What is 551HORAI's pork buns?

551HORAI" pork buns, familiar in the Kansai region through the TV commercial "551 HORAI wa arukimasu - ‼ nai kara...", have been loved for about 80 years since their establishment in 1946, and are an indispensable soul food for people in the Kansai region. The company has about 60 take-out stores (some of which also have restaurants) in Osaka City, Hyogo, Kyoto, Nara, Shiga, and Wakayama, with an average daily sales volume of about 170,000 units. In recent years, it has become a popular "never-miss Osaka souvenir" with fans nationwide.

It is characterized by the perfect balance of juicy red bean paste with the irresistible flavor of pork and onions, and the dough, which is chunky in texture and sweet in taste. The subtle sweetness of the dough softens and harmonizes the rich flavor of the pork. No preservatives are added, and only the portion made and steamed on the same day is served. The large, satisfying portion is another attraction.

The Unknown History of Pork Buns, Created the Year after the End of the War

The predecessor of the restaurant was "Horai Shokudo," which was established by the late founder, Mr. Luo Houjiao, together with two friends. It was established in October 1945, only two months after the end of the war, in the center of Osaka City next to the current head office, while the whole area was burnt to the ground in the Great Osaka Air Raid.

While food was scarce immediately after the war, Hourai Shokudo's specialty, curry rice, became a big hit. When that hit had died down, Hourai Shokudo Around the same time, the founder of Hourai Shokudo In 1946, the year after the establishment, the founder invented pork buns as the next hit menu item.
Taking a cue from the pork buns he had eaten in Taiwan and which were popular in Kobe's Nankinmachi, he came up with the idea of a "larger size" pork bun. Taking a cue from the "larger size and made it so that a single piece would be more satisfying to eat and make it more satisfying in one piece. He thought that the name "Yakinohara" would suit the tastes of the people of Osaka. The name "pork buns" was chosen instead of "meat buns" because "meat" means beef in the Kansai region.
The resulting pork buns were a huge hit and have become a representative flavor of the Kansai region. The seasoning, quantity of ingredients, and method of making the buns are still the same as they were 80 years ago, It has remained unchanged since the establishment of the company. It is said that the taste, amount of ingredients, and recipe have remained unchanged since the establishment of the company.

Originally, pork buns were an eat-in menu item that could only be enjoyed in the cafeteria, but demand grew with popularity, and in 1952, the company began selling them over the counter. The reason for this was the desire for customers to enjoy freshly made pork buns, The "demonstration sales corner" was established to sell the products while showing how they are made, as shown in the photo above. The scene of hand-wrapping and steaming one after another caught the eyes of people passing by nearby Ebisubashi Bridge and stimulated their desire to buy. At the same time, the "take-out" style of taking pork buns home and enjoying them at home, which is commonplace today but was revolutionary at the time, gradually spread and took root in the area.

It was around 1974 that the store's name was changed to "551 HORAI. The founder, who wanted to make the store name more familiar and memorable to customers, came up with the idea of using a universal number for the store name, inspired by the foreign cigarette "555". The name was also inspired by the fact that the restaurant's telephone number was 64-551, and the phrase "Let's aim for the best taste and service here (=551)" was also included. The name "551HORAI" was born from this idea.
The red and white brand colors and package design are intended to stand out. The paper bag with "551HORAI" written in bright red letters on a white background is easily recognizable even in crowded areas. It is something that Kansai people are deeply attached to.

Our commitment to the deliciousness of our pork buns

The biggest secret to the delicious taste of 551HORAI's pork buns is that they are sold "freshly steamed" the same day they are made, without using any preservatives. Out of a total of 61 stores58 You can see the ingredients being wrapped in the dough at each store, and at some stores, you can even see the steaming process in action! (except for stores specializing in chilled products and Pang Chan stores). (except for stores specializing in chilled products and panchan stores).
The first floor of the main store, which was renovated in 2021 and is located in Ebisubashisuji Shopping Arcade in Namba, offers a close-up view of the kitchen with a large glass wall that extends to the side, allowing customers to enjoy a more live production scene.

To the store The dough and ingredients are delivered from the central kitchen four to five times a day. 4 to 5 times a day from the central kitchen. During transportation The dough is first fermented during transport, so stores are limited to the Kansai region, within a 150-minute drive from the central kitchen. The temperature and humidity of the day and humidity of the day. The dough is formed by hand, checking the condition of the dough with the touch of the hand, Second fermentation The second fermentation takes place in the store. The second fermentation gives the dough its sweetness and chewy texture.

The main ingredients are Pork and Japanese onions, mainly from Awaji Island. Both are cut into large dice for texture. Seasoning is simple, using salt, soy sauce, and spices to bring out the flavor of the ingredients.

The ingredients are placed generously in the center of the fermented dough and wrapped by hand one by one. The hand-wrapping is another important point. The dough is fermented and elastic, making it difficult to wrap by machine, but it is best to wrap by hand to maximize the fluffy texture and flavor of the pork bun.
The number of folds is set at 12 to 13 for a nice appearance when steamed, and it takes one person to wrap four pieces in one minute. When you reach the level of a master, you can wrap 8 pieces per minute.

