This restaurant was recommended to me by a friend. It lived up to its expectations. The food selection varied, but everything we had was excellent. The salmon pressed sushi was amazing. Just the right amount of flavor, and a perfect start to the meal. After that, we shared the beef bibimbap rice dish, along with the chicken karaage. The service was great, with the staff being never far away, but not pressuring as you enjoy conversation and food with friends. The restaurant has a cool urban. Look with various seating and interesting decor. Although you may have to look to find street parking, it is well worth the effort for a great dining experience. read more

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Great place. I haven't been here for a while and it seems like they remodeled and it is a bit more sleaker and a little less fun. Menu is great. I am usually drawn towards the specials of the day. I went with a friend, and we tried a variety of menu items. Chicken Karaage - Japanese classic crispy fried chicken, green tea salt, and chili mayo. The chicken was cooked perfectly. Lovely spiced skin. We also tried the salmon pressed sushi which was fabulous. Wild sockeye salmon, avocado, Japanese mint, kaiware, seared with creamy soy sauce Lovely. We also tried the chef's appetizers for the night which was good. You don't get to choose though, and I can't say seaweed salad is a favourite for either me or my friend. The prawns were yummy though. We had no idea what we were eating in the bowl. Maybe shredded pork? It was decent. The last thing we had the assorted sashimi which was really fresh. Service was fine but not friendly. I will come here again read more

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We started with the sushi for appetizer and the rest was our main course. The food had a lot of flavor and the restaurant is small and quaint. Our server did an excellent job describing everything and giving us recommendations. I highly recommend visiting and ask for Ray, our server/manager. read more

Dorinku Tokyo - Yakiniku , Japanese style bbq beef on lava plate & Ishiyaki Beef Bibimbap , beef in rice in hot stone bowl. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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I really enjoy coming here. I have been here a few times; and each time I do, they have treated me with good service. They have unique soda pop flavors to choose from, among other drink options. They make a nice miso soup. The Sashimi and the sushi rolls have a high degree of quality and have always tasted fresh. This is a fairly busy location, but they handle the service with speed and quality. Always a good experience. I highly recommend. read more

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Dorinku introduced a more izakaya style of Japanese dining on Whyte Ave since they opened. My experiences there have been good and I recommend trying most of their items, i.e. katsu. Overall, I'd give them 8.5/10 for the food and atmosphere. read more

we came by dorinku tokyo in old strathcona around 12:30 pm on friday and was seated immediately for a party of four by our personable and friendly server wendy. the place is quite big and spacious, there were a number of patrons already in the restaurant. the menu looked interesting and there were quite a few items that i had my eye on (but would have been way too much) and so we asked wendy for her recommendations. it turns out that what she recommended were the things i had my eye on. here's what we ordered: shaka shaka fries, brought to the table and shaken in a brown bag with umami seasoning powder, the fries were thin and crispy carbonara udon, with bacon and poached egg, creamy comfort food with a smooth slurping texture pressed wild salmon sushi x 2 orders, 'cause one order ain't enough chicken karaage lunch set with rice and miso soup, and accompanied with pickled daikon, chili mayo for dipping and green tea salt king salmon sashimi, subtle and fresh smoke sashimi salad with salmon, tuna, and scallop on a bed of spring mix in a black olive dressing, this was brought out and presented with smoke from a glass, visually stunning, colourful and healthy ramen salad (this was a special request that they accommodated, no longer on the menu), this was a pleasant surprise as i was skeptical, but it was executed well, the salad dressing was flavourful, and tasted like a sesame peanut sauce. i would definitely come here again, this place has a relaxed vibe, food is tasty, and meant for sharing, staff are top notch. we were comped a dessert of almond tofu, (celebrating a birthday) enough for about one spoonful each, which was perfect, as we were stuffed and the dessert was light and refreshing. dorinku tokyo is worth a visit and may just become your new fave go to japanese street food. read more

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A super cool place that we were recommended to come and try! They have a really neat menu with a nice variety of foods and drinks, and everything we ordered was delicious! All the staff we interacted with were very friendly and our waiter was very knowledgeable and able to answer our questions! The restaurant is a pretty good size, but it doesn't take long for it to get busy! I was a fan of the way they did their lighting to give the dinning area a fancier vibe. I would like to try both locations to compare! read more

