Dozo: where you can get your Japanese fix without breaking the bank

Dozo’s appeared on this blog a couple of times and it has to be said that my first visit was an absolute contrast to the second. Since then, it’s been a relatively reliable spot for a quick Japanese fix with a fairly inexpensive price range to boot.

The floral decor on their sashimi platters is, quite frankly, cheesy and ridonculous but I have to admit the fish always tastes fresh and you really can’t complain about three types of fresh sashimi for £14, non?

I can get a wee bit snobbish when restaurants serve salad leaves that seem shop-bought. Dozo’s salad greens may seem like they’ve come out of a bag but I’m not one to complain about their soft-shell crab (£9.80) nor their salmon skin salad (£7.80) because they always hit a spot of comfort when I want something relatively healthy.

Dozo’s suzuki shioyaki (£10.80) is a good option for your Omega3 boost. It comes with its own pot of salt which I find clever, as you can season as you like.

The yakiniku (£16.80) is a decent option for beef eaters although make sure you tell them how you want it cooked otherwise it may come medium well (and slightly on the tough side).

Dozo does aburi, too. I’ve tried the otoro (£6.30) before and though it was a pretty decent bite, it was the salmon aburi (£3.80) that tasted better.

The volcano maki (£15.80) is a sushi roll creation that caters to the Western palate. It’s a roll of eel, leeks, avocado, topped with bonito flakes and swimming in a creamy concoction of “eel sauce” (I shudder at the thought of what goes in here) & mayo. I’m a bit of a purist when it comes to my sushi but I get why people go gaga for this.

The nasu dengaku (£6.80) is a superb treat. A humble eggplant fillet shines through in taste with an almost meaty texture. Flavour-wise it’s a veggie alternative to the gindara saikyo miso which I totes love.

Do you like fish jaw? If you do, Dozo offers hamachi kama (£9.80) and sake kama (£7.80). Both are good-sized portions with sufficient fish and good flavour.

I’ve previously mentioned how I find service in Dozo heaps better than its competitors. They’re just more attentive and considerate and for the price you pay that’s really good value for your pennies. The quality of food won’t compare to high end Japanese restaurants like Roka but it’s decent enough without making you feel like you’ve settled for something less. It’s definitely a decent cheaper alternative.