Ohsho (Gyoza no Ohsho / 餃子の王将) and Tenkaippin (天下一品) are the most famous Chinese food chains in Japan. They are both from Kyoto. So I, as a Kyoto native, visited the original locations of both. Who’s the king?
Ohsho vs. Tenkaippin
Ohsho (王将), left, Tenkaippin (天下一品), right.
Ohsho vs. Tenkaippin sounds like Coke vs. Pepsi, McDonald’s vs. Burger King, or Cardi B vs. Nicki Minaj to Japanese people. Both are equally famous from Kyoto and serve Chinese food. But there are minor differences, of course. Let me walk through these two.
Ohsho
A billboard says “Gyoza no Ohsho (餃子の王将) the first.”
As Ohsho’s full name “Gyoza no Ohsho (餃子の王将)” suggests, Ohsho’s specialty is gyoza.
Gyoza is a Chinese dumpling optimized for Japanese taste buds. Gyoza in Japan is like tacos in the US. We see gyoza as a Japanese Chinese cuisine also known as “Chuka food (中華料理).”
The first Ohsho opened in 1967 in Shijo Omiya in Kyoto. Now there are 734 locations in and out of Japan as of 2023.
Photos of the first Ohsho.
The first Ohsho still stands where it used to be. Except for chronic waiting lines, it’s just a regular Ohsho store with radiant fluorescent lights. Employees there work like an army while their customers shut up and eat. That’s how it’s always been.
Gyoza (¥120 / $0.90).
“Tulip” chicken wings (¥300 / $2.30), left, “tenshinhan” crab meat omelet on rice (¥267 / $2), right.
Fried rice (¥248 / $1.90).
Nothing is notable with their food. They are all insanely good for their price range, which is bonkers.
What I love the most about the first Ohsho is their “Just Size” potions written in English on their menus. That’s their way of saying “half portions.” You can have a little bit of everything. Why not make your own Ohsho mezze?
Gyoza no Ohsho at Shijo Omiya (餃子の王将 四条大宮店) | Menu | Address: 116-2 Nishikiomiyacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 〒604-8365, Japan
Tenkaippin
A billboard says “Tenkaippin (天下一品) the original.”
Tenkaippin (天下一品) is famous for their Kotteri Ramen (こってりラーメン).
Kotteri Ramen is ramen with an uber-rich chicken soup that is almost a chicken paste. It’s considered “tori paitan (鶏白湯)” ramen which means “white chicken soup” ramen. Kotteri Ramen smells like an American Thanksgiving leftover turkey soup with a past-generous amount of meat and bones.
Tenkaippin started in 1971 as a mobile noodle bar near Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) in Sakyo Ward in Kyoto. Four years later, the first location of Tenkaippin opened in the same ward.
Among all the 226 locations in and out of Japan as of 2023, the first Tenkaippin probably has the most offbeat vibe. Their food is as good as the other locations except for one offer: Gyusuji Ramen (牛すじラーメン).
Gyusuji Ramen (¥1010 / $7.70) comes with slices of char siu pork.
Tenkaippin’s menus.
Gyusuji Ramen, signature Kotteri Ramen with beef tendon stew, is phenomenal and only served at the first Tenkaippin. It’s like, barbacoa, carnitas, and pollo all in the Whopper.
Tenkaippin the Original (天下一品 総本店) | Address: 94 Ichijoji Tsukidacho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 〒606-8175, Japan
So who’s the king?
Ohsho vs. Tenkaippin is unfair because A: Ohsho is for gyoza, and B: Tenkaippin is for ramen.
Speaking of the king, Ohsho (王将) means “the king” of Japanese chess (shogi / 将棋). So Ohsho might as well reign as the king if it was not for the loss of their CEO shot dead by a yakuza in 2013.
Tenkaippin (天下一品) means “peerless.”
☞ Find more ramen
☞ Find more gyoza