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I come to Dorinku Tokyo a lot. It's an amazing experience! The atmosphere was lively and energetic, and the food was delicious. I started off with the pressed salmon, which melts in your mouth. For my main course, I had the pork chop and rice which was cooked to perfection. The pork chop was juicy and tender, and the rice had a nice texture. My friends love their carbonara so that's a must try ! Overall, I highly recommend Dorinku Tokyo for anyone looking for a fun and delicious dining experience! The service is great, depending when you go. t's a great spot for Japanese food! They have a variety of small plates and sushi rolls that are sure to please any palate. If you're in the area, it's definitely worth checking out! read more

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My favourite Japanese izakaya in the city. After living in Japan for a while I kept having cravings for Tonkatsu but not many places in the city offer a true Japanese Tonkatsu dish. Fortunately Dorinku offers a delicious Tonkatsu lunch set and a wide variety of other Japanese dishes. They've been my go to any time I miss Japan and have never disappointed. I do prefer their lunch menu over the dinner menu, but you really can't go wrong either way. Service is always friendly and food comes out decently quick! We decided to stop by on the weekend and try some ramen by Tenjin since they're having a pop up inside Dorinku Tokyo and safe to say it's probably the best ramen I've had in the city. The standard cost is $10 for Tonkotsu, Shio or Miso Ramen, and then add-ons such as extra noodles, egg, chashu, etc. range from $2-6. They had great noodle texture (no mushy noodles here!) and the broth was pretty solid. My partner did mention he wished his bowl had a bit more broth to account for all the extras that came with The Works. read more

Dorinku Tokyo - Tako Wasabi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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The service was good. I forgot to take a photo of the udon noodles I had ordered, I ate the corn & crème brûlée as well. Portion sizes are small compared to what you pay for. It was good but I wouldn't order it again. Had someone recommend this place, and they raved about it. The food smelt so good when it came out. Also had tried a bite of the TNT, never had a pressed sushi roll, so it's more messy and mostly tasted the mayo. After eating all the food I did, left the place leaving hungry & not 100% satisfied. I think this place was overhyped for what I experienced. read more

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OK FIRST OFF ALL. let me start off with the fact they have FULL METAL ALCHEMIST playing off a projector?? #weeeebingout Don't get me started on their fat collection of anime figurines displayed on the hallway to bathroom. I'm already won the fuck over We came straight from the airport -- so super late, super hungry, and super cold because it was -40 degrees out. Things I recommend and remember: -Pressed sushi: We got the wild salmon and the negi-toro. It was weird because ive never had pressed sushi. The salmon had a slight sear because the torched the mayo-cream sauce on top. Both were pretty good, expected more fish though. -Asari clams: bruhhhh not only the clams delicious, but the sake/garlic butter broth it was soaked in was to die for. We almost drank it like soup. It had a nice clean but delicious taste -- HONESTLY because it was freakin half butter, and who doesnt like butter -Mt Fuji Alberta AAA steak: Steak comes on top of a rock plate made from Mt Fuji (idk if its real but whatever). We got it medium rare, perfect pink middle, melt in mouth goodness we ordered some other stuff, but those were my favorites! Pass on the corn-kale thing though. lmao too healthy-tastinggg Beware though, we did come hungry, so for a tapas-style meal, it did get a bit pricey. It gets pretty crowded and kind of loud, especially since we got a pitcher to DORINKUUUU Overall, really cool place! I wish I was in Edmonton more to visit and try more of their dishes read more

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I stopped in for a quick lunch today, I ordered the TNT pressed sushi which was absolutely delicious! The service was very quick and friendly especially for how busy they were with 1 server working. I was sitting by the bar and it was really cool to see some of the really interesting bottles on the shelf. I've been before for dinner (which was also delicious) and look forward to going back again, maybe with a group so I could try more things haha read more

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It blew me away. We started with clams. MMM buttery goodness. Then calamari. Absolutely delicious. The best was the carbonerra noodles. Fantastic. Piping hot! I burned my tongue a little. It was to good not to just dig in. We shared a pitcher of beer. All the food was brought out quickly. We were well attended. Zero complaints. Cool vibe. You can see into the kitchen. I'll definitely be back. read more

Better w age! Celebrating their anniversary this month and August. We had a wonderful lunch on the July holiday weekend. Everything v fresh and perfectly seasoned. read more

