Doma 1822 Callowhill St. (215) 564–1114 Fairmount
Don't Miss: Triple Spicy Double Tuna Roll Skip: Any plain roll. This isn't Houston Market. $$
Doma, conveniently located just a few blocks away from Franklin Square, presents a classier and tastier alternative to Nara, the traditional Japanese BYO right on campus.
When you step in, you’re greeted with low–key jazz music and friendly staff. The interior is chic, without seeming overdone, consisting of a white and beige décor accented by metallic details, as trendy IKEA–esque decorations adorn the ceiling and walls.
Though advertised as a sushi place, the extensive menu, consisting of both Korean and Japanese dishes, provides plenty of alternatives for those in your group who are not up for eating raw fish. And even if you’re a hardcore sushi fan, don’t just stop at that. After all, where else can you have bibimbap and sushi in one sitting?
Oh, and if you’re one of those super picky people who has to know exactly what they’re eating — they do this nifty thing where they have code letters; “i” for inside and “o” for outside, conveniently letting you know the ins and outs of each roll.
Conventional sushi rolls pale in comparison to the signature rolls here. With quirky standouts like the Pachinko Roll ($15), which has shrimp tempura, avocado and cucumber on the inside and tuna, kiwi, mango, eel and wasabi mayo on the outside, and the Triple Spicy Double Tuna Roll ($13), which combines spicy sauce, sriracha and sichimi peppers for a real kick, Doma certainly isn’t afraid to experiment with offbeat ingredients.
Rolls aside, the rest of the menu stands well on its own. The entrees, also referred to as “kitchen dishes,” consist of a range of hot traditional Japanese and Korean fare. The bibimbap ($15) was excellent and certainly filling for one person, though is best if shared and enjoyed in accompaniment to other dishes on the menu.
Overall, Doma is a great place to go if you’re craving good Japanese/Korean food and either not down to drop big bucks for Morimoto or simply bored of Pod sushi after one too many lunches with parents. Just make sure to make reservations in advance — the place seats no more than 50 people at a time, so it may be harder for larger groups to find a place to sit.
