Izakaya Dongame Review - Echo Park - Los Angeles - The Infatuation
"When your parched soul craves a cold beer, Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park is a good place to start. Bars are thick on the ground here, but few offer as complete a package as Izakaya Dongame. This lantern-filled drinking den from Osaka has a cold beverage for everyone in your crew: chilled sake by the glass, refreshing mango shochu cocktails, and Japanese drafts that are so frosty they give you a minor brain freeze. All of these things naturally go with grilled and fried things, which Dongame also supplies. The menu features a long list of izakaya staples, like juicy dark meat karaage, mayo-drizzled takoyaki, and grilled unagi with a light slick of eel sauce. Everything we’ve tried—minus the “sushi dogs” that taste like gas station KazuNori—are exactly what you’d want in a low-stakes meal over drinks. Asahi here is also half the price (and twice as cold) as the beers at Dodger Stadium, so save your funds for post-game pitchers and skewers. Food Rundown video credit: Sylvio Martins Mackerel (Seared In Front Of You) The name is kind of a spoiler, but yes, this appetizer is torched before your eyes. If you like briny, savory fishiness, you’ll love this sub-$20 mackerel filet. Our filet, however, was still a little too cold in the center, even after being flamed. photo credit: Izakaya Dongame Yakitori The charcoal-grilled skewers make up the bulk of Dongame’s menu, and we haven’t come across one we don’t like. Their signature eel is their signature for a reason: charred at the edges and delicate and sweet in the middle. The chicken thigh and short rib skewers are kissed with charcoal smoke, and the sauce-brushed scallop brings a garlicky punch. photo credit: Sylvio Martins Pork & Chicken Gyoza These gyoza are listed on the menu as pan-fried but taste deep-fried (not a bad thing). They’re bubbly and crispy all over, and burst with scallion-y juices when you bite in. Enjoy with beer. photo credit: Sylvio Martins Karaage We don’t always call fried chicken a “snack,” but Dongame’s karaage is light enough to make it a great bar snack. Its breading is thin with a delicious peppery taste, the dark meat is tender, and there’s a wedge of lemon to spritz on top and brighten everything up. photo credit: Sylvio Martins Takoyaki This isn’t revolutionary takoyaki, just well-executed. These squid balls are creamy but not dense and drenched in the right amount of tangy sauce. photo credit: Izakaya Dongame Sushi Dogs We don’t know what’s worse: how bland these handrolls taste or the fact that someone thought branding them “sushi dogs” would be appealing. Divert your funds elsewhere." - Sylvio Martins