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I checked out @dorinkutokyo while I was in Edmonton last week. This is a Japanese street food joint. I ordered several starters: Tako wasabi (wasabi octopus with seaweed) -2nd fav. Really liked the freshness of all the elements and the crunch with the seaweed. Corn kale kakiage (corn & kale tempura fritter in butter soy sauce)- my least favorite. It was nice but nothing striking. Tomato kimchi- my favourite . Never would I thought of this combination of fresh tomatoes with kimchi spices on a bed of salad. This was gone in 5 seconds. Total star of the meal. For my main course: I had the Dorinku miso ramen (10 hour slow cooked pork in chicken broth), pork Cheshire, radish sprouts, green onions, egg was extra) with thin egg noodles. I enjoyed it as the meat was tender and the flavours were subtle but rich. This was a great spot to try something new. Definitely different from the Montreal places I have been too. The dining area was really nicely decorated, looking forward to my next trip and also when lockdown will end. read more

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Over the past decade izakaya-style restaurants landed in Edmonton and the city has never looked back. These informal Japanese bars filled with alcoholic drinks and tasty snacks might just be the ideal way for Edmontonians to sink into this particular culture. Think "Irish pub," except Japanese. Open since 2016, Old Strathcona's (technically located in CPR Irvine) Dorinku (meaning drink in Japanese) attempts to capture the perfect Tokyo atmosphere - and they accomplish this extremely well. Voted #1 Best Japanese 2018 by VUE Weekly and with me being a major fan of Japan myself (I traveled there in 2016) this restaurant was high on my must-try list. Walking into the restaurant on a Saturday evening (reservations are recommended), I was practically giddy at the flawless embodiment of Tokyo in this space. It looks exactly like places that I have been to - in actual Japan. In fact, the vibe reminded me an awful lot of a casual gyoza shop that I visited in Harajuku. Entering under a series of red chōchin (lanterns) you will be greeted immediately by the staff shouting "irashaimase!" in your general direction. This exuberant welcome is absolutely authentic. Seated at our table, I began to take stock of everything that made this space so incredible. From the J-Pop playing over the speakers, to the complete slew of perfect memorabilia, this restaurant is a narrow Tokyo back alley in every sense. The dark wood, concrete walls, and moody atmosphere play the part. Complete with amazing graffiti-style street art on the walls. I was very excited to find a Pachinko machine and then even more excited to discover a beverage vending machine (serving both hot and cold drinks). There are anime figurines in cases (Sailor Moon, of course) and there are even robot toilets in the bathroom. They couldn't have done a better job with this place if they tried. It is actually Japan. Being an izakaya, you've gotta drink. They've got all the sake and shochu and plum wine that you could want. I was extremely curious about the hot chocolate sake (complete with mini marshmallows) but found myself in the Cocktail section and clearly had to order the Tokyo (Vodka, grapefruit juice, Sprite, cherry blossom - $8.80) to stay with the theme. The presentation and attention to detail in this beverage alone demonstrated the same level of care that you'll find in Japan - an excellent sign. The three triangular slices of grapefruit were frozen and fused together to create the cutest garnish. A lively and refreshing drink, it really did remind me of sakura season. The food menu has everything. All of the best stuff. There was also an extensive specials menu that somehow offered even more. Bluefin tuna? They even have that. I was really impressed by all of the creativity that I was finding within the menu. Sushi served on a 4 foot long bridge? SURE! This is the kind of stuff that makes dining an experience. I decided to order a whole whack of stuff in an attempt to sample a bunch of different things. Our friendly server was delivering the goods to our table in the blink of an eye! First, the Dorinku Appetizer Platter (7 kinds of daily chef's selection - $16.30) from the Snack + Share section seemed like a great opportunity to try a variety of items. Apparently only available in limited quantities each day, I was glad to get my hands on one. Each little dish was filled with something unique and I enjoyed sampling each one. From the tako wasabi with chopped octopus and wasabi dressing (it packed a punch!!). To the tuna tataki with lightly seared tuna sashimi with onions, citrus sesame soy sauce and housemade chili oil. To the beef tataki with lightly seared and sliced AAA tenderloin and oriental chili dressing. I really loved the pickled daikon, which was simple yet excellent. Another of the items seemed to be deep fried tuna with a luscious mayonnaise. This was a really nice way to sample many different flavours. I've heard good things about the chicken karaage and would like to try it on my next visit! Next was our "wild card" item, the Carbonara Udon (Japanese udon noodles, creamy carbonara sauce, bacon, grated parmesan, poached egg, scallion, served in a hot stone bowl - $14.80) from the Noodle section. Arriving piping hot, frothing and bubbling, this mass of molten cheese and noodles enchanted me immediately. Upon stirring the contents of the bowl together, I was even more impressed to find a runny egg in the bottom of the dish and watched as swirls of golden yolk combined with the creamy sauce like ribbons. I don't think that I expected this dish to work as well as it did. The thick udon noodles bathed in a cheesy, ultra-creamy sauce... Plus bacon. This was a wonderful example of fusion cuisine done just right. I simply had to try the Aburi Shime Saba (Whole filet of cured mackerel, seared in front of you - $14.80) from the Sashimi section since I'm a major fan of mackerel. Unfortunately, this was not seared in front of me but I did see some flam read more

