Frozen Gyoza With a Cult Following Comes to Colorado, Is It Worth the Hype?

There’s been a dumpling boom at local restaurants, but how often do you make them at home?

If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, chances are you’ve seen the viral “lace skirt” dumplings. Known as hane gyoza, which translates to “winged dumplings,” these pan-fried gyoza are connected by a delicate, circular crust that forms on the bottom of the pan, giving each bite a satisfyingly crunchy edge.

Now, Japan’s number-one frozen gyoza brand, Ajinomoto, has brought the trendy dumplings to grocery stores across the United States, including 32 Walmart and King Soopers locations across the Denver area. This week, the brand is hosting pop-up events around Denver to spread the word — and we gave them a try ahead of the big launch.

A Cult Following

Ajinomoto’s hane-style dumplings were first introduced as a seasonal item at Costco in December 2023 and quickly developed a cult following.

“When Ajinomoto dumplings first entered the U.S. market, the reaction from consumers was overwhelmingly positive,” says Jordyn Gottlieb, director of branding and communications for Ajinomoto Foods North America. “It introduced many Americans to a new kind of dumpling experience – crispy on the bottom, juicy inside, and ready in minutes.”

According to Gottlieb, for a long time in the U.S., the dumpling category was defined almost entirely by the potsticker, a style introduced by Chinese immigrants in the 19th century. However, in recent years, a shift has occurred, thanks to a new generation of consumers.

“Gen Z is a major engine of growth in frozen dumplings and their influence on the category will only expand. This shows a growing appetite for more globally inspired, fusion, and innovative varieties. U.S. consumers are looking for options that feel more exciting and adventurous, moving beyond convention and opening the door to formats like hane-style gyoza,” Gottlieb shares. 

That said, Gottlieb notes, there’s still an opportunity to help more Americans feel confident cooking hane-style dumplings at home.

“One of our ongoing challenges has been building familiarity and confidence with this type of food among U.S. consumers. While people love our dumplings once they try them, there’s still a perception that making dumplings at home is complicated or reserved for special occasions,” Gottlieb continues. “That’s why we’re creating hands-on experiences, like our pop-up events, to show just how easy it can be to prepare restaurant-quality dumplings in your own kitchen.”

Cooking the Trend

Normally, cooks must mix a slurry of flour, cornstarch and water to create the delicate lace effect of hane-style gyoza. Ajinomoto eliminates that step entirely – no slurry necessary. All home chefs need are the dumplings that come in the bag.

We followed the instructions on the back of the bag to the letter, starting by arranging the frozen gyoza flat side down in a circular shape on a non-stick pan (without oil) over medium-high heat. Then, we slowly poured 3 ounces ( about 1/3 cup) of water into the pan, covered, and heated it for seven minutes. After the time was up, we uncovered the pan and continued to fry until all the water evaporated. The lacy bottom formed before our eyes and turned a golden brown, after which we turned off the heat and carefully flipped the gyoza onto a plate. 

While we did end up with the delicate, crispy, lace effect, the skirt shattered during the flip. We tried a second time with some sesame oil brushed onto the pan to see if that would change the result, but still no luck. 

Nonetheless, the dumplings themselves were delicious — crisp on the bottom, tender on top, and filled with a light and juicy pork and vegetable mixture. The wrapper was pleasantly thin, neither doughy nor chewy. Since the package doesn’t include dipping sauce, we mixed our own with soy sauce, rice vinegar, grated ginger, garlic, scallions, a pinch of sugar and sesame seeds. It was the perfect pairing.

Try It Yourself

Ajinomoto will celebrate the Colorado launch with two free tasting events this week:

• Wednesday, October 29, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Berkeley’s Safeway (3800 West 44th Avenue)
• Thursday, October 30, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Castle Rock’s King Soopers (5544 Promenade Parkway)

The activations will include a mobile food truck experience in the grocery parking lots, chef-led demos and tutorials, free samples of the gyoza, and coupons for discounted dumplings.

While we may not have mastered the perfect flip (yet), we can confirm that Ajinomoto’s hane-style gyoza deliver on their promise of an easy to make lace skirt dumpling. Just be warned: You might need a few practice runs before your skirt comes out Instagram-ready.