DŌZO Japanese American Kitchen

This is now one of my favorite places to eat. My last time there, I had seasonal dish of grouper with kale and sweet potato. Love the fried chicken and the crab fried rice. The charred broccoli is delicious. Everything is fresh and in season. The dining area is small so this is a place to go with a small group of people or even solo.

DOZO is the kind of place that explains why foodies share the passion that they do. Tucked away in a building divided by a partition, Dozo combines an intimate atmosphere with a unique fusion of Japanese cuisine that sets the tone for the potential of Charlotte dining. An absolute must if in the area. It will continue to be my boyfriend and I’s go-to date night! Thanks Chef John for the hospitality and incredible food.

Dōzo it amazing!! From the brilliant minds of Perry and John, my favorite food truck owners for years, they have transformed this little spot into the most unique restaurant around. The food is delicious, and what’s better than being able to watch the team in action while you eat. Don’t sleep on this place! I crave the Agedashi every single day. 🤤

Something special is happening here at Dozo. As a longtime fan of Katsu Kart, I was thrilled to hear about this place and had sky-high expectations, yet it still managed to blow me away on every level. The food is spectacular and fills a niche that Charlotte sorely needs - Japanese izakaya-style cuisine that isn't sushi or hibachi - with exquisite, creative American twists. I had the hamachi sashimi (A+ quality fish elevated by mouthwatering ponzu and chili) and crab fried rice (already a classic dish as evident by all the stellar reviews), but honestly my favorite dish was the seasonal crispy fried Japanese sweet potato with pickled garlic, kimchi, and miso butter - just an absolute explosion of favor. It's a small venue with 6 counter seats and a handful of 2-person booths as well as an open kitchen design - I loved this as it gives you a chance to directly engage with John and Perry, the mastermind chefs behind this incredible restaurant (btw - John has an phenomenal memory and should probably work for the CIA - he recalled my exact order from my Katsu Kart days and the fact that I work in healthcare despite circumstances preventing me from going to the truck in over a year - incredible!) I can't say enough good things about this place. Easily a top 3 meal in Charlotte - please go and support this amazing venture so they can continue to grow. Will be back soon to try the agedashi, broccoli, katsu, and karaage ASAP.

The food is incredible. We tried the fried rice, pork katsu and the eggplant dish. The portions for the mains were enough for us to have for lunch the next day. The service is great and food comes out quick. This is a small spot so you can also do takeout (we’ve also done takeout and it’s still incredible).

Very intimate and small. You will Very close to kitchen from any of the few select seats. Could be a turn-off for some. Also, be prepared to wait. However, once you get the food, it is amazing. Modest prices and humongous portions round out the experience. Definitely try the karage, crab fried rice and pork katsu.

Truly outstanding! Highly Recommend. We had high expectations because we love Katsu Cart and all the dishes we tried exceeded our hopes! So delicious, creative, and flavorful. We loved the cabbage pancake, the crab fried rice, and the spicy fried chicken. Can’t wait to see what they do next and we’ll certainly be back for more!

went there for lunch to get the katsu sando that i haven’t had the chance to get in months. it was so good and the portion is huge! i could only eat half and im saving the rest for dinner. the hot honey karaage is so juicy and the sauce is delicious. katsu bento had a lot of variety and everything was great.