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Great establishment, very accommodating. Right after partying would be a good place to grab some freshly cooked hot ramen. My group and I ordered some fried pork skin with what I remember was tempura. Very good start as our appetizers. Completed our meal with some miso soup, later added some boiled eggs. Recommend to grab the spices, I believe was Japanese seaweed salt. I can't quite remember. But it does add the kicked that we all need sometimes. Takoyaki is always a must for me when going to a Japanese or inspired restaurant. Was 5 stars, very filling and creamy. read more

Dorinku Tokyo - Pork miso soup - Sushi Bars Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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Nice place to look at inside. But don't come here expecting it to be a sushi place. There were only a few sashimi options and 3 pressed sushi choices. A mixture of other food options if you want that. But high prices and very small servings were disappointing after the long wait because of slow service. I spent $90 on just myself and left this place hungry. Going to stop by the Tokyo Noodle Shop Down the street to top myself up for a reasonable price on the way home. Was a nice stop and the food I did have was good but I won't be back here for the reasons mentioned. read more

Amazing and I mean Amazing Japanese food. Amazing seedy feeling location that actually je very cozy and great ambiance. Loved the service. Good people read more

Definitely will be back, absolutely loved the food and service, looking forward to trying many of their other meals, a go to must! read more

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Dorinku is one of my top go to restaurants. The atmosphere is lively and the service is usually good. It feels like their specials change every month or so. In my most recent trip, I ordered their special beef pressed sushi and the jewelry bowl. The server accidentally spilled a whole glass of water on my boyfriend's back so we got the tuna tataki on the house (this does not usually happen hahaha). I've always enjoyed the pressed sushi at Dorinku so the beef sushi was no different. Jewelry bowl is a staple to have at Dorinku if you enjoy a decent proportion of Sashimi on rice. Tuna Tataki was thick and juicy. Another item I love at Dorinku but didn't order that day is the Shaka Shaka fries. These fries are seasoned differently from normal fries and is an addicting appetizer. Dorinku is a great place to dine with friends and have a few drinks! It is a little on the pricier side so your bill may add up if you come here starving. Although if you are super hungry, you just have to strategically order the more filling dishes if you want a small bill. read more

Dorinku Tokyo - Tuna tataki, pressed beef sushi and jewelry bowl - Sushi Bars Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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For my birthday I was craving sushi and to my surprise I saw Dorinku Tokyo pop up on Door Dash. I mean other than order great food, what else can you do for your Pandemic Birthday? Thanks COVID-19. Within 20 minutes I had GREAT food left at my door (yay for contactless delivery). The Salmon Pressed Sushi was unreal...the creamy sauce on top of the sushi really put it over the edge. This might very well be my favorite sushi in Edmonton right now. I also ordered Carbonara Udon as I have been wanting to try this dish since forever. You really cant go wrong noodles, bacon, grated parmasen, and a poached egg. I was really impressed with how well this dish held up through delivery. I couldn't have picked a better meal to celebrate my Pandemic Birthday this year. Looking forward to visiting this restaurant once it's safe to do so. read more

Came here after work and it was my first time trying ramen. I ordered the Miso Ramen. It was delicious definitely a new favorite and have been wanting to go back ever since. The Tokyo drink was also super good and refreshing read more

