The sushi was awesome and our server Gennie was sweet. My friend and I ordered a dragon roll and spicy salmon roll. We just wanted something quick and light. This definitely hit the spot. We found this on Yelp and glad we did a little drive-by to experience this delicious sushi. A family dined next to us with two children and were no bother. This slice of heaven offers coffee concoctions and also is BYOB. Don't hesitate to give Brie place a try if you want some good food.
(5)
Dave P.
This is a gem in the rough!!! Our host and server, Genie made us feel welcome and she was pretty incredible! Must haves here? Try the Wallflower, Spider Monkey, Philly Dragon, Bulgogi and more!!!
(4)
Kathleen D.
I had a nice dinner here with my brother the other night. Our server was incredibly nice and helpful, the food came quickly (but not overly so), and everything was really good. I can't really compare it to other places in the area, because I don't know that I've actually...been.. to other places just yet. I probably shouldn't have admitted that on here. I feel like I'll look back on this review in a couple years and give myself the blink and stare -- kind of like when I see old reviews that say "I don't like beer" or "burgers are gross." But, anyway. Good food here, even though my palette isn't used to it. I had the $14 Tonkatsu. It was deep-fried panko breaded pork. Served with miso soup, white rice and cole slaw. This was a heaping portion and I couldn't finish it! I passed along the white rice and soup to my brother, who loved both and got a second helping of the soup. My brother ordered the $12 TNT roll from the "Special Roll" section. It had tuna, salmon, white fish, avocado, and crab sticks in it. He said he really liked it. Maybe one day I'll be daring enough to try sushi for the first time (another thing I probably should not be freely admitting on a public website), but for now, I'm glad to know about the pork dish here, and I'll have to stop back some time when they have the famed coffee cake!
(4)
Rachel K.
This just might be my new favorite sushi joint in the city! I wish it was a little closer to me. My friends and I stumbled across this place in the middle of the neighborhood following our afternoon in Oval Park. Thanks to its (appropriately) high ratings on Yelp, we decided to stop in. We split a few of their rolls, and an edamame appetizer, family-style. So unbelievably good. I'm a sushi fanatic and all of the flavor combinations were truly unique and delicious! The waitress was such a sweet pea. We were the only party in the restaurant for the majority of our meal and she was truly courteous and attentive. I honestly can't wait to return. There were so many items on the menu that I wish I had room in my stomach to try! What a gem.
(5)
Lia B.
I can't even with how nice and accommodating they are here! The food is fresh the service is so great and the staff is very nice. I lead a running team that goes to a new restaurant every Monday, so we show up as a huge party (12) in a small place! The staff went out of their way to provide amazing vegan options for all the runners they ev en split the bill up per person.
(5)
Nazee Z.
Came here on a random Tuesday night with the man-lover and decided to get some quick dinner. First we got excited cause it was a BYO so plans to get drunk: check. Now onto plans to eat heartily for cheap. Ordered a round of udon tempura, which was a luke warm bowl of soup with chewy, wheat flour noodles, and a hearty side of tempura. Absolutely LOVED the texture of the noodles. They were really thick cut (about the thickness of a small pen) and filled you up perfectly. Went great with the tempura because the greasiness (but not overwhelimgly greasy) of the batter and warm, comfort food of the soup was such a good match on a cold night. We also ordered a rainbow roll and a maguro roll. Both were pretty fresh and tasty. If you've had a rainbow roll and liked it, you don't need me to go into too much detail. Fresh ingrediants and well prepared sushi doesn't need much other explanation. Service was excellent (especially because it was one server and one sushi chef running place) and I found that I was always attended to and the waitress always anticipated my needs. Absolutely will come here again as it's close to my house, affordable (we paid $30 for the whole meal) and absolutely delicious!!
(5)
James M.
This is a great spot. It's a small neighborhood restaurant with great food all around. Don't expect a 5 star layout of the place, it's small with just a few tables, but it's still comfortable and inviting. The waitress/hostess, i didn't get her name, is super friendly and very good at her job. It's a BYOB, but honestly, I simply want nothing more than good sushi here, and that is exactly what you get here, every time. This is definitely a place I try to stop in at least once a week. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Hannah C.
I LOVE Dasiwa. I frequent this place because of my insatiable love of sushi, and the prices allow for it. It's a quaint cafe during the day, quiet and run by one or two employees. Grab a cup of La Colombe and a Dragon Roll. For dinner, the coziness continues as it gets a little busier with couples and bottles of wine- it's BYO! The Kani Seafood salad is amazing, and if you're into spicy tuna the Happy roll is the way to go. The family who owns and runs the restaurant are sweet and provide great service. They're always so thankful you're there. I tell as many people as I can about Dasiwa, because of their somewhat hidden location. You can't find amazing sushi and apps for their prices.
(5)
Victoria R.
Stumbled on this place while looking for lunch after a studying session around the Fairmount area. This is a good sushi place. It's BYOB, they have affordable and good lunch specials. The chef and staff were pleasant to us and I would definitely go back to try other rolls.
(3)
Thai P.
Very cute little sushi place, came here one week after having a baby for my nine month sushi craving! Love the sashimi salad, the happy roll ( ordered it with spicy salmon instead), hooligan Nigiri. Now my baby is two weeks old and I'm here again!
(5)
Nicolas N.
After reading some good reviews, I had to try the sushi for myself from this tiny restaurant that actually takes reservations. It's also BYOB! Here is my take: Not your typical sushi a-fare, the variety at Dasiwa will keep you coming back to sample the plethora of accessible and affordable Japanese dishes--from the Udon noodle bowls to the pork or beef entrees. Be it fish, fowl, vegetable, beef or seaweed, leave it to Dasiwa to bring authentic eastern flair to the Fairmount area of Philly, at a convenience and price you can't beat with a chopstick. Want some yet? And if you are in a raw mood, there are plenty of creative sushi combos and roll specials that make for a quick and easy selection. We especially liked the TNT 12 roll! You have to be a super-hardcore capsaicin addict to tango with this spicy roll. The sashimi cuts were large and fresh. The dessert selection is minimal and surprisingly not as creative as their sushi. Location is not the most convenient, but still accessible. Parking is rare. For the price, which is similar in range to others in the city, if not lower, and for the quality sushi - I must say, I prefer this hole-in-the wall over the comparable sushi joints ($$-$$$, Morimoto does not apply). Five stars for great service, decent prices, and quality sushi.
(5)
Bryce B.
Great little place for an intimate sushi dinner. Total hole in the wall place you'd pass a hundred times and never really realize it was there. Great service, good quality fish, byo, fair prices, and a fun atmosphere make this place worth visiting. Might even be the best sushi byo in the city for the reasons above. Highly recommended.
(4)
James I.
Great neighborhood spot. It's affordable and the Sushi is good. The sushi rolls seemed to fall apart quite easily but it was still very tasty. Great place to go for a quick BYOB dinner.
(4)
Rebecca G.
My friend and I came here for an early dinner last night, and it really is as good as it gets! BYOB, you have the opportunity to bring your favorite beer- or wine- with you. We did just that, and then started out our meal with shares of the seaweed salad and scallop roll. The seaweed salad had good flavor, and the scallop roll was delicious. And after sharing the sashimi platter as our main course, I decided that the scallops were my favorite part of the meal- even though the rest of the fish was good, too! Dasiwa is super-small and casual (part cafe), which lent to an even more enjoyable experience. I'd definitely go back!
(5)
Andrew B.
Good sushi in a very tiny space.
(4)
Dana J.
While at the Art Museum, the search for dinner began. A Yelp search showed this place. It is a complete hole in the wall with coffeehouse decor. Our sushi was fine-tasted fresh. The waitress was super sweet and nice. We would come again if in the area. The weird thing-almost every sushi roll had tempura in it. Odd.
(3)
Josh Z.
This is very good sushi in an great hole-in-the-wall location. The service was great, the maki were creative, and BYOB is a nice touch. The sushi chef was quite fast compared to many places we've gone. We went before seeing a show at the Mann, and it was a great choice. Prices are fair. I worry about people looking for super-cheap sushi!
(5)
Brian T.
Great sushi right in the neighborhood! We decided to stop in for a quick bite. They have several rolls, combos, and several appetizers. I also noticed they have relatively cheap lunch specials, around $11! it's also BYO, which i really like. We started with the loaded postickers, they were pork and covered in spicy tuna and spicy mayo. GREAT appetizer. I also got an order of steamed shu mai, which were great. For my roll, I just wnt with the classic Philly roll, which was done perfect with large chunks of smoked salmon and the right amount of cream cheese. I forget what roll my wife had, it was a baked roll. Both very good. The service was perfect (although we WERE the only ones in there haha) and the prices were great. I think all total, we were around $40, which you can't beat. Solid sushi, good service and great prices.
(5)
Carolyn L.
If you're looking for insanely fresh (sourced by the owners who drive to NY to ensure the freshness) for a reasonable price look no further. Dasiwa is the perfect little neighborhood sushi joint tucked into a little corner in the Art Museum area. First of all, BYO, starting off on a good foot already. Bring some sake and you'll be happy that you did. They will warm it for you too, if desired. We were seated by Sam, who was so wonderfully sweet. :) The casual atmosphere will make you feel right at home, which I feel is unusual for most sushi restaurants. The menu has a ton of options (kind of a Japanese/Korean hybrid). One thing I love about Dasiwa is that the menu offers more imaginative, non-run-of-the-mill options than your typical sushi spot. One of these was the loaded gyoza (chicken gyoza topped with roe, spicy tuna, and scallions. These were so different and tasted out-of-this-world. Definitely would recommend trying them out. We also ordered the Kim Chi and Scallion Pajun (korean version of scallion pancakes). This was one of my favorite items on the menu. It was so delicious, the flavors and texture were perfect. Then on to the sushi. Our party of 3 split 4 rolls (off the Special Maki menu) which was way more than enough food. We were all bursting at the seams and were basically waddling out the door at the conclusion of our meal. We enjoyed the TNT, Baked Alaska (like a Philly roll but better), the Dasiwaki, and the Aspen roll. Our favorite was the Aspen: Spicy crab roll and tempura crunch, topped with seared salmon and unagi sauce. Simple but expertly prepared. I would definitely order this again. Top off your meal with some Mochi and you're good to go. Kind of a rice gluten covered ice cream. So good! Warning: If you have a bike, ride it here. Or take Uber. Or a cab. The parking is horrendous. Don't let this stop you though because it is worth the trek. I will be returning soon to get my sushi fix.
(5)
Su W.
I had a great experience at this place. The atmosphere was quaint and cozy. It would make a great place for a date. The whole place was booked when I went so I recommend calling in advance to see if they have room. Since it was going to be a 30 min wait I decided to get take out instead. The hostess was very kind and polite when she took my order. When my order was ready I saw they were very considerate and quickly packed it. The service was great and phenomenal. Also the food was delicious and filling. I got two rolls and was completely full, which is surprising for me since I usually eat more than 2 rolls.
(5)
Tina T.
My dad and I tried to go to Isabel for lunch but it was closed. So, we headed around the corner to this BYOB with our bottles of wine in tow. What a delicious meal! We ordered the loaded pork gyoza ($8) that had spicy tuna on top. OMG, what a surprise and so good! I had the volcano roll ($11) that was equally as good. Pair that with your own bottle, and you have a very enjoyable meal. Service very attentive too.
(4)
Katelyn M.
I got take out from here, so I did not dine in, but stopping by was a little odd. I gave it only four stars because the location is a little bit difficult to access, it's on a corner, and sort of steps down into the restaurant. The parking is very limited as it's a residential area. BUT THE FOOD. I got home and dug into my food, it was incredible. Fresh, delicious, what I order with crunch was crunchy, what I ordered spicy was actually spicy.I let my roommates share some, and they are food snobs, and were also impressed with the fare. The menu online is well done, and makes it inviting, as much as any menu can aid that. I am a pretty bland sushi eater, normally spicy tuna rolls, shrimp tempura rolls, but I also got wantons this time, and they were awesome. I even tried Unagi and it was awesome. I highly recommend the food here, it's probably best to walk if you are from the neighborhood though!
(4)
Elisa B.
Came around 7:30pm (with reservations for 3) for a friend's birthday celebration dinner. There was only 1 waitress for all the tables so she looked swamped but still very friendly and nice. The sushi rolls were yummy and fresh - and the BYOB makes it really awesome! Took off 1 star because I still think Vic is better priced - but this place is more of a restaurant rather than a sushi bar and thus more fitting for birthday dinners and such. Would come back again!
(4)
Carol N.
When we initially walked in I was surprised at how small it is ( it probably seats 20 people max) and it was very quiet. Once we sat down some music was turned on which made the environment better. The food however was great! The seaweed salad and rolls we got were fresh and delicious. The only downside was they were out of the Wallflower, an appetizer we ordered. Great byob to try!
(4)
Gary G.
Recently checked this place out. 4.5 yelps. Solid sushi, excellent tuna tar tar...reminded me of raws tuna tartar, which i love. Good service. A little bit pricier than vics, but i liked it better. Will be back.
(4)
Erin S.
Fresh, delicious sushi and entrees, warm and friendly service. Very accommodating to gluten free customers. Not fancy but everything you want from a neighborhood sushi joint. If I lived closer I would frequent this place.
(5)
Casey R.
I've come here a number of times for my in the neighborhood sushi fix and always leave pleased. They have a number of specialty rolls for all palates which is nice. The veggie gyoza are amazing and I have to get them every time I go. BYOB which is always a plus. I wish they delivered a tad farther aka to my house but its only about a 7 minute walk for dine in or take out.
(4)
Magnolia M.
I yelped some of the sushi spots in the area and decided on Dasiwa based on the 4.5 rating. This place is located on a corner spot in Fairmount. It's a small space with no frills and small tables. The waitress was super inviting, very cute and friendly. She was great at recommending dishes based on what we were feelin up to on this particular night. So far, so good. We started with the "not-cho" play on nachos with lump salmon meat on top. The salmon was plentiful though it came with four nacho chips which was surprisingly smaller than what I had imagined. We also ordered bowls of miso, a volcano roll, the bincho maguro roll and the aspen roll. The fish tasted fresh and everything was presented very well. We agreed that all of the rolls tasted similar despite ordering three distinctly different rolls. While each roll was enjoyed, nothing seemed special. Lastly, we had the Hwe Dup Bop. Again, the fish was very fresh tasting yet nothing seemed extraordinarily memorable. Overall, the food was fresh and the waitress was awesome! She was extremely attentive despite the busy atmosphere. One major issue I had was the place was freezing!! I wore a jacket through the meal and was still very, very cold. I would come back again but I may have to wait for warmer weather before returning.
