Doto is set in the Virgil Village-Silverlake grey zone in a whimsically decorated boxy building with extensive patio for balmy nights and warm winter days. The interior is made more inviting and warm by good use of natural wood where there is bar and table seating. Doto has a feel that seems to hark back to the late 1960's...laid back, hang loose, unpretentious, back to nature. The true pillar of Doto is Tom, the owner, who is the host with the most. Peripatetic, he has his hands everywhere in a good way, making sure his ship of state runs like a finely tuned watch. He is helpful, thoughtful, kind, gracious, aware. I appreciate his going above and beyond in a gesture that is truly trois étoiles Guide Michelin level. I believe he sets the pace for his staff who also try to emulate his elevated style. TJ, our waiter, was jovial, outgoing, patient with our crew of 6. In Latin, doto means "I endow" or "I provide with a dowry." In Japanese: Dotō = raging waves; Dōtō = equality; Dōto = Buddhist temple. But unfortunately there is no meaning for just Doto except Do can mean earth or soil. Anyway, I was endowed much kindness by Tom. 1) Smoked Lamb Pita Ras el Hanout; Feta; Sumac Onions; Kombu Pickles; Greens all in a rustic, lightly charred thick Pita flat bread. The condiments inside adds texture, acidity, gastrique, dried sour fruitiness from the Sumac, sea Umami. The soft, creamy, Feta goat cheese adds a bit of dairy funk and from the onion. Drizzling of Italian style dressing seems composed of vinegar, oily, herbal notes. The mildly smoked, moist, meaty lamb is reminiscent of Pastrami since the Ras el Hanout spice blend is probably cured with the lamb meat to create mild yet complex flavours. Ras el Hanout: Can contain cumin, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves or other spices. It is from the Northern African Mediterranean cuisine tradition. Generous portion and volume, this is a meal in itself. You can also add their exemplary seemingly twice fried Belgian style, crispy pommes frites. 2) Intrigued by the Chāshū Handroll. Not the traditional Chinese premarinated, roasted hanging in the oven style pork. It seemed more like a pot roast braised in sweet Shōyu/soy sauce. Sushi rice sprinkled with Japanese rice vinegar. Refreshing, Japanese cucumber; creamy, vegetal fatty avocado; earthy Yama Gobō/pickled, fibrous, salty, mountain burdock root; scallions. All wrapped in Nori seaweed "paper". This Sushi roll is definitely for those only into land meat. 1-2a) Akabu Ginga Junmai Ginjo class Premium Sakè (sah keh): Smooth, silky, delicately sweet with soupçon of bitterness for balance. Acidic, with ripe autumn pear, cinnamon spice, aromatic lacquer reminding me of Auslese style Riesling. 3) Affogato: Vanilla ice cream drowning in rich, dark, bitter Espresso with addition of Kōji Caramel. Kōji is a beneficial mold that helps make Sakè (sah keh), Shōyu, Miso paste. Nice way to end the meal. After dinner, I poked around the inside before leaving, and the dark haired, moustached staff member accompanied me giving a short commentary of the restaurant features which I appreciated. It reminded me of another occasion in the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas where I was also treated with graciousness. The eclectic food with emphasis on Izakaya based Japanese cuisine is so L.A. that hosts and encourages eclectic diversity. Doto reflects that ethos beautifully. My experience of the exquisite kindness by Tom and staff also seals the deal for 5 stars. read more

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DOTO in Silver Lake deserves some hype. The burger alone is worth coming back for, easily a top 10 contender in LA in my book. But the rest of the menu holds its own, too. Every dish we tried delivered. The sashimi and oysters were fresh, and the chicken was HUGE. They did not come to play with that portion. The outdoor seating has a great vibe, just know the trees might sprinkle a few leaves on you. A little bonus garnish from Mother Nature. There's a small parking lot, which is always a win in LA. Come for the burger, stay for everything else. read more