Dorinku Tokyo - Tokyo - Sushi Bars Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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From time to infrequent time a restaurant brings together so spectacularly all the aspects of presentation, elocution, and taste so well that it takes a couple of months to cobble together a review. Dorinku did that for me. Hunnybunny and I came here for lunch on my last day in Edmonton. We soaked in the wonderful ambiançe of a Tokyo street scene, the sights of the kitchen dance from our vantage point on the bar stools, the smells of the cooking food and the preparation of the sashimi, and, finally, the tastes of the dishes. Whoa. The kaki-age udon (crispy vegetables in a noodle broth) was fabulous, just the right balance of everything, both texture and taste. It's the kind of thing you get slightly adequate elsewhere but when delivered properly seems so effortlessly perfect. All of which pales in comparison to the splendor that is the carbonara bowl, something I would *never* order in a Japanese restaurant. The hunnybunny ordered, and I went with her intuition, and OH MY GAWD it's the most unexpectedly delicious thing I had that week. Bona fides: I loves me some fettuccini carbonara; and I've had it across Italy to Boston, New York, and San Francisco "Little Italy" neighborhoods. It's one of my to-go dishes, because it can be fiendishly hard to get the balance of the noodle, sauce, crispy pancetta, and cheese gratinee just right. I've never had it in a Japanese place. To make things more disorienting, it arrives bubbling in a huge bowl, like misbehaving lava waiting to exit a volcano. By the time we dipped our chopsticks into the roiling muck and got the mix to our mouths we were sold: it was heavenly! Undeservedly, unexpectedly, unreservedly HEAVENLY! I flew back to San Francisco, stuck the Dorinku business card to my cubicle wall, and moved on with my life. A couple of business trips to culinarily distracting places, Chengdu, China and Mexico City, and I was back in Edmonton! And to where did we return? Dorinku! And our second visit was just as delightful as the first! Highly recommended! Really highly! Oh, and there's some talk of a spectacular bidet in the ladies washroom. The hunnybunny says she's sworn to secrecy... read more

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This is a lively place. When I went, I found it hopping and it wasn't even a busy time of day. I sat at the bar right next to the open kitchen. That was an enjoyable experience on its own. I was able to watch the step by step process or preparing and serving as the orders come out. It was also impressive that most of conversation in the kitchen was in Japanese (I heard a little bit of English come from the second line but only because I was sitting so close). The ramen was served with charbroiled pork on which you could taste the charcoal. This wasn't just grilling lines for looks! I would say it was the second best meat in the city. Noodles were firm, just as I like. The broth, although good at the start ended up tasting like nothing more than straight miso soup. Nothing special there. I can see the charm in a place like this. Sitting so close to the kitchen, the food looked fantastic which makes me want to come back and try more. read more

Dorinku Tokyo - Dorinku Miso Ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

Friendly staff. But way overpriced for what you get. 6 sushis with thin salmon slices for 14.8 dollars? Cup noodle sized ramen noodle soup with 3 pieces of thin pork slices also for 14.8 dollars. Thumb up for their wearing of masks for all staff and cleaning of seats and tables before each guest is seated during the pandemic read more

Friendly staff with a warm atmosphere and great food! Definitely a go to spot to catch up with friends. :) read more

Dorinku Tokyo - Seafood Ishiyaki Fried Rice - Sushi Bars Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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With Izakaya Tomo being one of my most frequented places in Edmonton, Once I heard there was another Japanese Tapas bar, and with so many reviews comparing the 2; I couldn't wait to try this new gem. The space is decorated just like what you'd imagine a Japanese bar to be like. With wood trim, high ceiling and plenty of japanese trinkets everywhere necessary. They have bar seating, with an open kitchen to see all the behind the scene magic. An overall welcoming feel. Dorinku is pricey, but the menu is really extensive. You have a lot of options for sushi/hot foods. There were a ton of favorite for the night, and they do have a couple dishes that are very unique and different compared to the rest of what edmonton has to offer. Ishiyaki Beef Bibimbap ($13.3) Pretty average nothing special. Rice didn't get to crisp up as much as it usually does coming from a stone bowl. Pressed Saba Sushi ($12) 5/5 Really fresh fish, The drizzled sauce over the top made it extra delicious and we definitely didn't have to dip anything in soy sauce for extra flavor. Rice to fish consistency was ACE. Ebimayo ($10) 5/5 The dish that was cleared out the fastest. The chili/cilantro mayo was really addictive. Agedashi Tofu ($7) Night and light. Was really good for palate cleansing. Chicken Karaage ($9) Was not impressed, least memorable dish of the night. Chicken was not crispy and relied heavily on the sauce for seasoning. Corn and Kale Kakiage($7) 5/5 SO YUMMY. Just get this, no questions. Pressed Wild Salmon Sushi ($13) 5/5 This was a hit/miss for the table. Either you really enjoy the creamy soy sauce on the top of each sushi or you'll hate it. I for one, loved it! Torokeru Chashu ($8) 5/5 The only downer to this was how small the portion was T.T , Tender isn't a word to do this justice, it literally melts in your mouth. (As the menu claims) Shaka Shaka Fries ($6) It arrives to the table in a bag, and a bowl of the seasoning salt. Guest of choice will then proceed to pour said salt into the paper bag to shake. WALA! The fries in general were alright, I think it's really just the interactive part. But like...7 dollars for fried though. Grilled Black Cod (17.3) The bones made it hard to share, and this was one of the most pricier dishes of the night. Presentation and execution could have been better. There were a few other dishes that we ordered off the specials that night as well! (SUNDAY) Basically all the sashimi/fresh fish dishes were amazing. The pressed sushi is a must! I recommend coming at least once! 22-09-2017 - DORINKU LUNCH UPDATE Tuna tataki - ($8.3) - 5/5 - Six thick slices of tuna, lightly seared placed on top of thinly sliced onions with a drizzle of sesame soy citrus, finished with chili oil. Yup, the chili oil got me. Would have preferred thinner cuts of tuna to have more of a balance with the sauces but the pats to the pairing of both the sesame soy and the chili oil together. Simple dish but really yummy flavors. Hamburg Set - ($16.8) - - Beef and pork patty seared and served on a sizzling plate with the choice teriyaki or steak sauce. Opted for the Steak sauce which had a nice tangy flavoring, They deliver the plate to you without the sauce, the server then covers the hotplate with a paper menu while proceeding to pour over the sauce to make it sizzle and pop a bit more intensely. Nice little show before you dig into your heavy lunch! The patty was served with onions and corn on the hotplate, the patty had a nice caramelized bottom and was packed with flavor. Nice and juicy inside, paired with rice and you're off to a food coma. All of the set are served with rice, pickled veggies and miso soup. Miso soup was surprisingly really good, aside from tofu cubes, they also had mushroom and daikon. Tonkatsu Set - ($14.3) - -Panko breaded pork cutlet fried with cabbage salad and Japanese bbq sauce. Standard flavoring, sauce accompaniment for the cutlet was a Japanese bbq sauce, a little sweeter than I'd like but not bad. The salad was also served on a plate rather than a bowl which made the mixing of the dressing inconsistent. read more