(3)
Michaela E.
I have been here a few times and have loved it every time! Quaint little place with excellent sushi. Can't wait to try out their cafe in the mornings one of these days. I moved from California to Philadelphia and I have been missing sushi ever since. Not that they don't have good sushi here (like Mexican food), but it is just harder to find places you love that are great quality. I have found my sushi place now, and it is Dasiwa :-)
(5)
Xander S.
We vegetarians love this v good sushi joint. Garden, Avocado & Bonsai veg roll are super. Orchid roll--sweet potato+mango, is nom.
(4)
Nicolette B.
I would give them 2.5 if I could. My boyfriend and I had sushi here back in January '14 and from I remember, it was fine. Nothing mind blowing, nothing inedible. We had made the trip up to the neighborhood specifically for Dasiwa and we didn't regret it but didn't go out of our way to head up again. I stopped by for a chai tea latte today and while the server was nice and attentive (although I was the only patron in there, so....) it was the worst chai tea latte I've ever had. It essentially was milk with an extremely subtle 'other' flavor which I guess was the chai. I wish I could give more stars because the concept is fun and the people who work there are lovely but there's just too many better sushi places and coffee places in Fairmount alone.
(2)
Alli H.
Vegetarian? Get the Orchid Roll! I get it every time I go to Dasiwa. In fact.... even if you're carnivorous, you should try an Orchid Roll. The service is incredibly friendly and attentive, the sushi is tasty, and the place is a BYOB. The decor could be updated a little, but who cares, really? Great place for a casual dinner out!
(4)
Kat S.
I got the Bulgogi entree here the other night. I have to say it was decent. Nice marinate and tender meat. My friend got sushi and he said it was OK. It was reasonably priced, for the two of us it was $50. It is a very small space, so try to go when it's not busy. It's nice to know it's just around the corner from me, but I don't know if I'd make it a regular stop.
(2)
Erica S.
I am a snob when it comes to good sushi most likely because I have overpaid for some pretty average sushi before. This tiny place looks like nothing but is definitely my new favorite and is also very reasonably priced. I have come here quite a few times and have never been let down. They serve up some of the freshest sushi I've had. Also, they have a wonderful and interesting selection of fish and rolls as well as cooked food. I highly recommend the vegetable or meat gyoza. Also a highlight is their mochi (sticky rice dessert) with ice cream inside (choose your flavors-I highly recommend the red bean and green tea flavors). I am so glad I found this hidden gem. I approve.
The miso soup was pretty much inedible but the sushi was fresh, tasty, and reasonably priced... Byo to boot! I would come back.
(4)
Kelly P.
I really enjoyed my time here. I was planning to take a visiting Yelp Elite friend to a different sushi spot in the neighborhood but failed to think ahead for a reservation. It turns out we were just as happy with our experience at Dasiwa. Off the bat we were greeted with friendly smiles and the server was quick to meet our needs. The whole meal was fresh and well timed. I can honestly say I enjoyed each bite. My buddy even convinced me to try raw octopus for the first time. All things were presented in a charmingly simple way. In summary I will be back and I'm so glad to have a neighborhood BYO sushi spot!
(4)
Dave W.
Parking sucks. Great food though. Daughter and father (owner?) were extremely friendly. The place is tiny. This is about the food. Excellent. Very fresh, nice mix of ingredients. The Unagi sauce was very good. Top 5 I've tried. Not the syrupy sweet crap a lot of places pass off as Unagi. One piece of gristle (sinew??) in the salmon. Otherwise 5 stars. A couple of mis-communications, but they made it right and I even ended up with some extra pieces... score. I will definitely come back. They were helpful, accommodating and professional. If you're in the museum district, or anywhere close, this is a must try. Put it on your Philly places to try....
(4)
Ben S.
Warning. This sushi restaurant does not deserve a 4.5 star restaurant as it is currently rated. I have eaten dinner at Dasiwa twice over the past 6-months and have been seriously disappointed each time. If Morimoto and Sagami are a 5 star dining experience (in my opinion), this restaurant should be rated 2.5 stars at best. During my last visit, I ordered three maki rolls (spicy tuna, salmon and avocado, and yellow tail and scallion) and each one was depressing as I ate it. Skip this place and go elsewhere.
(2)
Alice H.
I loved this place!! It is in such a cozy and cute location. The service was amazing and the owner was so kind to my friends and me. The TNT, Happy, Dashiwaki rolls were so good.
(5)
Christine D.
I had really high hopes for this place based on other reviews. The shrimp dumplings were super fishy. And the sushi was wrapped with very thick seaweed. It was difficult to chew and ruined the experience. It wasn't as cheap as I thought it would be, and for the quality of the meal, it should have been inexpensive. Big disappointment overall. I wouldn't go back given that there are many other sushi places in the area.
(2)
Jim D.
I live nearby and get take out once or twice a month for sushi. Individual rolls are a bit pricey but the quality makes the price worth it. My wife doesn't eat seafood so she goes for their veggie options and loves it. They are quick to prepare food and their sushi is prepared well consistently. They are not wheelchair accessible (as listed). They have several steps and a portable ramp most likely won't work. I just say this as a wheelchair user who always wants to know my options.
(4)
Julia L.
Because there was a huge party dining at the same time as us, the restaurant offered us a free roll, the Emerald city roll. It had eel, avocado and unagi sauce. The other roll we had was the firecracker roll, spicy yellowtail roll topped with spicy tuna. Joe was craving some salmon sashimi so we got one order. The 2 specialty rolls we got were volcano roll and dasiwaki roll. The volcano roll had soft shell crab tempura, topped with salmon and roe. The dasiwaki roll had shrimp tempura topped with salmon, mango, avocado and unagi sauce.
(5)
Josh M.
I just moved back to the Art Museum neighborhood and now live a 1/2 block away from Dasiwa. It is a cafe/sushi restaurant which could be confusing to some people... Sometimes does not open until after 9am...coffee is La Calombe and is reasonably priced, but coffee is not their bread and butter. I usually go for the Tusa lunch special (1 roll (8 pieces 1/2 tuna and 1/2 salmon)) w/ miso soup for $8! Lunch is served until 3pm. Sushi is consistently fresh and miso soup is awesome. The miso has mushrooms and maybe a chicken broth which gives it a uniquely great taste. I have also had a few special rolls which were also good. The Happy Roll (Spicy tuna and tempura, topped with seared pepper corn tuna, tobiko, scallions and wasabi mayo) definitely makes me happy! Overall, solid little "whole in the wall" sushi cafe with good service!
(4)
Rajiv S.
What an awesome experience. Delicious food and Sam is awesome. We ordered the fried eel and mango maki roll so good. The wonton with salmon app was also wonderful. Really recommend this place
(5)
Lucy D.
Just WOW. The best sushi I've ever had. You're seriously missing out if you haven't tried this place.
(5)
Alicia C.
Delicious healthy sushi. Great spot, lovely waitress. Manager was super accommodating to our party of 6 being late. High recommended if in the neighbourhood !!
(5)
Ruddager S.
Fish was fresh Owner/waiter/sushi chef was knowledgable/friendly Quality green tea Can't wait to go back, good quality stuff here
(5)
Mary B.
So on a random spur of the moment trip to Philadelphia my friend and I decided to log into yelp and find a sushi spot. Yes we took the chance on trying a sushi place (take a leap of faith!) we had never been to before, and I'm SO GLAD that we did. The reviews do not do the food justice, my review won't be able to do it justice, but I can tell you you won't be disappointed. When we first got there we couldn't find the place, when they say hole in the wall, it literally is. But when you can stop a random person on the street and ask them where it is and they instantly know where you are talking about (even when you say the name wrong) you should know your in for a treat. You come down some steps into what appears to be a basement restaurant. The smell of fish may offend you...it offended me at first but I quickly got used to it....which is unusual for me...so still can't knock a star off for it. We got the mermaid and a second sushi roll whose name I can't remember. They both were DELICIOUS! Literally two rolls that were works of art. Some may take a star off because they do not have fountain drinks, but they sell cans and bottles and tea, and it's byob. But in all honesty sodas take away from the flavor in my opinion so I can't knock off a star when I don't drink soda. I WILL be back the next time I return to Philly. No doubt about it.
(5)
Ben C.
I went here tonight for a date with my girlfriend on her bday. We ordered kani salad, dragon roll, rainbow roll, udon. Kani salad had some sashimi mixed in and also had this spicy kick to it that made it so amazing. $5 definitely should get it. Dragon roll was expensive, but when I saw how big it was and the amount of unagi put in (I know that unagi is expensive) I could definitely see it was nowhere near a ripoff (btw you get more than 6 pieces). When I tasted it, it was simply the best dragon roll i had (there was I think spicy tuna mixed in which definitely complimented it well). Rainbow roll all hinges on how fresh the fish is and I wasnt let down. Finally, the udon. Im not a fan of udon, my gf ordered it. It definitely was above average and was cheap considering we got tempura as a side. My gf thought it was the best udon she ever had. Last things ill say is pretty much what everyone else says. Owner - very nice guy. BYOB - table next to us comes in with 6 pack and owner comes and kindly opens it for them. parking - is a b**** but there are so many spots, just spend 10 minutes and youll find a one (maybe) :) Oh I should also mention the ambience. hole in the wall - type - vibe but very cozy.
(5)
Pete L.
Went here on a Saturday night. Parking took a while. Don't bank on getting a free spot (but luckily I did!) They accommodated the large party of 9. It was a quiet small spot. It wasn't busy at all. Service was excellent. They sushi was great! Fresh of cours. Fast service. BYOB too! They a wide varieties of teas. We had green tea mochi for desert. I would definitely go here again!
(5)
Priyanka D.
Horrible service. ... it took 50 mins to get our food on the table n a refill of water... no matter how the food tasted its terrible to dine here if u r hungry n its an awful place to celebrate ones anniversary. .. never ever coming here again even for free food!!!
(1)
Steve S.
I went on a Philly sushi quest tonight, and Yelp brought me here. This is what I love about the Yelp app. I never would have thought to even come to a place like this. But looking for a really good and casual sushi place, and in the mood to find a new place, I would up here after seeing this place pop up near the top of the search list. So yes, it's a combo coffee shop and sushi bar. Yes, that's an unusual combo. Yes, the place concerned my wife at first because she wasn't sure she would be able to find enough she wanted to eat (she can be picky about these kind of places). But she gave in after reading more of the menu once we got there. The appetizers of the Pork Gyoza and Shrimp Shumai soon convinced us that we made a good choice. The portions are a little small but somewhat reasonably priced. She also ordered a noodle bowl called Bibim Naeng-Myun with chicken which got no complaints. But we came here for the sushi, and that's what we are judging it on ultimately. And I will say that they know what they are doing. My wife is more of a basic sushi fan, Philly roll and Shrimp Tempura roll for her, and she was raving about them. I like more creative rolls, so I started with the Mermaid roll topped with very pretty and colorful tobiko that was fantastic. Then they served me my Volcano roll which might have been my favorite. That's just a fun roll to eat. The last roll was the Dasiwaki. First time I ever had sushi that involved mango. In all, just a wonderful sushi experience. Topped it off with some dessert featuring the Green Tea Mochi which was a little small for my tastes, but ok. What won me over was the coffee cake. Heard so much about it here. It's worth it for sure. It seems to be half sugar and half cake, but I didn't seem to mind. Now, the service... you know, I really don't want to bash them for this. Truth is, yes it can be slow. If the place is full, which means 20 people tops in the place, they get a little scatterbrained, and the sushi chefs get backed up. We even had an incorrect dish brought to us which they corrected and apologized for. But, everyone there was so nice and so funny that you get over it. It may not be a 5 star service level, but this place doesn't seem to be built for that. They mean well and that goes a long way with me. Sushi quality alone is a 5 star experience though. In the end that's what matters. Total bill for everything we got was $88. 5 rolls, 2 appetizers, two desserts. But I ordered three specialty rolls which was responsible for half of that. The basic rolls were cheaper for sure. I left there wanting this place to succeed. It's probably the first real and totally unpretentious sushi place I've ever seen. It may even be worth a drive in from Delco on occasion.
(4)
Dana M.
Oh, Dasiwa, how I love you so. Excellent prices. The Dasiwaki (probably spelled that wrong) is incredible. Actually, all their rolls are quite good. The service is impeccable. I'm embarrassed to admit I come here almost weekly. Make a reservation on Friday nights/weekends and enjoy their great selection of rolls. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
George B.
Just had lunch there. Great, friendly place. I'm very picky when it comes to seafood, but this was really fresh and well prepared.Good soups for the cold weather as well! Highly recommended, I will definitely go back again.
(5)
Sean G.
Don't agree with all of the 4 and 5 star ratings. The sushi is mediocre, the decor is old and out dated. I gave 3 stars only because the service was fast and friendly and the Miso soup was one the best I have had.
(3)
Kira G.
Stop reading Yelp reviews and check out Dasiwa for yourself. Right now. The food is amazing. Try the Loaded Gyoza or Not-cho as an appetizer. There is not a bad roll on the menu, but my personal favorites are the Dasiwaki, the Emerald City, the Aspen, the Orchid, the Shaggy Dog...and I could keep going. If you have room at the end of your meal (and good luck with that), the mochi is a refreshing dessert. The service is incredible. In all likelihood, you will meet Tom, the owner, or one of his kids over the course of your meal. The restaurant is small, and often crowded, but never once I have seen any member of the staff let that affect their service. Sam is particularly wonderful and sweet. Everyone is very accommodating - whether you need ice buckets for the five bottles of wine you brought with you (it has happened) or you want to customize an order of a roll on the menu, they've got you covered. On a personal note, a group of friends and I have been regulars at Dasiwa for almost 3 years now. This restaurant is so special to us that last year, when he needed to pick a location to propose, my fiance went to talk to Tom at Dasiwa. Tom closed the restaurant for us on a Monday night, Sam made a playlist of romantic music and set up her phone to record the event, and the sushi chefs made us an amazing dinner while keeping the post-dessert surprise a secret. It was incredible. I'm actually amazed that Dasiwa hasn't expanded yet - if this restaurant was located in a more central location, people would be flocking to it. If you decide to venture to Fairmount to give it a go, bring your beverage of choice, prepare to search for parking, and make a reservation. Any hassle you have to go through will be well worth it once you're there.