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Everything is pretty solid. I think it's more of a seafood restaurant than anything else. Brisket fried rice went crazy the first time. Second time the brisket seemed kinda old. Still good. This is a solid option though read more

Got the bento box l thought it was slightly pricey for what it was but I wanted more variety in my lunch so decided it was alright. Did take a lot longer to come out compared to the karaage bowl and salad. Good portion sizes, leaves enough room for dessert. Staff is super friendly and welcoming. Sat outside as their indoor dining is very small and not made for parties of 3+ Would definitely come back to try their happy house specials read more

Doto Restaurant - Doto Bento Boxxx Kaarage Chicken Bowl and salad - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Great staff! They were so much fun. The food was delicious. I only had a few bites but I definitely can't wait to come back. Definitely worth coming multiple times. There's so much goodness on the menu. read more

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Ambiance - restaurant had an indie boho neighborhood vibe. Service - very good. Food - we ordered brick chicken, short rib curry, spicy broccoli, summer squash, king oyster mushrooms and tartine (toasted French bread with butter and jam). Everything was delicious but my favorites were the brick chicken, spicy broccoli and the French bread. We loved the latter so much that we asked for more bread. The chicken portion was generous. For drinks, we had their freshly squeezed orange juice. For dessert, we ordered the apple tatin. It was heavenly. I can eat two of these. I felt very healthy eating their food. It was all so satisfying. We'll definitely be back. read more

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Nice little spot to chill and have a drink. Sat at a table outside and everything was very nice, especially the setting. A cute little outdoor space. We had a fantastic server who was very kind and interactive. Came here for drinks and little bites, all were delicious. Must give this place a try! read more

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Got the kaarage chicken bowl, oysters, breakfast sandwich, and the handroll. I thought everything was made really well and i especially liked the kaarage bowl with all the toppings inside and the chicken being made really well. The breakfast sandwich was also really good and the serving size was huge. The service was also really kind and efficient. They also have indoor and outdoor seating! The inside was also really cute, makes it a good date spot or just a casual hangout spot! Would definitely come back. read more

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Was disappointed that this is rated so highly and we got a meh experience. Service was good. We sat outside and i felt like we were checked on sufficiently. The restaurant is very cute and has good vibes, but the food is where it fell short for us. The karaage chicken and waffle was a bit oily. I ordered the eggs on toast--which is listed as scrambled eggs, Ikura and chives on their menu. I got scrambled eggs, tobiko and green onions. Yes, same flavor profile, but these are cheaper ingredients and I was not told that these ingredients listed on the menu would've been substituted out. Feels like a scam and like they think their customers won't notice.. Matcha was good and the fried rice was huge and it was pretty good. Not bad, but with all the places to eat in LA, I probably won't be back. read more

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MUST ORDER: Summer squash plus a side of rice to soak up all the extra buttery juices leftover!!!! Literally heavenly Other standouts: Fried chicken appetizer (5/5) - YUM Salmon hand roll (5/5) Brisket fried rice (4/5) Chashu (4/5) - perfectly tender, I just felt like it was missing some salt or heat Outdoor patio is amazing there's so much space. Really great on a summer night. Our server was so friendly and casual, it was cute. Def wanna come back for lunch too! And to try everything else on the menu! read more

Doto Restaurant - Handrolls - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Doto is a great restaurant for delicious and modern Japanese food. The interior feels personal and warm, but we sat outside in their patio. Their menu changes seasonally, but if you can try the octopus, you MUST. Just like the restaurant, service is casual and chill (maybe a bit too much - I think we were forgotten about for a bit lol). Overall, very nice and would return but only when my wallet is ready read more

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I came here with my girlfriend for the first time. Our waiter's name was TJ. He was very nice and pleasant. The ambience is really nice. We sat outside at the patio. The weather was amazing. I suggest going during sunset hour. The food was really good. The hand roll tasted fresh and the burger was cooked to perfection. We are definitely coming back here! read more

