Every time I go to my favorite Japanese restaurant, gyoza is almost always my appetizer of choice. I like gyoza, but I like the dipping sauce that comes with it just a bit better. At the place I go to, it's distinctly different from the regular soy sauce found at the table.
The taste
It is probably a splash of rice wine vinegar that they add, but all I know is that there is a lot of umami goodness going on.
Now, this little bottle of Trader Joe's Gyoza Dipping Sauce is very different from what I usually get at a restaurant. There are more add-ins here, but they nonetheless make this taste pretty darn good. This is soy-based, so it will play nicely with most Asian flavors.
The extra flavors here are rice vinegar, cilantro, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, chives, and crushed red pepper. It's a bit sweet but also so very savory.
So you are getting an awesome combo here: it's sweet, salty, savory, with only a mild touch of heat. While the crushed red pepper is there, it does not lend much heat at all. If you pan-fry some gyoza then you'll get that wonderful crunch to make it an ideal dish.
Just be warned, there is cilantro in it and some people (like my husband) taste cilantro as almost a soap-like flavor. I, on the other hand, could sit and eat an entire cilantro salad because I love the flavor so much.
You could use this as a dipping sauce but I also think that you could use this as a marinade as well. I've used it for gyoza, shumai, soup dumplings, and egg rolls. I even keep a bottle at work for when I have dumplings.
But don't let your imagination stop there. This sauce has the potential to for other purposes as well: a stir fry or a marinade would
For $2.49, this is an inexpensive and well-done dipping sauce that is good to keep on hand in case you want to try something beyond plain soy sauce.
Since its packaging is pretty plain you've might have walked right past it in the aisle with the sauces and condiments.
Packaging
Trader Joe's Gyoza dipping sauce comes in a glass bottle with plastic covering the top to prevent tampering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wondering what to pair this with? You can always reach further into the frozen aisle and reach for Pork Gyoza, Chicken Gyoza, Shrimp Spring Rolls, Pork Shu Mai, and yes even if you don't like the sauce packet that comes in the chicken Shu Mai then this is a good alternative.
Trader Joe's Gyoza Dipping Sauce is a soy based sauce with the added flavors of sugar, rice vinegar, cilantro, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic among other flavors
This would make for a good marinade as well as adding to a stir fry.
Overall
Would I buy this again? Yes, Trader Joe's Gyoza Dipping Sauce is something I keep in my refrigerator when I am in the mood for dumplings.
A visual run down of this product
The jar Trader Joe's Gyoza Dipping Sauce:
The nutritional information and ingredients
How Trader Joe's describes this product:
With some of Trader Joe's Pork Shu Mai:
Would I buy this again? Yes. I've purchased Trader Joe's Gyoza Dipping Sauce three or four times. It's a great dipping sauce not just for gyoza, but for so many other items.
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe’s for a searchable list.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
The Bottom Line
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Trader Joe's Gyoza Dipping Sauce
Product Name: Trader Joe's Gyoza Dipping Sauce
Product Description: Trader Joe's Gyoza Dipping Sauce is a nice condiment to keep aside from soy sauce
Price: $2.49
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- Trader Joe's Gyoza Dipping Sauce is a delicious, umami dipping sauce that I have become very fond of.
- This is far more complex than a regular soy sauce.
Cons
- Some purists might still prefer just plain soy sauce. This has cilantro in it, which might not appease all palates.
Carol says
I have been buying this sauce for a while now. I mostly use it on my stir fried/steamed veggies and rice, quinoa or other grain. It is very delicious (and I don't like cilantro!).
becomebetty says
Hey Carol! I can't tell you how many times I walked past it and just did not notice it. I love your suggestions. I'll absolutely give them a try. Thanks so much for stopping by!