(5)
Jenna D.
Perfect little neighborhood BYOB Sushi spot. Quaint, and underground. The Kani Salad is a must and a Seaweed Salad on blast... (Seaweed Salad, Sashimi, Crab Salad, Crunch and Spicy Aioli combination.) The Wallflower is nice and light (Salmon, Tuna, Mango, and Asparagus wrapped in Cucumber instead of Seaweed/Rice, and Ponzu.) All the rolls are fresh and unique. Bring in some Sake or Sapporo and you're good. Get the Mochi for dessert.
(5)
Ryan D.
So delicious. Their Hwe Dup Bap was amazing! the Nigiri: Sake and Unagi perfectly complimented the meal. Oh yeah...BYOB! Or better yet: BYOW/BYOS (Wine or Sake!) Make sure to call-ahead to make a reservation or check their occupancy level. They continually had to turn people away due to lack of table space. Don't be afraid (my friend and I weren't) and asked a married couple to join our four-person table--great way to get to know your fellow Philly residents!
(5)
Katie P.
Had dinner here tonight after seeing the OUTSIDER ART exhibit at PMA ( pay what you wish after 5 p.m. on Wednesday- the museum NOT the restaurant). This place is lovely. A coffee bar with pastries and a sushi/Japanese restaurant. The Gyoza appetizer I had was mind blowing. Everything else was great ( sushi and Bulgogi) but the gyoza ( their special house gyoza) was the BEST I have ever had in my life. The space is intimate and tranquil. Nice service- friendly. A nice gem of a place.
(5)
Dominek T.
I love this place. It is very small but very personable. I suggest if you are going anytime after 5pm you make reservation. The sushi is beautiful and very affordable. When I went I got the loaded gyoza , fried philly roll, and the volcano roll. ALL MAZING
(5)
Ali S.
My boyfriend, Matt and I were in the city at the Barnes Foundation and wanted sushi for lunch. Most of the places we knew of are only open for dinner. So we turned to Yelp and Dasiwa was open for lunch and everyone was giving it great reviews. We were not disappointed and loved everything! We walked in and were greeted promptly and were seated. We were told to look at the lunch specials on the board. Matt and I both decided to get the maki trio for lunch. It consisted of a california roll, salmon roll, and a tuna roll. Matt also ordered miso soup and I ordered a sashimi salad. The salad was served in a martini glass and had a little bit of heat to it which I liked. Matt's soup was also great and he enjoyed it. We both enjoyed our maki trio and it was priced at $17. While we were there a few customers stopped in for coffee and a pastry and there were 2 other tables. The staff was friendly and our waters were kept filled. Dasiwa is a BYOB and would be a great place for a nice dinner. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Tim M.
Been to this place a few times now. Usually not crowded at all, sometimes just the one party. That's kind of surprising because the sushi is top notch
(5)
Kimberly N.
I came here based upon a friend's recommendation. She told me the place is tiny but a beautiful surprise. My only gripe about this place is the limited street parking. Otherwise, the sushi here is super super amazing. Our table ordered the edamame and Not-cho to start. Edamame was big and perfectly salted, and the Not-cho was a great mix of crunch and freshness. For my entree, I ordered the Spider Monkey Roll, probably the best sushi roll I've had in Philly. Everything was very fresh. Can't wait to go back here. Nom nom nom.
(5)
Joshua J.
Best sushi I've had in Philly, hands down. There are many other recommended places, and they're alright, but the ingredients are always just okay, not great. This place blew me away, the Volcano roll is absolutely ridiculous. Very excellent ingredients and very good presentation. The location is a little tucked in, hard to find parking, but when you get there, it's really cool. Very quaint little sushi shop/coffee shop. The owner, Tom, was behind the counter, humoring us the whole time, really nice guy. He let us try a sample of his white tuna, which was really cool, told some good jokes and kept us entertained. Small business owner doing it right. I really enjoyed the Udon that we ordered as well, but it seemed like the sushi was on a higher level. Still delicious though. I will go back here frequently, even though it's out of the way and out of my neighborhood. The review that complained that they weren't serving sushi, they have bands play every other sunday where they do not serve food. Not a big deal at all. Kind of cool if you ask me.
(5)
Kate H.
My boyfriend and I went yesterday and decided that it is our new favorite sushi place in Philadelphia, HANDS DOWN! Lucky for us, because the restaurant is right down the street from us. Service was friendly,helpful,and fast. The woman was very kind to us and told us to take our time and that there was no rush. (I hate it when restaurants rush their customers!) Be sure to try the volcano roll, tempura shrimp, and maguro rolls!
(5)
Clare D.
Sometimes a little hole-in-the-wall can make some surprisingly decent food. Dasiwa is a little neighborhood coffee shop and sushi joint. Coffee, cakes, and biscotti are still sold on the premises, but the sit-down menu is mostly sushi. I ordered three nigiri items: ika (squid), albacore tuna, and hotate (scallop). These were good, but completely unseasoned, perhaps catering to the tastes of its neighborhood clientele. Strangely, the spicy sauce accompanying our Shrimp Shumai and Sashimi Salad proved otherwise. The shumai tasted like every other shumai, but with the addition of sesame seeds and a nice sweet and spicy sauce. The salad had some nicely seasoned shards of fish in it. The Naeng Myun (buckwheat noodles served in a chilled tangy broth made from beef, pickled radish, and chinese cabbage and topped with kimchi, assorted vegetables, spring mix, beef, and half of a hard boiled egg) was a total miss. I hated it. The noodles were good, but where's the beef?! We didn't find any. The chunks of flavored ice sitting on top of the noodles was especially unnerving. The best item on the menu was the Dasiwaki, a shrimp tempura, avocado, and mango maki roll topped with salmon, avocado, unagi sauce, and spicy mayo. The combination of sweet, spicy, chewy, and crunchy was truly fantastic, an example of how simple ingredients can taste great together. The Spider Monkey, a tempura fried soft shell crab and asparagus roll topped with spicy salmon, tobiko, and scallions wasn't as good. I didn't like the fried batter on the soft shell crab. The crumb coffee cake was 60% crumb, just the way I like, and it wasn't overly sweet, making it a good dunker in milk or coffee. Our server was very nice and attentive and my friend Chris W and I liked the quaint atmosphere of this BYOB.
(3)
Brad M.
Great sushi, cool little neighborhood spot. The sushi is excellent quality and reasonably priced. We've been here twice and will keep coming back. Love that it is BYO as well. The Fahrenheit roll (special the night we were there) was outstanding.
(5)
ML V.
I knew this was a great spot from the moment I stepped foot into this place. The dining area is pretty small, so I can see it getting crowded over the weekends. The ambiance is very laid back, and homey. The restaurant owner was extremely welcoming and friendly as well. He offered his input, and was very accommodating. I had one of the lunch specials, that came with a California roll, 1 specialty roll and miso soup. $10, you can't beat that! In addition, we ordered the aspen roll, per the recommendation of the owner. If there's anything you should order, it's definitely the aspen roll. It has a wide variety of different tastes, and ingredients that come together to form an amazing product ("Spicy crab roll and tempura crunch, topped with seared salmon and unagi sauce"). Everything we had was plated so well, and extremely delicious. You can tell everything is fresh. We were told that all of the fish is hand picked and fresh, which is reflected in the quality of the sushi. I'm not from this area, but I intend on returning once I visit again. It would be nice to see them expand, and open more locations. This is a hidden gem that should be known!
(5)
Di P.
I heart this place, yo. My boo and I rolled in on a random very very cold Thursday night and we were the only ones there. So I was a little suspicious because I usually associate places that are bumpin' with the goodness of the food. But lo and behold, the service and food were excellent. Definitely the feel of a family run business with like mom making the sushi, dad handing the bills and daughter serving you the food. And everyone was amiable (server was funny and sweet... wonder if she's single should i set her up with my friend?? hmm No, he's not good enough she was that cool). I was laughing because I felt like EVERYTHING had avocado in it and I'm sadly newly allergic to it, but obviously they let me order it without the avocado. Verdict: everything was fresh and pleasing to the tongue and eyes. Best part about this place is that it was laid back and I could totally see myself going there with a bottle of wine (byob!!! awesome!), chompin' on some sushi and browsin the interwebs. A great find for those of us in the Art Museum.
(5)
Ulana D.
I LOVE DASIWA! The sushi here is delicious and very reasonably priced! My husband and I love their specialty rolls and shumai. I've had a couple large group dinners here with friends (it's a byob) and the staff has always been wonderful and very accommodating. They also do take-out and I'm amazed how quickly the food is ready for pickup. During the morning/day, this is the only place in Fairmount where I can find an great cup of La Colombe coffee. They have free wifi and great breakfast sandwiches.
(4)
Blue G.
Came for my friend's live music concert. This is a little casual Japanese place in Fairmount that do not make me feel that they are trying to make it very traditional "Japanese Japanese". It has more casual and local summer like atmosphere, not particularly real Japanese but definitely has an atmosphere of somewhere in Asia. The owner was friendly and we all enjoyed the concert.
(3)
Brad P.
That coffee cake is like something out of a nightmare. A nightmare where I'm drowning in coffee cake crumb. It has surrounded me and it is suffocating me. It is delicious but I still can't breathe. I struggle to take air into my lungs but there is only coffee crumb. My body seizes and I enter the void. Seriously, the crumb on this coffeecake is thick. I know the crumb is usually like an afterthought in a coffeecake but here it is a serious business layer. Oh yeah, also the place is cute as hell and the sushi is good.
(5)
Ryans P.
My new favorite place in the fairmount/art museum/brewerytown area. Great concept place you can go and get a pretty good breakfast for CHEAP and really good sushi. Breakfast: Basically everything for breakfast is #3.50 or less: bfast burrito, omelette with hash brown, two pancakes with two eggs...Really good muffins. The coffee cake is awesome! Sushi: They have pretty good sushi and it is completely affordable for how good it is. They even have vegan sushi. I had one with tempura sweet potato...AWESOME. They have by far my favorite bowl of udon soup of all time! The stock is delicious. BYOB. Free wifi. This place is awesome. Odd music choices though.
(5)
Beth R.
Stopped by for dinner a few nights ago and our sushi was disappointing. For starters, there was minimal fish in the rolls. The tuna roll tasted like mostly rice with cucumber and scallion filler and a small bit of fish. What's with the cucumber filler in everything? Also did not like the misleading menu description...salmon rolls were really half avocado, some cucumber, and the bit of salmon. I hate avocado, hate it, hate it. If they described this as "salmon avocado", I wouldn't have ordered it obviously. There wasn't that mush salmon in there. My friend was equally unimpressed. I remembered it being much better 2 years ago when I was last here. The kicker is the simple rolls start at $7...same as upscale sushi joints in center city with great ambiance and location a la Zama. There are places with better rolls that cost less in the immediate neighborhood, in my opinion. Service was very good, would give our waiter 5 stars.
(2)
Chris M.
GREAT Neighborhood Spot. Morning: Coffee, Latte, Bagels, Munchies.. CHILL location.. quick service SUSHI: Yes, they offer it.. and it is VERY GOOD. We were skeptical considering the size of this joint..and their breakfast persona.. but the SUSHI is on par. Close, Good, Get in here and TRY IT. BYOB for a nice relaxed dinner!
(5)
Sara H.
Japanese food is something that will always be close to my heart. I lived in Tokyo, Japan for 9 years of my life. I am not a snob, by any means when it comes to sushi but I am open minded to however creatively they can be made. My boyfriend and I went here on Valentine's Day. We made a reservation, and were seated at the sushi bar (which in my opinion is the most fun). We brought our own bottle of wine since we read that it was BYOB. I spoke to the owner, Tom who was busy making sushi, but was so funny and kind enough to talk to us. The waitress Sam, was his daughter, and she was so sweet and did a great job with making sure that everything came in a timely fashion and made sure we weren't confused with anything on the menu. The atmosphere is cozy, it's small and quite nice. I ordered the Da Si Wa roll which was probably all ingredients to a sushi roll that are my favorite rolled into one. I can tell you, it was heaven! My boyfriend ordered 3 types of rolls, the Emerald City, Avocado roll, and Shrimp Tempura. He was impressed. Because it was Valentine's Day they were serving free orders of Sake for the evening. They asked us if we wanted some and we accepted. It was amazing with the sushi. This place is a small family owned place and they do such a nice job of running it. They're people-oriented and they care about their customers, I could tell. We live in Queen Village so coming here on a motorcycle took about 30 minutes with Center City traffic, so it's not exactly down the street from us but we agreed we will definitely be back again and hopefully more than once more.
(5)
Jennifer T.
We ordered five rolls from here (take out) and ate them immediately at home in the hood. While the fish didn't smell fishy, it tasted like nothing. Only one roll had any taste and it was from the delicious sauce. Perhaps the fish was previously frozen, I am not sure. I would give it another shot but I felt like it was pricey ($55 for take out).
(3)
Monica Q.
Went to lunch here with a coworker based on a suggestion from two other coworkers and had sushi. The service was awesome. Nothing fancy, just a friendly, warm setting with yummy sushi. I ordered a California roll ($5) and a Shrimp Tempora roll ($7) and asked that they be cut small. They were cut small and were perfect! Very fresh and tasty. The sweet and spicy sauce served with it was so good! Never had it before but now I will always ask for it anytime I get sushi! Sushi came out quickly and was very appetizing. All the guests that came in while we were eating knew Tom (I think he might be the owner?) and it felt like one of those smaller momma pop places where the owner knows his customers and they loyally come back to support the business and for the food. We agreed we would DEF be back! LOVEDDDDD!
(5)
Lucas M.
