Jan 28, 2026 - Food and Drink

DŌZO is back in Dilworth with a bigger space and menu. Here's what we tried

McKenzie Rankin

People dining inside a cozy restaurant with dim lighting, featuring a colorful mural of a dragon and fire on a blue wall and a waiter serving food to guests at tables and bar seating. — DŌZO's new space features a community table, high-tops, two-seaters, and plenty of bar seating, with a mural by Charlotte artists Cheeks McGee and Quynh Vu and custom woodwork and design by 8Lincoln30. Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios

DŌZO reopens in Dilworth on Thursday, Jan. 29.

Why it matters: The Japanese-American kitchen from Katsu Kart creators Perry Saito and John Gamble became so popular that it outgrew its cozy counter at City Kitch in Wesley Heights.

Catch up quick: DŌZO closed its cozy City Kitch location last September and has spent the last six months preparing to reopen as a full-service, much larger restaurant on East Boulevard.

The new space will serve both lunch and dinner.

What to expect: DŌZO's new digs will keep plenty of its fan-favorites, like the crab fried rice and okonomiyaki on the menu.

But there are plenty of new dishes, too, along with a by-the-glass sake program and several craft cocktails.
Lunch and dinner will feel very different, Saito says. Lunch will focus on set meals with a meat-and-three-style approach (think protein, miso soup, salad and rice). Dinner leans higher end, with a focus on shared plates and entrees that rotate seasonally.
Dinner pricing is intentionally higher, with lunch staying more approachable. Saito says accessibility is a priority.

We attended DŌZO's media preview to sample the dishes and drinks you can expect at dinner.

Here are some of our favorite bites of the evening.

An assortment of snacks to start

Overhead view of various dishes on a wooden table including potato salad with crispy skin, seaweed salad sprinkled with sesame seeds, a creamy dip topped with green onions and orange roe, and a bowl of potato chips. — The dinner menu will include five snacks, or "kuchisabishii," a Japanese term that literally translates to "lonely mouth" and is used to describe snacking out of boredom. Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios

Dig in: We tried the potato salad ($7), house-made pickles ($9), and my personal favorite, the smoked crab dip served with furikake kettle chips ($17).

Now, let's talk small plates, like this beef tataki.

Sliced medium-rare seared steak topped with chopped green onions and served with brown mushrooms and sauce on a beige plate. — This classic Japanese beef dish features tenderloin seared on the outside, raw on the inside and thinly sliced. It's served with savory mushrooms for $26. Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios

Yes, and: Other small plates include a hot honey karaage, baby back ribs and a spicy tuna carpaccio, ranging around $16-$22.

A moment for the entrees, including a crowd-pleasing tonkatsu Caesar.

Crispy breaded dish on a white plate topped with finely shredded white cheese, green herbs, and golden brown crumbs, placed on a wooden table with blurred background elements. — This dish brought out plenty of oohs and aahs around the restaurant. Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios

Dig in: Tonkatsu is a Japanese pork cutlet. While DŌZO's tonkatsu dishes will rotate, this version came topped with shaved Brussels sprouts and yuzu Caesar dressing for $45.

A5 Wagyu is on the menu, too.

Black bowl on wooden table with beef slices topped with green onions, sesame seeds, and a raw egg yolk in the center. Other black bowls with food and a white plate nearby. — This is DŌZO's gyudon, or beef bowl. For this version, they're using A5 Wagyu, the highest grade of Japanese beef. Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios

Dig in: The gyudon will also rotate, but this one came with rice, kimchi butter, and a soy-cured egg yolk. Pro tip: Mix in the yolk before chowing down.

And to wash it all down: A Vietnamese coffee espresso martini.

Espresso martini garnished with coffee beans in a glass on a wooden table next to a glass of water and various dishes with food under warm lighting. — All of DŌZO's cocktails are created by local mixologist Sean Teague. Tito's, Borghetti, red miso milk syrup, and Vietnamese coffee come together for a smooth, balanced espresso martini. Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios

Sip on this: If Vietnamese coffee at night sounds dangerous, other options include Japanese spins on a whiskey highball, Mai Tai, and gin and tonic, plus a sake cocktail served in a carafe for two to share.

Stop by: 1419 East Blvd., in the same shopping center as Toccare Skin Spa.

Open Tuesday-Saturday 11am-2pm for lunch and 5-10pm for dinner.

Open kitchen view with chefs cooking, stainless steel pans hanging, wooden counter with lamps, and chairs in a dimly lit restaurant setting. — The new spot also has bar seating where you can watch the kitchen in action, much like the former space.
Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios

Brick building with large windows under a clear sky, featuring "Dōzo Japanese American Kitchen" and "Forbici Salon Wine & Design" signs, with lit outdoor string lights and nearby trees. — There's a small parking lot outside the restaurant, which faces East Boulevard. Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios

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