Dotombori
1526 Miner St, Des Plaines, IL, 60016
Dotombori Menu
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Address :
1526 Miner St
Des Plaines, IL, 60016 - Phone (847) 699-8477
- Website https://www.dotomborisushi.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Richard C.
Stopped in for lunch today, incredible!! Shared 3 awesome rolls n had to get a second crazy Chicago roll it was so good. Can't wait to taste others. Gonna go back for a dinner. Nice decor n staff too.
(5)Y.D. K.
I went here on a quick bit of dinner, and it was a bit disappointing, but since it was a discount night of sorts, it's not too bad since paying for sushi is like almost a car payment. My friend was already there and ordered a selection of rolls and nigri but she had no clue and clearly having a tough time - I don't think sushi is for her, despite my suggestions. I'm not even anything near of an expert on Japanese cuisine but I know what I want & like, and have an open mind to try stuff, even if it sounds yucky. I had a few California rolls and an assortment of tuna, salmon, and shrimp - all were decently tasty but it seems to not quite taste and prepared if it was done by an expert, and a Japanese one at that. Washed that down with some tea, had a few more rolls and assorted nigri, and left for the night. Decor was nice, had some Japanese and Asian touches for the interior, and generic tables and chairs. Music played didn't detract from the masticating activities or the conversations. The wait staff (and I think the owner too) tried to be helpful and did fairly well to serve us. Next time I come around, I'll need to try the fish dishes and bento box, and will update this review as well as the rating. To be continued...
(3)Min C.
The first time I went here, it was kind of a disaster. The wait time between ordering and receiving the meal was close to an hour. Every visit afterwards has been much better. Service was excellent, rolls are delicious, and the decor was nice. Sometimes if the chefs are creative (bored?) the rolls are served in a cute design on the plate :)
(4)Angie O.
Ordered a to go. The bulgogi rolls melted in my mouth! Frest and tastey ! I was very happy. 8 juicy rolls $5 (happy hour menu), plus a small miso $1.50(regular menu). Other happy hour menu options are about a dollar more. A hop and a skip away from the library~ for those lunch hour specials. The place is lovely and quite relaxing. More stars upon further dining.
(3)Howard L.
This was our first visit here and we were pleasantly surprised with the nice, cozy, and trendy interior. The exterior seems slightly dated, and the corner storefront is in a somewhat dated series of storefronts right in downtown Des Plaines, and I was sort of expecting the same for the interior. Anyway, after today's nice lunch outing, we will certainly be back. They are Korean run and have a mainly sushi, sashimi, and bento box menu. We had a couple of their lunch special $7.95 bento boxes. I had their chicken katsu bento box, and wife had their beef bulgogi bento box. The servings were delicious and great values for the price (coming with 4 pieces of California sushi roll, 5 pieces of tempura, and rice), and we'll be back. I also really like the convenient and free street parking in this area, and there are several eateries to try around this part of town.
(5)Diana J.
Got takeout after work, their happy hour pricing from 5-6pm is great (4 rolls for $36)! The sushi was fresh and plentiful (no skimping!) and my favorite is the Wasabi Tuna roll. The 4 rolls were enough for two hungry ppl. Service was very friendly and interior clean. I shall certainly be back!
(4)Chris J.
Sometimes you think a restaurant is on the fence between 2 ratings, for example a 2.5 or a 4.5, and you go back and forth about which one to give. For Dotombori, 4 stars is just right. Reliable, tasty sushi, mostly reasonable prices. Not going to wow you usually, but that's not what they are going for considering the pricing. Service is pleasant but sometimes inattentive. Kamikaze roll is good and is also on happy hour menu (before 6pm - week nights only I believe). Stay away from the gimmicky rolls they set on fire. I've had various appetizers and I don't remember a bad one. Have not tried any of their non-sushi main courses. Glad to have this place in my neighborhood whenever I am craving sushi.
(4)Rosa J.
This is located by the Des Plaines metra station, in downtown Des Plaines. The exterior looks decent, but patrons who were interesting in coming in had a difficult time figuring out if they were "open" since it appeared to pretty dark inside. The hours were posted on the entrance. They only open during lunch and dinner time, so the business hours were not continuous. We ordered the specials for today: chicken katsu curry and spicy salmon sushi combo. There was another neon board with four (4) other specials, one being salmon tataki...Well, I should have ordered that. Everything we ordered had a good taste, and the quality of fish was pretty good as well. However, I had a feeling that I should have ordered something else. On a side note, I felt that katsu was over-prices: $15! The size of the cutlet was average, and there was nothing special about it. Regarding my sushi combo, I can for sure find a better deal in Chicago. The table near us ordered some kind of tempura lunch combo and the presentation looked more glamorous than our order. I guess there will always be next time. Despite the ordering chargin, the atmosphere was cozy and private. I enjoy the Korean music playing on the background. I think I may have an opportunity to come back and give them another chance. By the way, the total came to $35...yeah, kind of steep, but it is what a Japanese restaurant typically charges. I will stick with my hole-in-the-wall Lawrence Fish Market.
(3)Sharon M.
Awesome food, reasonably priced, and friendly staff! sushi chef is inovated,will make anything to order,and his creations are beautiful! everytime we bring someone new they rave about the sushi! Mary the hostess is the best!
(5)Lloyd M.
Very good Japanese restaurant in downtown Des Plaines, better than you would expect in Des Plaines. Traditional Japanese menu with all the stand-bys, plus some Korean dishes and specialty rolls. I had a deluxe bento box (with your choice of entree and roll) and started with agedashi tofu. The agedashi, deep fried blocks of tofu was great and I was pleased with the bento box, which was huge. The bento started with miso soup and a salad. Both were standard Japanese restaurant fare, not bad but not special. The bento box i coed five pieces of tempura, including one shrimp. Tempura was very good, healthy size veggies that were fried perfectly. I found the tempura sauce a tad bland. The box also had bulgogi (my choice of entree), which I thoroughly enjoyed but was more like beef teriyaki than traditional bulgogi. It also had good veggies. I was pretty full by this time when my huge kamikaze roll arrived (spicy tuna with regular tuna). The fish was very good, fresh and plentiful. I do wish I could have picked from any roll on the menu, they were all around the same price, but it delivered. Overall a very good meal.
(4)Megan M.
What an absolute gem! I ordered for two, but it was just me :) Miso and house salad to start. They have the perfect blend of dressing and they do a great job of coating the lettuce. The miso was very flavorful, lots of tofu and seaweed. Main course was sushi and sashimi dinner and I upgraded to the Hawaiian roll. Best decision ever, as that roll made my top three favorites, immediately. The place was busy, luckily I found a spot at the bar, and watched as the chefs prepped each dish. Such skill and care went into each plate and it's presentation. The flavors were a perfect blend. Mango, a light amount of heat (before I added wasabi) and a bright freshness to the Roll made it a palate pleaser. Tea was always filled, staff was courteous. This is how sushi should be.