So, there I was hanging out while my wife was at work, and I thought to myself "Self, it's your birthday! You should go nuts and go get yourself some sushi for lunch to celebrate!" So I hopped on my bike and rode up to Umai Umai, neglecting to notice that it was closed. So, after some rapid on the street decision making (aided by Yelp, of course) I ended up at Dasiwa. It's in a neighborhood, in one of those odd Philly shops, not quite a basement, not quite street level, located on the corner of a block of buildings. I came in and the owner was building a rail for the stairs by hand and was using a sander so didn't hear me come in. Once he noticed me, I was seated right away, as no one else was there, and placed my order. Super friendly guy, and was making quite a nice little handrail too! Anywhoo, I got the California rolls and the spicy crunchy albacore rolls. He also gave me free miso soup because...I don't know. He just did. The rolls were quite good, and there seemed to be a pretty good selection of choices too. I will be back to try the others since this place is open for lunch, unlike 'that other place'! So, long story short, I went out on a bike to one place, ended up in another, still got my sushi and some free miso soup. You can't beat that with a stick. Or you could, but you'd end up with fish and soup everywhere and that would just a mess.
(4)
Ayana P.
I liked this place! I decided to stroll the 'hood today until I found something that was worth checking out. There aren't many options. Dasiwa is now on my list of places to walk to in the neighborhood when I don't feel like cooking (that's what happened today). The employee was very nice and attentive but not way too much. I had the wildfire sushi and it was delicious! The miso soup was also delish but that's a no-brainer. I'm glad I tried the place out. Will definitely be back for some more sushi.
(4)
Louis R.
I came here with mah Philly Yelp homegurl, Kelly P. ...it was an appropriate resto for us to hit. They have Italian sweets (e.g., biscotti) AND Japanese entrees (e.g., sushi/sashimi/rolls)....Its true, Italian + Asian combos rule. seewhatididthere Its BYOB, the octopus, eel and wildfire roll was deelish, there's a chill and friendly waiter...I was def happy about eating here.
(4)
Ryan W.
After seeing the great yelp reviews my girlfriend and I decided to try Dasiwa out. Small place probably seats 20 so we made reservations as they are recommended for a Friday night. It's byo so we brought a bottle and ordered four special rolls, edamame, and a mango mochi. We ordered the Aspen roll, Mashiro roll, Dasiwaki roll, and Wildfire roll. All were great. Very fresh seafood, especially the eel. We couldn't pick a favorite because they were all superb and we would order all again. The presentation was very good as well. Our waitress was great, very attentive and nice. The dessert was very good as well and I am not big on dessert. the mango ice cream was not overly sweet and tasted great. We were even treated to a complimentary appetizer to try at the end of the meal that they are trying out to see if it should be on the menu. It was tuna with eel sauce and spicy mayo on top a "nacho". It should be on the menu as it did not disappoint. In addition, their spicy mayo was one of the best I've ever tried. has a great kick to it which I find most can use a little more spice. Overall very pleased with our visit and will definitely be returning soon!! I feel this wont remain a hidden gem for very much longer.
(5)
Kimmie M.
My boyfriend and I visited on a Tuesday, and fell in LOVE! Really awesome sushi! Definitely a family oriented place, really small, but super friendly. Will definitely be back for more!
(5)
Katie D.
I live in Fairmont and this is my favorite neighborhood sushi spot. High quality specialty rolls, I've liked everything I've tried and BYOB is a plus for me. They also deliver within a six block radius. However, I wouldn't recommend this for an out of towner or date night. It's a tiny place with pretty shabby decor and usually just one waitress manning tables. Great for a casual weeknight meal.
(4)
Yuri L.
BEST SUSHI IN THE AREA!! Really good prices and their special rolls are def worth a try! It's also BYOB so you can enjoy a great dinner even if you are on a budget. I would recommend calling ahead of time because this place can get busy, even on a weekday!
(5)
Kevin S.
Really good when I can actually get Sushi. I've walked in a few times and been told they were not serving food, or that a band was going to play or who knows. Worth a try, yes... The Sushi is great, the staff are all nice, but call ahead before you show up.
(3)
Liz D.
I have been in fairmount for over 5 years and when this place opened up, Sakura was our sushi spot. The concept of a coffee place + sushi bar actually kept us away at first but I am so glad we tried dashiwa and are officially converted. The menu is creative and well executed. When ordering takeout, my fiance and i usually get one of the bigger fancy rolls and three smaller rolls and it is enough. If we are extra hungry, edamame too. Yesterday was my first dine in experience and it's even better than takeout. The menu was bigger than the takeout menu, and the presentation was beautiful -wish I would have snapped a photo before diving in. The sauce design on the plate looked like it was actually part of the plate itself! The miso soup was $2 and delicious, and it went a long way to help cure my friend's hangover. Overall I consider this place a neighborhood gem and after yesterday will be dining in more often.
(4)
Joanne A.
Just had dinner here tonight with my gurlfrand who took me out for my birthday! Definitely looked up this cute place on Yelp and then decided to go cuz of the great reviews, and boy am I glad we picked this place! This place definitely has a family-run type of feel - it's very quaint and sweet. BYOB = awesome; brought myself a nice cheap bottle of wine! The prices are reasonable, I would say average - or even better than average - for Philly sushi. Between the 2 of us girls, we ordered shumai, some special seaweed salad (I don't remember what it was called), a volcano roll, an alaskan roll, a dashiwa roll, and salmon sashimi, and we were more than satisfied. THEN the server brings out this special little dish (again, don't remember what it was) that was DELICIOUS and said the chef/sushi master was testing out some new things and just let us try it!! omgosh so good. So best part: the owner comes out and offers us 2 shots of free sake. LOL THANKS!! ugh but I had to decline because I had all this work to do when I got back home (which is what I'm clearly doing right now). So he did offer it to all of the other patrons in the restaurant!! There was only another table of 3 and another table of 2 at the restaurant though, so everyone was laughing out loud and talking together. Amazing. Because I couldn't take the sake, they did bring out 2 cups of delicious home brewed americano coffees on the house! I got a very warm "Happy birthday!" from everyone at the restaurant as we left, including the owner&employees :) Wow - so generous and sweet! Delicious, good sizes, good prices, and such a comfortable atmosphere. I will be back...very soon!!!!
(5)
Anthony M.
I LOVE THIS PLACE- went two nights in a row. one: it's cheap. two: it's fantastic quality. a true gem. if you like sushi and are on a budget, there is no better place. everything tasted fresh and delicious. i haven't had any of their baked goods or coffee although i'm sure it's good too. my gf did try one of the iced green teas and it was superb. my faves so far: appz: pork gyoza (great texture and dipping sauce) the shrimp shumai. rolls: sunburn roll (i normall dont even really like tuna sushi, but this tuna melts in your mouth.) the volcano roll, the philly roll, alaska roll and california roll. they have specials every day too. i can't recommend this place enough SUPPORT LOCAL SUSHI! go to disawa.
(5)
Arthur O.
Newly opened this past week, Dasiwa, sushi bar by night and cafe by day, is the brain child of Tom, owner of Tom's Trust Deli a couple of block down the street on N 26th. Not unlike the Trust Deli, Dasiwa is a family owned and operated joint, and you can clearly see the passion and quality in the food and service. In an area nearly completely devoid of dining options, Tom and his crew have not only delivered a restaurant, but also an exceptional sushi experience. BYO for now, so don't forget!
(5)
Justin S.
Always great service, delightfully chill vibe and delicious fresh sushi at a great value. Also, coffee cake is mostly all the delicious crumb parts so they know what's up.
(5)
Elizabeth D.
We were very excited to try this new cafe/sushi spot as it's right on our block. It's an intriguing concept - coffee/pastries in the AM, sushi from lunch time on. If you've ever been to the old Sylvia & Joe's, you'd remember the dark, cramped, basement like interior. The new owners have completely transformed the space. A big counter, which triples as sushi prep, dining, and cashier's space. Tons of little tables, bright yellow walls, lots of lighting. We went early for dinner on a Friday, since we knew it might get really busy. You can tell the staff is new, but really eager. They all seemed a little unsure of themselves, but were friendly and polite. We ordered miso soup to start (a sweet cup for $2), then split the Rainbow Roll, Dasimaki Deluxe, and a Spicy Tuna Roll. We did wait a bit between servings (the Dasimaki took the longest). Sushi is very fresh, and extremely well priced. Completely beats Umai Umai in that department. However, my husband did find a bone in his roll, which was a bit of a bummer. I will chalk most of the issues up to this being a new spot and still working out some kinks. They definitely fill a niche in the neighborhood (reasonably priced sushi + coffee spot), and it will be great to see what they can do with the place going forward.
(3)
Esme G.
I live nearby and have been here many times for lunch, coffee, breakfast and dinner. On slow days I have brought my computer and books and been able to study while eating dinner. Other days I just come for great, cheap food. The family (plus) that works here is very friendly, often talkative and always fun to interact with. They have delicious korean bulgogi and spicy pork, really cheap and good breakfast burritos (3.50 with a side of sushi rice), and sushi ranging from decent to delicious (the house special rolls are really awesome). I enjoy coming and sitting at the small sushi bar when I am on my own and watching the owner make sushi, or prepare the fish. This is a family run, neighborhood restaurant/cafe thingy, and I wish there were more restaurants like it- open all times of the day for the neighborhood to come and interact, relax and have refreshments. It is the American-Korean version of cafe/bars in small town France
(4)
Erika S.
Get the Not-cho. It's perfect.
(5)
Jimmy S.
If you are looking for really good sushi and a small friendly atmosphere then this your place... Also if you are looking for a cup of La Colombe coffee this is the only place in Fairmount you can get it... Great neighborhood place that we when its time for sushi this is where we go...
(5)
Regina F.
The crumb topping on the coffee cake is perfectly proportioned...meaning it's three times the thickness, three HUNDRED times the density and three THOUSAND times the deliciousness of any other crumb I've ever experienced. (Then there's that whole idea that you can throw together sushi, coffee shop, and COFFEE CAKE into one cohesive environment. That's cute. It works.)
(5)
leigh s.
Located in a beautiful neighborhood, this tiny cafe is worth stopping for! Despite the small size, the staff is polite and helpful, the atmosphere is cozy, and the menu is extensive. I tried the volcano roll, the orchid roll, and a piece of coffee cake - all for takeout. The service was quick, and the food was reasonably priced and very tasty! They seem to have a large drink list as far as smoothies and coffee drinks, and lots of cakes/cookies as well. Overall very pleased; Will probably treat myself to takeout (or an occasional eat-in date) frequently!
(5)
Anya M.
I've only gone in for breakfast and coffee, haven't tried the sushi yet. They're very friendly in here and the prices are much better than a lot of the other spots in the area. I also love that they don't up charge for flavors syrups and allow you to mix up your coffee however you'd like. While breakfast is nothing wild, this is a great spot to grab something on the go.
(4)
Reed B.
What a dump! Bad service all the way around. Took half an hour to place an order for a to-go cup of coffee. Fish looks and smells far from fresh. Schizophrenic indecision between being a coffee-house and a sushi joint. All-around failure in a neighborhood of bad options.
(1)
Rosemary R.
Excellent sushi. Wonderful neighborhood restaurant. Fantastic personable staff. A favorite.
(5)
Ilana R.
Had my birthday dinner at this small, BYOB family owned restaurant that I randomly found on Yelp and saw great reviews and very reasonable prices! The family is so nice, the food and service is excellent and they were so accomodating and fun! We took up the whole restaurant (as its' pretty small) and had such a wonderful time. Great food, prices, everything! Can't wait to go back for dinner soon!
(5)
Jackie G.
Nom nom nom. Shaggy dog roll is off the hook and the chain. Dumplings were very tasty. And you can get coffee too! They have soy milk!
(5)
Stephanie Y.
Really excellent neigborhood spot with amazing, friendly staff and a good selection of rolls. The one thing I wish they had is more variety in starters. The past few times I've gone, I've asked for recommendations on rolls and their suggestions have been excellent! Sunburn and volcano rolls are my favorite. This is a great place to try out new rolls too, as the prices are extremely reasonable. I always thought that the coffee/sushi bar combo was odd, but in fact I am happy to end my meal with a great cup of coffee.
(4)
Brian G.
Friendly staff, good service, kid-friendly establishment. The sushi is very good and reasonably priced.
(5)
Sarah S.
I chose this place because of the pretty great reviews on Yelp! However,disappointed is an understatement. The sushi was HORRIBLE! I've had better sushi from the grocery store. To start off, it was dinner time and we were the only two people eating in the little place, then the cups smelled like fish (second red flag) and then the sushi...which tasted soapy and old. As the sushi chef was packing our food he started out using chopsticks and then just used his hands which was disgusting but really didn't matter considering we threw the food away as soon as we walked out. Total waste of money! With that being said, the waiter was friendly and fairly quick (probably because we were the only people there) but if you want sushi that taste even decent then I highly suggest going somewhere else. It baffles me that this place has reviews above 1 star.
(1)
Soyoung K.
A very long overdue review. I had walked by this place a while ago and wanted to try it out. They also advertised all over the neighborhood with cute drawings on the sidewalk with chalk - very clever, I say. It really induced my curiosity to find out what it was all about. So I went one afternoon with my sister. We had Tuna tataki, Sushi + Sashimi Combo, and Soft shell crab roll to share. One of the best brunches ever! I mean, I love some good sushi and that was exactly what I got. I especially liked Tuna tataki. There was just the right amount of ponzu sauce. Yum!! Now, despite the fact that the food was delish and the venue is beyond cuteness, I am sad to give 3 stars because the service was totally below average. I am not expecting Barclay Prime experience but we were given a pitcher of water but no glasses.(We had asked for some water in the middle of our meal.) I wanted to ask the guy for glasses but he never stopped by to ask us how everything was or made eye contacts... I was seriously staring at him, too. Plus, the food took like 40 minutes to come out. It seemed like we were the only ones getting food at the time anyway. I don't understand. Maybe they had to defrost a block of tuna? Overall, it's a nice place to go grab a cup of coffee and spend the entire afternoon surfing on the net on your laptop. I do not own a laptop so I won't be frequenting this place very often. P.S. Dasiwa = come again in Korean. I wanted to go again and again and again but I might or I might not.
(3)
Jose A.
Great sushi, chill coffee house atmostphere, really awesome prices for the caliber sushi that you get. Sad to hear that they might not be open again for a while... As soon as they do though I am for sure going back...
(5)
Rosalyn S.
We went here for dinner on a Saturday night, looking for something in the neighborhood that was casual. The sushi is very fresh -- we particularly enjoyed the sashimi salad and the nagiri. The folks that work here are also very friendly and made us feel right at home. Definitely have the coffee cake, as prior reviewers mentioned. We'll be back for breakfast and some more sushi.