Doto Restaurant - Blue fin Tina hand roll - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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We did not have a resy but the host was able to accommodate a party for 2 after 10 minutes Food is 10/10. We ordered the Ceaser salad - it comes with sardines, crispy chx (hot honey flavored) yellowtail sashimi, one of their hand rolls, steak & frites, the sauce was really savory. They have a great wine selection.. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. There is indoor and outdoor patio seating. Chill vibes, with small crowds and smaller parties.There is parking in the neighborhood and they have a small lot as well. read more

Doto Restaurant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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A neighborhood gem. I look forward to experiencing more of their menu . I love the early hours for lunch read more

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food was insanely good, service was awesome, vibes were incredible. i highly recommend to anyone wanting a fun unique meal. love especially that they do seasonal menus for the most green and local consumption. read more

Doto Restaurant - braised pork - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Brunch day today! I've always passed by this place and finally got to try it -- wow, the interior looks amazing, and the back patio seems very open and inviting. The menu is just one page, but everything sounded delicious! My server was awesome -- very sweet and friendly, and gave great suggestions. I tried the Yellowtail, which had a little spice but still tasted fresh with yuzu and blood orange -- perfectly balanced. The burger was juicy, and the melted cheese got crispy on the edges like little chips -- so good. I also had the lemon berry ice cream -- delicious! I'll definitely come back. They even said I can bring my laptop and work here, which is great. Fantastic place overall! read more

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I came here for dinner and sat in the patio. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and a bar. The menu is a little confusing to me because they serve Asian food (chashu, sushi rolls, but also serve burgers and pita. Either way the food suits the area. I had the smoked chashu and I loved how easy it was to chew. The flavor was good, but definitely not the chashu taste I am used to. The Comte burger was really good. It is a double patty and a sesame bun. You can add fries to the burger and you want to do that. The service was good. Parking is really bad here so plan accordingly. read more

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Such a cute spot in Silverlake. I love how simple and still very aesthetic the outside looks as well as the layout of the restaurant. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Japanese influence inspired dishes. izakaya-style small bites. Dishes i tried starting with me favorites : Yellowtail crudo ( delectable taste paired with grapefruit ) Comte burger (good size can be shared ) Pan con tomate w/ anchovies. Brisket fried rice curry bowl with white rice oh and def try the mocktail went really well with the food. Everything was cooked very well. Presentation just as delightful as every flavor that blessed my pallet. 10/10 overall on all dishes. TJ!! You are so appreciated for your hospitality and keeping the vibe top tier. Thank you so much!! You made our first time experience at Doto 100% amazing. The dessert choice too top tier !! read more

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Food was good! There was parking in the back but it can get full easily. Otherwise there's street parking. Server was very nice and attentive as well. We sat in the outside patio area and it was very hot. There were umbrellas around but none covered our table. For a nice restaurant, I would expect some effort for shade, we were visibly uncomfortable. I would still go again for the food though read more

Doto Restaurant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I visited to confirm the Fame that Doto got in Insta. and I was so disappointed at Food Quality. Salad was soaked with too much sauce and salty and sagged. The famous Burger had so old smell and old tasted Meat patty.. I couldnt finish the bite. And Chicken Karaage and Waffle. Chicken also tasted old meat... Overall their meats not Fresh at all. and Drinks... Yuzu lemonade ~so bland taste,almost tasteless ., it was almost water after ice melted. so i ordered iced Matcha latte, i could make it better , it is a shame they sell this quality of matcha latte Funny thing, i usually dont like fries. but only thing we liked at this visit was Potato fries.. That was freshly fried. Omg Service not bad. AmbianCe not bad. Parking not enough read more

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Came on a Tuesday around 11 a.m. for lunch, and it was pretty quiet until the noon crowd rolled in. The restaurant is cute and casual, with a nice outdoor patio. Service was swift and friendly. We ordered the Doto Burger and Toriko's Chicken Sandwich. We weren't asked how we wanted the burger cooked, so it ended up a bit on the drier side. The chicken sandwich, however, was delicious...juicy, fried to perfection, and elevated by the bright orange honey and slaw. Overall, it's a great spot for a lunch meetup. Parking is available on nearby streets. read more