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First of all, nothing annoys me more than having a non-Japanese person try to greet me in Japanese. Ok, now that I've gotten that off my chest, I can continue with my review. I had the sashimi, which was pretty good and tasted very fresh, and the ramen, which was a big fat disappointment, and I found the broth very bland. My friend had the seafood fried rice, which she said tasted good, but I thought looked a little cheap on the seafood. Service is nice and attentive. Typical parking situation for any establishment located on Whyte Ave: no free designated parking, try to find paid parking at a meter, or free parking further away. read more

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We recently stopped by here for a Saturday evening quick dinner, and they were BUSY. We were lucky to be seated right away (for 2). Our server was fantastic, informative, and attentive despite the business of the restaurant! Everything was very delicious, fresh and well executed. Especially the Tuna Tataki (it wasn't over-torched) this time! The YUZU wings were meh for us. But everything else was . read more

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My friend brought this sushi tray over for a girls night in and it was my first time trying Dorinku. The sushi was such high quality, delicious and generous portion sizes! I would definitely recommend this place for their sushi and I would order from here again! High Quality! read more

Dorinku Tokyo - Sushi Bars Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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Oh shiiiiiiiz, a new izakaya opened in Edmonton. I spotted Dorinku a few months ago when they were first doing reno's. It peaked my interest but after my last disastrous attempt at trying a different izakaya in town (cough cough Ikki), I was keeping my expectations tempered. We decided to give it a try late Sunday evening when we were debating where to go for dinner. Open till midnight but Friday and Saturday's are till 1:00am! The place was packed so that was a good sign. So many Asians! Inside is clean, modern and crisp. I like the vibe a lot. The decor is very manga inspired. Naruto and full on manga wallpaper. I didn't even notice but their figurines are separated into guys and girls. One leads to the men's washroom and the other to the ladies room. Brilliant. What I don't get is how come the ladies washroom has all the glitz/gadgets (the bidet and toothpicks!) while the men's gets shafted. Typical. - Shake shake fries ($6.80) - french fries served with Dorinku's signature seasoning salt. Add the salt to the bag and shake to your hearts content. We weren't quite expecting this based on the menu description but it's a fun way to get involved with your food. Taste wise, it's just like any other fries I've had. Meh. - Chicken peperone udon ($12.80) - Italian-Japanese fusion pan-fried noodles with chicken, jalapeno garlic and scallions. This was easily our favourite dish of the night. The udon was amazing. Great, springy bite to the noodles. - Pressed wild salmon sushi ($13.80) - wild sockeye salmon and avocado sushi with Japanese mint and creamy soy sauce. Pressed sushi is all the range in Vancouver (see Miku and Green Leaf Sushi) so of course, Edmonton is light years behind and just getting it. I'm more of a nigiri person but the salmon was lightly seared and these just melt in your mouth. - Jewelry bowl ($11.80) - sliced sashimi, Japanese mint, daikon pickle and salmon roe over rice. I guess this is their take on chirashi but they cubed/diced up all the sashimi. The rice was nicely seasoned but this dish really didn't impress me. Second time around, I came with a bigger crew to try more dishes. It was a busy Wednesday evening but we were able to snag seats without waiting this time. - Five kinds of sashimi ($26.30) - tako, tuna, toro, yellowtail and sockeye salmon. You get 15 pieces total which is slightly difficult to share between four people. Everything was fresh and cut with precision. Presentation is beautiful. The toro and yellowtail definitely stole the spotlight. - Chicken karaage ($9.80) - deep fried chicken served with green tea salt and chili mayonnaise. This is a classic dish and Dorinku's version does it