(5)
Chris C.
OK, so it's actually a coffee shop at the moment until they get a zoning thing worked out with the city to be able to reintroduce sushi to the menu, but... it's a cool place to hang out, have a cup of coffee, eat a bagel, some quiche, etc. and soak up the local atmosphere. Lots of neighborhood characters popping in and out (of which I am one) help add to its charm. And they actually serve a quality cup of coffee or tea! (La Colombe and Mighty Leaf). Friendly staff too.
(4)
Jing G.
5 stars for staff. Awesome and attentive staff. 1 star for atmosphere - there is none to speak of. 2 stars for food. This place only had the very basic of sushi fish. ie., didn't even have ikura or roe of any type. There wasn't much to be had off the nigiri menu at all. What we did have - the tuna tataki, onigiri, udon - was OK but none could really qualify as Japanese food. The tuna tataki was more like an western-styled pepper crusted seared tuna on a bed of baby greens, and the onigiri appetizer was 4 little tiny loosely pressed triangles of rice with chopped fish inside. The udon was $5 for a bowl of udon noodles in non-descript soy-dashi broth. No vegetables, no nothing. We had ordered the yellowtail main course as well, but we saw that another customer had ordered it as well and the sushi chef had told one of the servers that they didn't have any more yellowtail. The dish was substituted with white tuna. Nobody said anything to us about there not being yellowtail or the intention to swap fish so we cancelled that order because we were not in the mood to have white tuna, and plus it had taken a while at this point, too. None of the chefs had started on it so cancelling it wasn't a problem. The staff believed we cancelled it because we had waited so long, so they brought to us a complimentary white tuna dish, which was a very nice gesture on their part, but we did end up leaving it on the table. As nice as they were, it wasn't a dining experience I'd like to have again.
(2)
Mish A.
Awesome sushi that is well crafted and melt in your mouth delicious. Try the specials, don't go for your comfort stuff here. Super friendly staff makes this dining experience complete.
(4)
Daniel P.
I went there Saturday for sushi. Great neighborhood spot. The owner was super hospitable and a great host. The sushi was fresh, delicious, and reasonably priced. We requested the sushi chef's spicy sauce which was awesome. Can't wait to go back to try breakfast. BYOB is also a nice addition.
(5)
Kara M.
This is a fantastic addition to the neighborhood! Friendly, family owned, byob with ikea decor---in short its a hole in the wall. I knew that going into it and wasn't expecting morimotos. The food was reasonable, very good and improving daily. Once they work out their new restaurant jitters I'm sure this will become a Fairmount staple. For a quick take out meal and to support a local business-this is a great alternative to Wholefoods. As for dining in, the place is tiny but that adds to its charm. I highly recommend the sushi bomb! I plan on becoming a regular. *update* my friends and I went back tonight and it was even better than last week. The fahrenheit 451 (or something along those lines) special tuna roll was amazing! So good we ended up ordering another. We also ordered the 'picasso' & 'cajun' and completed our meal with red bean ice cream and green tea mochi. As for the cafe- my friend goes here daily and has nothing but good things to say. We will definitely be back very soon! Whether its for a sushi dinner with friends or a quick cup of coffee/tea in the morning this place is definitely worth trying!
(5)
Rebecca Z.
The sushi is always fresh and it tastes soo good! Its a great little neighborhood place and now they deliver!
(5)
Rachel H.
So glad this cafe opened in the neighborhood, and I'll be a frequent customer to help keep it open. Although I have yet to go to the 'cafe' version, the sushi is a hit. We had the "Hell's Sake," off the beaten path with spicy salmon and jalapenos, the "White Tiger," eel and spicy tuna topped with seared squid, and then the "Sushi Bomb," a multitude of things deep fried until crispy. Overall, although the setting is replete with IKEA furniture and fixtures, it's comfy and welcoming. The staff was great - helpful and attentive, letting us change our order after placing it because we found one of the specials too tempting. As it stays open longer, I hope the menu becomes a little more adventurous and the prices remain reasonable. Next time will be soon, and I'll be BYO'ing too. Great addition to a Fairmont that has gotten a bit too snooty for my tastes.
(4)
Utteeyo D.
This small and cute restaurant recreates the japanese aura. If you have been to japan, you will notice that the very instance you walk in. The sushi is good, and the service, albeit a bit slow is friendly and welcoming.
(4)
N M.
The sushi was delicious!! Great prices, friendly service. BYO. Yum!!
(5)
nicola p.
Hands down the friendliest sushi place in philly! Love the folks here and the food is delicious! Their breakfast sandwiches are great too and the prices are awesome! Stop in! The gyoza is my favorite appetizer and they make a really great Philly Roll!
(5)
Seth A.
been here twice for the diner food, not the japanese food: the food was cold and took a very long time to come out both times. neither time was the restaurant busy. the food is not bad, just diner food, and quite inexpensive. i'll give this place a third chance b/c it's convenient and inexpensive, but if it takes another 20 minutes to serve some cold eggs and waffles, i'll just make some of my own (hot) in 3 minutes at home. oh, and good atmosphere, mediocre inexpensive coffee.
(3)
Joyce K.
OMG.. So good.. So so good. It's such a quaint little place hidden on 26st & Aspen. BYOB makes it so reasonable. I enjoyed every bite. I would so suggest this to anyone who likes sushi and bring your own bottle. Service & staff really very nice and accommodating...... Enjoy peeps!!!
(5)
Gei V.
Went there for coffee. They used to have decent coffee but now it was CRAP. I asked for a small americano, tasted like warm piss. They blamed it on me since a small was only one shot, as if I've never had a cup of coffee. So they made me get a second.shot. Well that made it like slightly stronger piss. Now I'm no coffee snob but it seems like their success has made them drop their quality. You cant make a shot with a teaspoonful of coffee. Shame, I like supporting local businesses.
(1)
Wade G.
Great place to go for coffee and breakfast in the morning! The sushi is a little overpriced but pretty decent. Not the best atmosphere (a little cramped) and can get busy (long waits). Overall a great addition to the area!
(3)
Erin F.
I have no clever anecdotes or anything this time. I burnt out on reviewing stuff afternoon but am busting out of my skin with excitement about there being an excellent sushi restaurant so close that I have to write this review now while I listen to Mike play Super Mario Galaxy in the other room. So Stephen S., the future Mrs. Stephen S., Mike, and I just had dinner here. It is humorously close to the S. household and a new addition to the neighborhood in which we both live, so I'm glad Stephen suggested it as our dining destination tonight. Holy shellfish the food here is good. I am going to try to recall everything we ordered - there was a lot. We started off with steamed shrimp shumai and fried veggie gyoza. Small but appetizing (therefore, effective). Between the four of us, we ordered a whole mess of rolls including simple stuff, like the spicy tuna, Philadelphia, and California rolls, all of which were delicious. The real highlights were the four special rolls: the dragon roll, shaggy dog, spider monkey, and volcano roll. I ordered the spider monkey, which is spicy salmon with soft shell crab (my favorite!) and other tasty things. It rocked my world. I also last second ordered the rainbow roll, which is a tasty little number encased by strips of avocado, salmon, tuna, and whitefish. So good, so good. I sampled all of the others' rolls and they were all very different but incredible in their own ways. Mike's volcano roll was topped with a pile of scallops with hot sauce on them that set my lips on fire for a couple of minutes - delicious. For dessert, the S.'s had a bowl of green tea ice cream and a bowl of red bean ice cream that looked yummy. Mike and I split a "Caribbean Monkey". It is hard to mess up fried bananas covered in honey and mango chunks in coconut milk, but this was warm and just tasted special. The service here is incredibly friendly and there seems to be an understanding that Dasiwa isn't a fancypants, showoffy establishment, but I will gladly sacrifice ambiance and scenery for delicious food in my mouth and eventually in my gullet. It was pretty busy tonight, which is a good thing. The service wasn't perfect and isn't quite working like a swiss timepiece just yet, but I have absolutely no complaints about what they've got going on in there. I heard that the menu has expanded significantly from their first few weeks of operation and the selection is somewhat substantial now, so if you've been, I'd suggest returning as soon as possible. Going here with friends is good because it's nice to share with each other and get a whole mess of stuff, but I could see going here on a date and sitting at the sushi bar and enjoying myself. I could eat the food here forever and am already itching to go back.
(5)
Amy W.
After ironing out the kinks, Dasiwa is serving sushi once again! I live around the corner and have ordered take out from here about ten times in the last few months, since they started serving again. The sushi is so phenomenal and so reasonably priced, I am totally hooked. The fish, along with the rest of the ingredients they use, is super fresh and top notch. Lately, I've been craving the udon, which is the perfect comfort dish in these cold winter months. So far, I've only done take-out, mainly because of my lifestyle (toddler at home). I wouldn't hesitate to dine-in here, either, but for what it's worth, the atmosphere lends itself more to the day-time cafe/coffee house side of things than to a cozy, romantic dinner-type kind of place. All in all, Dasiwa is a total gem and a great addition to the neighborhood!
(5)
jane k.
Wonderful wonderful food; great addition to the neighborhood, though we were sorry to see 'The Red Store' go. So, first: the dashi [broth] in the soups is really excellent! Really. Second, staff are really nice and service is not only excellent, but food comes fast. Third, cozy. Also, it is a great combo of a coffee place in the AM [La Colombe!] and from 12pm, a sushi place [and more, not just sushi]. The 'specialty' rolls we got were all [3] away above expectations, as these things are often over-done or flabby. The Dragon, Picasso & Spider Monkey rolls were all great. Masterful ratio of rice to other stuff; great tobiko nigiri sushi too. High honors.
(4)
Paul K.
Awesome sushi! I first got my normal boring California roll and Philly roll because that's what I always get, and it was real good, but also tried one of their specialty rolls. I think it was called the Umai King. TADOW!! It was great, I'll be back!
(4)
Lisa O.
I'll start by saying that I'm thrilled to have another alternative in the area. While this spot isn't the biggest or the trendiest, they've done a lot with what they had to work with. The staff is top notch and cannot do enough for you. The sushi is probably just about average. We had two specialty rolls, one with scallop that I did not care for at all and another that was called the Shaggy Dog, which I really enjoyed and would get again. Our third roll was a simple spicy tuna roll that was fresh, but not spicy. I felt like there was more rice on the rolls than necessary, but the ingredients were fresh. Overall, it isn't as good as Umai, however it is relatively close to home and I would definitely stop by again.
(3)
Stevie S.
Went again the other night and the food was great but the atmosphere was bad. Everyone was running around like crazy and it was very loud. It is very bright inside for a restaurant at dinner time...just a very chaotic meal when we were trying to relax. I liked that there is outdoor seating now and the new napkins and tablecloths add something. Food is still crazy delicious!! Great chefs!
(5)
connie y.
I really wanted to love this place! its a block from me and its a byob! i do love their sashimi salad but their specialty rolls are too expensive for what you get. $8 for dougie style...only 6 pieces and doesnt look any bigger or better than the regular spicy tuna...except for the apple bits. i spent almost $20 for a salad and a 6 piece roll...i was still hungry after and thought about ordering a pizza. i was in a week earlier and tried their $15 specialty roll and again...not much for the price. i wonder if they compared their portion/price to other sushi places in the city. i really hope they stick around but with so many great sushi byos in the city they really need to make a good impression from the beginning...and so far im not too impressed...and i really really want them to stay!! hope dasiwa reads these comments and make a few changes. would be greatly appreciated! one last thing...the wait staff is very friendly and attentive.
(4)
Gerry S.
Came here with a friend for lunch on a weekday after visiting the art museum. We were just walking around the neighborhood with no particular food destination, but as we approached Dasiwa, we decided right on the spot. The place is small but still really comfortable, and they had a nice selection of teas. Might not be the best place for a date or something fancy, but if you're looking for a simple, casual meal on a lazy afternoon (and really fresh & yummy sushi) I'd definitely recommend this place! The waitress was very sweet and helpful without being all in-your-face like at some other sushi places I've been. Plus, they have mochi :)
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Alexa F.
I am in love with all of the guys who work here.
(5)Hamirah M.
The sushi was awesome and our server Gennie was sweet. My friend and I ordered a dragon roll and spicy salmon roll. We just wanted something quick and light. This definitely hit the spot. We found this on Yelp and glad we did a little drive-by to experience this delicious sushi. A family dined next to us with two children and were no bother. This slice of heaven offers coffee concoctions and also is BYOB. Don't hesitate to give Brie place a try if you want some good food.
(5)Dave P.
This is a gem in the rough!!! Our host and server, Genie made us feel welcome and she was pretty incredible! Must haves here? Try the Wallflower, Spider Monkey, Philly Dragon, Bulgogi and more!!!
(4)Kathleen D.
I had a nice dinner here with my brother the other night. Our server was incredibly nice and helpful, the food came quickly (but not overly so), and everything was really good. I can't really compare it to other places in the area, because I don't know that I've actually...been.. to other places just yet. I probably shouldn't have admitted that on here. I feel like I'll look back on this review in a couple years and give myself the blink and stare -- kind of like when I see old reviews that say "I don't like beer" or "burgers are gross." But, anyway. Good food here, even though my palette isn't used to it. I had the $14 Tonkatsu. It was deep-fried panko breaded pork. Served with miso soup, white rice and cole slaw. This was a heaping portion and I couldn't finish it! I passed along the white rice and soup to my brother, who loved both and got a second helping of the soup. My brother ordered the $12 TNT roll from the "Special Roll" section. It had tuna, salmon, white fish, avocado, and crab sticks in it. He said he really liked it. Maybe one day I'll be daring enough to try sushi for the first time (another thing I probably should not be freely admitting on a public website), but for now, I'm glad to know about the pork dish here, and I'll have to stop back some time when they have the famed coffee cake!
(4)Rachel K.
This just might be my new favorite sushi joint in the city! I wish it was a little closer to me. My friends and I stumbled across this place in the middle of the neighborhood following our afternoon in Oval Park. Thanks to its (appropriately) high ratings on Yelp, we decided to stop in. We split a few of their rolls, and an edamame appetizer, family-style. So unbelievably good. I'm a sushi fanatic and all of the flavor combinations were truly unique and delicious! The waitress was such a sweet pea. We were the only party in the restaurant for the majority of our meal and she was truly courteous and attentive. I honestly can't wait to return. There were so many items on the menu that I wish I had room in my stomach to try! What a gem.