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We had a great experience here! The outdoor seating was really nice, and I loved that it's dog-friendly, which made the visit even better. They also had a great selection of wines by the bottle with options I actually enjoyed. The atmosphere was relaxing, and it was a great place to sit back and spend some time. Overall, a really solid spot, and I'd definitely come back. The service was amazing as well. The only reason I didn't give it. A five star is because there was bees outside when I was there. And I was scared lol read more

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Doto is such a cute modern restaurant that's good for both date nights and casual hangouts! However, the service was quite slow when I dined in. The food is pretty solid! Though having a burger seems out of the ordinary when the restaurant touts itself by incorporating Japanese flavors to their dishes (the burger has great flavors, it's big flex, but not being Japanese or fusion is a disappointment). Some other dishes were not outstanding and lacked creativity (curry potatoes). I'll come back here once in a while! But it's definitely not my top choice until they upgrade their menu! read more

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Wow delicious and excellent service! We ordered yellowtail, tomato salad, broccoli, chashu pork, and ice cream plus wine and NA beer. We would order everything again, and already planning what to order at our next lunch or dinner here. read more

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Wow. A must try. The minute you walk in, this place just feels familiar but modern. Comfortable like you know the owner, with a touch of something new. The food felt too hyped on the menu & by the recommendations from the waitress. Yet every dish delivered on presentation & flavor. Which is very rare in this city. Come here. read more

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I heard about the burger here.. So, I found some time in busy schedule to beat the weekday lunch crowd and make it to Doto Restaurant. This restaurant is located in the Virgil area of East Hollywood. It's located in dense residential area and kind of blends in with the housing. Man, parking sucks around here after driving around in circles a few times. Finally relieved, I walked into the outside patio under a canopy of upside down umbrellas. Great way to dim the sun on a warm summer day. The inside is cool and has some mid Century interiors with a nice open space. It's not a large restaurant but fairly cozy. Now for the burger. Comte burger to be exact. Great tasting burger with a double patty of grass fed beef, slight funky melted comte cheese, caramelized onions, pickled aioli. The bun is a sesame potato bun from Bubs & Grandma. I thought this burger to be up there as one of the top on my list. Fries were fried fresh. Love it when the burger greasy gets on to the fries and provides that extra beef fat flavor. Now for my drink.. Their cold brew was horrible. Gave me a headache. It was too strong and probably brewed too long and likely used dark roasted coffee beans. Skip. Overall, the service was great, friendly, and attentive. Worth a visit. Good luck with parking. read more

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I don't recommend the egg toast. This was not ikura and chives as expected. It was topped with smelt roe and green onions instead, and no one explained the substitution. I think the bread is not even sourdough. I found photo from 9month ago they using right ingredients back then... why it changed? For $18, it was very disappointing i wish getting refund and tasted bland. Service was good. read more

Doto Restaurant - Egg on tosast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

It was a Sunday afternoon and we were meeting some friends for Brunch. Doto was the restaurant of choice and since it was my first time coming here, I was very excited to check this place out! We had a group of five and had the choice to sit inside or out, so we took advantage of some outdoor seating and enjoyed the patio area. The menu here isn't on the massive side, but still features a solid amount of appetizers, sushi rolls, entrees, and a good size breakfast menu I didn't even bother taking a look at it. I ended up ordering the Smoked Brisket Fried Rice. Now, I take fried rice pretty seriously, maybe too seriously, so the idea of trying a type I haven't had before was pretty dang exciting. Even though it was pretty busy, the food didn't take too long to come out and it looked fantastic as well. The taste you ask? Dang good. The fried rice itself was very good and the smoked brisket on top was very good as well. As an extra I added an egg on top and it really made the whole thing that much better. Overall, Doto was a great place to grab some brunch and a top notch experience overall. The staff here was great, the place itself was nice, and most importantly, the food was wonderful. read more