(5)Sarah V.
Great option for the suburbs. It is really cute inside and I've always had really great service. I mostly end up at Dotombori for their lunch special. You can pick any two rolls for around $9! Although the selection is kind of limited at lunch, I never have a problem finding something delicious. I typically order the shrimp tempura rolls, which are nice and crispy with a delicious mayo on top. Just writing this review is making me crave it! Have to wait till the next time I'm home for lunch during the week. It's good to know there is a great sushi option so close to home!
(4)Deb S.
We've always had great service and good food at Dotombori... They have a decent menu and the food is always fresh! Glad that Des Plaines has a decent Sushi place!!!! They could have a better wine selection - but like most Japanese restaurants, that isn't their main concern!!
(4)Heidi L.
Work nearby so came here for lunch with a colleague. She wanted Kurumaya which is an authentic Japanese-owned restaurant, but it's a bit of a trek. Dotomobori is an OK substitute... since I am pregnant and cannot eat raw sushi, I didn't feel like I was missing too much by not going to Kurumaya. This restaurant is Korean-owned so we ordered the bulgogi bento box. My friend was VERY HUNGRY and it took a long time for our food to come out. The first time they gave us a teriyaki Chicken bento box. It was obviously a mistake since 2 other bentos went to a different table at the same time, but the people there started eating right away and the servers could not salvage our food. They did not apologize or give any explanation and made us wait another 10 minutes for our food. Bulgogi was seasoned ok, not too saucy, but the beef was really chewy and in big wads. Tempura was over battered and fried. Pieces were very big and difficult to eat gracefully. Came with 4 California roll pieces. We did not get any salad or miso soup with our bento lunches, not sure if they were supposed to come with. Overall, food was neither bad nor good. The cheap prices make up for it though, $7.95 for the lunch bento. Updated from 3 to 2 stars: My coworker said I was too generous with my original 3 stars. It's been a couple hours since we ate here and she now feels sick from the oily food and can still taste the oil.
(2)Christina G.
I came here on a double date and we all had a great time. Note that this place is not BYOB, but their drinks are fairly reasonable. I had a Lychee-tini for $6, and during happy hour, sake is $2.50. We did arrived in time for the happy hour half price rolls and took advantage. We decided to forego an appetizer, since we'd had a big lunch, so the star of the meal would be the sushi. We ordered 3 rolls - the kamikaze, the Oh My God, and the shrimp crunch. All were tasty. The waitress was accommodating to one of our group member's allergies, and easily brought the sauce for each roll on the side. Happy hour applies whether you dine in or pick up, so you can carry out your half priced sushi (as long as you pick it up by 6:10). That's worth some points, in my book. A couple downsides though: - Service was a bit spotty. The place wasn't very busy during happy hour, but our waitress sometimes disappeared for a while. We weren't in a huge hurry (except to make sure we got our order in for happy hour), so it wasn't a huge deal. - I was surprised to see that a large number of the rolls were tempura-style, meaning fried. I'm sure they are delicious, but I prefer my sushi to focus on the taste of the fresh, uncooked fish. We had to park on the street (there's no lot), but we didn't have any trouble and parked on the same block as the restaurant. I would definitely go back, especially during happy hour.
(4)Emily C.
So fresh and delicious! But the service is what makes this place AMAZING! I am definitely making dotombori my go to Japanese restaurant. My husband and I enjoyed their sushi sashimi combo and signature makis. The price is also very reasonable and you leave feeling like it was money well spent on quality food. Looking forward to another great experience soon!
(5)PhiPh L.
Server was very nice. She brought out miso for my boyfriend and asked if I would like one on the house. I asked if I could get plain curry and she had to ask the chef. She came back and said yes, but it would be the same price for curry sauce on rice even if I didn't want the beef or veggies. So $18 for curry sauce on rice. I passed. I didn't want curry that badly. What I should have done was read all the reviews about the ramen before I ordered it. DO NOT GET THE RAMEN. It is instant ramen. Other yelpers have confirmed this. Mine was overcooked and too watery. Don't do it. The Philadelphia roll was fine. The mega crunch was ok. It was crunchy and tasted ok. I felt like it shouldn't have been a sushi roll (with rice.) It may be better as like a stuffed mushroom. My boyfriend had the chicken katsu curry and liked it. It's not like Japanese curry. It's not as thick. It has the curry flavor, with a lot of diced vegetables. Would not go back.
(2)Mireya P.
The service was great, they were accommodating to our group of 6. Our group ordered a variety of different rolls including the mango salmon. We had a couple of vegetarians who were very satisfied with their rolls-they let you add in other veggie a like avocado and crunch bits. I recommend coming here for a local good sushi joint.
(4)Flavor Hunter K.
What is this place for? Over priced instant foods on fancy plates? Is this a Japanese restaurant or asian-fusion-look alike restaurant? It's funny to see ppl giving 5 stars for this place, probably never had authentic Japanese foods before, I was shocked when my foods were served on the table. Trust me, Mitsuwa food court serves better foods than here.
(1)Kristen D.
Consistent and delicious!! My daughter is picky but adores the gyoza and chicken teriyaki. I think the spicy ramen is awesome. Husband loves the sushi. They are attentive and always bring my daughter a special dessert of bananas, chocolate syrup, and whipped cream. Will be back time and time again!!!
(5)Restaurant J.
The non fancy and unappealing exteriors of the place and the tacky window Sushi displays at the joint always prevented me from trying out sushi here. My husband on the other hand had read some good reviews and always wanted to try it out. One evening after unsuccessful attempts at deciding upon a place to have dinner I ultimately granted his wishes and we went to Dotombori. And I totally loved it. The fish was all so fresh and well presented. We went with the chef's choice platter and it was great. We also had the yaki soba with chicken that was yum. Spicy salmon roll was perhaps the best I have ever had. Definitely going there again.
(4)Sue C.
Dotombori is such a unique experience! I ordered the Dotombori roll, and it came out, wrapped in foil on a bed of rocks, inflamed. How awesome is that?? The roll was also spot on when it came to taste. My friend and I also received Tuna Tartare with Taro chips on the house! Needless to say, the service was fantastic!
(4)Pastor Andy G.