(5)Lia B.
I can't even with how nice and accommodating they are here! The food is fresh the service is so great and the staff is very nice. I lead a running team that goes to a new restaurant every Monday, so we show up as a huge party (12) in a small place! The staff went out of their way to provide amazing vegan options for all the runners they ev en split the bill up per person.
(5)Nazee Z.
Came here on a random Tuesday night with the man-lover and decided to get some quick dinner. First we got excited cause it was a BYO so plans to get drunk: check. Now onto plans to eat heartily for cheap. Ordered a round of udon tempura, which was a luke warm bowl of soup with chewy, wheat flour noodles, and a hearty side of tempura. Absolutely LOVED the texture of the noodles. They were really thick cut (about the thickness of a small pen) and filled you up perfectly. Went great with the tempura because the greasiness (but not overwhelimgly greasy) of the batter and warm, comfort food of the soup was such a good match on a cold night. We also ordered a rainbow roll and a maguro roll. Both were pretty fresh and tasty. If you've had a rainbow roll and liked it, you don't need me to go into too much detail. Fresh ingrediants and well prepared sushi doesn't need much other explanation. Service was excellent (especially because it was one server and one sushi chef running place) and I found that I was always attended to and the waitress always anticipated my needs. Absolutely will come here again as it's close to my house, affordable (we paid $30 for the whole meal) and absolutely delicious!!
(5)James M.
This is a great spot. It's a small neighborhood restaurant with great food all around. Don't expect a 5 star layout of the place, it's small with just a few tables, but it's still comfortable and inviting. The waitress/hostess, i didn't get her name, is super friendly and very good at her job. It's a BYOB, but honestly, I simply want nothing more than good sushi here, and that is exactly what you get here, every time. This is definitely a place I try to stop in at least once a week. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Hannah C.
I LOVE Dasiwa. I frequent this place because of my insatiable love of sushi, and the prices allow for it. It's a quaint cafe during the day, quiet and run by one or two employees. Grab a cup of La Colombe and a Dragon Roll. For dinner, the coziness continues as it gets a little busier with couples and bottles of wine- it's BYO! The Kani Seafood salad is amazing, and if you're into spicy tuna the Happy roll is the way to go. The family who owns and runs the restaurant are sweet and provide great service. They're always so thankful you're there. I tell as many people as I can about Dasiwa, because of their somewhat hidden location. You can't find amazing sushi and apps for their prices.
(5)Victoria R.
Stumbled on this place while looking for lunch after a studying session around the Fairmount area. This is a good sushi place. It's BYOB, they have affordable and good lunch specials. The chef and staff were pleasant to us and I would definitely go back to try other rolls.
(3)Thai P.
Very cute little sushi place, came here one week after having a baby for my nine month sushi craving! Love the sashimi salad, the happy roll ( ordered it with spicy salmon instead), hooligan Nigiri. Now my baby is two weeks old and I'm here again!
(5)Nicolas N.
After reading some good reviews, I had to try the sushi for myself from this tiny restaurant that actually takes reservations. It's also BYOB! Here is my take: Not your typical sushi a-fare, the variety at Dasiwa will keep you coming back to sample the plethora of accessible and affordable Japanese dishes--from the Udon noodle bowls to the pork or beef entrees. Be it fish, fowl, vegetable, beef or seaweed, leave it to Dasiwa to bring authentic eastern flair to the Fairmount area of Philly, at a convenience and price you can't beat with a chopstick. Want some yet? And if you are in a raw mood, there are plenty of creative sushi combos and roll specials that make for a quick and easy selection. We especially liked the TNT 12 roll! You have to be a super-hardcore capsaicin addict to tango with this spicy roll. The sashimi cuts were large and fresh. The dessert selection is minimal and surprisingly not as creative as their sushi. Location is not the most convenient, but still accessible. Parking is rare. For the price, which is similar in range to others in the city, if not lower, and for the quality sushi - I must say, I prefer this hole-in-the wall over the comparable sushi joints ($$-$$$, Morimoto does not apply). Five stars for great service, decent prices, and quality sushi.
(5)Bryce B.
Great little place for an intimate sushi dinner. Total hole in the wall place you'd pass a hundred times and never really realize it was there. Great service, good quality fish, byo, fair prices, and a fun atmosphere make this place worth visiting. Might even be the best sushi byo in the city for the reasons above. Highly recommended.
(4)James I.
Great neighborhood spot. It's affordable and the Sushi is good. The sushi rolls seemed to fall apart quite easily but it was still very tasty. Great place to go for a quick BYOB dinner.
(4)Rebecca G.
My friend and I came here for an early dinner last night, and it really is as good as it gets! BYOB, you have the opportunity to bring your favorite beer- or wine- with you. We did just that, and then started out our meal with shares of the seaweed salad and scallop roll. The seaweed salad had good flavor, and the scallop roll was delicious. And after sharing the sashimi platter as our main course, I decided that the scallops were my favorite part of the meal- even though the rest of the fish was good, too! Dasiwa is super-small and casual (part cafe), which lent to an even more enjoyable experience. I'd definitely go back!
(5)Andrew B.
Good sushi in a very tiny space.
(4)Dana J.
While at the Art Museum, the search for dinner began. A Yelp search showed this place. It is a complete hole in the wall with coffeehouse decor. Our sushi was fine-tasted fresh. The waitress was super sweet and nice. We would come again if in the area. The weird thing-almost every sushi roll had tempura in it. Odd.
(3)Josh Z.
This is very good sushi in an great hole-in-the-wall location. The service was great, the maki were creative, and BYOB is a nice touch. The sushi chef was quite fast compared to many places we've gone. We went before seeing a show at the Mann, and it was a great choice. Prices are fair. I worry about people looking for super-cheap sushi!
(5)Brian T.
Great sushi right in the neighborhood! We decided to stop in for a quick bite. They have several rolls, combos, and several appetizers. I also noticed they have relatively cheap lunch specials, around $11! it's also BYO, which i really like. We started with the loaded postickers, they were pork and covered in spicy tuna and spicy mayo. GREAT appetizer. I also got an order of steamed shu mai, which were great. For my roll, I just wnt with the classic Philly roll, which was done perfect with large chunks of smoked salmon and the right amount of cream cheese. I forget what roll my wife had, it was a baked roll. Both very good. The service was perfect (although we WERE the only ones in there haha) and the prices were great. I think all total, we were around $40, which you can't beat. Solid sushi, good service and great prices.
(5)Carolyn L.
If you're looking for insanely fresh (sourced by the owners who drive to NY to ensure the freshness) for a reasonable price look no further. Dasiwa is the perfect little neighborhood sushi joint tucked into a little corner in the Art Museum area. First of all, BYO, starting off on a good foot already. Bring some sake and you'll be happy that you did. They will warm it for you too, if desired. We were seated by Sam, who was so wonderfully sweet. :) The casual atmosphere will make you feel right at home, which I feel is unusual for most sushi restaurants. The menu has a ton of options (kind of a Japanese/Korean hybrid). One thing I love about Dasiwa is that the menu offers more imaginative, non-run-of-the-mill options than your typical sushi spot. One of these was the loaded gyoza (chicken gyoza topped with roe, spicy tuna, and scallions. These were so different and tasted out-of-this-world. Definitely would recommend trying them out. We also ordered the Kim Chi and Scallion Pajun (korean version of scallion pancakes). This was one of my favorite items on the menu. It was so delicious, the flavors and texture were perfect. Then on to the sushi. Our party of 3 split 4 rolls (off the Special Maki menu) which was way more than enough food. We were all bursting at the seams and were basically waddling out the door at the conclusion of our meal. We enjoyed the TNT, Baked Alaska (like a Philly roll but better), the Dasiwaki, and the Aspen roll. Our favorite was the Aspen: Spicy crab roll and tempura crunch, topped with seared salmon and unagi sauce. Simple but expertly prepared. I would definitely order this again. Top off your meal with some Mochi and you're good to go. Kind of a rice gluten covered ice cream. So good! Warning: If you have a bike, ride it here. Or take Uber. Or a cab. The parking is horrendous. Don't let this stop you though because it is worth the trek. I will be returning soon to get my sushi fix.
(5)Su W.
I had a great experience at this place. The atmosphere was quaint and cozy. It would make a great place for a date. The whole place was booked when I went so I recommend calling in advance to see if they have room. Since it was going to be a 30 min wait I decided to get take out instead. The hostess was very kind and polite when she took my order. When my order was ready I saw they were very considerate and quickly packed it. The service was great and phenomenal. Also the food was delicious and filling. I got two rolls and was completely full, which is surprising for me since I usually eat more than 2 rolls.
(5)Tina T.
My dad and I tried to go to Isabel for lunch but it was closed. So, we headed around the corner to this BYOB with our bottles of wine in tow. What a delicious meal! We ordered the loaded pork gyoza ($8) that had spicy tuna on top. OMG, what a surprise and so good! I had the volcano roll ($11) that was equally as good. Pair that with your own bottle, and you have a very enjoyable meal. Service very attentive too.
(4)Katelyn M.
I got take out from here, so I did not dine in, but stopping by was a little odd. I gave it only four stars because the location is a little bit difficult to access, it's on a corner, and sort of steps down into the restaurant. The parking is very limited as it's a residential area. BUT THE FOOD. I got home and dug into my food, it was incredible. Fresh, delicious, what I order with crunch was crunchy, what I ordered spicy was actually spicy.I let my roommates share some, and they are food snobs, and were also impressed with the fare. The menu online is well done, and makes it inviting, as much as any menu can aid that. I am a pretty bland sushi eater, normally spicy tuna rolls, shrimp tempura rolls, but I also got wantons this time, and they were awesome. I even tried Unagi and it was awesome. I highly recommend the food here, it's probably best to walk if you are from the neighborhood though!
(4)Elisa B.
Came around 7:30pm (with reservations for 3) for a friend's birthday celebration dinner. There was only 1 waitress for all the tables so she looked swamped but still very friendly and nice. The sushi rolls were yummy and fresh - and the BYOB makes it really awesome! Took off 1 star because I still think Vic is better priced - but this place is more of a restaurant rather than a sushi bar and thus more fitting for birthday dinners and such. Would come back again!
(4)Carol N.
When we initially walked in I was surprised at how small it is ( it probably seats 20 people max) and it was very quiet. Once we sat down some music was turned on which made the environment better. The food however was great! The seaweed salad and rolls we got were fresh and delicious. The only downside was they were out of the Wallflower, an appetizer we ordered. Great byob to try!
(4)Gary G.
Recently checked this place out. 4.5 yelps. Solid sushi, excellent tuna tar tar...reminded me of raws tuna tartar, which i love. Good service. A little bit pricier than vics, but i liked it better. Will be back.
(4)Erin S.
Fresh, delicious sushi and entrees, warm and friendly service. Very accommodating to gluten free customers. Not fancy but everything you want from a neighborhood sushi joint. If I lived closer I would frequent this place.
(5)Casey R.
I've come here a number of times for my in the neighborhood sushi fix and always leave pleased. They have a number of specialty rolls for all palates which is nice. The veggie gyoza are amazing and I have to get them every time I go. BYOB which is always a plus. I wish they delivered a tad farther aka to my house but its only about a 7 minute walk for dine in or take out.
(4)Magnolia M.
I yelped some of the sushi spots in the area and decided on Dasiwa based on the 4.5 rating. This place is located on a corner spot in Fairmount. It's a small space with no frills and small tables. The waitress was super inviting, very cute and friendly. She was great at recommending dishes based on what we were feelin up to on this particular night. So far, so good. We started with the "not-cho" play on nachos with lump salmon meat on top. The salmon was plentiful though it came with four nacho chips which was surprisingly smaller than what I had imagined. We also ordered bowls of miso, a volcano roll, the bincho maguro roll and the aspen roll. The fish tasted fresh and everything was presented very well. We agreed that all of the rolls tasted similar despite ordering three distinctly different rolls. While each roll was enjoyed, nothing seemed special. Lastly, we had the Hwe Dup Bop. Again, the fish was very fresh tasting yet nothing seemed extraordinarily memorable. Overall, the food was fresh and the waitress was awesome! She was extremely attentive despite the busy atmosphere. One major issue I had was the place was freezing!! I wore a jacket through the meal and was still very, very cold. I would come back again but I may have to wait for warmer weather before returning.
(3)Michaela E.
I have been here a few times and have loved it every time! Quaint little place with excellent sushi. Can't wait to try out their cafe in the mornings one of these days. I moved from California to Philadelphia and I have been missing sushi ever since. Not that they don't have good sushi here (like Mexican food), but it is just harder to find places you love that are great quality. I have found my sushi place now, and it is Dasiwa :-)
(5)Xander S.
We vegetarians love this v good sushi joint. Garden, Avocado & Bonsai veg roll are super. Orchid roll--sweet potato+mango, is nom.
(4)Nicolette B.
I would give them 2.5 if I could. My boyfriend and I had sushi here back in January '14 and from I remember, it was fine. Nothing mind blowing, nothing inedible. We had made the trip up to the neighborhood specifically for Dasiwa and we didn't regret it but didn't go out of our way to head up again. I stopped by for a chai tea latte today and while the server was nice and attentive (although I was the only patron in there, so....) it was the worst chai tea latte I've ever had. It essentially was milk with an extremely subtle 'other' flavor which I guess was the chai. I wish I could give more stars because the concept is fun and the people who work there are lovely but there's just too many better sushi places and coffee places in Fairmount alone.
(2)Alli H.
Vegetarian? Get the Orchid Roll! I get it every time I go to Dasiwa. In fact.... even if you're carnivorous, you should try an Orchid Roll. The service is incredibly friendly and attentive, the sushi is tasty, and the place is a BYOB. The decor could be updated a little, but who cares, really? Great place for a casual dinner out!
(4)Kat S.
I got the Bulgogi entree here the other night. I have to say it was decent. Nice marinate and tender meat. My friend got sushi and he said it was OK. It was reasonably priced, for the two of us it was $50. It is a very small space, so try to go when it's not busy. It's nice to know it's just around the corner from me, but I don't know if I'd make it a regular stop.
(2)Erica S.