It takes about 20 minutes to fluff up the dough. After steaming The finished product. With steam billowing in the air, Staff/staff members are packing steamed pork buns into boxes one after another, according to orders.

The special attention is also paid to the mustard that is added to the pork buns. Vinegar, salt, and other ingredients are added to give the buns a spicy and rich flavor that goes perfectly with the sweet dough. The original is manufactured daily in the central kitchen and, like the pork buns, is brought in by truck multiple times a day. It contains no preservatives and has the same expiration date as the pork buns.
Incidentally, fans enjoy it in various ways, such as with soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, vinegared soy sauce, or ponzu (Japanese citrus juice) in addition to mustard. Why not try it next time?

For a taste of freshly steamed pork buns, we recommend the Restaurant on the second floor of the main store.

The first floor of the main store is for takeout only, but the second and third floor restaurants offer freshly made, hot pork buns to be enjoyed at a table. Pork buns are 310 yen per piece or the "551 Dim Sum Set". If you are so inclined, we recommend the set menu that includes tantu noodles, dim sum, and apricot bean curd, which are often served at Taiwanese food stalls. The pork buns served in a steaming hot pot are also very tasty.
You can also enjoy other authentic Chinese dishes such as xiaolongbao, sweet-and-sour pork, mapo tofu, and fried rice. Restaurant There are 18 eat-in restaurants in the Kansai region. Please check out our 18 restaurants and eat-in stores in the Kansai region.

Limited editions of the main store are also available. Look out for the popular products that follow the ton-man buns!

The second most popular after pork buns, The second most popular item, after pork buns, is It is a long-selling product that was created in 1952. Filled with pork and onions, it is a hearty snack. The fluffy texture and the rich flavor of the ingredients fill the mouth to the brim, making it irresistible.

The "Shabayaki (fried pork) Man" is a popular item known only to those in the know and available only at the main store and the Umeda Hanshin Store. It is filled with rough slices of chashu pork marinated in a special sauce and slowly grilled, as well as shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and onions. The light, sweet sauce accentuates the flavor of the pork. The buns are often sold out in the afternoon, so we recommend that you purchase them in the morning.

Anmanman" is also popular. The bean paste is carefully cooked so as not to crush the grains, and rich, deep black sesame paste and black sesame seeds are added. They are sold only at the main store. It is best to visit in the morning when you have the best chance of being able to buy it.

Another regular product is the "popsicle" which was created in 1954 to "help people escape the humid summers in Osaka. The same production method has been used since that time. It has a nostalgic taste and is available in a variety of flavors in addition to the most popular fruit, Milk flavor The retro packaging with a polar bear, Icchan, which has been used since 1957, is also popular for its cute retro look.

Where can I purchase Pork Buns?

Pork Buns has a total of 61 stores in the Kansai area, mainly in Osaka City. They can be purchased at major train stations, airports, department stores, and other convenient drop-in locations.
At JR Shin-Osaka Station, where the Shinkansen bullet train stops, there is one store inside the Shinkansen ticket gates, one store inside the conventional train ticket gates, and one store outside the ticket gates. There are a total of 5 stores.
JR Shin-Osaka Osaka The other stores are located outside the ticket gates of JR Shin-Osaka Station. The following is a list of the stores that sell chilled products, Chilled (refrigerated) products are also sold. The consumption period of regular hot (freshly steamed) products is the same day at room temperature. same day at room temperature and 3 days if refrigerated, but chilled products must be refrigerated by the end of the day. 5 days including the day of manufacture. Therefore, choose products with consideration of the time you need to carry them. Some sets come with a convenient refrigerated bag. Chilled products are available at 8 stores and can be found on the official website.

Unique products and packages are available for a limited time only!

Since its launch in 1984, the heart-shaped pork buns have been available during Valentine's Day (currently available only through mail order). At the time of its release, it was a big hit along with the catchphrase, "Confess your love in a hokka-hokka mood. Expressing love and gratitude with a pork bun is also a unique idea typical of Osaka.

In the spring and fall, a fire truck is also displayed on a paper bag in line with the Osaka City Fire Department's "Fire Prevention" campaign. fire prevention campaign called for by the Osaka City Fire Department in spring and fall. In spring and fall, paper bags and boxes with fire trucks on them appear in conjunction with the Osaka City Fire Department's campaign for fire prevention. In addition, paper bags made in collaboration with the Osaka Prefectural Police, the Japan Coast Guard, and the Self-Defense Forces will appear once or twice a year, each as a contribution to the community. Those who are interested should check the official website and SNS for announcements.
551HORAI's pork buns are made by processing only the portion to be sold that day in the central kitchen, then forming and steaming the buns in the store. Please try this Osaka specialty that has been loved for many years, freshly steamed and hot.

551HORAI Main Store

• 3-6-3 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka MAP
• 3 minutes walk from Osaka Metro Namba Station
• Takeout 10:00-21:30 (Bento boxes available from 11:00)
  Restaurant: 11:00 - L.O.21:30
• 1st and 3rd Tuesdays *Check the official website for holidays and other irregular holidays.
• 06-6641-0551
• None