Edmonton has no shortage of izakaya-style Japanese restaurants and there are now plenty of amazing spots to choose from. I've visited Dorinku's Tokyo counterpart on Whyte Ave many times (you can read my review here) but somehow the Osaka restaurant has eluded me. I absolutely love the idea of Dorinku's two restaurants; one Downtown and one in Old Strathcona, each catering to the cuisine of their respective cities in Japan. I was expecting to see some crossover dishes between their menus but was also hoping for some uniquely regional ones as well. Dorinku Osaka was named as a Don't Skip the Dishes Here restaurant in CBC Edmonton's Best Restaurants 2019 list and EDify Magazine called them the Best Japanese Restaurant 2023. I was excited to head Downtown on a Saturday evening to take a short trip to Osaka (flight not necessary). Parking is always trickier downtown but if you're lucky you'll be able to grab a street spot right out front. This restaurant feels larger and more spacious compared to its Tokyo sibling. The focal point is the massive bar in the center of the room, complete with a noki-gawara style roof reminiscent of Osaka Castle. The dining room is brighter at the front where natural light pours through the sakura branches and moodier toward the back where the izakaya vibe truly takes hold. I had heard that this location employs a robot server which I was looking forward to seeing in action but it never appeared. When I think of Osaka my mind goes directly to the iconic Dotonbori area and I almost wish that this restaurant embodied a bit more of that particular mayhem and wackiness. My group was seated right in the front which was lovely and the design of wooden slats with a circular opening in the window was particularly memorable. The menu encompasses much of what an izakaya should: drinks and snacks! But there is much more on offer as well; from sushi to bowls. Dorinku Osaka also stays open until at least 11pm on Friday and Saturday evenings to cater to the night life crowd and even offers a special late night menu (let's be real, everyone just wants those Shaka Shaka Fries). On my visit there was a features menu which included a feature cocktail called the Wabi-Sabi (Plantation rum, amaro Montenegro, Aperol, pineapple liqueur, lime, honey wasabi syrup, milk wash - $16.00). I had to try it! However, the Sakura cocktail from the Signature Seven menu would've been an easy second choice. I loved this beverage!! Complete with a single, perfectly-formed ice cube, this drink was fruity yet adult. The complex flavour bounced from sweet to tart plus there was also a hint of wasabi heat in there. I was really enamoured with this cocktail and the level of expertise involved in creating it. Our friendly server took our order and I certainly knew that we ordered way too much! It was difficult not to with so many enticing dishes to try! There are two specific dishes that come to mind when I think of food from Osaka; one of them being Takoyaki (6 pieces, katsu sauce, kewpie mayo, bonito flakes, aonori - $8.80) which I ordered immediately from the Hot Snack & Sharables part of the menu. The other dish is okonomiyaki which I was shocked not to find on the menu. Seems like a pretty short-sighted omission for an Osaka-themed restaurant. For me, the dancing bonito on top is key! These takoyaki were excellent! It's pretty easy to end up with really mushy takoyaki (including in Japan) and to me, the texture of these ones were just right. The outside was fried to perfection allowing for a really nice and toothsome crunch. I wonder if they achieved this by deep-frying instead of using a takoyaki-ki. The inside was soft but not too much so, concealing a piece of octopus inside. All of the delicious toppings really make the dish. It's very easy to keep popping these tasty little orbs into your mouth. Sushi was going to be a must. Dorinku Osaka specializes specifically in pressed sushi (oshizushi) which is prepared by using a wooden mold called an oshibako that firmly compresses the sushi into compact, geometric blocks. This creates a modern and stylized presentation that dazzles effortlessly. The Dorinku Sushi Set (Salmon Pressed Sushi, TNT Pressed Sushi, Scallop Pressed Sushi, Tuna Tataki - $58.80) is a great way to try a bunch of different types! (Unless you order the full Osaka Bridge which is massive and incredibly impressive!) Served on a "smaller bridge" atop a bed of banana leaves, the presentation alone was something special. Starting with the Salmon Pressed Sushi (wild sockeye, avocado, creamy mayo sauce, teriyaki sauce, kaiware). I found myself pleasantly surprised with this one. I'm usually not a huge fan of the aburi preparation, where the top of the pressed sushi is flame-seared. (Maybe I'm too much of a purist?) But I really liked it in this case. The rich, smoky flavour worked beautifully with the salmon and other saucy components. The most simple of the sushi and maybe the best. Next was the Scallop P read more

