Dawa Sushi and Ramen
Sushi restaurant · Olde Kensington ·
Sushi and ramen spot offering omakase, pork belly buns, and crispy rice.
Sushi and ramen spot offering omakase, pork belly buns, and crispy rice.
"A lot of unexpected, cool things go down under the El, including Dawa on the corner of Girard and Front. This tiny, casual Fishtown spot makes reliably good sushi and ramen. The restaurant is split into two separate experiences: there’s a room with 16 tables where people order shoyu ramen and yellowtail handrolls, and then there’s a seven-seat sushi bar where the owner serves 15- to 24-piece omakase meals all by himself. And aside from feeling like you’re part of his crew, you’ll get to eat fatty tuna, king salmon rolls, and lemon-spiked scallops. Just know you’ll have to call to book your spot, and they only offer the omakase Thursday through Saturday." - candis mclean, alison kessler
"Fishtown’s Dawa has a lot of a la carte sushi options and some of our favorite ramen in town, but the $180 sushi omakase is why you come here. The tasting includes 22 pieces. And while the chef seamlessly places sea bream and delicate otoro in front of you, he also talks about the right temperatures and origin of the fish. With a meal this good, you’ll completely forget about the El train that’s constantly whizzing by." - candis mclean
"We don’t know if it’s the broth, the thick slabs of pork belly, or the chewy noodles that make the cha su ramen from Fishtown’s Da-Wa a go-to for us. OK, it’s all of it. From the broth flowing with chili oil to the smokiness of roasted corn, everything comes together to make a soup that’s just spicy enough for you to feel some heat, but not so overpowering that it takes away from its buttery, pork broth." - candis mclean
"There are a lot of weird, cool things under the El: a dive bar with a heavy metal night, a high-end event venue attached to a high school, and at least three hidden rooftops. Then there's DAWA, a reliable sushi and ramen spot. The restaurant is split into two separate experiences: there’s a room with 16 tables where people order shoyu ramen and yellowtail handrolls, and then there’s a seven-seat sushi bar where the owner serves 15- to 24-piece omakase meals all by himself. And aside from feeling like you’re part of his crew, you’ll get to eat fatty tuna, king salmon rolls, and lemon-spiked scallops. FYI—they only offer the omakase Thursday through Saturday, and you have to call to book your spot." - candis mclean, alison kessler
"There are 10 really good restaurants within 3 blocks of the Girard stop on the Market Frankford Line. But Da-Wa is approximately 25 steps from the entrance to the station - which means the liquid in your eyeballs won’t have time to freeze before you duck back out of the cold. In addition to its proximity to the train, Da-Wa has one of the better omakase sushi options in Fishtown - it’s $59 for 15 courses where you get everything from miso soup to mackerel with soy and wasabi to fatty tuna handrolls. This place isn’t as elaborate as the omakase experience at Hiroki down the street, but it’s ideal for a casual dinner when it’s incredibly cold out." - sydney mcelwee
