【Do you know about BUTAMAN?】The differences of BUTAMAN between the famous companies of BUTAMAN: “551HORAI” and “HORAI”. Let’s check them out.

The institution food of Osaka, BUTAMAN.
Actually there are two famous companies of BUTAMAN, “551HORAI” and “HORAI HONKAN”.
These are similar name, but completely different.

Do you know about that?

I sometimes buy “HORAI-no-BUTAMAN” at supermarket,I thought it was the BUTAMAN from“551 HORAI”.
It occurred to me that why it was not shown “551” on the package.
According to my research, there are two BUTAMAN companies “551 HORAI” and “HORAI HONKAN”, and these are completely different.

The raw materials are also different.

I will show you the differences of the feature and my impression of tastes comparison.

What is the difference of “551 HORAI” and “HORAI HONKAN”

In 1945(Showa 20), three friends opened ”HORAI SHOKUDO(cafeteria)”, for more development,they separated 551 HORAI, HORAI HONKAN and HORAI BEKKAN, and now 551 HORAI and HORAI HONKAN main office  produce BUTAMAN.

The feature of 551 HORAI

For chewy outside, all stores are located within 150minutes from the factory. So you can buy the BUTAMAN of 551 HORAI at Kansai area only.
All stores are direct sale, the staffs of each stores are making BUTAMAN with twist shape one by one.
Their kitchens are rounded by glasses, so you can see the process of making BUTAMAN.
They put the materials inside and twist outside speedily.
They do not sell cold storage and frozen products of BUTAMAN at supermarkets.
They do not sell raw products neither.
They sell BUTAMAN cooked by steem at each store.
So if someone buy BUTAMAN and he/she is in a train or bus with BUTAMAN, people arounded by him/her can aware of BUTAMAN by its smell.
You can buy chilled BUTAMAN which is chilled as quick as it’s cooked at some stations and airports.

Where can you get 551 HORAI?

You can get 551 products at department stores and around by stations, and all stores are direct ones.
Sometimes you can buy in Tokyo and Hakata(Fukuoka), when they held special selling.

The feature of HORAI HONKAN

HORAI Honkan sell BUTAMAN at Co-op, supermarket and the souvenir shops in some stations.
They have cold and chilled products so no worries about smell, and you can get them your neighborhood, so you can try tasty BUTAMAN easily.
They chose special good quality onions and juicy pork.
Of cource they have restaurants in Namba(Osaka).
You can try to make BUTAMAN by yourself there.
It is very special to make with special dough and materials which is your own choices.
It is fun to try to make BUTAMAN by yourself with your family and children.

Where can you get HORAI HONKAN products?

At Co-op, supermarket and the souvenir shops in stations.

Let’s compare of taste with two BUTAMAN!

First, the difference of the packages.

Both packages are red, these are very similar.
The package of 551HORAI has the letter of  “551”.

The difference of the shape

551HORAI

It looks like handmade twist.
The bottom of something is not paper, it is a slice of wood. It is called ZABUTON, because BUTAMAN seems like sitting on this wood.
Actually this wood is pine tree.
The smell of the slice of pine tree, it is important for the taste of BUTAMAN.
When you put BUTAMAN into your mouth, you can enjoy the slight pine tree smell with the taste of BUTAMAN.
With special mustard.

HORAI HONKAN

Fluffy and smooth outside looks delicious.Paper is attached the bottom of BUTAMAN.

The differences of the materials

551 HORAI

flour, pork, onion, sugar, starch, soy sauce, salt, yeast,spice seasoning(amino acid),expansion agent(soy is included as part of material)

HORAI HONKAN

outside(flour, sugar, lard, yeast, vegetable fat, salt)
inside(onion, pork, pork fat, soy sauce(include soy and flour), sugar, shiitake mushroom, salt, sesami oil, pepper),thickerner(modified starch, polysaccharide thickener),baking powder spice seasoning(amino acid),pH adjustment agent,glycine, emulsifier

The tastes are…

551 HORAI

The outside is very thick and little sweet.
A lot of materials(especially pork) is good, the tast is very rich. You can enjoy The tast of delicious pork.

HORAI HONKAN

The thickness of outside is nice balance, the tast is light and healthy.
Onions and pork are nice balance, and the both ingredients are nice effect, the tast is light and healthy.
Compare with 551, you can feel onion’s original mouthfeel.
Shiitake mushrooms are included. 551 BUTAMAN is not included it.

This time, according to comparisons of tastes, I found the tastes of differences. It is difficult to find the differences between them if I eat them separately. Both BUTAMAN is good.

About online shop

Now you want to try BUTAMAN right?
You can get BUTAMAN by online shop.

551HORAI

Official online shop　http://shop-551horai.co.jp/shop/c/

RAKUTEN online shop by KINTETSU department store
点心◇〈551蓬莱〉豚饅20個セットAセット【RCP】【送料込】 豚まん ぶたま…

HORAI HONKAN

Official online shop　http://www.horaihonkan.co.jp/

RAKUTEN online shop
【蓬莱本館】お試しセット[メディアで紹介された豚まんをはじめ、ジャンボ焼売・餃子..

Summery

There is a possibility most people live in Kansai area do not know the differences between 551HORAI and HORAI Honkan.
551HORAI has TV commercial of ice cream,so most people think HORAI is 551HORAI.
Actually these are different companies.
We enjoy eating BUAMAN with blowing it in the cold season. We recommend tasting bun with a little special mustard.
Both are well known BUTAMAN in Kansai area. Please enjoy tasting the 2 kinds of BUTAMAN with your family or friends as souvenir!

Located Information

551HORAI(corporation HORAI)

main office 3-6-3 Namba Chuo ku Osaka
(They have restaurant in their office)
TEL +816-6641-0551
http://www.551horai.co.jp/index.htm

HORAI HONKAN

3-6-1 Namba Chuo ku Osaka Osaka
Tel +816-6634-6836

http://www.horaihonkan.co.jp/restaurant