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We had a delicious happy hour street food dinner for the first dinner of our Western Canada vacation trip. The wife and I shared an Asahi beer, takoyaki, chicken karaage, and a bowl of chicken ramen. All in pre-tip, it was $43.05 CAD or $31.79 USD. It was all delicious and a great value and this place looked to be the best eatery in easy walking distance from our hotel. The place has a nice chill vibe and decor to match. Thank you in particular to Juliana for her friendly and welcoming service and also for sharing a bit of her local upbringing with us! read more

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Delicious food and drinks. Great spot to grab early dinner. We had the salmon pressed sushi and Japanese BBQ

Hubby and I went here after work. It is a great location downtown to get some Japanese food. The decor here is fun and hip. Japanese lanterns greet us in the window. Fun Japanese arcade games are squeezed into a corner. The waiting area is comfortable with couches and a huge mural. Menu is similar to Dorinku Tokyo but with a few dishes that specialize from the area in Osaka. There is a selection of noodles, ramen, rice bowls, pressed sushi, sashimi, and appetizers. We ordered two cocktails. They have some interesting ones here. Then we ordered a bunch of things to try. Tuna Tataki -lightly seared tuna sashimi, onions, citrus sesame soy sauce, house-made chili oil Takoyaki - 6 pieces of octopus fried egg custard, takoyaki sauce, mayo, bonito flakes, aonori Okonomiyaki - savoury pancake dish Five pieces of uni sashimi and Chicken fried rice Food came out quickly. Everything was amazing. The Tuna Tataki was fresh and bright, lighten up by the citrus soy sauce and the chili oil completed the dish. Takoyaki was a great texture. it was was a lovely combination of soft egg custard, chewy octopus, rich sauces and lovely bonito flakes. The uni was fantastic and fresh. Probably my favourite dish out of all of them Okonomiyaki was a good portion of cabbage, meat, and okonomiyaki sauce. Chicken fried rice was perfectly cooked with huge pieces of meat. So delicous! read more

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I came here with friends during the street performer's festival, definitely would recommend bringing friends here! It has a really nice atmosphere, not sure if 'warm' is the right word, but something like that! Service was great, the staff were friendly. They did not mind that I was decked out in kandi and carrying a plush of shadow the hedgehog. They also were very patient with me and one of my two friends. I was indecisive, and my friend had never had Japanese food before. They actually gave suggestions to them which they found helpful. I also gave a bracelet to the waiter serving us. They were really cool I hope they're well :D I do wish I got something actually spicy, but I was starving so I just kinda chose at random. Next time, I suppose! The food came out bubbling (Intentionally) so I had to wait a while. It was worth it though, very creamy and smooth. I don't know how it is typically, but we found it to be very quiet as well! All around a lovely experience. read more

Located in the busy street of Jasper Avenue, this Japanese restaurant is a staple of Edmonton's culinary culture. The inside is modern Japanese decoration. The service is prompt and quite courteous. We got almost all items from the happy hour menu. The Shaka Shaka fries were delicious. The vegan Ramen was good but a tad bit salty. Overall, great food, good service, and decent prices. read more

Dorinku Osaka - Shaka fries, vegan Ramen and edamame - Japanese Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

I wanted to give this place more than three stars, but I was disappointed with our lunch. The place was packed before Christmas, but we could get a table without a reservation. I decided to get the Salmon Pressed Sushi ($16.80) as I wasn't too hungry and knew the portion size wasn't big. My tablemate and I shared tea and I was surprised how small the tea pot was. I don't even know if we had a full cup, and there was no refill. I think we paid around $4 each for the tea, and I found this was not worth it. Maybe they were too busy to refill the tea. The sushi was good but the pieces were smaller than I thought. I would likely go back again when it's not so busy and order something else that I think I would enjoy more. read more