I took my wife here for our wedding anniversary, and we must admit, it was a good decision of places to eat. Pros: + NO MSG at all, whatsoever (not even in the soup, and not even in the soy sauce)! + Very nice staff (friendly, helpful, kind) + Huge portions! Usually when you order sushi, the rolls are small, so we ordered 2 rolls and one of the Sashimi packages. When they brought out the first roll, it was huge! Then they brought out the second, and immediately, we knew we were going to need a take-home box (our sashimi hadn't even come out yet!). You definitely get your money's worth. + Cute place, clean, authentic Japanese soda... + Very good Miso soup + Great place to bring a date (intimate, dimmed lighting, soft background music, quiet) There are also many other stores around the area, great for taking a walk around the area together. + Many rolls to choose from + Reservation or walk in (we made reservations the previous night, and they gave us the table right by the storefront window (very nice). Table even had a "reserved" sign. + We were given a "Rewards Card". This visit counted as the first, next visit will give us a free appetizer. Cons: - Street parking, and not much of it, so if it's during the day, I can see where this may be an issue (however, the street parking was free). - I'm not a huge fan of cilantro, and there was a strong taste of it in the rolls. - Crab meat was listed in just about every roll (not all, but almost). - Though you probably could bring kids there, the ambiance is quiet and intimate. Plus, they don't have a kids' menu.
(4)Jacob B.
One of the best sushi restaurants I've found in the Chicago suburbs. The portions are a good size, the ingredients are always very fresh (very important for sushi/maki), and the combinations are flavorful. Presentation is always important, and Dotombori doesn't disappoint. They always present the dishes in an interesting and eye catching way. Service is prompt and polite as it always should be. I really have no complaints and I will be back often in the future.
(4)Scott O.
Seems like it was a 'bother' to serve me. Food was great and the sushi chef's were great as well. The server was horrible and seemed so disinterested in serving me. Got up to use the restroom and looked at as if I was a criminal. Never going back again. I live in the neighborhood too. It was lunchtime and it was busy. Still I felt unwelcome by the server. I cannot recommend this place.
(1)Kaushik G.
Good stuff.....very good quality ingredients. I have had food from here quite often. The lunch specials are not varied, and they seem to have a penchant for using crab stick in most of their lunch specials, but you can always request them not to put any. Moreover, there is almost no place within a 5 mile radius that serves anything comparable.
(4)Sandra Z.
Great sushi spot! Staff is friendly and attentive. Fish is always fresh. Decently priced.
(5)A L.
I was introduced to this location a couple of years ago and just as I have, everyone I have brought to this place, has fallen in love with it as well. The rolls are as good as they can get. From the Oh-My-God roll to the one with the slices of strawberries, and blackberry on top. It all melts in your mouth. The chef experiments all the time and there are rolls that are not on the menu - he has hung pictures of his new creations above his station. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even ask them to have the chef surprise you with one of his current masterpieces. All the rolls are a work of art as they are scrumptious. Looking from the outside, you're not sure what to think of this place because it looks very old-school, not loungey, like most sushi places nowadays. The servers are super friendly and courteous. If you are in need of a compliment and a smile, this is the place to go to after a rough day. No disappointments here other than I wish I lived closer to go more often!
(5)P B.
I don't know if this place is authentic or not. What I can say is that this place always has produced great fresh food. I've been here for lunch and dinner several times over the past few years. It is a nice simple and very clean establishment. The fish taste fresh and the rest of the food has always been prepared excellently. The staff is always friendly and personable.
(5)Antonia R.
We love Dotombori! Best sushi. Try the Oh My God and the Yum Yum! They also make simple rolls so well. We usually get miso soup, hot green tea, gyoza, and a few sushi rolls. Good prices and the nicest staff.
(5)Jennifer M.
Their ramen noodle soup is the worst I've even eaten outside of making it myself at home. The server confirmed to me they use instant noodles, similar to what I have in my pantry. With that said, I won't be going back for ramen. I'll make that at home when I'm not feeling well. I'll continue to venture out for places like Mitsuwa and Sakura to give me the kind of Japanese ramen noodle soup I expect to have when I order from a restaurant.
(1)Christine O.
This was actually my second visit and I had meant to review it the first time and forgot. The food here is delicious and the people couldn't be nicer. After our meal they gave us all dessert on the house. The only complaint I have is that the service is extremely slow, so if you have plans to go somewhere after dinner you may want to give yourself more time. I don't remember it being so slow the first time so maybe it was just an off night? Anyway, I will definitely be back-slow service or not. Any of the rolls are delicious and from what I was told, my friend's ramen was very good also. They have a full bar and, of course, sake:)
(4)Kate K.
I eat here about once a year when I come to town to visit friends. The space is nice and tends to the quiet side, the servers are friendly, and the food is great.
(4)Michael W.
Excellent sushi quality and service was great. The ramen was also pretty amazing (the soup base tasted homemade and it was very tasty!) I came with young kids and they both really enjoyed the food. My family will definitely come back again soon!
(5)Gregory B.
I'm megapicky about Japanese food. This could be my new favorite. The lunch bento box was perfection, wall to wall. Tempura was flawless. Chicken teriyaki was char-grilled, and easily the best ever. The California roll was perfect. Even the rice had an extra something. Didn't care for the loud techno music, though. I love downtown Des Plaines. The food is SO much better than Arlington Heights, where I live. So many excellent choices. And now this one!
(5)Megan M.
I love Dotombori! I've been going here for years! I would come home from college every other weekend just to get my good sushi fix! Out of all the places I have been to get sushi this place is hands down the best! They are creative and fresh. My favorite has got to be the "Oh my god" roll. Everybody that works there is so sweet, I love Mary and her daughter. Both sushi chefs are excellent as well, there is always something different to try! Also, try the Dotombori and the Corona rolls!
(5)Lauren K.
This place is great! Very friendly and timely service. The interior is really cute. We had the happy hour specials and it was a good deal. We had sake, edamame, crunch roll (spicy crab) - totally amazing, shrimp tempura crunch with avocado, spicy tuna cucumber, and deep fried salmon. All were delicious and beautiful. We will definitely return.
(5)Nichole T.
Quaint and cute with a chill vibe. Went for the happy hour sushi during the week. Owner recognized it was out first time and sent over complimentary miso soup to start. I have never been a miso soup fan until now. It was so good, there is no way I'd go back and not order it. We ordered off the half off sushi menu for hh and it was slightly above average. For the price though, worth it! I would definitely recommend this place for after work dinner or an early date. Quiet enough for good conversation and food definitely worth a try. Service was attentive and friendly while not intruding or rushing us at all. Will b back.
(4)Paige K.
The bento box chicken teriyaki lunch special was delicious and fresh. There were mushrooms, onions, carrots and other mixed veggies sautéed with the chicken and they were cooked perfectly. They forgot to add cucumber to my 4 spicy tuna and avocado rolls that came with it, but it was still yummy. Great value for all that you get with the bento box!
(4)Valerie O.
Dotombori is my sushi go-to place! The servers are very nice and the sushi is freshly prepared. I'm always impressed by their presentation as well. The spider roll is a well made classic. If you want to try something different, the Mango Gaga roll is quite good. A great place to eat in downtown DP!
(5)Eve Y.
I'm still shock to how this place is still open. Their food is downright disgusting and can't be called asian food. The curry katsu was overwhelmed with flour and was tasteless. The curry was water down and they must not believe in the basic salt and pepper. Lesson learn never coming here again!!