Doto Restaurant - Smoked Brisket Fried Rice. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Love the menu, the service and the happy hour. Neighborhood gem. Innovative food plus familiar favorites like pan con tomate. read more

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We discovered Doto Restaurant through Dine LA and appreciated that they honored the prix fixe menu even though we visited the day after it ended. My husband and I both started with the yellowtail crudo--while it was a bit over-seasoned for my taste (I ended up scraping some off), it was perfect for him. For my entrée, I chose the bento box with miso salmon, which came with rice, salad, and pickled vegetables, everything was flavorful and delicious. My husband ordered the Doto Burger, and although I'm not usually a burger person, this was easily one of the best I've ever had. It was juicy grass-fed beef, caramelized onions, all on a soft potato bun. Portions were generous, but we couldn't resist adding the cha siu pork baguette on our waiter's recommendation. Great choice and it made for tasty leftovers, as did a bit of everything else. For dessert, we tried the salted caramel ice cream with furikake and the lemon-marionberry with olive oil and bee pollen. The lemon-marionberry was unique, but I preferred the salted caramel--although it was quite melted when served. Our waiter noticed and kindly brought out a vanilla with fresh peach jam to make up for it, which we really appreciated. We dined on the shaded outdoor patio with our dog, which was lovely, though there were quite a few flies around our food. Some citronella or other deterrent would help. Overall, the food was fantastic, and we'd love to return to try more of the menu. read more

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Love the outdoor patio. Cocktails are limited so that can be a slight problem for people who like cocktails. But they have a great selection of wines and beers. The burger is amazing. Now on my list of top burgers. read more

Doto Restaurant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Loved, loved, loved this burger! It tastes just as good as it looks. I was impressed by the slight spicy kick flavor and how cheesy it was. I added fries and they were a delicious match. Ask for them to cut it in half. The service was super friendly and the place was great for a solo trip. I came on a Sunday and found street parking, so it wasn't bad. Definitely come try this burger. read more

Doto Restaurant - Doto Burger - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

What an excellent addition to the neighborhood! Located in the heart of Virgil Village, the outdoor patio (which is super dog friendly) has a very European feel to it which makes you want to stay longer while enjoying great wine and a menu that offers something for even the most picky LA eater. BLUEFIN TUNA SASHIMI - 5 stars! This was served with a tasty garlic sauce that was bursting with flavor and was the perfect way to start the meal! CHILLED SESAME NOODLES - 5+ stars. This was served with Tofu (which I don't love in general) but the noodles were rich in flavor and the texture was perfect. I'm still dreaming about this dish! SUMMER SQUASH - 3 1/2 stars. This was good, but a tiny portion and not as interesting as the other dishes that we had. A little basic, but not bad in any way. SKIRT STEAK SKEWER - 5+ stars. Favorite item of the night! This is cooked perfectly, the seasoning on the steak was insanely good, and the portion was huge! I WANT MORE OF THIS!! WILD MISO SALMON w GREEN SALAD - 4 1/2 stars. The salad portion was huge and quite tasty, and the miso salmon was also quite good. I personally could have handled a little more of the miso flavor, though the salmon was cooked perfectly! Our waiter, TJ, was excellent! He was patient with me trying to catch a wine buzz before ordering dinner and was always there when we needed him. We had a 6:15p reservation and by 7:00p the outdoor patio was packed! I can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu! read more

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Great neighborhood restaurant. The service was 10/10. The owner is very hands on in ensuring his restaurant is run well, and it is! Both indoor and outdoor spaces are on the smaller side, but can fit a table of (4) comfortably. Although, I prefer the outdoor patio section. Food was up to standard. Everything was delicious. I can highly recommend the yellowtail crudo, pork chashu entree, fried chicken, cucumber salad, and the fried rice. Don't skip out on the fried chicken. read more