I've been here a few times recently and while it sometimes feels fancier than I need it to be, boy does it satisfy in ways that many other Edmonton Japanese restaurants do not. With a menu that focuses on flavor, presentation, and quality, with a good range of options, I can't help but recommend this place. I have especially enjoyed the genmaicha, chirashi bowls, smoked sashimi salad, and the appetizer platter. I have been the least enamoured by the desserts, though one I had recently was quite lovely if a bit more alcoholic than my usual taste. Nonetheless I like this location and adore the fact that I could talk about an upcoming Japan trip with staff there. Easy to get to by transit, it suffers from the regular parking woes of any downtown establishment. read more

Dorinku Osaka - Panna cotta and cheesecake! - Japanese Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

We came here during happy hour (4-6pm) to grab a bite before going to the Oilers game. We made a reservation since it was a game night and they honored it even though we were about 15 minutes late. The food here is always great. The chicken karaage is the best I've had. It's pretty big pieces of chicken that were juicy. Dipping sauce was also on point. We didn't love the takoyaki which was a little disappointing but the cream truffle udon more than made up for it. It's rich and creamy and hot - perfect for that -35C weather we were having. We've been before and we will be back again. read more

Dorinku Osaka - Chicken karaage - Japanese Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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Do you like Japanese food? Do you like a $deal$? Then Dorinku Osaka is the place to be for happy hour 4-6. Skip work early and indulge. We had tuna tataki, Shaka Shaka fries (flavours shaken on in a paper bag at your table in a nod to Potato Corner), chicken karaage and ramen. All for $42 including tip! All portions were generous and the food was freshly prepared. Deals on alcohol too! For the days that you just need it. Wednesdays are Japanese scotch day. They are super and give single malts a run for their money. Never disappoints. read more

Dorinku Osaka - From top - chicken karaage, Shaka fries (we ate half before the pic), and chicken shoyu ramen. - Japanese Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

Dorinku is amazing every time. Best sushi spot in Edmonton even if you don't eat fish or seafood! My go-to non-fish options are always the AAA Beef Pressed Sushi, Shaka Shaka Fries, and the Cream Truffle Udon. The TNT Pressed Sushi and Salmon Pressed Sushi are always hits too. The overall atmosphere inside is very cool, although quite dark. The staff are always friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. read more

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I LOVE the pressed sushi here, especially the salmon pressed sushi. The warm, perfectly seasoned, well proportioned bite is like a warm hug on a cold day. I was supposed to share with my husband but I ended up engulfing the entire plate. It was that good. I tried some of the toro pressed sushi but I totally preferred the salmon. I've tried other dishes here in the past. Overall, the food is great here. The prices are fair. The ambiance is relaxed. The decor is pretty colourful and hip. The service has been good. My only wish is that they had baby friendly gear like high chairs and changing tables in the washrooms. Otherwise, I like this place and will come back for more pressed sushi! read more

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Since it was my daughter's birthday and she really likes Japanese food, we decided to try out this restaurant. Due to Covid-19, we called ahead to make sure that dining in was available and made reservations. We were greeted immediately and were requested to use the hand sanitizer before being seated. The tables were spaced apart with only a few tables to accommodate the maximum group of 6 customers. The ambiance is modern with a few Japanese pictures posted along the bar area which is located in the middle of the restaurant. The restaurant lighting is soft with music playing but was still quiet inside. The two unisex washrooms are big, bright and clean with square toilets. There were also Japanese wall hangings inside. We ordered a few items to share, my favourites were the hotmate spicy tuna roll and the pancake. The rolls were so fresh tasting and didn't need wasabi or soy sauce. The pancake was nice and hot, under the mound of egg covered goodness were yakisoba noodles and vegetables with a sauce. Definitely would suggest this dish! The seafood yakisoba was just okay, needed sauce or more salt or spices, a little disappointing. The pork katsu sando looked amazing! Big pieces in toasted bread with fries and coleslaw, even the fries were super delicious! The spicy miso ramen was a thick broth full of flavour, it was quite good and I'm not a Japanese ramen fan since many restaurant servings are small and not worth the money I find. The prices here are reasonable. There's street parking all over and free parking in a lot south of Jasper Ave. Service was good, the servers were efficient and our food came out in a timely manner. This location opened a year ago and there's also one on Whyte Ave. read more