I am a snob when it comes to good sushi most likely because I have overpaid for some pretty average sushi before. This tiny place looks like nothing but is definitely my new favorite and is also very reasonably priced. I have come here quite a few times and have never been let down. They serve up some of the freshest sushi I've had. Also, they have a wonderful and interesting selection of fish and rolls as well as cooked food. I highly recommend the vegetable or meat gyoza. Also a highlight is their mochi (sticky rice dessert) with ice cream inside (choose your flavors-I highly recommend the red bean and green tea flavors). I am so glad I found this hidden gem. I approve.
(5)Katie F.
Great neighborhood restaurant. I can't say enough good things about this place. The location and décor (lower level space) are deceiving. The food is delicious. Their tuna rolls and loaded gyoza are my favorite. The prices are great and it's a byob too. The server is super nice and always gives good recommendations. Overall, it's a place my boyfriend and I keep going back to and each time, we remember why we love it so much.
(5)Teresa A.
The miso soup was pretty much inedible but the sushi was fresh, tasty, and reasonably priced... Byo to boot! I would come back.
(4)Kelly P.
I really enjoyed my time here. I was planning to take a visiting Yelp Elite friend to a different sushi spot in the neighborhood but failed to think ahead for a reservation. It turns out we were just as happy with our experience at Dasiwa. Off the bat we were greeted with friendly smiles and the server was quick to meet our needs. The whole meal was fresh and well timed. I can honestly say I enjoyed each bite. My buddy even convinced me to try raw octopus for the first time. All things were presented in a charmingly simple way. In summary I will be back and I'm so glad to have a neighborhood BYO sushi spot!
(4)Dave W.
Parking sucks. Great food though. Daughter and father (owner?) were extremely friendly. The place is tiny. This is about the food. Excellent. Very fresh, nice mix of ingredients. The Unagi sauce was very good. Top 5 I've tried. Not the syrupy sweet crap a lot of places pass off as Unagi. One piece of gristle (sinew??) in the salmon. Otherwise 5 stars. A couple of mis-communications, but they made it right and I even ended up with some extra pieces... score. I will definitely come back. They were helpful, accommodating and professional. If you're in the museum district, or anywhere close, this is a must try. Put it on your Philly places to try....
(4)Ben S.
Warning. This sushi restaurant does not deserve a 4.5 star restaurant as it is currently rated. I have eaten dinner at Dasiwa twice over the past 6-months and have been seriously disappointed each time. If Morimoto and Sagami are a 5 star dining experience (in my opinion), this restaurant should be rated 2.5 stars at best. During my last visit, I ordered three maki rolls (spicy tuna, salmon and avocado, and yellow tail and scallion) and each one was depressing as I ate it. Skip this place and go elsewhere.
(2)Alice H.
I loved this place!! It is in such a cozy and cute location. The service was amazing and the owner was so kind to my friends and me. The TNT, Happy, Dashiwaki rolls were so good.
(5)Christine D.
I had really high hopes for this place based on other reviews. The shrimp dumplings were super fishy. And the sushi was wrapped with very thick seaweed. It was difficult to chew and ruined the experience. It wasn't as cheap as I thought it would be, and for the quality of the meal, it should have been inexpensive. Big disappointment overall. I wouldn't go back given that there are many other sushi places in the area.
(2)Jim D.
I live nearby and get take out once or twice a month for sushi. Individual rolls are a bit pricey but the quality makes the price worth it. My wife doesn't eat seafood so she goes for their veggie options and loves it. They are quick to prepare food and their sushi is prepared well consistently. They are not wheelchair accessible (as listed). They have several steps and a portable ramp most likely won't work. I just say this as a wheelchair user who always wants to know my options.
(4)Julia L.
Because there was a huge party dining at the same time as us, the restaurant offered us a free roll, the Emerald city roll. It had eel, avocado and unagi sauce. The other roll we had was the firecracker roll, spicy yellowtail roll topped with spicy tuna. Joe was craving some salmon sashimi so we got one order. The 2 specialty rolls we got were volcano roll and dasiwaki roll. The volcano roll had soft shell crab tempura, topped with salmon and roe. The dasiwaki roll had shrimp tempura topped with salmon, mango, avocado and unagi sauce.
(5)Josh M.
I just moved back to the Art Museum neighborhood and now live a 1/2 block away from Dasiwa. It is a cafe/sushi restaurant which could be confusing to some people... Sometimes does not open until after 9am...coffee is La Calombe and is reasonably priced, but coffee is not their bread and butter. I usually go for the Tusa lunch special (1 roll (8 pieces 1/2 tuna and 1/2 salmon)) w/ miso soup for $8! Lunch is served until 3pm. Sushi is consistently fresh and miso soup is awesome. The miso has mushrooms and maybe a chicken broth which gives it a uniquely great taste. I have also had a few special rolls which were also good. The Happy Roll (Spicy tuna and tempura, topped with seared pepper corn tuna, tobiko, scallions and wasabi mayo) definitely makes me happy! Overall, solid little "whole in the wall" sushi cafe with good service!
(4)Rajiv S.
What an awesome experience. Delicious food and Sam is awesome. We ordered the fried eel and mango maki roll so good. The wonton with salmon app was also wonderful. Really recommend this place
(5)Lucy D.
Just WOW. The best sushi I've ever had. You're seriously missing out if you haven't tried this place.
(5)Alicia C.
Delicious healthy sushi. Great spot, lovely waitress. Manager was super accommodating to our party of 6 being late. High recommended if in the neighbourhood !!
(5)Ruddager S.
Fish was fresh Owner/waiter/sushi chef was knowledgable/friendly Quality green tea Can't wait to go back, good quality stuff here
(5)Mary B.
So on a random spur of the moment trip to Philadelphia my friend and I decided to log into yelp and find a sushi spot. Yes we took the chance on trying a sushi place (take a leap of faith!) we had never been to before, and I'm SO GLAD that we did. The reviews do not do the food justice, my review won't be able to do it justice, but I can tell you you won't be disappointed. When we first got there we couldn't find the place, when they say hole in the wall, it literally is. But when you can stop a random person on the street and ask them where it is and they instantly know where you are talking about (even when you say the name wrong) you should know your in for a treat. You come down some steps into what appears to be a basement restaurant. The smell of fish may offend you...it offended me at first but I quickly got used to it....which is unusual for me...so still can't knock a star off for it. We got the mermaid and a second sushi roll whose name I can't remember. They both were DELICIOUS! Literally two rolls that were works of art. Some may take a star off because they do not have fountain drinks, but they sell cans and bottles and tea, and it's byob. But in all honesty sodas take away from the flavor in my opinion so I can't knock off a star when I don't drink soda. I WILL be back the next time I return to Philly. No doubt about it.
(5)Ben C.
I went here tonight for a date with my girlfriend on her bday. We ordered kani salad, dragon roll, rainbow roll, udon. Kani salad had some sashimi mixed in and also had this spicy kick to it that made it so amazing. $5 definitely should get it. Dragon roll was expensive, but when I saw how big it was and the amount of unagi put in (I know that unagi is expensive) I could definitely see it was nowhere near a ripoff (btw you get more than 6 pieces). When I tasted it, it was simply the best dragon roll i had (there was I think spicy tuna mixed in which definitely complimented it well). Rainbow roll all hinges on how fresh the fish is and I wasnt let down. Finally, the udon. Im not a fan of udon, my gf ordered it. It definitely was above average and was cheap considering we got tempura as a side. My gf thought it was the best udon she ever had. Last things ill say is pretty much what everyone else says. Owner - very nice guy. BYOB - table next to us comes in with 6 pack and owner comes and kindly opens it for them. parking - is a b**** but there are so many spots, just spend 10 minutes and youll find a one (maybe) :) Oh I should also mention the ambience. hole in the wall - type - vibe but very cozy.
(5)Pete L.
Went here on a Saturday night. Parking took a while. Don't bank on getting a free spot (but luckily I did!) They accommodated the large party of 9. It was a quiet small spot. It wasn't busy at all. Service was excellent. They sushi was great! Fresh of cours. Fast service. BYOB too! They a wide varieties of teas. We had green tea mochi for desert. I would definitely go here again!
(5)Priyanka D.
Horrible service. ... it took 50 mins to get our food on the table n a refill of water... no matter how the food tasted its terrible to dine here if u r hungry n its an awful place to celebrate ones anniversary. .. never ever coming here again even for free food!!!
(1)Steve S.
I went on a Philly sushi quest tonight, and Yelp brought me here. This is what I love about the Yelp app. I never would have thought to even come to a place like this. But looking for a really good and casual sushi place, and in the mood to find a new place, I would up here after seeing this place pop up near the top of the search list. So yes, it's a combo coffee shop and sushi bar. Yes, that's an unusual combo. Yes, the place concerned my wife at first because she wasn't sure she would be able to find enough she wanted to eat (she can be picky about these kind of places). But she gave in after reading more of the menu once we got there. The appetizers of the Pork Gyoza and Shrimp Shumai soon convinced us that we made a good choice. The portions are a little small but somewhat reasonably priced. She also ordered a noodle bowl called Bibim Naeng-Myun with chicken which got no complaints. But we came here for the sushi, and that's what we are judging it on ultimately. And I will say that they know what they are doing. My wife is more of a basic sushi fan, Philly roll and Shrimp Tempura roll for her, and she was raving about them. I like more creative rolls, so I started with the Mermaid roll topped with very pretty and colorful tobiko that was fantastic. Then they served me my Volcano roll which might have been my favorite. That's just a fun roll to eat. The last roll was the Dasiwaki. First time I ever had sushi that involved mango. In all, just a wonderful sushi experience. Topped it off with some dessert featuring the Green Tea Mochi which was a little small for my tastes, but ok. What won me over was the coffee cake. Heard so much about it here. It's worth it for sure. It seems to be half sugar and half cake, but I didn't seem to mind. Now, the service... you know, I really don't want to bash them for this. Truth is, yes it can be slow. If the place is full, which means 20 people tops in the place, they get a little scatterbrained, and the sushi chefs get backed up. We even had an incorrect dish brought to us which they corrected and apologized for. But, everyone there was so nice and so funny that you get over it. It may not be a 5 star service level, but this place doesn't seem to be built for that. They mean well and that goes a long way with me. Sushi quality alone is a 5 star experience though. In the end that's what matters. Total bill for everything we got was $88. 5 rolls, 2 appetizers, two desserts. But I ordered three specialty rolls which was responsible for half of that. The basic rolls were cheaper for sure. I left there wanting this place to succeed. It's probably the first real and totally unpretentious sushi place I've ever seen. It may even be worth a drive in from Delco on occasion.
(4)Dana M.
Oh, Dasiwa, how I love you so. Excellent prices. The Dasiwaki (probably spelled that wrong) is incredible. Actually, all their rolls are quite good. The service is impeccable. I'm embarrassed to admit I come here almost weekly. Make a reservation on Friday nights/weekends and enjoy their great selection of rolls. You will not be disappointed.
(5)George B.
Just had lunch there. Great, friendly place. I'm very picky when it comes to seafood, but this was really fresh and well prepared.Good soups for the cold weather as well! Highly recommended, I will definitely go back again.
(5)Sean G.
Don't agree with all of the 4 and 5 star ratings. The sushi is mediocre, the decor is old and out dated. I gave 3 stars only because the service was fast and friendly and the Miso soup was one the best I have had.
(3)Kira G.
Stop reading Yelp reviews and check out Dasiwa for yourself. Right now. The food is amazing. Try the Loaded Gyoza or Not-cho as an appetizer. There is not a bad roll on the menu, but my personal favorites are the Dasiwaki, the Emerald City, the Aspen, the Orchid, the Shaggy Dog...and I could keep going. If you have room at the end of your meal (and good luck with that), the mochi is a refreshing dessert. The service is incredible. In all likelihood, you will meet Tom, the owner, or one of his kids over the course of your meal. The restaurant is small, and often crowded, but never once I have seen any member of the staff let that affect their service. Sam is particularly wonderful and sweet. Everyone is very accommodating - whether you need ice buckets for the five bottles of wine you brought with you (it has happened) or you want to customize an order of a roll on the menu, they've got you covered. On a personal note, a group of friends and I have been regulars at Dasiwa for almost 3 years now. This restaurant is so special to us that last year, when he needed to pick a location to propose, my fiance went to talk to Tom at Dasiwa. Tom closed the restaurant for us on a Monday night, Sam made a playlist of romantic music and set up her phone to record the event, and the sushi chefs made us an amazing dinner while keeping the post-dessert surprise a secret. It was incredible. I'm actually amazed that Dasiwa hasn't expanded yet - if this restaurant was located in a more central location, people would be flocking to it. If you decide to venture to Fairmount to give it a go, bring your beverage of choice, prepare to search for parking, and make a reservation. Any hassle you have to go through will be well worth it once you're there.
(5)Jenna D.
Perfect little neighborhood BYOB Sushi spot. Quaint, and underground. The Kani Salad is a must and a Seaweed Salad on blast... (Seaweed Salad, Sashimi, Crab Salad, Crunch and Spicy Aioli combination.) The Wallflower is nice and light (Salmon, Tuna, Mango, and Asparagus wrapped in Cucumber instead of Seaweed/Rice, and Ponzu.) All the rolls are fresh and unique. Bring in some Sake or Sapporo and you're good. Get the Mochi for dessert.
(5)Ryan D.
So delicious. Their Hwe Dup Bap was amazing! the Nigiri: Sake and Unagi perfectly complimented the meal. Oh yeah...BYOB! Or better yet: BYOW/BYOS (Wine or Sake!) Make sure to call-ahead to make a reservation or check their occupancy level. They continually had to turn people away due to lack of table space. Don't be afraid (my friend and I weren't) and asked a married couple to join our four-person table--great way to get to know your fellow Philly residents!
(5)Katie P.
Had dinner here tonight after seeing the OUTSIDER ART exhibit at PMA ( pay what you wish after 5 p.m. on Wednesday- the museum NOT the restaurant). This place is lovely. A coffee bar with pastries and a sushi/Japanese restaurant. The Gyoza appetizer I had was mind blowing. Everything else was great ( sushi and Bulgogi) but the gyoza ( their special house gyoza) was the BEST I have ever had in my life. The space is intimate and tranquil. Nice service- friendly. A nice gem of a place.
(5)Dominek T.
I love this place. It is very small but very personable. I suggest if you are going anytime after 5pm you make reservation. The sushi is beautiful and very affordable. When I went I got the loaded gyoza , fried philly roll, and the volcano roll. ALL MAZING
(5)Ali S.