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Honestly some of the best food I've had in LA. The experience was amazing, servers were attentive and helpful with recommendations. The lamb pita and grilled mushrooms with egg yolk were a couple of the best bites I've had in LA. Such a great time!! Couldn't recommend this spot more. It was the perfect environment for a group! read more

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Doto offers a wide menu that goes beyond the burger image. I'll start with the staff, they are the highlight. Super helpful and friendly which makes the whole experience a good time. The design and lighting of the space is cozy. Very comfortable set up. The food was good and solid. The fried rice, fish & chips were solid. I enjoyed the meal but I'll have try a bit more next time before I call it a favorite of mine. I'd definitely check it out! read more

Doto Restaurant - Menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I'm confused why this restaurant has received so much hype. From the moment we sat down, customer service was almost nonexistent. Our server took our orders well after taking the orders of customers who had been seated after us. My burger was overcooked and unimpressive. The chicken sandwich was good, though it came out ten minutes after the burger did. We were not checked on even once. Our table and seats were flush against some shelves that held decor and wine bottles. At one point, an employee reached to grab a bottle without a warning, his hand inches from my waist, startling me. An "excuse me" would have gone a long way. read more

Doto Restaurant - Overcooked in my opinion. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Doto has opened up in the former Jewel space, and I decided to check it out during both daytime and dinner service. I did not have trouble finding street parking in the neighborhood, and it was easy both times I visited to get a table without a reservation. I appreciated the menu recommendations from the restaurant employee during my dinner, and I ended up getting the pan con tomate as an appetizer followed by the toriko fried chicken (with a side of rice) as my entree. The pan con tomate was small but tasty with a hefty covering of anchovies, and I could see my the fried chicken was described as their version of orange chicken; there was a balanced sweetness from the honey that I enjoyed. When I came back during a weekday morning, I ordered a latte that was well-made. I also liked that they offered pastries from Sugarbloom Bakery though I ended up just sitting and enjoying my coffee for a bit. read more

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The newest trendy Silver Lake cafe. I visited Doto for brunch last Saturday with a group of girlfriends. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. The server checked on us regularly and made sure to bring plenty of condiments upon request. I ordered an iced matcha latte and the breakfast burrito. The matcha flavor was decent. The matcha to milk ratio was pretty good and comparable to an authentic Asian-owned tea cafe. I did ask for honey syrup to sweeten it. I was not a fan of the Oaxacan cheese in the breakfast burrito--mostly because I don't eat a lot of cheese, but also because I thought it tasted like Craft Singles. Two other friends also ordered the burrito and loved it, so what do I know? The sauce offering was an avocado shiso salsa as well as a macha salsa upon request. The salsa macha was excellent! It's rare to find that salsa served at a restaurant outside of Mexico, so this was a pleasant surprise! We sat on the patio on a very lovely, sunny day, shaded by two large umbrellas. The restrooms were really nice--a marker of a good restaurant. Prices are middle-tier; not expensive but not cheap. For comparison, their breakfast burrito is the same cost as the Famous Breakfast Burrito I regularly order from Millie's Cafe in the same neighborhood. Their menu is all over the place--a mix of Mexican, Japanese, and Middle Eastern fusion. It's a little too complicated for me. I would definitely bring a date or maybe an out-of-town guest here, but the flavors are too busy and complex for this to be my regular spot. I prefer cafes that specialize in one type of cuisine. It is really nice that they have coffee and pastries. I like the idea of possibly grabbing a coffee here and walking to Bellevue Park. read more

it's a solid low key spot for casual or even special occasion hangs when you're in the mood for a light meal and/or a good drink. low lighting at dinner with well-curated 90's/00's playlist. there's bar seating, indoor booths and tables, and outdoor patio tables. the food is japanese and california. the mushroom dish was a rich umami bomb that i'll go back for. the crudo could have used a bit of a kick and the handroll seaweed could have been crispier. the orange wine i had was stellar. staff was friendly and helpful. i nice addition to the neighborhood. i'll be back for the bento lunch. read more

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