DŌZO Japanese American Kitchen

8 Best Fried Chicken Restaurants in Charlotte, North Carolina | Eater Carolinas

"Dōzo — which roughly translates as “Please, welcome, come on in and eat” — offers up the best version of Japanese karaage in the Queen City at its Wesley Heights izakaya-style tasting counter, and one of Charlotte’s top versions of fried chicken. One week, it might come Buffalo-style, topped with blue cheese and togarashi chili sauce, and the next, Kewpie mayo and hot honey. No matter the accoutrement (and naked versions are always available), the fried chicken here succeeds because of a precise blend of soy sauce and sake for the marinade, as well as the secret to any good karaage: potato starch, which gets applied and reapplied as the chicken thigh chunks are fried to order. Best with white rice, miso soup, and a bottle of Orion beer." - Timothy DePeugh