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Okay this place is awesome. Food, service, ambiance is great! I had an appetizer of spicy tuna on crispy rice it was delicious and the presentation was beautiful. Then I had the miso black ramen. It was absolutely delicious, and done right! The egg was soft boiled not hard, and marinated. The pork belly was perfect. The attention to detail is as it should be. They even heated the bowl. If you like Japanese food and a hip, cool environment this is the spot. I will definitely be coming back. Oh and the service was also awesome. read more

Not a fan of the crazy layout of this place: the ramen part of the restaurant is in a back room and you can't eat ramen in the main dining area and vice versa, which means you'll have to switch restaurants if you're wanting to try both menus. The pricing is a bit steep given the portion sizes. The king crab fried rice comes recommended, but it's like, a table spoon of crab; totally not worth the price point. The okonomiyaki sauce is pretty good, but nothing special otherwise. It makes for a good dish to share though. My general recommendation is that there are better Japanese restaurants in the city; ones that actually leave you feeling full without being too expensive. Lousy service, the staff seemed more focused on talking to each other than coming over and asking us if we had any questions about the menu (which we did) or providing any sort of general service. The Japanese vending machines aren't operational yet, which was also kind of annoying because it meant there were no non- alcoholic beverages available. Prices at the vending machines seem a little on the higher side in comparison to the Asian grocery stores that carry the same drinks. Downtown restaurant means you gotta pay for street parking. read more

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So I tried the whole menu at Osaka Noodle at the back of the restaurant. There was only 3 ramen dishes to choose from and a spring roll appetizer dish. My boyfriend and I went Dorinku Osaka around 6pm on a Saturday. There was a 20 minute wait for the front of the restaurant so we opted for the Ramen room which had no wait. At first we ordered two ramens and the springrolls but since the portions were not too big, we ordered the last ramen on their menu to share. My favourite dish in order: 1. Spicy Miso with added wagyu- I love spicy ramen and it didn't disappoint. It was spicier than I expected but the noodles and broth were delicious. The wagyu beef was average. 2. Chicken shoyu-It was a very flavorful dish and the grilled chicken was grilled perfectly. I haven't tasted a broth like this in the city and it's worth a try 3. Vegan with added egg- this had a nutty and creamy texture to the broth. I've seen people rave about this one on Instagram so I wanted to try. To be honest, I was kinda disappointed. The broth was a bit too salty for my liking and my boyfriend agreed. It came with tasty toppings though. 4. Spring rolls-it tasted like normal spring rolls Nothing special. Overall Osaka Noodle is a decent ramen place. It ranks high compared to other ramen restaurants in the city. I hope they will add more items to their menu. In the meanwhile, I'll have to come back to Dorinku Osaka to see if the food in the front of the restaurant is good as well. read more

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Absolutely phenomenal spot for authentic Japanese cuisine. Service was quick and excellent, food was top notch, and the atmosphere was on par with everything else with a beautiful mix of restaurant and Osaka street vendor. read more

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Pressed sushi, one of the only places that have it in the city. The Toro pressed was somewhat bland compared to the wild sockeye pressed. Pork gyozas were standard and decently priced at $7 for 5 pieces. Room is split in half by the bar and kitchen. One half has high top booths and the other is low tables. Private room in the back. There used to be a Korean restaurant in the back but it has since closed. Somewhat pricey but that's to be expected for sushi in Edmonton. And they offer a product that I haven't seen anywhere else in the city so they deserve to charge a premium. read more

