Dashi

Wow, just wow! This place was fantastic! As a ramen enthusiast, I had high expectations, and they were fully met. The broth was incredibly rich, warming me to the bone--perfect for the chilly day. The pork belly was outstanding, with a perfect crust and tender texture that absorbed the umami flavors of the broth beautifully. The edamame and house-made kimchi were fresh and delicious. The edamame came with a chili crunch that packed a punch, and the kimchi had a bold gochugaru flavor that was absolutely on point.I'm excited to come back and try the omakase menu; it looked phenomenal. I also recommend trying the house-made hot sauce--it was a great addition. The ambiance was super trendy, reminiscent of a spot you'd find in NYC, but fitting right into the vibe of Downtown Durham. The decor was thoughtfully designed, and it really enhanced the experience. Our server was sweet, guiding us through the menu and providing efficient, timely service. I'll definitely return to explore more of the menu next time we're in Durham!

I tried Dashi with my roommate last night with a reservation in place. We liked the concept but less so the food. As we stepped in, our eyes took a bit to adjust to the dark lighting and we struggled to see the menus. The seating was very dim, but spacious enough that we could sit comfortably. I didn't love that I could overhear the table next to us. We shared a takoyaki hushpuppy starter and enjoyed it. I thought that it had a good balance of savory and sweet. However, the ramen that I ordered (shio) and my roommate ordered (tonkatsu) didn't have that great balance- it was much too salty to our tastes. We also both wished there was more broth in the soup! The ramen felt unauthentic and a bit high of a price point.I'd come back for the ambiance and the starters.

I had a pretty good experience at Dashi! I had been here once before and really liked it. We visited on a Wednesday night and it there were a lot of people, the only seats available were at the ramen bar. Our server came to visit us pretty quickly and we got our orders in. The boiled peanuts were really good and so was the popcorn. I ordered the Miso ramen, which I had last time and it was just as good as before. I also had a prickly pear kombucha which was amazing. Parking is also easy to find since there is a parking garage right across the street, and some street parking as well. I will definitely be back!

This was fine! There are a lot of fun things on the menu. (Lots of cool meats and seafood especially). And the flavor of the food was good! I would love bigger portions, though. I like how there is a downstairs space and an upstairs space. And I'm good with the fact that it's kind of random which one you get. But I didn't think the two spaces were that different? I wish they were a little more unique. The service was probably the best part!

There was a private party upstairs so this was the first time we've sat downstairs for dinner. We made a reservation before a DPAC show - love that they take reservations! Food was great! I think the highlight for the four of us was the KFC - Korean fried cauliflower! It was delicious! The boiled peanuts were also very tasty! The pickled veggies were good, but probably not something we'd order again. I had the vegetarian ramen, which is usually what I get here since all of the other ramens have meat/fish in them that are not my thing. The vegetarian one is good, but honestly there are ingredients in it that aren't my thing. I think next time I might try something new and get that KFC side instead of ramen for my main meal! The rest of our party all devoured their ramen dishes. It's fun to come here on a cold/rainy night - it just seems really cozy!

Stopped in for some apps that were great! Lots of great options here that were delish! Also very cute vibe upstairs that was more quiet. Cocktails and sake were yummy too. Waitress was attentive and nice.

Specifically a review of the Omakase:Incredibly disappointed--or, better said, extremely underwhelmed. We are fans of Dashi's standard offerings and had heard about the highly regarded Omakases (this review is only 2 stars rather than 1 because we like their conventional dining experience). Made a reservation weeks out all to arrive and have to stand around waiting for close to 20 minutes. All that wait was for an uncomfortable seat at the bar. Ordinarily this would not be an issue were it not for the fact that the 5 course meal (which did not include dessert) took close to two hours on a Thursday night.One dish in particular (cilantro rice) took nearly half an hour to come out. During this time, we were incorrectly brought food that was not ours twice--as though they were mocking us. In a moment of desperation and hunger we half joked that we would keep it and were told that was not possible, which was especially unfortunate since it was our favorite dish of the night. Other little things: tons of bone in fish that should have been deboned and, with each dish, our small pairing of sake was poured 5-10 minutes before the food arrived and got warm by the time we could drink it with our dish.To put on my critic's hat: The food was generally not as good as our favorites from the standard menu--and certainly no dish felt special. Having dined at Dashi several times before, I feel qualified to say that this tasting simply felt like being served 5 small portions of something one would find on the menu in the ordinary course (again, sans dessert). Fine but uninspired, and doubtful whether it was worth the Chef's trip over from Japan.The expense of this uninspired menu contributed to a general sense of dread that intensified as the waiting dragged on with each and every dish: desperation mounting as we foolishly hoped that something would make the price tag we knew was coming worthwhile. Unfortunately, that something never came. And salt was only added to the proverbial wound when the bill came with a 20% mandatory "gratuity" (a real kick in the teeth to close out a meal during which the wait staff and bartenders repeatedly issued apologies).Want to say I will return for the Dashi with tasty ramen and great value on whisky that I know and love, but, as a loyal customer this omakase experience really left a sour taste in my mouth.

I was so excited to try this place given my love for ramen but I was very disappointed. The place is so nice and authentic, the staff is super friendly and accommodating. We went on a Friday evening without a reservation and the hostess went above and beyond to find us a table. We ordered the vegetarian ramen, it was loaded with mushrooms, bok choy and squash but lacked any flavor . We ordered the mushroom skewers, which had potential but were a little too salty. The chicken skewers were delicious and a hit with the little one. The pickle plate was okay too.

"A Ramen Nightmare: Don't Get Caught in this Trap!"My recent experience at this Japanese ramen place left much to be desired. Traditional Japanese ramen is known for its fresh ingredients, flavorful broth, and generous noodle portions. Unfortunately, this establishment missed the mark entirely.**Food:** The ramen was well below subpar. The broth was barely visible, and the noodles seemed off in taste and texture. I ordered the Miso ramen, and it tasted like something had gone seriously wrong with the broth--it was far from the authentic fermented miso flavor I expected. It was, to put it frankly, gross. The saving grace was the decent smoked chicken in the dish.Surprisingly, the chicken wings were the only highlight of the meal. They boasted a unique and delicious flavor with just the right amount of spice.However, the K.F.C Dish was a disaster. It arrived swimming in a puddle of oil, a definite no-go. **Atmosphere:**The atmosphere was decidedly odd and not at all what I anticipated. If you're seeking vibrant, "happy to be here" vibes and a warm, welcoming environment, this is definitely not the place for you.**Service:**Service here left much to be desired. We were seated upstairs, and our waitress placed us in the middle of the room, only to promptly forget about us. It felt like our waitress went out of her way to serve others while ignoring our needs. Kudos to the bartender who took it upon himself to clear our tiny table and provide water after we enjoyed the decent chicken wings. Ironically, the only time our waitress seemed to notice us was when we had to flag her down for the bill.In conclusion, my visit to this ramen place was nothing short of disappointing. From the subpar food to the lackluster service and peculiar atmosphere, I would strongly advise against venturing into this ramen trap. Your ramen cravings deserve much better than what this place has to offer.

The cooks were very fast, not packed at all, service very fast. Ingredients are fresh, broth is soooooooooo good, ramen has the best flavors and different types. They also server different foods such as chicken and beef. Feels like being in Japan even though I've never even been to Japan. You can see cooks cooking food, dimly lit, music and club downstairs.