KAMINARI GYOZA BAR is a restaurant specializing in Utsunomiya Gyoza. At our hometown of Utsunomiya, one can find many gyoza restaurants that only serve gyoza. We have reduced the number of non-gyoza items to preserve that culture. Our desire for customers to purely experience delicious gyoza is the reason we make them daily. Gyoza are a nutritionally well-balanced mean filled with protein, carbohydrates, fats, and fiber. Not only are delicious; they are also a healthy superfood. Gyoza as your main dish. **We only offer take out and delivery.
Hours
| Friday | 11 AM–10 PM |
| Saturday | 11 AM–10 PM |
| Sunday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Monday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 11 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 11 AM–3 PM |
| Thursday | 11 AM–9 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 323 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 265-7351
Website: https://linktr.ee/kaminarigyoza
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Order: Order online
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
@kaminarigyozabar | Instagram | Linktree
Kaminari Gyoza Bar (@kaminarigyozabar) – Instagram
kaminari gyoza bar – Order Online
Reviews
Tucked away in the heart of Little Tokyo at 323 E 1st Street in Los Angeles, Kaminari Gyoza Bar is a love letter to Utsunomiya-style gyoza, the iconic Japanese dumplings hailing from the gyoza capital of Japan. Opened in 2022 by Shigemitsu “Shige” Fujii, a native of Utsunomiya who swapped his fried chicken spot for this focused haven, the restaurant channels the purity of hometown specialists—minimal menu, maximum flavor. With bright yellow noren curtains framing the entrance and a sleek, fast-casual interior featuring communal tables and booths, it’s the perfect pit stop for a quick, satisfying bite amid the bustle of downtown LA. Open daily from 11 AM, it buzzes with locals and tourists alike, especially during lunch rushes.
What elevates Kaminari to must-visit status is their obsession with fresh, tasty, made-from-scratch fillings that burst with authenticity. Every batch is prepared daily, using high-quality ingredients like ground pork, cabbage, nira chives, and onions for the classic pork gyoza, ensuring a juicy, herbaceous punch in every bite. I started with the Yaki Gyoza (pan-fried, 6 pieces for $8.50)—crispy-edged skins that tear satisfyingly when pulled apart, revealing a steamy, plump filling that’s savory without grease, laced with just enough ginger and garlic to dance on the tongue. The Age (deep-fried) version amps up the crunch, while the Sui (boiled in clear pork soup) offers a soothing, brothy embrace, the filling’s freshness shining through the light herbal broth. Don’t skip the Shrimp Gyoza, where sweet, bouncy seafood mingles with egg white and chives for a delicate, oceanic twist, or the vegan Impossible Pork option, packed with shiitake and enoki mushrooms for an umami bomb that’s impressively meaty.
Bentos make it a meal, pairing gyoza with rice, herby roasted potatoes, or even curry-spiced spaghetti—a quirky Utsunomiya nod that surprisingly works. Service is efficient and friendly, with staff eager to guide dipping sauce choices (their homemade chili oil is addictive). At around $12-15 for a full bento, it’s a steal for such quality. Yelp’s 4.5/5 from over 246 reviews echoes my sentiment: it’s the fillings’ vibrant, made-that-day magic that keeps folks coming back. Whether you’re a dumpling die-hard or just craving fresh comfort food, Kaminari delivers thunderous satisfaction. In a city of fusion spots, this one’s a grounding triumph—pure, delicious, and utterly craveable.
We arrived around noon and were definitely hungry, since none of us had eaten breakfast. The gyoza immediately hit the spot. They offer them three ways… steamed… pan fried… or deep fried… and every version was well made and full of flavor. We ordered the complete meal option, which was the best value and gave us a chance to try more items. The dipping sauces were also a highlight. The chimichurri chili was excellent. The garlic aioli was just average in comparison.
The restaurant is small but very clean, organized, and efficient. Service was friendly and fast, which we really appreciated. It felt like an authentic and reliable spot for anyone who enjoys gyoza or Japanese comfort food.
Parking in the area can be challenging, but there are paid parking lots close by. Overall, this was a great find and a place I would happily return to for a casual and satisfying meal.
The first gyoza bar in LA all the way from Utsunomiya Japan!
FOOD 4/5
– Yaki gyoza which is pan fried
– Sui gyoza boiled gyoza in clear pork soup w/green onions = LOVE THIS!
SERVICE 3.5/5
Kinda had a weird vibe from the staff members here. Just wasn’t the friendliest or authentic.
PARKING 4/5
Parking in the perimeter of J-twn
We had the pork gyoza both deep and pan fried, we both liked the pan fried ones the best. You must try to soup or get the meal option so you get a bit of everything, it’s really worth it.
Excellent flavors, plenty of parking nearby, great service…truly you can’t go wrong. The next time we are in Down Town LA, we will be back.
Great food, good atmosphere, and a friendly staff. It’s everything I would want in a restaurant.