Came here on a Sunday for dinner with family and friends. There was 7 of us. Parking was on the street. We had made reservations and so our table was ready. We came for the ramen but this was more of a sushi place. We ordered 2 Tonkatsu Ramens. They were straight noodles. And Broth was a bit salty at the end. Recommend stirring. It was good but not the best we've had. Also we had the 5 kinds of sashimi. Very good. Very fresh. My friends ordered some rolls which looked very good. Place looked very trendy. Waitress was attentive. Great place for sushi but if you're looking for a great ramen place there are others that are better. You may be better suited for a place that specializes in that. All in All it was good and we'd be back. read more

In terms of food, I found Dorinku to unfortunately be underwhelming and the press sushi not worth the price. In terms of service, they did forget a component on one of my press sushi's but were able to fix the issue and also provided a complimentary cheesecake for my friend's birthday we appreciated that! My favourite parts of this experience were definitely the ambience and food presentation. Everything looked well executed and I can see this place being a great date night spot where you can share dishes easily. read more

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Hubs and I came to Osaka Noodle during the deep freeze on a Friday afternoon. Interesting how this iteration of a restaurant is tucked into the back of Dorinku Osaka. First thing I noticed is the urban feel of the space - not cozy in any way. In fact, the entire space seemed cold and literally felt cold as there was not much for temperature control (likely because of the cold weather). We opted to sit at two of the bar height seats in front of the kitchen (hoping to catch some of the kitchen heat). I even kept my winter coat draped over my shoulders. Ordering involves choosig one of three ramen options (and appetizers if interested) at the cash register - a pager is then dispensed to buzz when the food is ready. Hubs and i both ordered the Chicken Shoyu Ramen. The kitchen missed our order and we had to wait extra long to receive - for which they apologized. First impression - broth is amazingly clean and clear - however I personally found it too salty. Best part was the grilled chicken which was seasoned well and for lack of better term, moist. My husband enjoyed his very much (he's usually a tonokotsu type of guy) but then again he has a much saltier pallete than I. Noodles were chewy and good - only wished there was more Overall, nothing special. But always happy to have more ramen options in the city and close to home. read more

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First off love the decor and ambiance in this restaurant! Holds true to the vibe of their Whyte ave location right down to the manga wall The Japanese street food concept I for sure one of my Favorites, and now that they paired in a Ramen Bar ( Separate) I was excited to try this location out. The Restaurant side has some pretty great snackables just like the sister location but presentation lacks slightly, I recalled one particular dish that came in a piping hot stone bowl where they crack an egg and mix in rice among other delicious veg similar to a sizzle dish. Where as now it comes pre plated- still good but if your looking for the experience Whyte ave is your best bet. The Ramen side is soooo very separate they will not allow any cross over, which meant we ate appetizers, paid, then headed over to other room to order Ramen. Out of the chicken and vegetable Ramen our group found it to be just ok, if your hunting for epic ramen Brewery Districts got your treasure read more

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So the jury is still a bit out on this new location, I've been three times now (one dinner, two lunches) but they're still brand new and barely open so it's a bit hard to tell. May update this later. Great location on Jasper Ave, with a decent amount of room inside, a cool hidden private room disguised as a telephone booth that can be rented, and a back area that's a separate ramen bar. First thing you need to know though is that the menu is totally different from Dorinku Izakaya down on Whyte Ave. The Jasper Ave location is Osaka themed, which means different style and different food. I for one was really hoping to be able to get some of my Dorinku Izakaya favorites downtown so I was rather disappointed the menus are totally different, but willing to give it a try. The back room ramen bar is small but seats around 20? It's (currently anyway) got a very limited menu of just 3 ramen styles. I tried the vegan ramen and it was really delicious, slightly spicy, and full of tasty mushrooms. In the main restaurant, for lunch I tried their yakisoba with pork belly, and for dinner I tried a selection of yakitori skewers. The yakisoba was fine but nothing special. Tasted okay, the pork belly was good but just thin, tiny slices. Remembering the amazing mouth-watering pork belly that Dorinku Izakaya on Whyte serves, this was disappointing in comparison. The yakitori skewers were mixed. The ham wrapped mushroom was delicious; but the shrimp and scallops were lacking in taste, and the serving size was pretty small. So sure, they're pretty cheap, but you'd also need a dozen of them at least to even approach a full meal. The staff have been friendly so far, and pointed out the unusually good selection of Japanese scotch-style whisky available at the bar. They also have a decent sake selection and some interesting looking cocktails, as well as some imported vending machines from Japan that sell imported weird Japanese drinks and things. Ordering is a little confusing, at least at lunch (for dinner I sat at the bar and it was their pre-official-opening phase so not sure what's usual). Come in, look at a menu and order at the front, then take a seat and food is brought to you, which is different from Dorinku on Whyte (though same as the ramen bar). Tip is included and you pay when you order. Will likely return and update this after a few more experiences! read more

