By Hamy Nguyen
I was desperately looking for a place to have lunch and a friend suggested Dotori. I have to admit, the menu didn’t exactly blow me away – just a few dishes, mostly the usual Japanese suspects. But my friend swore it was a must-try in Ho Chi Minh City, so I thought why not give it a try?
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| Buldak noodles. Photos courtesy of Hamy Nguyễn |
When I first entered Dotori, I felt like I had stumbled into a cozy corner of the Ghibli cartoons. The place had this magical, warm atmosphere – like someone had sprinkled a bit of fairy dust all over the decor.
With its charming wooden furniture, soft lighting and quirky details, it seemed like the perfect place for Totoro to stop by for a meal.
The delicious aroma of Japanese cuisine mixed with the atmosphere and it was hard to tell if I was more enchanted by the decor or just starving. Either way, I was ready to settle down and enjoy a meal that felt like a delicious, magical adventure.
What really caught my attention next was the introduction to the menu: two Korean chefs running a Japanese restaurant with a Western twist – a culinary mashup party.
As a fan of creative cuisine, this sounded like an exciting adventure and I couldn’t wait to get started. However, since the portions are generous and meant to be shared, and there were only three of us, we were only able to try three dishes.
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| Nikomi hamburgers. |
The Nikomi hamburger (259,000 VNĐ) is the specialty dish here, so I ordered one. The burger at Dotori is like a regular burger that’s spent a luxurious spa day in a pot full of savory goodness.
Imagine a juicy, thick hamburger patty, but instead of being sandwiched between two buns, it’s taking a warm, flavorful bath in a rich demi-glace sauce made with espagnole and beef broth. This dish will make you wonder why all burgers don’t get a spa treatment – tender, juicy, flavorful and so delicious. The dish is served with rice because, let’s be honest, it deserves to be enjoyed to the last drop.
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| With its charming wooden furniture, soft lighting, and quirky details, Dotori seems like the perfect place for Totoro to stop by for a meal. |
The Maze Noodles (259,000 VNĐ) piqued my curiosity because at first glance it looked like a chive convention on a plate. Underneath that green blanket of chopped chives, I couldn’t help but wonder what mysterious ingredients and flavors were hiding, just waiting to surprise me.
And it surprised me – it turned out that this dish made the biggest impression, and now I have decided to recommend it to everyone I know.
Beneath that chive veneer was a rich ragu sauce that had simmered for hours, making the ground beef so tender it practically hugged me, while aromas of herbs and red wine wafted through. And as if that wasn’t enough, there was a bit of basil pesto in the mix, too, and the whole thing was nestled against freshly made pasta.
The whole thing was a hearty, umami-rich experience that only gets better with the mix: East meets West on one plate – Western ragout and pesto celebrate with oriental noodles and chives. Who would have thought they would get along so well?
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| Labyrinth noodles. |
The last dish I tried was the Buldak pasta (259,000 VNĐ), a fusion creation of fried chicken and pasta in olive oil. The pasta is essentially Italian spaghetti with oil and garlic (aglio e olio), generously garnished with Parmesan cheese.
While the noodles and chicken were delicious on their own, I found the combination wasn’t quite right. The individual elements were great, but together they didn’t seem to have the perfect harmony I was hoping for.
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| The small courtyard offers ample outdoor seating for small groups. |
Dotori Dining is more than just a meal – it’s a wonderful journey into a wonderful world where home cooking meets magical ambience. It’s the perfect escape for those days when life feels like a chaotic circus and you need a cozy place to retreat to. I’m already planning my next trips; if Dotori were a vacation spot, I’d have a frequent flyer card by now. VNS
DOTORI FOOD
Address: 28 Thảo Điền Road, District 2, HCM City
Price: from VNĐ39,000-259,000
Comment: Modern, cozy, comfortable, quiet, creative
