Gyoza Bar

We had high hopes for this Echo Park Japanese spot from the HiroNori people, with its paper lamps and moody red lighting. But after stepping through the PVC flaps dangling in the doorway, things took a turn for the worse. The cramped bar feels like a bad parody of a “cool Japanese drinking den,” with speakers blasting obnoxious techno music while clichéd samurai films play on mute behind the L-shaped bar. And despite its name, the menu has only two kinds of gyoza (both underwhelming). The pork ones are slightly better than the bland vegan option, but neither is an improvement over the ones you’d find in the frozen aisle at the supermarket.