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Dorinku Osaka is NOT like every other sushi place you've been to. Just about everything we had there was a fresh and innovative twist on the classic sushi restaurant. The essence of classic sushi is still there: Contrasting and complimentary textures in every bite. Contrasting and complimentary colours in every glance. And contrasting and complimentary flavours in every taste. Yet, nothing was the same. My salmon press sushi was lightly seared and was simultaneously cooked AND raw, hot AND cold. It was also covered with a warm umami sauce that was almost like a sushi gravy (??!?). And, to top it all off there was a tiny slice of jalapeno to add just a little bit of extra colour and spice. And it all WORKED! The ebi press was just as delicious and the yakisoba with the seasoned sour cream was another unexpected delight. To wash it all down we had cherry oolong iced tea, peach nectar, and a lemon cordial. They didn't even have Coke or Pepsi on the menu! And I'm glad that they didn't because exploring these new drinks only added to the adventure. For dessert we had the Japanese cheesecake and the custard pudding. Both these were also fantastic. The cheesecake was most unexpected. Usually, cheesecake is very heavy and dense, but this was light and airy and came with something like a light yogurt whipped cream with fresh berries. Amazing. The service was probably a bit above average, and the décor felt like a fusion between clean modern lines with traditional organic textures and materials. Very cool. I would easily recommend this place to all sushi lovers. It's sure to be an unforgettable experience. read more

I tried the spicy miso ramen from Osaka Noodle House and was blown away. Maybe the best ramen in the city - I'll have to try the spicy goma goma from Tokiwa again to compare, but wow. Absolutely delicious. The vibe also drips cool - graffiti wall art and an urban aesthetic. Highly recommend. I tried the cocktails at the restaurant side of Dorinku earlier and was similarly impressed. Overall Dorinku Osaka is an excellent evolution of the location on Whyte Ave and is better in basically every way. read more

Dorinku Osaka - Spicy Miso Ramen w/Extra Egg - Japanese Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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This place feels right. It took over the space from Alta and the Alder Room. The former had this awesome full wall wooden bench. At the time it made Alta feel cold and aloof. It's still here, and you know what, in Dorinku Osaka it fits right in. I came for ramen. I'll have to come another time to try the rest of the menu. I ordered the chicken shoyu, one of the three options available at the time. (The others being a mushroom-focused vegan or the spicy miso which comes with some ground beef). I ordered extra noodles and the server recommended ordering the chilli oil as it goes well with this particular broth. I took her up on the suggestion for an extra dollar. I was happy I did but more on that later. You have a choice of a stool around the edge or at a group table in the middle. I enjoy watching the kitchen so I sat on a stool looking in. The chicken shoyu came out quickly. I tired all the different parts. To start, surprisingly, the broth was unnoticeable. Thankfully, the chicken slices were grilled and had a wonderful charcoal aftertaste. The noodles, although doubled, were equal to a what a single serving would be most other places. The egg had a perfect yoke but a strong flavour. It was more than just salty. This would not be an egg to eat on its own but with some broth and noodles it added a punch. The shrimp wonton was a nice addition and certainly didn't take away form the overall chicken vibe. Back to the broth. Perhaps it's that chicken broth is the most common broth experienced growing up (think back to chicken noodle soup after EVERY chicken dinner) but I found the broth a little too simple. I prefer more complex pork broths but that's not an option here. If it wasn't for the chili oil, it would have been a pretty bland bowl. I will come back and explore the front end of the restaurant which boasts a completely different menu. I will also try another bowl of ramen. However, I don't think this will be my regular ramen shop. read more