(1)Anya C.
Be warned, this place is pricey but it is well worth the money you'll shell out. Some highlights to try are the miso soup, the edemame and the spring rolls. Of the rolls they have, the best would have to be their mango roll with fresh, ripe mangos right on top of every piece. Dotombori does offer lunch specials so that is the best time really to get the most bang for your buck.
(4)April C.
I had dinner with my friend last Friday. Food was SO good and fresh. And, the price was not expensive. I ordered three different Maki(6 pcs each) and U-dong w/dampura. We were so full. I DEFINITELY want to go there again soon.
(5)Robert S.
We ordered their sushi sampler platter and it was wonderful. Each individual sushi was expertly made and the tray itself was beautiful.
(5)Tanya A.
I don't give very many 5's. this place was great. I recommend the oh my g-d roll, the lobster roll that's not on the menu, and I can't remember the last one. Everything was great. Service was a bit slow even tho they weren't busy, the food made up for it. Even their green tea was delicious with sprinkles of brown rice on top.
(5)Nate B.
Dotombori has become on of my favorite restaurants. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful and the pricing is reasonable. And during the daily Happy Hour, offered Monday through Saturday, the prices get even better! It really can't be beat. I really enjoy the Agadashi Tofu and Takoyaki and my girlfriend loves the Shrimp Crunch Roll. I don't think I've had a roll here that I didn't at least like, if not outright love. The atmosphere of the restaurant is calm and sedate and is a great place to go on dates or for a little quiet time with your partner or alone. They're incredibly adept at dealing with groups large and small and never seem to get flustered. We love the food and have been frequenting Dotombori since it opened and will continue to go back.
(5)Jin Joo L.
Sushi, is unique and different than most places. I love their hot green tea with brown rice... so refreshing and I love to chew on the tidbits. I liked the salad. Had sashimi entree and some rolls. I really like their one roll with yam.. I forget.. the Yumyum? Chef is very generous and had some off menu special items. I like their appetizers too with the crab and puff.. forget the name again... It's a big crab puff. Location is right across the train station in downtown. Parking, I'd recommend right in front or on the side street... otherwise there's garage and side parking lots from the plazas near the area and public garage parking. Nice atmosphere, clean, and quiet. I sat at the sushi bar of course. They have quite a selection of drinks as well.
(5)James R.
Dotombori is exactly what this area needed. Great attention to detail, great prices, and a friendly staff.
(4)Courtnie S.
Just went here for lunch today and what a great find might I add! My fiance and I moved to Rosemont a few months ago and have been looking for different sushi places to try. They have pretty big menu and a lot of different specialty rolls. Their lunch specials are awesome too. Food was delicious and fish tasted very fresh. Cute little place.
(5)K W.
My husband are regulars here. The food is great! We've brought a lot of friends here and they all agree too. You really can't beat their prices during happy hour either. So good yet very reasonably priced! Our favorite rolls are the Yum Yum, Shrimp Crunch and Las Vegas. You have to try this place, you won't regret it!
(5)Eric L.
Great sushi. Great udon. Great service. Together, these brought back fond memories of restaurants in Japan.
(5)David N.
Service has gotten better over my last few visits, and Dotombori is definitely my go-to place in the area for Japanese. Prices reflect what you're going to get, especially at lunch. Plenty of "Lunch specials", however the "lunch" rolls are always smaller than most, and sometimes don't hold up too well. The Bento Box is probably the way to go for lunch. You definitely get your monies worth, and should be full at meals end. Throw some soup or an app in the mix, you're looking at a pretty solid, filling lunch for around 10 bucks.
(4)o o.
I have been back twice since my initial visit. Service was much quicker and the sushi was fresh, unique and delicious as always. I am in love with the White Dragon, OMG and Holey Moley rolls. I recommend sauce on the side if you're picky about too much sauce. Wish they had seaweed or cucumber salad on the happy hour menu, but maybe next time ;) Still giving those misc food receipts, but maybe some day they will catch up with technology and also allow access to their "Free Wi-Fi." All griping aside, this is the BEST restaurant I've been to in Des Plaines. Finally a place to take my city friends!
(5)Melissa N.
This place gets a big chunk of my paycheck. I've never had a bad experience. Fish is always fresh. Owner is about as sweet as she could be, and when I order take-out hand rolls, she'll have them wait to roll them until I get there so they "don't get soggy." Happy hour is great, but my faves (Orange Blossom and Sunset) aren't on special.
(5)Jason R.
ok. came here for lunch w a friend and shared ramen and a big plate of sushi. i THOUGHT i was getting japanese ramen. NO. it was SHIN RAMEN - the ones that come in red packaging. that you get from H-mart. whole box of 20 of these would cost $12. i asked the owner if this was shin ramen or shin ramen black and she said, "well the noodle is shin ramen. but the base is pork base. noodle is shin but base is japanese pork base." FURIOUS, i asked her if she has ever tried shin ramen and she said, "no... but is it good?" YEAH RIGHT. i had shin ramen here and it was $9.00. sushi was good enough but i cannot get over shin ramen.
(1)Samir M.
I loved the service and their food! My car's battery had died and I just had it jumped before calling them for a takeout. Being worried about turning my car off and the battery not fully charged, I asked if they would be willing to bring it to my car and the host was obliging. It was very cold outside, around 15 degrees, and she didn't brought my food to me. Bringing the food back to my hotel, I was excited try it. It was amazing! I had gotten the Oh My God roll and the a few other rolls and they were perfect. I will be coming back to this restaurant the next time I am in Chicago, the service alone is worth a repeat. Thank you for your wonderful place!
(5)Eduardo E.
Dotombori has become our go to Japanese restaurant since moving to Des Plaines. We've enjoyed their Udon and Ramen soups, and found their entrees to be well spiced and satisfying, particularly the teriyaki dishes. We favor the tempura batter on everything, and find the maki rolls tasty and fresh. Surprisingly the little salads and miso soup that come with the entrees are particularly good, which is nice because those a usually a toss up at other places. Oh, and the fried rice is divine, complex and multi-dimensional. Hints of ginger and garlic. Savory, but with bits of chicken and vegetables with an actual fried flavor to it. Not like most places who just heat it all up in a pan. No gummy fried rice here! Each kernel is separate and seasoned. My 6 year old always has the fried rice, and since he often doesn't finish, the rest of us (me) get to dig in! They pay attention to detail here...and it shows.
(4)Tava B.
Love the sushi, especially since we can walk there. Also have ordered the party trays a couple of times, once for a party and once for dinner for three(ate the whole thing 50 pcs) was loved by all. I have not had a roll i didn't like the miso soup is only okay
(4)Jeff W.
