DŌZO Japanese American Kitchen — Restaurant in Charlotte

DŌZO is a Japanese-American Kitchen, nestled in Wesley Heights’ City Kitch, right next to the beloved Restaurant Constance. The magic behind DŌZO is crafted by Chef Perry and Sous Chef John Gamble, the duo from the award-winning food truck, Katsu Kart. With seating for just 12, half of which is at the kitchen bar, the experience felt intimate and personal—perfect for striking up conversation. During my visit, I chatted with Chef Perry and even got to meet the owner of Banh Mi Brothers and his team. The vibe was incredibly warm and inviting, with everyone sharing stories and enjoying the evening together.

I started with the Tsukemono, a chef’s selection of pickled vegetables that were crisp, refreshing, and bursting with flavor. They made the perfect light opener for the rich dishes that followed. Next, I moved on to the miso soup. Loaded with tofu, seaweed, and scallions, each spoonful offered a delightful balance of earthy miso flavor.

Then came the Agedashi Nasu, a standout dish. The Japanese eggplant was lightly fried, giving it a crispy exterior while remaining tender inside, and it soaked up the mushroom dashi broth beautifully. Honestly, the dashi was so flavorful I could’ve sipped it like a drink!

I wrapped up my meal with one of the best crab fried rices I’ve had in Charlotte. The dish was generously packed with blue crab and tender pork belly. Every bite felt more indulgent than the last, making it hard to put down my chopsticks.

The menu at DŌZO is on the smaller side, but I loved that—it keeps the focus on perfecting each dish. While there wasn’t a dessert option yet (it’s their opening month, after all), I’m sure they’ll add something sweet down the line. I’m already planning my return to try the Okonomiyaki and Katsu-don.

If you’re looking for a personal, intimate dining experience with top-notch Japanese-inspired dishes, DŌZO is an...

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...

Tucked into The City Kitch is a unique little Japanese restaurant called DŌZO. I have found the Japanese food scene to be fairly limited in Charlotte so I would say the area is lucky to have a spot like this. The restaurant isn't very large so I decided to come around open to snag a spot. They have roughly 12 seats and a small but well executed menu.

I ordered the Katsu Don which ended up being a really great dish. It also could've easily fed two people so bring a bit of an appetite if you're dining solo! With their open kitchen concept, I got to experience the creation of the dish which made it all that much better. The rice was cooked perfectly and the pork katsu was super tender and crispy. The thing that I believe sort of tied it all together was the egg, onion, and sweet ish soy sauce concoction. It worked well with the pork which was cooked into the mixture after it was fried and it added a little liquid for the rice below to soak up. Each bite ended up being just as good as the first or better!

I think the only thing that could be improved with their open kitchen concept, is to tidy the kitchen space up a little bit. However, since they are newer to the space, this is stuff they will probably work out down the line. Other than that, the food was very good, and I would highly recommend you make this a spot to visit if you are...