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.

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.

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.

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. 🤤

My husband and I went here last week and were soo blown away by the food! It was so flavorful! We couldn’t decide so we ordered one of everything on the menu! Every single dish including the soup was made to order. Ot came out as delicious as it looked, we can’t wait to go back! Ther service was also incredible. It’s a small space but it makes it more intimate! The owner is the chef and he is so much fun to talk to. His welcoming and friendly demeanor really brings the whole thing together! I can’t think of a single negative to say about the place!

Cozy little spot! It's kind of hidden, there's a sign for Dozo on the building, you enter a different restaurant and it's a sectioned off area to the right with a couple small two seaters and a chefs counter. The pickled plate was so good, there was a variety of vegetables, all perfectly sour and crunchy. The flavors of the actual vegetable came through nicely too. I had high hopes for the crab fried rice. It was fine, didn't blow me away. Slightly greasy, the crab was hard to find, and the flavors overpowered the ikura, which I was hoping would be a nice refreshing pop to each bite. It came fast and steaming hot though. I ordered from a QR code on the table, paid through the app too. Don't interact much with staff, but the moments I did, they were friendly. There are other items on the menu I'd like to return to try.

Dining at DŌZO is an exceptional experience from the quality and flavor of the food right down to the atmosphere. I decided to sit at the chef's counter as I was dining alone and didn't want to take up too much space. The restaurant is very small. It only seats 12 people. There is a mixture of small booths and the counter. You get to watch the chefs cook and prepare, and it creates an intimate experience. The food is phenomenal! I appreciate the fusion of Japanese and American cuisine, for example: the spicy chicken karaage is perfectly fried dark meat (chicken thigh) topped with a spicy Japanaese sauce reminiscent of buffalo sauce. I also had -- and recommend -- the crab fried rice. There is parking on-site in The City Kitch lot. Expect to pay $30-$40 per person.

Dozo is a very intimate restaurant on one side of City Kitchen. It has 3-4 booths that seat two and some bar seating. You can watch food prep from the bar. We had the crab rice and the fish bento. Food was hot, fresh, and well-prepared. Serving sizes are generous.

Sneaky cool spot that is a little hidden, but that adds to the vibes. Small setting with only a few tables, but makes the service more personal. Food was really good, and the staff was awesome. Definitely worth checking out!

It's a small intimate place. Only 12 seats, so it's first come, first serve. If you like Japanese food and a casual upbeat atmosphere, you will love this place. The guys are nice and engaging with the customers and while we were here we saw several people that were obviously repeat customers. So people are definitely already making this their new spot in Charlotte. Come in, sit down and use the. QR code to order. Look for the city kitch sign. Go in there and take a right. I have a feeling this is just the beginning of something even bigger for them.

First time visiting and it may be my new favorite place! I tried the katsu curry don and the crab fried rice. Really good sized portions. Can't wait to try something else.

Ordered take out. Was ready at the estimated time. The hot honey chicken karaage was excellent texture. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Sauce wasn't too overwhelming and had excellent spice with the red peppers. Katsu curry was great. Flavorful. Okonomiyaki seafood pancake was also great texture. Reminded me of days in Northern California. Will definitely be back. It's the best Japanese I've had in CLT over the past decade. Worth the drive to pick it up.

Service was great, food came out piping hot & tasted wonderful! Will dine here again!

the food here is so good! i've loved every dish i've tried. the music is also very good and not too loud. service is quick.

Amazing dishes, huge portions and exceptional service. This place truly pushes creative culinary boundaries with unique takes on some traditional dishes. Word of advice, always get the special!! (See snapper pictured)

I'll echo the first reviewer and say I had high expectations based on the food truck, but this was a special experience all on its own that exceeded those expectations. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but in my opinion make sure you get the crab fried rice and tsukemono. Service is friendly and efficient; you can tell they have so much passion for what they do, and I love the intimate space and minimalist but engaging design. One of the best meals I've had in Charlotte. Will definitely be back!

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!

How did they make one of the best burgers in Charlotte when this special isn't on their regular menu? These folks are so talented and they rock a super fun vibe.

Such a great spot - the limited space for seating gives it a really cool intimate vibe and it also means that the food comes out super fast and you can literally watch them make it. Everything also tasted AMAZING. Super crispy croquettes and katsu, everything seasoned to perfection and the owners were both there and were super friendly and chatting with the diners :)

I went to DŌZO for the first time and the experience was amazing! Great food, very friendly staff, and great beer! The fried oysters were some of the best I've had in Charlotte. The pork belly dish was grilled to perfection and had a great and unique taste. The hint of apples on it was an amazing compliment to the dish! Although in a shared space it felt very private and interactive with the staff. (Great spot to grab dinner with friends) 10/10 recommend to anyone looking for a unique Japanese experience!

The food was amazing. We got the katsu don and it was very delicious. The service was prompt and staff very polite. Definitely recommend.

I truly cannot put into words how incredible the food is. The attention put into every dish, every ingredient is astonishing. It is the best and even saying that doesn't give this spot justice. Do yourself a flavor and go.

Absolutely amazing little place with truly inspired dishes prepared by a chef that wants to impress every guest.

The food is so so good, crab fried rice is the best I've ever had. Really cool being able to watch the chefs cook - you gotta check it out!