Chotto Motto - Japanese Bar & Restaurant — Restaurant in Melbourne

Chotto Motto is a super vibrant and electric Gyoza bar in Collingwood, decked out with Japanese junk shop treasure in every corner. Everywhere you look there’s something quirky, unique and exciting, I felt like I had stepped into a different world. They specialise in Hamamatsu regional style of cooking gyoza which they hand-make daily. You have 3 sauces to choose from, as well as 3 fillings. They also have pan-fried options and other plates to share. I was super keen to finally visit having heard that their Crispy Chilli Oil is amazing (they sell it both in-house as well as across different stockists).

The highlight was the Chicken Karaage – beautifully crispy, juicy, and the curry mayo was a fantastic accompaniment; I really appreciated the creativity here and we could’ve had another serving it was that good. Unfortunately I was underwhelmed by the Gyoza – they were a little lack lustre. The meats inside were seasoned well enough but didn’t pack a punch. The Crispy Chilli Oil was okay but the heat didn’t really show itself. The best ones we tried were the Shiitake & Chive, they had a lot more flavour to them because of the umami of the mushrooms. The dough of the dumplings was perfection – thin, silky and it didn’t feel like you were having more carbs than protein per bite. They were pan-fried nicely adding crispness to the soft texture.

I’d return to try some more of their menu, I am curious about their other sauces on offer as well as their sides. The Gyoza didn’t blow my mind but it’s still made fresh and in-house so I understand the appeal. It is a little pricey (e.g. $24.5 for 10pcs), so I was disappointed that I didn’t love it more. Perhaps my high expectations are what set me up for disappointment in...

ORDERED: 🐟 Kingfish Crudo with lemongrass & ginger ponzu ($29.50) 🌽 Charred Corn with thai basil mayo, vegan parmesan + rice puff (2 pics) ($12.50) 🐔 Chicken Karaage shio koji marinated with crispy garlic and carrot ($18.50)

🥟 Black Garlic Umami Oil with Impossible Pork Shisho (10 pieces) ($23.50) 🥟 Crispy Chilli Oil with King Prawn & Ginger (10 pieces) ($25.50) 🥟 Classic Pork Pan Fried (6 pieces): Free Range Pork, cabbage & garlic ($14.50) 🥟 Shiitake & Chive (6 pieces): Shiitake & Chive: shiitake mushroom, garlic chive & shio kombu ($13.50)

REVIEW: This is my second time back after years. The charred corn is still my favourite. Especially with vegan cheese (and you'll note a lot of the menu), it's very vegan friendly.

Reading from Broadsheet, I was expecting their pan fried dumplings to be the highlight. Instead, I found these to be quite lacklustre, missing some real solid crunch that would come from being flipped fried twice (the Hamamatsu style of cooking gyoza). Especially when it should come in 10/20 pieces, you're missing out when it's in 6. Unsure what happened here.

We got to try all their fillings and surprisingly the King Prawn & Ginger, and the Shiitake & Chive were our favourite. Pork is better at your more traditional establishments, so you could do without here at Chotto Motto.

Service was efficient, and they were nice enough to seat me 45 minutes before my reservation time! They were happy to leave me with a...

Let’s start with the obvious - looking at any photos of Chotto Motto and it’s clear it’s pretty eclectically furnished, to say the least; not that this is to it’s detriment! Instead, it brings a whimsy and casual feeling to the restaurant which doesn’t take itself too seriously. Whether its Japanese games, vending machines or even a Special phone to call Tofu the Dog, it’s certainly somewhere you could come and find something new and fun in the surroundings every visit!

The menu itself is quite small - though not to its detriment! Everything on it seems to be picked to compliment each other item on the menu, with each one appealing and interesting in its own way. The food and drinks came out quite quickly after ordering, with the staff happy to help with any questions about the menu. The dumplings were delicious and flavourful, with the house made chilli crunch shining though and absolutely stealing the show - thankfully it’s sold to the public as you exit! Other house made pantry items are also available, so you can have a taste of Chotto Motto at home in between visits. The drinks list is incredibly inspired, with a strong Asian influence on the cocktails, and a killer selection of highballs not to be missed.

Service was prompt and friendly, and the staff seemed to know the menu well when asked for suggestions.

Overall a very colourful, fun place for some amazing food and drink - with a great little pantry selection to take...