justice. Nicely battered, crispy exterior and oh-so soft and tender on the inside. I have no idea how they cooked it so perfectly. Dip into the chili mayo (the green tea salt didn't do much for me) and you've got a winner winner deep fried chicken dinner. - Agedashi tofu ($6.80) - deep fried tofu, carrot, yellow pepper, eggplant served in a shimeji and golden mushroom soy soup topped with scallion. I wouldn't really describe this as being "deep fried", more so lightly fried. Another classic izakaya dish done well. Silky smooth on the inside. This dish will convert all you tofu haters out there into tofu lovers. - Pressed wild salmon sushi ($13.80) - oops, accidentally ordered the same pressed sushi as my first visit but it was okay because everyone liked it. I'll to try their two other pressed sushi options next time. - Negi miso duck ($11.80) - grilled duck breast served with a negi miso sauce and scallion. These were nicely grilled but the portion is very small and I found you had to chew quite a bit. - Japanese style calamari ($9.80) - deep fried squid served with Japanese tartar sauce and mint salsa sauce. This was delicious. Straight up. Generous portion of squid and the "mint salt" sauce, think pico di gallo Japanese style, elevated this calamari to next level shit. The tartar sauce was great too. - Seafood ishiyaki fried rice ($14.30) - served table side with all the components separate. The stone bowl is pipping hot (don't touch it!). We got to watch our waitress put in the raw egg, then green onions, garlic flakes and finally rice. I think it's a bit overpriced but the dish was tasty. The stone bowl really cooks the rice and gives it a nice crunchy, umami flavour. - Dorinku ramen ($13.80) - slow-cooked pork and chicken broth, ramen noodles with binchotan charcoal grilled pork chashu, kaiware radish sprouts, green onion and shredded spicy pepper. This bowl looks pretty basic but don't be fooled. Broth was excellent and the noodles had a good toothsome bite to them. Portions are smaller than norma and prices a little stteper. Expect that when you come here because it's an izakaya. That being said, Dorinku has impressed me so far and I can't wait to try their full menu. read more

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been to their restaurant at whyte Ave, great sushi and sashimi, their specialty longgggg sushi so instagramable. Also tastes great

One of my absolute favourite restaurants! Located in the heart of Whyte Ave, Dorinku is an excellent choice for grabbing some eats pre- or post-shopping, strolling down Whyte, checking out nearby festivals, the Strathcona farmer's market... the list goes on! When you walk in, you are greeted (loudly!) by the staff with 'irasshaimase' in typical izakaya fashion, which in Japanese means 'welcome'! (Another fun fact: 'Dorinku' means 'drink' in Japanese!) I've been here for both lunch and dinner - they have different menus for both which are available for review on their website. Today I was here for lunch and I ordered the pressed salmon sushi and chicken karaage. Our table also ordered shaka shaka fries to share. The pressed salmon sushi is by far my favourite item on the menu and I always make sure I order this whenever I come to Dorinku! The pressed sushi is unique - made by assembling the sushi rice and ingredients into a mold which is then used to 'press' down upon the sushi to compact everything together. There's a creamy soy sauce topping and the combination of everything is delightful. A+ rating! The chicken karaage was decent - it is served with chili mayo, and matcha salt on the side. I found the chicken to be a bit dry this time around, but have ordered it on previous occasions where it has been quite good, so perhaps today was just an anomaly. The shaka shaka fries were amazing, I would definitely recommend getting an order of this to share at your table - the seasoning is umami flavoured and leaves you craving for more and more. Prices are a bit on the pricier side I will admit, but I have always found the food to be top notch and the service is great too. Nice atmosphere with the izakaya (Japanese pub) vibe. To top it all off, I'd recommend heading on next door to Snowy Dessert for some Korean shaved ice for dessert! (Review for that to come!) read more

