For those who love dim sum
Steamed buns that faithfully convey the traditional taste
"Vegetable and meat dumplings" from Hoshino Kitchen
Five "Vegetable Buns" cost 850 yen. The taste is endorsed by former staff of Kashorou. Hoshino Kitchen will open in 2022 and start selling frozen dim sum from March 2023. 
The crispness and subtle bitterness of the komatsuna, the umami of the pork and shiitake mushrooms, and the scallion oil are perfectly balanced. This flavor goes well with alcohol. 
The adorable "Bean Paste Bun" is shaped like a plump peach. Five pieces cost 760 yen. 
Inside the peach is a slightly light-colored black sesame paste and crushed walnuts. It melts in your mouth and has a light sweetness.
Founded in Yokohama Chinatown in 1949, Kashorou has a glorious history, with its luxurious wooden architecture crafted by master carpenters.
Daisuke Hoshi, the owner of Hoshino Kitchen, has recreated and passed on the specialty "Vegetable Buns" of this restaurant, which sadly closed in 2016. For Hoshi, Kashorou was the first restaurant where he learned Chinese cuisine, and it is his roots as a chef. He then furthered his training at Koran Marunouchi Branch and Kogetsu Ikenohata Main Branch, and opened his own workshop in 2022, renovating part of his family's factory in Arakawa Ward.
The idea for creating "Cai Rou Bao" came about when the owner learned that Huashenglou, a restaurant with which he has many fond memories, was closing, and he began recreating the taste based on his memory, which eventually led to the restaurant being sold.
The "Cui Rou Bao" is characterized by its generous use of komatsuna, complemented by minced pork, dried shiitake mushrooms, and green onions. When you take a bite of the slightly sweet, moist, and finely textured dough, the vivid green of the komatsuna jumps out at you. The pork and dried shiitake mushrooms add sweetness and umami to the freshness of the komatsuna, and the homemade green onion oil gives off a soft fragrance! Mmm, this is a masterpiece. The small size makes it easy to finish in two or three bites, which is also a plus.
Another recommended item is Hoshi's original "Beef Bun." The black sesame paste is based on white kidney beans, which are used in the white bean paste of Japanese sweets, rather than the usual red beans, and is accented with crushed walnuts. The black sesame paste is rich, yet has a light texture reminiscent of Japanese sweets, making it a delicious treat that is sure to please even those with a left-leaning taste.
All dim sum is shipped frozen. You can microwave it, but to fully enjoy the flavor of this traditional filling, we recommend steaming it in a steamer.
