Japanese visit Taiwan for food
Yooo. I didn't think anybody would ever post specifically about this location of 551, but I'm super stoked to watch it. Eating from here after stepping off the bullet train has been my little tradition every time I visit Kyoto. There's an outdoor seating area nearby, but there are no tables, so it's always a little funny to see other customers eating bentos and other food from the tops of their rolling luggage.
The Kyoto train station has some of the best food in Japan. No kidding, one of the best bowls of ramen I had not just in Japan but in the world was in that train station
I love dumplings I really want to try make red bean desert dumpling and Mochi. I veggie so for me I’m always on the hunt for new dumpling filling combos 🤤.
If you want to get the best Horai, you should try shops in neighborhood area. Maybe since it’s less crowded they took more care to each buns quality 👀 Based on my experience living for 1+year in Osaka, I recommend the one in Fuse or Namba-naka. Legit better than the Kyoto Station one 🫶
well tase any chinese pork bun with a fill that actually has color and seasonings on it then your standarts will change once again. in japanese they are called nikuman. if you get a chinese one, you may call them baozi.. bao..
I Just notice that dough ( just dough) is similiar to polish steamed dumplings or buns. Mostly it goes with sour cream and fruit jam. My grandmother used to do them and serve with kind of stew/ goulash. Soft and hot....nostalgic. rip grandma.
Where I'm from, a lot of shopping establishment names in a nearby chinatown area are also mostly just numbers. I've always wondered why that is but never bothered to ask anyone about it.
Horai is the name of the original store, 551 is the mainstream offshoot that specializes in takeaway/frozen buns. They're Osaka based rather than Kyoto, and while they're well known and popular nation wide, they're far from the best(it'd be like crowning a particular chain as the best "ramen" when regional specialties and permutations can heavily alter how it's done/served. That said, for a chain/mass produced type product, it's way better than other fastfood options(McD's, etc).
there's a place called Royal Kitchen in chinatown in Honolulu that I prefer by far. I don't like a ton of fat in my pork buns I prefer slightly chunky char siu but I think it really depends on what your used to. I also really prefer them baked vs steamed.
I’ve been to this exact location a few times cuz I’m originally from Kyoto. I can confirm that they are amazing, especially the pork buns and cold ramen noodles
Perhaps, the reason why the bag has that marketing picture, it is because, in U.S police quick snack are donuts and in Japan probably the quick snack is pork buns?
I went here and I still have dreams about this place bc I wasn’t expecting these to be as good as they were I was just looking for a quick snack before a long flight.
Yeah these buns are proper bussin. I’m emotionally involved in it too, but is a rare treat for me since I live in the Kanto area. the buns here mostly suck ass. Btw if you’re in the Kobe area you should try Ikkanro / 一貫楼, a chain similar to 551. They taste a bit more sweeter than 551, but the mustard packets go together so well. If you exclude chains, go for Roshoki / 老祥記 in Kobe Chinatown元町. They are hands down the best buns I’ve ever had. Their buns are really small though, like 1/3 of 551 buns. They’re a must if you’re close to Kobe. Buy dozens and stick them in the freezer.
I remember going there on my first trip to Japan, a birthday weekend visit to a ryokan in Hyogo (I lived in South Korea at the time). With my last few hundred yen, I bought a couple of these things, and was instantly transported to heaven.
I haven't been to Japan before but think I've had these in China before since they seem to just be baozi (steamed buns). They're just so good! Juicy, soft, filling and porky. Glad you enjoy these, too! Will have to try some if I make it to West Japan one day, see how they compare to the Chinese ones c: Oh and if you make it to China one day, while you can find them all over China they're the best in north and northeast China (where they originate iirc). You need the meat and heat in the cold, cold winters!
Ohh man! This was my go to place when I used to go to Kobe from Kyoto. My PhD guide treated me once. Now I am back in India. I so dearly miss the pork bun from gogoichi❤
Nah, they are not known for being the best but as “that omiyage dad brings home from his Kansai business trips”. They are okay for mass produced food but there are so many local alternatives that are far better than 551.
