Dinner was a pirozhki from Chai-kobskii in the basement food hall of Hankyu Dept. Store in Kobe/Sannomiya. I haven’t had one of these in about 30 years! They’re still as tasty as ever, but they seem to have shrunk over the years (as have so many foods!)
These are legendary and people are willing to wait in rather long lines to buy some…I waited about 10 minutes. They make 4 different types:
① Russia (not “Russian” 
) which is filled with minced Japanese kuroge wagyu beef, onions, cheese, tomato sauce, carrots and chopped hard boiled egg
② Adzuki (sweet red bean) paste
③ Curry (like the popular “curry pan” without the panko coating)
④ Curry & cheese (like the above but with grated cheese inside)
I am basically a traditionalist and got ① (¥184/USD $1.22) They also make an unfilled one called “The Flower Waltz” in which the dough is made with milk and is also sweetened. I got one of those as well and had it for breakfast this morning.
Pirozhki are not at all common in Japan and other than here, I’ve never had one nor even seen one elsewhere in this country (that doesn’t mean they don’t exist, however).
The name of the shop “Chai-kobskii” is a severe bastardization of “Tchaikovsky” because there are just too many sounds in that name that just don’t exist in the Japanese language.
There are multiple signs in the shop touting that they change their oil daily. That must be expensive and quite the task as well!
Website: https://www.fs-osakaya.co.jp/piroshiki.html
If you’re ever in Kobe, I recommend you stop by here!