I just moved to the neighborhood and didn't expect much from a sushi place in downtown Des Plaines. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the fish, the service of the staff, and the uniqueness of some of the rolls. The owners were super friendly and gave us free soup and desserts to accompany our sushi. The thing you always look for is the freshness of the fish in a sushi restaurant and this place was definitely good. The prices were reasonable as well! Dotombori will be joining my list of local eateries in the area to go to for a nicer Friday meal with the GF.
(4)Bobi L.
I visit here more often for lunch then dinner, but you won't be disappointed when you do. The staff are awesome and way friendly. They are very attentive and make sure you are happy with what you ordered. Especially the waitress name Mary, she is very friendly and hospitable. I normally get the spicy ramen during lunch. I expected a small bowl when I first ordered this but to my surprise it was HUGE. It's defiantly better then cup ramen and stove top. Bento boxes are yummy too. I also have had their sushi and nigiri, the fist is always fresh and tasty. So far no upsets for me. :) They also have a little rewards card that they sign and get free items off the menu after every visit. Which is a plus!
(5)B R Hungry X.
I frankly don't know how this restaurant has 4 stars. I've been there twice, today was the second time. First, the service is fine, but not over the top great. It's overpriced for what you get, the amount of food is average. If you order the vegetable tempura, you can expect about 5 pieces of vegetables on the appetizer plate. The tempura udon was good, but had all kinds of vegetables in it like onions, carrots, and broccoli - not typical of Japanese udon, I didn't like different vegetables and onions in it...keep in mind though, this restaurant is korean owned and managed, but only about 2 dishes are korean. sushi, is okay, but this wouldn't be my first choice. I love that its in my neighborhood, but not sure I can give it a 3rd chance. Just can't seem to walk away feeling like it was worth the money spent.
(1)Jon L.
I come here often for their $7.95 lunch specials and the occasional dinner. Food is always fresh and expertly prepared when you order and the help is always extremely kind and friendly. I always come away feeling good from a visit. The restaurant itself has a cozy feel but not that you're sharing your meal with the next table. I typically get rolls or nigiri and the portions provided are always good. I notice on the rolls there always seems to be a perfect balance of fish to rice and other ingredients. Lunch specials are a great deal and worth checking out for a weekday off or even business lunch. Dinners obviously cost a little more but you get your money's worth. I recommend this place to anyone in the area looking for some quality freshly prepared sushi without burning a hole in your wallet.
(5)Cols B.
My Husband and I eat at Dotombori at least once a week - they have the best Sushi! Great lunch specials, great service, & cute atmosphere. If you are in the mood for sushi go here! You will not be disappointed.
(5)Chris L.
I would eat here everyday if not for the long term possibility of mercury poisoning, but more likely devastating effect the ability to eat a 50 piece party tray of sushi would have on my budget and retirement planning. This restaurant honestly needs a billboard sized sign that says: "eat here, we are friendly, never make a mistake, we have good service, cheap happy hours, takeout, and our food kicks ass.". Get a Bento Box at lunch, but come to sample at their 5-6pm happy hour during the week. You can stuff yourself on sushi for $25. The people who work here really strive to send out the best product possible, and the staff are really nice. My personal favorite is ordering the spicy combo as takeout: spicy tuna, spicy salmon, and their speciality Kamakazi Roll, soy-sauce, wasabi, pickled ginger, two sets of chop-stix, and napkins all out the door for $26. Share with a friend, or treat yourself to a spicy sushi feast.
(5)Marlena N.
I'll be short. Great food, atmosphere and prices.
(5)Amanda W.
New to the area, we stopped in for sushi one night. The owners were so friendly and asked how we heard of them. They were so welcoming to us as new neighbors and even gave us a free dessert! They had really creative rolls and I was obsessed with their golden shrimp roll. Can't wait to go back and to try their happy hour specials!
(5)Elizabeth W.
I finally got around to trying this place, and I wish I'd eaten here sooner! The staff is very friendly, the menu has a good selection without being confusing, and the ingredients are fresh. There was no wait for a seat, even though I arrived during peak dinner hours. My favorite kind of sushi is the avocado roll, something that is not good at all unless the avocado inside is neither too ripe nor too hard. It was perfect here. I also ordered cucumber rolls and tried natto rolls for the first time. On top of all that, the chef behind the bar made me a little cornucopia of vegetables, including crunchy sprouts. Their green tea is flavorful and served very hot, and the gari and wasabi served with the rolls were of good quality--no pale, flavorless ginger here! Allegedly they have wifi here, but I brought a book, not my laptop, so I can't speak for or against it. The only thing this place is missing: sweet potato tempura. I didn't see it on the menu, but I can dream....
(4)Carlos G.
Decent sushi place in dowtown DesPlaines. The food was good, we started off with a house salad with ginger dressing. Then we went for a couple of different rolls. None of them really stood out to write about, but they were good. We also share a huge saporito beer that added a nice touch to the meal. To finish off we had a banana dessert that was GREAT!! we all dug in, even the people who dont like desert. Great place, good value, good food.
(4)Christina C.
Miso- mine was on the house to match the one that my bf got from his meal. That was very sweet. Soup was Savory. Not bland. Full miso flavor. Lingering slight saltiness and warmth. Ample tofu and seaweed and bits of chives. Bf's tonkatsu curry was loaded with diced veggies on top, which i loved. We ordered nigiri and it was pretty decent. My biggest upset was over the ramen. If you're Korean, don't get it because it'll taste awfully familiar and know you're being charged several times more than its worth. I'll give them props for their clever way of stayin in business. Stick to what the yelpers give high ratings for here: rolls and alcohol.
(2)Rob M.
I have been to a lot of sushi places and this place is the best hands down. The staff was friendly and attentive. I've paid twice as much for worse sushi than this. Tons of menu choices and free wifi, what else can you ask for? There is a free parking garage a block away, very convenient place to get to by all modes of transportation. I don't normally write reviews, but I had to make a yelp account just for this place because it blew me out of the water. If you have not tried this place yet, do it. You will not regret it.
(5)Mark R.
This place always has the freshest tasting sushi dishes. Service is great and always very friendly. Best gyoza I have ever had. Price is moderate, but for the quality its very reasonable. Go and u won't regret it
(5)Jonathan J.
This is great sushi. Their rice is perfect.; not too sweet, not remotely mushy. The service is very polite and pretty good. It is a small, quiet place, with great decor. The sushi is very fresh with some interesting rolls. As an app, we had the gyoza. It was very light with the perfect amount of ginger. We had the salmon nigiri and tobiko. The salmon was outstanding, with the perfect amount of wasabi. The tobiko (flying fish roe) is green, though I prefer the orange. I know it is just the dye, but psychologically, I prefer the orange. It was very fresh and not over salty. We also had the spicy tuna roll and it was excellent. We tried two specialty rolls. The Caterpillar was very good. We asked for a bit of sriracha to dip. We then tried the Viking. We didn't love this one. The white tuna on top is seared and we didn't love that. Since it was our first time, they gave us a bit of the banana cake to try, and it was great. They also have a card where you get something free every other visit. On your tenth visit, you get a free specialty roll. Overall, we were very pleased and will definitely be back. It isn't cheap, but nowhere near downtown prices. Their lunch specials and Happy Hour look extremely economical. We recommend it for great sushi in the burbs.
