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 this experience.