This Cult Gyoza Brand from Japan is now in Los Angeles – and you can get it for FREE!

Do you know your gyoza? Ajinomoto is one of the most popular brands in Japan and is credited with being a pioneer in the industry for creating a crispy “lace skirt” that forms as it cooks. Well, Hane-style Ajinomoto Gyoza is finally available stateside in grocery stores, and they are celebrating with FOUR FREE POP-UP EVENTS in the Los Angeles area. Find out when and where you need to be to taste the umami flavor for yourself—after all, this company INVENTED it in 1908.

*This post is sponsored by Ajinomoto, but the opinions belong solely to EatDrinkLA.

What makes Ajinomoto Gyoza so Good?

Ajinomoto Hane-Style Gyoza is the only gyoza brand on the market with the crispy lace skirt. Hane actually means wings in Japanese. They form when pan-frying the gyoza, making them ready to lift off the bottom of the pan when the cooking is done. The thin wings are credited to a unique cooking style that is highlighted in detail on the Ajinomoto website. Best of all, it sounds pretty easy to do at home!

Where to Enjoy FREE Ajinomoto Gyoza in Los Angeles!

Before taking home a package of Ajinomoto dumplings, why not treat yourself to some expert cooking! Beginning November 6th, there are FOUR FREE Pop-up Activations featuring Food Trucks, Chef Demos, Tastings, and more! You’ll also have a chance to Win Prizes and Share your Favorite Moments on social. Pick your closest location from the list below – or visit them all and load up your weekend with tons of juicy fun. They’re at all the major stores, including Ralph’s, Walmart, and Pavilions. Flavors include Chicken and Pork.

• Thursday, November 6th, in Long Beach: Ralph’s is located at 6290 E Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, CA, 90803 from 2 to 6 p.m.
• Friday, November 7th, in Baldwin Park: Walmart is located at 3250 Big Dalton Ave., Baldwin Park, CA, 91706 from 2 to 6 p.m.
• Saturday, November 8th, in Cerritos: Walmart is located at 12701 Towne Center Drive, Cerritos, CA, 90703 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
• Sunday, November 9, in Sherman Oaks: Pavilions is located at 14845 Venture Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Did Ajinomoto really Invent Umami?

Well, the company was FOUNDED by the scientist who discovered it, Dr. Kikunae Ikeda. In 1908, Dr. Ikeda identified what he believed was an additional taste in his wife’s kombu broth. It went beyond sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. He called the glutamate “umami,” and Ajinomoto was the first company to mass-produce it in 1909. You might know it as monosodium glutamate, or MSG. While there is a little stigma around that word, this flavor enhancer is actually a safer alternative to salt.

Final Bites

Umami deepens the overall flavor of a dish, and Ajinomoto Gyoza is the ultimate expression of a great dumpling. Try it for yourself in November with Pop-Ups in Los Angeles, and liven up your home-cooking routine with pork and chicken flavors crafted alongside fresh vegetables, cabbage, garlic, and onions. Each 10.7 oz bag contains approximately 14 dumplings, and it’s available for less than $8 in most markets.