Dorinku Osaka - Chicken Shoyu with added chili oil - Japanese Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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The vibe in here is so cute! Recommend when making reservation ask to be seated by windows. The sushi was great recommend pressed sushi options and wagu beef sushi. Also recommend rice egg with gravy... sounds different but so good. They also have "dealers choice" simply put you tell the server what you like in a cocktail and they make it for you. Highly recommend you do this. They made the drink nice with flowers in it (also strong ). I said raspberry and mint was so good. Good sake options too. Lastly this place is affordable when I got the bill I was impressed with how reasonable everything was. Opinion: I like the vibe and ambiance better @ this Jasper Ave location vs Whyte Ave. read more

I sometimes find consistency is an issue between the two Dorinku locations here in Edmonton. But I still love their food . This time, the tuna tataki was was a little well done for us. And the AAA beef pressed sushi, the rice was too soft. Our sushi would fall apart when picking it up with our chopsticks. The flavors were all there, but those are some things we noticed this time! Corn was tasty, and the pork katsu was decent read more

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It is an OK Japanese restaurant in Edmonton. The dishes definitely overpriced and taste not that good. Deep-fried TOFU, emmm...it tastes like Tofu, nothing special, the source is fine, but it's not crispy at all. EBI sushi, very normal, nothing special to comment about. Sashimi 3 kind, about 20 bucks for 9 pieces. The salmon pieces feel not fresh enough, seems taken from the tail part of a salmon. it even has couple fishbones so I have to spit out the bones when I eat salmon sashimi, which is a very interesting experience for me. Miso soup is too salty for me. read more

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What a gem this place is!! The food and drinks are Art for the eyes and taste buds!!,Meticulously detailed with loving care!, The Salmon press appy was to die for along with everything else ! Highly Recommend! read more

Dorinku Osaka - a bowl of fruit on a counter - Japanese Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

Dorinku Osaka is a Japanese street food restaurant located on Jasper Avenue. While I have sampled some of their other food, I primarily come here for the ramen. The noodle bar is tucked away at the back of the restaurant and is decorated to resemble a busy nighttime street. I haven't been dining indoors for the past year and I definitely miss how the ambiance compliments the food. This will be one of the first places I visit when it is safe to do so. Thankfully, they offer takeout and the presentation is excellent. They use special takeway bowls that separate the noodles/vegetables from the broth while keeping everything piping hot. The only vegetarian option is the "vegan ramen" which is fantastic. They offer lots of options to customize your soup as well. My only issue with Dorinku Osaka happened a few months ago when they were offering a lunch special. I called ahead to order it and was told it was available for dine-in only. While that is completely reasonable in normal times, we are in a pandemic. I understand restaurants are suffering right now but if you don't offer takeout, I and many others won't be eating your food. Add a takeout surcharge if that's the problem. Other than that one incident, I have been very happy with my experiences with Dorinku Osaka and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a delicious bowl of ramen. read more

Made a trip downtown to eat here after walking past this restaurant a few times after their closing hours. It was a little confusing coming on a Sunday afternoon with the outdoor signage saying closed, but with the door open, we decided to give it a go anyway, and they were open for patio dining! Washroom indoors is also accessible if needed. Covid practices are in place and a hand Santizer spray bottle is placed at your table once you are seated. The food looks great and is also delicious. Surprisingly, I loved the beef fried rice the most, it sounds basic, but I couldn't stop eating it...that was my kid's plate too! My little kid loved the Shaka fries, so it was a fair trade in my opinion. My other kid also enjoyed the tonkotsu ramen but she wasn't able to finish as the portion is adult sized. I think the portion size was perfect for adults and you can also request cutlery if you aren't chopstick savvy...and also extra bowls if you share dishes like my family does. I'd like to come back here for a dinner date with the hubby sometime to try out more of the spicier items on menu! Staff here are pretty hospitable and service is constant which is a plus in my books. read more

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Love this place, I love sushi so for me so far this is the best place!! The food is really good and sizes are good too, they have happy hour and very good food and prices for that!!! Stop if you have a chance and you like sushi, before they close because of Covid-19!!! read more

Dorinku Osaka - Japanese Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

Just had lunch here today and the food and service was excellent. I had the sashimi and miso soup.

