Sekine’s Shumai & Steamed Buns: A Favorite of Asakusa Locals!

Hello, this is the staff of The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon. This time, we would like to introduce to you the shumai and steamed meat buns from Sekine, a long-time favorite of the locals.

Established in 1921, Sekine specializes in take-out shumai and steamed meat buns.

The store is located on the corner of Shin-Nakamise Shopping Street and Sushiya Street, marked by a retro-style building and a tasteful red logo. Sekine was founded in 1921 as a bakery in Iriya, Taito-ku, Tokyo, and opened a diner in Asakusa in 1935. The diner’s popular shumai and steamed meat buns were sold at the attached store, but in 2005, the diner was transformed into the take-out store specializing in shumai and steamed meat buns that it is today, and continues to operate. The shumai and steamed buns at Sekine have long been loved by the locals, and have even been praised as “the best in Japan” by celebrities and comedians with connections to Asakusa. Once you try one, you will understand why they have been loved for so many years.

The red logo on the lantern also adds to the atmosphere of the shop.

The only products available are shumai, extra-large shumai, steamed meat buns, and bean-jam buns.

Hot steamed meat buns to be enjoyed at the storefront

The store sells cold shumai, steamed meat buns, and bean-jam buns to take home, as well as freshly soft steamed meat buns and bean-jam buns to enjoy on the spot. The hot steamed meat buns, which are handed to you with the warning, “Please be careful, they are very hot,” are filled with round meat inside. The meat is surrounded by rich meat juice, which is extremely hot, so be careful not to burn yourself! The meat is made with only pork and onions, so the flavor is concentrated in the delicious simplicity of the meat. The skin, which soaks up the meat juices, is also soft and gently sweet.　Eating a steamed bun on a cold winter day in a storefront is the best thing ever! The freshly fluffed bean-jam buns also have a nostalgic taste, filled with rich black sesame-flavored red bean paste.

When you tear off the skin, you will find hot juices and delicious meat inside.

Shumai filled with meat and full of umami!

The shumai I bought as a souvenir comes with a card with instructions on how to enjoy it. If you follow the instructions and steam the shumai in a steamer for about 5 minutes, they will be soft and fluffy, and really tasty. They are well seasoned when eaten as they are, but they are also delicious when dipped in the special sauce and karashi (mustard) that accompanies them. It is a delicious dish that will bring smiles to the faces of everyone in your family.

The package contains 10 small shumai for 510 yen. The expiration date is within 2 days of the date of manufacture!

You can also heat them up in a microwave oven, but be sure to use a steamer to save time and effort.

Access to the store

It takes about 5 minutes on foot from The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon. If you get hungry during your stroll, try the hot steamed meat buns at the storefront, or take home a pack of souvenir shumai that your whole family can enjoy together.

It is also a 5-minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line.