(4)Janet V.
Came here when it first opened and loved it! Have been back several times and rolls seem to get smaller every time I go back. Service is good (family owned) and sushi is decent. Good for a sushi quick fix!
(3)L F.
An absolutely pleasant surprise of a sushi restaurant that we found one night while we were passing through Des Plaines. The restaurant itself is cozy and quiet. The server was excellent - he suggested several rolls we might enjoy. We took his suggestions and thoroughly enjoyed them. The sushi was fresh, creative and delicious. It was a little pricey but overall worth it.
(4)Anita M.
In case you didn't know, Des Plaines is not exactly brimming with to die for food establishments. So really, when you are in the area, its best not to get your hopes up, and we won't have any problems ! Anyway, after living here most of my life, I've learned to venture out of town towards the city for sushi places because if places like Todai is what some people consider "good" than I don't want to know what "bad" is! With that said, its definitely a postive note that Des Plaines now has a sushi establishment. Excited to give Dotombori a try, I stopped in to find a cute little restaurant that seats about 10 tables not including the sushi bar. I ordered a couple rolls to go- the Las Vegas roll and a Rainbow roll. The place was more than half full but I got my rolls in a jiffy. While the rolls were nothing out of the ordinary they did satisfy my sushi craving- but for a price- $20 to be exact. A tad pricey in my opinion considering the rolls did not really have that wow factor. They did have some lunch options and sushi dinners that I might consider for the next time. Overall, not bad but not great BUT I'll defintely consider this place over Todai..just sayin...
(3)Patrick W.
Love love love this place! Stopped by with some co-workers for lunch (an AT&T favorite) and had another great experience. Very attentive wait staff- Hi Mary ;-). Expertly prepared dishes- Big shout out to you, Simon. And a new twist, a rewards card! Not the, you must come here 10 times to get a free soda, type reward either. Your 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th all come with a free, tasty, loyalty reward! Wanna know what it is? Get your sushi loving self down to Dotombori!
(5)Stephanie H.
The best! The best! So GREAT. Fastastic staff and delicious food.
(5)Alex H.
My soup was cold and my sushi had very little fish in it. I read a bunch of great reviews and was terribly disappointed.
(1)Dr.Allison G.
Got the White Dragon, the Rainbow and the Mango Salmon. Ate myself into a food coma. Delish. The sushi was made right in front of me, I waited only 10 min for takeout and they had me sit down and gave me water while I was entertained by the courteous chefs. A very pleasant experience!
(5)Jisha J.
I really liked this place, and it's right in downtown Des Plaines! My cousins, brother, and I went for lunch one day and we were all happy to find something on the lunch special menu. Everything was $7.95! My cousin and I ended up with two rolls (I got the shrimp tempura and a california roll). My brother and other cousin got bento boxes with rice, bulgogi, tempura vegetables and shrimp, and a california roll. The bento boxes were huge, and I'm definitely considering getting that next time I'm in town and I visit this place. The sushi was very good and the experience overall was wonderful. Overall, I would definitely come here again! I heard happy hour prices here are great as well!
(4)Lary G.
When we moved out of Evanston, our first concern was finding a good sushi place near Des Plaines. Much to our surprise, Dotombori was within walking distance to the new digs. We were concerned, as downtown Des Plaines is not know for their great restaurants. In any case, we gave it a try, and I'm glad we did. First, my son and I love sitting near the sushi prep area. One thing that sells me every time is whether or not my son is treated as a regular customer and not some annoying kid. Gladly, the sushi chef immediately acknowledged my son's knowledge of the fish and other things in the cold case. For a seven year old, I've created a sushi monster. We had both shared a number of rolls and nigiri while we dined. Everything was fresh and flavorful. It didn't take long for my son to see the "flaming" choice on the menu, and we had to order it. It's called the "Oh My God" roll and boy did it deliver. We order two every time we go. We had their banana dessert and was very pleased. We haven't been here in a while due to our crazy schedules, but it's not like we don't want to. I'm in need of a Dotombori fix extremely soon.
(4)Kevin T.
I can't imagine better sushi. Their presentation is really modern. The wait staff and chefs are great folks, 2 of the 3 times I've been here the chef actually sent us over rolls just to try, on the house. Out of all the over-priced sushi place out there (Chicago, I'm looking at you), this place is actually worth every single penny. Great place to have a small get together, has low lights and relaxing atmosphere. Can't beat it.
(5)Uriah H.
Wow, what a great place to enjoy some great fish! The staff was amazing, and the food was great! I will go out of my way to stop here again when I'm in the area. Good food and great friends made for an amazing night!
(5)Cynthia E.
We come often and it's worth the drive! Mango Gaga is yummy, the Omigod is our favorite, and I also love the Haukeye and Holy Moly. Try the Happy Hour 5-6pm daily!
(5)April P.
Came here on a whim after experiencing Izakaya Sankyu to be closed with no warning, no sign of vacation dates, nothing. After Yelping "ramen", I called Dotomburi, who stated they still had ramen available for dinner. Tires screeching, calls made, we altered our dinner to this Des Plaines eatery. I, after all, was jonsing for some home cooked goodness on this (still) very cold June evening. Very disappointed with the ramen. It was the stereotypical ramen that people initially think that comes out of the package. The broth itself had little or no taste, no depth whatsoever. There were some veggies that accompanied it, but no meat to give the ramen any flavor. Man, did I feel short changed after having this! What weighed out my displeasure of the ramen were the sushi rolls. They had a vast variety, which were all pretty fresh and very well executed. For the entertaining type, one of the rolls also came enflamed to the table. Encased inside the foil wrapper were perfectly flambé rolls topped with salmon. The restaurant itself is pretty large with a modern Japanese décor. There is no wait at all in this downtown Des Plaines sushi joint. I'm quite sure that the area itself and its lack of traffic in the evening comes into play as to the scarce dining guests. Parking plenty. 0 for the ramen. 3.5 for the sushi
(3)Teresa V.
I live in Des Plaines and tried almost all restaurants in the area. Dotombori makes not only best sushi I ever tried, they also are the best restaurant in my neighborhood. I also recommend their ice cream, delicious!
(5)Jennifer B.