A friend and I decide to check out the noodle bar tucked away in the back of Dorinku Osaka. Walking in it didn't was very basic, kind of cold. My friend and I sat at the bar seating in front of the kitchen. There are no menu's available you have to go to the cash counter and order directly from there. When the food arrived the aroma was so great. This is my first ever experience having Ramen as most Ramen bases are made from pork. I ordered the vegan option that consisted of cornacopia of mushrooms. I added an egg as the person at the counter suggested it. I must say I wish I had not, I believe it was a cured egg that was way too salty to eat so a waste of the $1.00 that I had to pay for it. As you can see in the picture it is a large portion but the flavour is very 1 note.. maybe next time I'll try the chicken bases ramen to see if it makes a difference. Once we completed our meal, we decided to try out Osaka since it was the front of restaurant, we ordered a salmon sushi which was pretty disappointing actually.. I would suggest trying it but it wasn't what I expected as I have been to the Dorinku on Whyte Ave and enjoyed that much more. read more

Dorinku Osaka, is essentially 2 restaurants under one roof. Ramen in the back and yakitori/snacks in the front. While I considered reviewing both separately, I realized it would've roughly received the same score. First up, i'd like to discuss the yakitori because well, I love yakitori. While wandering the alleys of Tokyo, the yakitori is mostly just meat with some salt on it, simple and good. Which is why I detest anything that is sauced. While DO has the menu seperated with yakitori in balsamic teriyaki/salt/miso butter, I just wish you can choose what you want on it. Nevertheless, the yakitori is good here and might take the crown from Yokozuna. Really enjoyed the Shishito pepper, pork belly and asparagus pork wrap. The texture and tastiness of the pork wrapped around asparagus is great stuff when cooked over a Konro grill (which I assume they have because the waitress said they had it). We also had yakisoba which lacked flavor, and another dish which was forgettable. Ramen is only offered in the back and it's decent. They offer a vegan broth which I added chicken chashu into and it was creamy goodness. The ramen had ‍nutty n creamy "tonkotsu", king oyster, shimeji & shiitake mushroom, onion, chive and chili oil. Not bad at all. Chicken Shio ramen had ‍chicken-clam-soy broth, shrimp wonton, charcoal-grilled chicken chashu, egg, onion and chive. I preferred this broth over the vegan one and the charcoal grilled chicken is so clutch. DO has great atmosphere, truly feels like you're in Japan and stumbling into an alleyway with good food around you. The BOSS coffee machine is also a great touch. Service is friendly and fast so it's easy to come in for a snack and leave. However, I still think they have some details to iron out. Much like when the first Dorinku opened, I didn't like it, now it is Whyte ave's best spots. I'm sure DO will get it right soon. Sal says: Just Try It (3.6/5) for now read more

The atmosphere was very comforting, the food was amazing, and most importantly, our server was really buff and a funny dude. 5 stars, 100% recommend. read more

The food was absolutely AMAZING! Some of the best Japanese food I have had in a while (the oshi is a MUST TRY). Also the atmosphere is very calm dim which makes it a great date spot. Also can't complain about the service as everyone who helped us out was so friendly!! Awesome place and highly recommend read more

Dorinku Osaka - Outside of the restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Edmonton, Alberta

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Due to cov-19 there is not so many dine-in people. Nice environment, creative food, beautiful dishes and impressive flavours. Every dish has soul in it that you can feel the chef is trying to make everything delicate. Their food are very creative. And I have to say the chilli oil in the tempura is the one of the best I have ever tasted. I would recommend dine-in in this restaurant. Taken out will make the fun half. read more

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So happy to have a different version of Dorinku on the other side of the river! The place is nicely decorated and offers many interesting meals that I find are also priced very well. read more

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