Dorinku Tokyo - Pressed salmon sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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Have gone to dorinku a few times and have always enjoyed my meals here. The last two times have been pretty stellar. We came here on a Monday night one time and tonight on a Wednesday night and it wasn't too busy. The last time I came we Ordered the 5 types of sashimi and was impressed that there was uni--sea urchin! So so fresh. The appetizer platter we had that day was okay... Not the best but okay as the appetizers were more pickled focus. Today, we ordered the pressed salmon and Tuna belly salmon. By far the pressed salmon was the best. The Tuna was not anywhere as flavourful. Also ordered past favourites such as the chicken karaage and Hamachi carpaccio. The Hamachi seemed to come with a lot of salad this time in comparison to where the actual fish was. Ordered some new ones this time too including the pork belly and the duck. The duck was a tad too cooked and they seemed to have changed the presentation compared to the picture Overall, a good solid last meal before I head out east. read more

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I love Dorinku. We've been there three times now, and it's fast becoming our go-to celebration spot for a great meal and terrific atmosphere. The ebimayo is to die for, the shaka shaka fries are a mouth-watering delight, and the chicken kaarage is a child-pleasing wonder. Every time we go, we try something new and every time we are impressed. There are no bum steers in this herd, folks. Absolutely one of the more interesting and fun places to eat here in Edmonton. It's hard to write a review of a place that is attractive, well-staffed, clean, fun, and full of delicious food... but for Dorinku, one must try. read more

I thought I'd swing by here on a whim for lunch. I was very excited to try this place out as I love Japanese food; unfortunately, I left very disappointed. Their lunch menu didn't have a lot of variety and did not seem enticing. I was ready to leave however, my mom decided we should just try it out. We ended up ordering items that everyone raved about; the pressed sushi, ramen, and chicken kaarage. Sad to say but none of them were good. We told the waitress it wasn't the best when she checked on us but she just said "aww okay" and walked away. I guess the least she could've done was asked if there was anything that could be done to make it better. The service was okay. We were one of the few customers in the restaurant so the staff didn't have to do a whole lot. The food came out within 5 mins of the order being placed. Prices are what you'd expect at a sushi joint. This was definitely not a favourite and is one less place I won't have to worry about spending money at. read more

My fiancee and I tried this out for the first time Saturday with a couple friends and we absolutely loved it!!! It's located on whyte Ave, so as per usual you're on your own to find some nearby street side parking. We didn't have too much difficulty and we were parked just a block away. It was Saturday night about 7 pm, but we managed to get a spot pretty quickly. Overall, great service and a very cool experience. They cooked a lot of the food in front of you, such as the fried rice in the hot stone bowl which was fun to watch. We also had an order of beef teriyaki but had to cook that ourselves on the hot stone. They also shook the shaka shaka fries to infuse the spice in the fries and it was delicious! They said that it was an in-house secret spice. The food was all amazing and super flavorful. I would recommend ordering several items and sharing it amongst your group. The portions are a touch smaller than average but great for sharing. My favorites were the: fried rice, shaka shaka fries, short rib (melts in your mouth!), the shrimp appetizer and the dorinko ramen! I loved this little spot and will be coming back to try more items from the menu! read more

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Wow. That was a delicious dinner. We probably didn't need to try nearly as many dishes as we did, but I'm glad that we did as the food was rather good. We had pressed sushi, pumpkin udon, the appetizer platter, agedashi tofu and an ice cream dessert special and it was marvelous. The genmai green tea was good too. The service was at times enthusiastic and when the restaurant got busier it was a bit slower but our orders left the kitchen and arrived at our table incredibly quickly which was excellent! I couldn't help but be impressed. I'm sure to be back here eventually! It was a bit noisy but that contributed to the atmosphere they were trying to cultivate. This was occasionally a distraction from our conversation. Likewise because they are so quick, this isn't really a place to languish over your food as we were done a large meal really quickly but all the same I do recommend this place. read more

I took my 2 kids here for a quick bite on a Saturday afternoon. We had attentive and quick service. We ordered the Shaka Shaka fries and they were very good! Plus it was a huge serving. Never had anything like them before and we all enjoyed them. One of my kids had the ramen and a ramune pop, he really liked his meal. I tried the broth of the ramen and was underwhelmed, but that's just me. My other kid had the shrimp (but with spicy mayo on the side as he didn't want it spicy) - no complaints on the taste but it definitely wasn't enough for a full meal. I would come again for the fries! Unfortunately we packed them up to go and forgot them on the table! read more