I absolutely love this place. I'm relatively new to the whole sushi-eating experience and credit Dotombori for making me a sushi addict. The rolls are great. My first favorite was the Las Vegas, but the Spider, Philadelphia, and Shrimp Crunch varieties are also incredibly good. The service is great. We go there once a week now (sometimes twice) and the servers know us and serve our drinks immediately. Even when we order takeout, they are very accommodating as we wait for our orders. Suzy is so friendly and stops to talk to us even when she isn't our server. The one thing that I will mention, though it's not necessarily a bad thing, is that the food tastes different depending on the chef. For instance, the other day I had the Philadelphia maki and it had onions in it. I've ordered it several times previously, but never before had it had onions in it. It was still good, but different than usual. Overall, this is a great place, especially for beginners.
(5)GM H.
I really enjoy going to Dotombori. The staff is polite and always willing to make any accommodation you may need food-wise. They are super fast and when they promise a time for pick up, it is always ready. The food is fresh and the restaurant is clean, along with a hospitable staff this place makes a very great place to go on a date or go with a group. I've only experienced a couple hiccups in the over 30x my office has ordered from here. Dotombori is a very nice sushi staple. Go ahead & enjoy!
(4)John L.
This place rocks!!!!!!!! Service is most excellent, courteous, prompt, friendly. The sushi is fresh and expertly prepared. Simon sometimes adds his very own creations not on the menu. Everything from the appetizers to dessert is very tasty. Dotombori is small and cozy but don't let that fool you. I've been to many downtown Chicago sushi bars and this one is even better than most of 'em. Great work Simon, keep it up!!
(5)Jenn M.
I can't tell you how many times I've driven by this place while they were opening, patiently waiting for them to let me in! Hubby and I were finally able to check it out the other day and it was really worth the wait. I'm going to say off the bat that I am NOT a sushi person. I like the *idea* of it and have always wished I could love it but even when I ordered "wimpy" sushi, i.e. no raw fish, it always made me gag. I thought it was a mental issue but then I had the most amazing sushi. Well, at least to this novice. Hubby convinced me to do the spicy tuna roll - his fave. I winced as it was brought to the table, thinking that I am going to completely embarrass myself. It's not that the raw fish makes me gag it's all the rice and the nori. Well, apparently, I've been eating complete crap for sushi because this was nothing like that. The rice wasn't all packed tight and a mass of starch. It was light and fluffy and fell apart in my mouth. The nori... wait, was there nori in there? I didn't feel a tough, fibrous mass in my mouth. Yep, there was nori. It melted away as well. And the tuna? It was creamy and delicate and amazing. Then the little punch of spice kicked in and I was sold. Hubby said it was the best he's had. We also ordered the chicken teriyaki lunch box and an order of ramen. The teriyaki was pretty standard. The veggies it was served with were kind of blah but that's fine. The ramen wasn't what I expected, however. I was hoping for a chicken broth but it was a miso ramen and.. well, one can only have too much miso, IMO. Their entree menu is pretty limited compared but it seems like the sushi is the main draw. This place used to be Subway and there is nary a trace of it anywhere. The decor is calm and soothing, the pottery is beautiful and the staff is very helpful. They also do take-out and will deliver to a 2-mile area. We will definitely be trying this place again and I suspect I will meet many a friend for lunch.
(4)Christine L.
Another visit to Dotombori and yum, I am hooked! The menu sure has grown since my first visit shortly after the opening and now there is a maki roll list to rival many trendy downtown sushi joints. On the latest excursion I had the rainbow roll and was pleased with the fresh fish. I also split the "omg" roll with a friend on the advice of the server. After we put our order in we realized we had ordered a flaming roll! The presentation was totally worth it - the roll comes out in an aluminum foil boat, on risers made of upside down soy sauce dishes and the plate has enough Bacardi 151 to create some fun blue flames. Fire tricks aside, the roll was delicious with shrimp termpura on the inside and fresh shrimp drizzled in sauce on the outside. I will definitely be back for more!
(5)Fern M.
This is the second time I eaten here and I just ate here today. Honestly this should be rated as the most customer service oriented sushi place in the area. They always greet you with a smile and it is very cozy here. We had a party of 8 today and we got a private area in the back that conveniently seats 8 people exactly. That is the largest size table they have. We first got water that they give everyone complimentary without asking then they asked for our drinks. I got some Dry cold sake. It is very good. Especially if you sip it with your sushi. Then I ordered the shrimp crunch roll and the philadelphia roll. 2 of my favorite rolls by the way. ;) The chopsticks are already part of the table layout for people once they grab their seats. Some of the other rolls ordered in my part were: yum yum rolls, kamikaze rolls and spicy tuna rolls. Those are all real good rolls. When I ended up getting my crunchy shrimp rolls, I wasn't impressed because the sushi was good as always. Im used to it. After eating that rolls, my philly roll cam next. Now this is what I call art. The sushi looked like it was part of a tree. They used sauce to draw a tree on the long plate and the sushi were supposed to be like the berries of the tree. It was very artistic I have never seen any restaurant do something like that. Everyone at my table was impressed by the skilled art. I felt bad destroying it and eating it but I was real hungry for sushi today. My friend got a cool face drawn on her plate with sauce too. 2 of the people got soups which smelled real good. Then what really surprised us is that they gave us a free complimentary banana cake roll. It looked like a long sushi roll but they were banana cake pieces. you could almost call it a banana cake roll. it was breaded on the outside and had warm banana vanilla inside with almonds and chocolate mocha sauce drizzled on top. We didn't order it, they gave it to us for free. I have never seen that either at restaurant. Free fancy dessert? Am I in heaven? Then they split our checks which we didn't have to ask for. They also repeat the order to make sure they got everything correct. They HATE making mistakes here. Then after we left the employees of the restaurant ALL thanked us and gave us a bow (Japanese style). They really treat the customer here like a king or queen. I can see why japanese culture is so much better. I HIGHLY recommend this place for sushi and a phenomenal customer service experience. We can all learn a lot from this place!! :D
(5)Cooper R.
Great restaurant and quiet atmosphere. Fast service and cheap prices. If you are in Des Plaines and need a sushi fix, you will enjoy. Sushi is not top line, but good for the burbs. Depending on what you spend, they include free desert.
(4)S I.
Although I don't live in DP anymore i went back and the food is still stellar. Nice to see my rolls had a lot of fish in it and very tasty. I love the viking roll :) so good. Service is still good. They are very nice people. Gave me an apple that was beautifully carved. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Kim A.
I have eaten here twice now and can say that I really like this place. Both times I was with my kids and parents and both times we had a very nice time. The service was very friendly and attentive and the food was really good. We especially love getting the specialty rolls that come to the table flaming! We come at happy hour (5-6 p.m.) and the prices on certain things are reduced. The dinners come with soup and salad and the portions are pretty large so I usually split a dinner with one of my kids and have more room for sushi!
(4)Gonka D.
