Izakaya Dongame
Izakaya restaurant · Greater Echo Park Elysian
1712 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Highlights
Osaka's Izakaya Dongame brings authentic small plates, grilled skewers, and frosty beers to a cozy, lantern-lit Echo Park spot.
Osaka's Izakaya Dongame brings authentic small plates, grilled skewers, and frosty beers to a cozy, lantern-lit Echo Park spot.
"This lantern-filled drinking den from Osaka doesn’t have TVs to watch Ohtani hit a moonshot in the eighth inning, but it does have something as useful: beers that are half the price (and twice as cold) as the ones at Dodger Stadium. Dongame opens at 5pm, so this traditional izakaya is a great place to refuel after a day game, celebrate a win, or mourn a loss over a casual, hearty meal. The bar’s Japanese drafts are so frosty they’ll give you a minor brain freeze, and they go hand-in-hand with crispy pork-stuffed gyozas, juicy karaage spritzed with lemon and charcoal-grilled unagi skewers lightly slicked with eel sauce. Before you spend $30 for a beer and stadium takoyaki, spend less for better versions at Dongame." - sylvio martins, nikko duren
"At the new Izakaya Dongame in Echo Park, she recommends the restaurant’s “fantastic selection of premium sake,” featuring glistening grilled unagi (eel) skewers." - Matthew Kang
"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
"Japanese imports are hot right now, and we aren’t talking Toyotas. Izakaya Dongame comes to Echo Park from Osaka, where it’s known for beer-friendly dishes like eel yakitori and hamburg steak. The brick-walled drinking den on Sunset is decorated with lanterns and photos of Osaka’s Dotonbori district, with plastic crates for seats. The menu includes Japanese omelets, salads, tempura, grilled and fried skewers, and taco-shaped handrolls they call “sushi dogs.” " - sylvio martins
" Projected Opening: Late September This Osaka-based izakaya chain is opening its first U.S. location in Echo Park where you can get a plate of whole grilled mackerel the length of your arm, garlicky clam soup studded with bonito flakes, and plenty of sashimi. The new Sunset Blvd space sits in a former Blue Bottle coffee shop (so, it's not going to be huge). They'll also have beer and wine. " - nikko duren
