I heard that Santon (山東) in Yokohama Chinatown is famous for its amazing dumplings, so I decided to visit. Santon has two locations, the 1st and the 2nd. Since the 1st location was temporarily closed at the time, I went to the 2nd location with a friend. (The 1st location has since reopened.) Although the entrance is narrow, the restaurant is a three-story building with plenty of tables and seating.
They are especially known for their dumplings, which are their signature dish. In addition to classic dumplings, they offer unique varieties like pink peach dumplings and celery dumplings.
The restaurant does not have an elevator—only stairs.
Now, here are their dumplings! The skins are thick and chewy, and they are generously filled. Each order comes with 10 large dumplings. A friend of mine, a petite woman, once visited and ate both these dumplings and gyoza by herself, so I thought it would be easy for two people to finish them. However, it turned out to be quite a challenge, especially after having braised pork rice at another restaurant beforehand😅
The dumplings come with a sauce, which is coconut-based and slightly sweet. Personally, I didn’t like it, so I made my own dipping sauce at the table.
I originally thought gyoza and dumplings were the same, but after trying both, I noticed a difference. The gyoza wrapper is thinner and crispier on the grilled side, while the other side remains slightly chewy. Surprisingly, I felt that the coconut-based sauce paired better with the gyoza. In the end, I actually preferred their gyoza over the dumplings.
These dishes go perfectly with a glass of draft beer!
About
Name Santon the 2nd (山東２号店)
Open Day through night
Reservation Available
Credit card Available
URL Website
Google Map