This place is great! Just moved back to the area and I have to say I am impressed. We definitely needed a sushi place in Des Plaines and Dotombori is a great start! The employees are very kind and accommodating and the food is simple and tasty. We wanted to go the first week they opened but we couldnt quite get it together until last week. Based on the first 2 reviews I decided to go outside of my typical spice comfort zone and ordered the spicy tuna maki. I cant say if it was the best ever as I think I have only done spicy tuna once before, however, it was fabulous to me! It definitely had a kick but it was smooth and delicious. Not sooo spicy that I couldnt taste the tuna. The texture of their rice is superb. Not mushy and not dry - just right! We also tried the Viking special roll. This one has spicy tuna in it as well as avacado and a layer of torched white fish wrapped around the outside. This roll was so good I had to go back for lunch just to get it again...and now that Im thinking about it I think I will sneak out and get another. Dotombori is not your average American sushi joint. They have a pretty limited raw menu but I prefer it is limited than they have so many types of raw fish you wonder how it could keep fresh. Pretty basic on the sushi front but what they do they do good and you cant argue with that! Off to Dotombori for another round with The Viking!!!
(4)Sweet W.
Service is tremendous, food is fresh, parking is easy. The only reason I can't give 5 stars is that they do not have the number of 'specialty' rolls that other less traditional sushi places have. That said the viking roll was terrific. Miso soup had quite a bit of seaweed in it, we like a bit less. The monk fish liver (cooked) was excellent, think pate with hints of the sea. Oysters were VERY fresh. We also tried a beef bowl, while we still prefer the beef bowl at Bowl House (rolling meadows), the fact that Bowl House moved further away from us makes them no longer viable. We are so happy to have some more ethic choices (something other than Mexican) here in Des Plaines !!
(4)Mysterious J.
I have been twice and was impressed by the quality of the food both times. The service was a bit slow upon sitting down last night but got better as the evening went on. The "happy hour" prices are GOOD, would suggest anyone who is not convinced that Des Plaines sushi could be nice show up before 6 and enjoy some highly affordable samples. Truth be told, the regular prices are reasonable as well. I was particularly impressed by the spicy tuna. Much of the staff appears to be Korean, and there are several items on the menu that reflect this...especially the delicious bulgogi roll. I will definitely be back.
(4)Irena M.
Amazing sushi, reasonable price, great service!! The rolls are all so fresh and delicious and the presentation is unbelievable!!
(5)Bunny K.
closed on Thursday at 4.40pm
(1)Lynne J.
My husband and I have eaten at Dotombori several times since it opened in late 2009. It is now "under new management", and with this change the quality of the food served is less than what it was, and the menu selections are much more limited. Back in January 2010 I would have given Dotombori five stars. Now it only gets two. On our 12/16/10 visit we ordered a variety of items from different sections of the menu: vegetable tempura, two pieces of nigiri (tuna, salmon), a spicy tuna roll, a flaming "kamikaze" roll, and gyu don. The fish is in the sushi was not all that fresh, and the quality was questionable. Usually when I get nigiri the fish melts in your mouth. Not this time - I had to really chew it. The gyu don had little flavor and the beef was tough. There were good things about the restaurant - the miso soup and salad were tasty. The kamikaze roll, while it didn't look appealing, had an interesting flavor. The vegetable tempura was very good. The service was good, although we never received refills of our water glasses. At the end of our meal we were presented with a swan carved out of an apple. However, nothing during our visit was outstanding, and we had to ask for our bill after waiting twenty minutes (and since we were the only patrons in the restaurant at this point, it's not like they were busy attending to others). We were there at 6:30 on a Thursday evening and the restaurant was dead. Besides us, there was one other couple dining in, and one person came in to pick up his take-out. I doubt this restaurant will survive much longer, which is too bad because Des Plaines could really use some good ethnic fare that isn't Italian or Mexican. If you're looking for good Asian food in downtown Des Plaines, head over to Pho Dung Gia.
(2)Annie A.
Frustrating, Confusing and largely lacking communication between the waitstaff and patron. Three times we were asked if there was anything else we needed while we sat at the sushi bar waiting for our food to arrive. It is quite usual for a waitperson to ask "How is Everything?" as you enjoy your meal, but not ordinary to be asked if there is anything else you need when you still have an "order up"! We were quite patient throughout, but 3 times is the charm. Dotombori's portions are very small, our Mi so soup bowls were served less than half full, a bit tasteless with a couple of sad little pieces of tofu. Tuna was small and tough as well as the eel. Do Not Attend Without A Sense Of Humor!
(1)Myung-Han Y.
Friendly, great food.
(5)Ryan C.
A problem I have found with sushi restaurants in the Midwest is that the chefs tend to go overboard with bell and whistles, like they have something to prove. "Sure," I can imagine the chefs saying into the mirror, "there's no ocean in Chicago, and anything caught in Lake Michigan is most likely poisonous, but I can make all sorts of innovative maki to make up for the lack of fresh fish." Thus, us, as customers, have to spend half hour starring at an over complicated sushi menu trying figuring out if mashed potatoes, beef wellington, and arugula make for a good sushi roll. Dotombori in downtown Des Plaines makes it easy for you. The sushi menu is simple and the kitchen menu is small. They know what they do well and stick to it. My wife and I have been there three time in three weeks and we always leave beyond satisfied. The reason is simple; sushi joints don't need to be super creative and have huge menus if the basic ingredients are of high quality. Dotomori knows how to make fresh, clean, and simple sushi, the way it should be made. I am choosing to give Dotombori 4 stars instead of five, because I know that, even though I've loved everything I've eaten there, the best is yet to come. The wait staff is very courteous, the sushi chefs are great to watch, and the price can't be beat.
(4)EmmBee L.
Holy crap, Batman! This sushi joint is the top of the pops! Not only is the sushi fresh and yummy, the folks who work here are super freindly, the service is fast and pleasant AND it costs half of what it costs to eat sushi in nearby Park Ridge. Splish splash, let's take a sushi bath! Decent decor, clean place, yummy food and friendly folks. What are you waiting for??
(4)Val I.
This is not a Japanese restaurant. I never write reviews, but this needs to be said. We ordered maki and some normal Japanese dishes from the appetizer menu. They failed to even come close to real Japanese dishes. We ordered takoyaki it came with 6 balls on a plate with nothing else no sauce no garnish straight out of the microwave. Our maki arrived and it took us 5 minutes to get dishes for soy sauce. The maki was for some reason sweet tasting which was odd because we ordered a spicy roll and a normal hamachi-maki (yellowtail) roll. Both were so small it was like they use half a piece of seaweed at most. We asked time and time again for water that never came. The other dish we tried was chicken teriyaki( yakitori ) which had bell pepper onions and mushrooms on it with 2 small pieces of chicken and sauce that was just poured out of a bottle on the top of it. The sauce was so strong and thick we had to wipe some off. If they are saying it's a Japanese restaurant they should at least try and make it Japanese food. Normally Japanese food does not have sushi that is lit on fire. Stop the show and serve good food.
(1)