My boyfriend, Matt and I were in the city at the Barnes Foundation and wanted sushi for lunch. Most of the places we knew of are only open for dinner. So we turned to Yelp and Dasiwa was open for lunch and everyone was giving it great reviews. We were not disappointed and loved everything! We walked in and were greeted promptly and were seated. We were told to look at the lunch specials on the board. Matt and I both decided to get the maki trio for lunch. It consisted of a california roll, salmon roll, and a tuna roll. Matt also ordered miso soup and I ordered a sashimi salad. The salad was served in a martini glass and had a little bit of heat to it which I liked. Matt's soup was also great and he enjoyed it. We both enjoyed our maki trio and it was priced at $17. While we were there a few customers stopped in for coffee and a pastry and there were 2 other tables. The staff was friendly and our waters were kept filled. Dasiwa is a BYOB and would be a great place for a nice dinner. I will definitely be back!
(4)Tim M.
Been to this place a few times now. Usually not crowded at all, sometimes just the one party. That's kind of surprising because the sushi is top notch
(5)Kimberly N.
I came here based upon a friend's recommendation. She told me the place is tiny but a beautiful surprise. My only gripe about this place is the limited street parking. Otherwise, the sushi here is super super amazing. Our table ordered the edamame and Not-cho to start. Edamame was big and perfectly salted, and the Not-cho was a great mix of crunch and freshness. For my entree, I ordered the Spider Monkey Roll, probably the best sushi roll I've had in Philly. Everything was very fresh. Can't wait to go back here. Nom nom nom.
(5)Joshua J.
Best sushi I've had in Philly, hands down. There are many other recommended places, and they're alright, but the ingredients are always just okay, not great. This place blew me away, the Volcano roll is absolutely ridiculous. Very excellent ingredients and very good presentation. The location is a little tucked in, hard to find parking, but when you get there, it's really cool. Very quaint little sushi shop/coffee shop. The owner, Tom, was behind the counter, humoring us the whole time, really nice guy. He let us try a sample of his white tuna, which was really cool, told some good jokes and kept us entertained. Small business owner doing it right. I really enjoyed the Udon that we ordered as well, but it seemed like the sushi was on a higher level. Still delicious though. I will go back here frequently, even though it's out of the way and out of my neighborhood. The review that complained that they weren't serving sushi, they have bands play every other sunday where they do not serve food. Not a big deal at all. Kind of cool if you ask me.
(5)Kate H.
My boyfriend and I went yesterday and decided that it is our new favorite sushi place in Philadelphia, HANDS DOWN! Lucky for us, because the restaurant is right down the street from us. Service was friendly,helpful,and fast. The woman was very kind to us and told us to take our time and that there was no rush. (I hate it when restaurants rush their customers!) Be sure to try the volcano roll, tempura shrimp, and maguro rolls!
(5)Clare D.
Sometimes a little hole-in-the-wall can make some surprisingly decent food. Dasiwa is a little neighborhood coffee shop and sushi joint. Coffee, cakes, and biscotti are still sold on the premises, but the sit-down menu is mostly sushi. I ordered three nigiri items: ika (squid), albacore tuna, and hotate (scallop). These were good, but completely unseasoned, perhaps catering to the tastes of its neighborhood clientele. Strangely, the spicy sauce accompanying our Shrimp Shumai and Sashimi Salad proved otherwise. The shumai tasted like every other shumai, but with the addition of sesame seeds and a nice sweet and spicy sauce. The salad had some nicely seasoned shards of fish in it. The Naeng Myun (buckwheat noodles served in a chilled tangy broth made from beef, pickled radish, and chinese cabbage and topped with kimchi, assorted vegetables, spring mix, beef, and half of a hard boiled egg) was a total miss. I hated it. The noodles were good, but where's the beef?! We didn't find any. The chunks of flavored ice sitting on top of the noodles was especially unnerving. The best item on the menu was the Dasiwaki, a shrimp tempura, avocado, and mango maki roll topped with salmon, avocado, unagi sauce, and spicy mayo. The combination of sweet, spicy, chewy, and crunchy was truly fantastic, an example of how simple ingredients can taste great together. The Spider Monkey, a tempura fried soft shell crab and asparagus roll topped with spicy salmon, tobiko, and scallions wasn't as good. I didn't like the fried batter on the soft shell crab. The crumb coffee cake was 60% crumb, just the way I like, and it wasn't overly sweet, making it a good dunker in milk or coffee. Our server was very nice and attentive and my friend Chris W and I liked the quaint atmosphere of this BYOB.
(3)Brad M.
Great sushi, cool little neighborhood spot. The sushi is excellent quality and reasonably priced. We've been here twice and will keep coming back. Love that it is BYO as well. The Fahrenheit roll (special the night we were there) was outstanding.
(5)ML V.
I knew this was a great spot from the moment I stepped foot into this place. The dining area is pretty small, so I can see it getting crowded over the weekends. The ambiance is very laid back, and homey. The restaurant owner was extremely welcoming and friendly as well. He offered his input, and was very accommodating. I had one of the lunch specials, that came with a California roll, 1 specialty roll and miso soup. $10, you can't beat that! In addition, we ordered the aspen roll, per the recommendation of the owner. If there's anything you should order, it's definitely the aspen roll. It has a wide variety of different tastes, and ingredients that come together to form an amazing product ("Spicy crab roll and tempura crunch, topped with seared salmon and unagi sauce"). Everything we had was plated so well, and extremely delicious. You can tell everything is fresh. We were told that all of the fish is hand picked and fresh, which is reflected in the quality of the sushi. I'm not from this area, but I intend on returning once I visit again. It would be nice to see them expand, and open more locations. This is a hidden gem that should be known!
(5)Di P.
I heart this place, yo. My boo and I rolled in on a random very very cold Thursday night and we were the only ones there. So I was a little suspicious because I usually associate places that are bumpin' with the goodness of the food. But lo and behold, the service and food were excellent. Definitely the feel of a family run business with like mom making the sushi, dad handing the bills and daughter serving you the food. And everyone was amiable (server was funny and sweet... wonder if she's single should i set her up with my friend?? hmm No, he's not good enough she was that cool). I was laughing because I felt like EVERYTHING had avocado in it and I'm sadly newly allergic to it, but obviously they let me order it without the avocado. Verdict: everything was fresh and pleasing to the tongue and eyes. Best part about this place is that it was laid back and I could totally see myself going there with a bottle of wine (byob!!! awesome!), chompin' on some sushi and browsin the interwebs. A great find for those of us in the Art Museum.
(5)Ulana D.
I LOVE DASIWA! The sushi here is delicious and very reasonably priced! My husband and I love their specialty rolls and shumai. I've had a couple large group dinners here with friends (it's a byob) and the staff has always been wonderful and very accommodating. They also do take-out and I'm amazed how quickly the food is ready for pickup. During the morning/day, this is the only place in Fairmount where I can find an great cup of La Colombe coffee. They have free wifi and great breakfast sandwiches.
(4)Blue G.
Came for my friend's live music concert. This is a little casual Japanese place in Fairmount that do not make me feel that they are trying to make it very traditional "Japanese Japanese". It has more casual and local summer like atmosphere, not particularly real Japanese but definitely has an atmosphere of somewhere in Asia. The owner was friendly and we all enjoyed the concert.
(3)Brad P.
That coffee cake is like something out of a nightmare. A nightmare where I'm drowning in coffee cake crumb. It has surrounded me and it is suffocating me. It is delicious but I still can't breathe. I struggle to take air into my lungs but there is only coffee crumb. My body seizes and I enter the void. Seriously, the crumb on this coffeecake is thick. I know the crumb is usually like an afterthought in a coffeecake but here it is a serious business layer. Oh yeah, also the place is cute as hell and the sushi is good.
(5)Ryans P.
My new favorite place in the fairmount/art museum/brewerytown area. Great concept place you can go and get a pretty good breakfast for CHEAP and really good sushi. Breakfast: Basically everything for breakfast is #3.50 or less: bfast burrito, omelette with hash brown, two pancakes with two eggs...Really good muffins. The coffee cake is awesome! Sushi: They have pretty good sushi and it is completely affordable for how good it is. They even have vegan sushi. I had one with tempura sweet potato...AWESOME. They have by far my favorite bowl of udon soup of all time! The stock is delicious. BYOB. Free wifi. This place is awesome. Odd music choices though.
(5)Beth R.
Stopped by for dinner a few nights ago and our sushi was disappointing. For starters, there was minimal fish in the rolls. The tuna roll tasted like mostly rice with cucumber and scallion filler and a small bit of fish. What's with the cucumber filler in everything? Also did not like the misleading menu description...salmon rolls were really half avocado, some cucumber, and the bit of salmon. I hate avocado, hate it, hate it. If they described this as "salmon avocado", I wouldn't have ordered it obviously. There wasn't that mush salmon in there. My friend was equally unimpressed. I remembered it being much better 2 years ago when I was last here. The kicker is the simple rolls start at $7...same as upscale sushi joints in center city with great ambiance and location a la Zama. There are places with better rolls that cost less in the immediate neighborhood, in my opinion. Service was very good, would give our waiter 5 stars.
(2)Chris M.
GREAT Neighborhood Spot. Morning: Coffee, Latte, Bagels, Munchies.. CHILL location.. quick service SUSHI: Yes, they offer it.. and it is VERY GOOD. We were skeptical considering the size of this joint..and their breakfast persona.. but the SUSHI is on par. Close, Good, Get in here and TRY IT. BYOB for a nice relaxed dinner!
(5)Sara H.
Japanese food is something that will always be close to my heart. I lived in Tokyo, Japan for 9 years of my life. I am not a snob, by any means when it comes to sushi but I am open minded to however creatively they can be made. My boyfriend and I went here on Valentine's Day. We made a reservation, and were seated at the sushi bar (which in my opinion is the most fun). We brought our own bottle of wine since we read that it was BYOB. I spoke to the owner, Tom who was busy making sushi, but was so funny and kind enough to talk to us. The waitress Sam, was his daughter, and she was so sweet and did a great job with making sure that everything came in a timely fashion and made sure we weren't confused with anything on the menu. The atmosphere is cozy, it's small and quite nice. I ordered the Da Si Wa roll which was probably all ingredients to a sushi roll that are my favorite rolled into one. I can tell you, it was heaven! My boyfriend ordered 3 types of rolls, the Emerald City, Avocado roll, and Shrimp Tempura. He was impressed. Because it was Valentine's Day they were serving free orders of Sake for the evening. They asked us if we wanted some and we accepted. It was amazing with the sushi. This place is a small family owned place and they do such a nice job of running it. They're people-oriented and they care about their customers, I could tell. We live in Queen Village so coming here on a motorcycle took about 30 minutes with Center City traffic, so it's not exactly down the street from us but we agreed we will definitely be back again and hopefully more than once more.
(5)Jennifer T.
We ordered five rolls from here (take out) and ate them immediately at home in the hood. While the fish didn't smell fishy, it tasted like nothing. Only one roll had any taste and it was from the delicious sauce. Perhaps the fish was previously frozen, I am not sure. I would give it another shot but I felt like it was pricey ($55 for take out).
(3)Monica Q.
Went to lunch here with a coworker based on a suggestion from two other coworkers and had sushi. The service was awesome. Nothing fancy, just a friendly, warm setting with yummy sushi. I ordered a California roll ($5) and a Shrimp Tempora roll ($7) and asked that they be cut small. They were cut small and were perfect! Very fresh and tasty. The sweet and spicy sauce served with it was so good! Never had it before but now I will always ask for it anytime I get sushi! Sushi came out quickly and was very appetizing. All the guests that came in while we were eating knew Tom (I think he might be the owner?) and it felt like one of those smaller momma pop places where the owner knows his customers and they loyally come back to support the business and for the food. We agreed we would DEF be back! LOVEDDDDD!
(5)Lucas M.
So, there I was hanging out while my wife was at work, and I thought to myself "Self, it's your birthday! You should go nuts and go get yourself some sushi for lunch to celebrate!" So I hopped on my bike and rode up to Umai Umai, neglecting to notice that it was closed. So, after some rapid on the street decision making (aided by Yelp, of course) I ended up at Dasiwa. It's in a neighborhood, in one of those odd Philly shops, not quite a basement, not quite street level, located on the corner of a block of buildings. I came in and the owner was building a rail for the stairs by hand and was using a sander so didn't hear me come in. Once he noticed me, I was seated right away, as no one else was there, and placed my order. Super friendly guy, and was making quite a nice little handrail too! Anywhoo, I got the California rolls and the spicy crunchy albacore rolls. He also gave me free miso soup because...I don't know. He just did. The rolls were quite good, and there seemed to be a pretty good selection of choices too. I will be back to try the others since this place is open for lunch, unlike 'that other place'! So, long story short, I went out on a bike to one place, ended up in another, still got my sushi and some free miso soup. You can't beat that with a stick. Or you could, but you'd end up with fish and soup everywhere and that would just a mess.
(4)Ayana P.
I liked this place! I decided to stroll the 'hood today until I found something that was worth checking out. There aren't many options. Dasiwa is now on my list of places to walk to in the neighborhood when I don't feel like cooking (that's what happened today). The employee was very nice and attentive but not way too much. I had the wildfire sushi and it was delicious! The miso soup was also delish but that's a no-brainer. I'm glad I tried the place out. Will definitely be back for some more sushi.
(4)Louis R.
I came here with mah Philly Yelp homegurl, Kelly P. ...it was an appropriate resto for us to hit. They have Italian sweets (e.g., biscotti) AND Japanese entrees (e.g., sushi/sashimi/rolls)....Its true, Italian + Asian combos rule. seewhatididthere Its BYOB, the octopus, eel and wildfire roll was deelish, there's a chill and friendly waiter...I was def happy about eating here.
(4)Ryan W.
After seeing the great yelp reviews my girlfriend and I decided to try Dasiwa out. Small place probably seats 20 so we made reservations as they are recommended for a Friday night. It's byo so we brought a bottle and ordered four special rolls, edamame, and a mango mochi. We ordered the Aspen roll, Mashiro roll, Dasiwaki roll, and Wildfire roll. All were great. Very fresh seafood, especially the eel. We couldn't pick a favorite because they were all superb and we would order all again. The presentation was very good as well. Our waitress was great, very attentive and nice. The dessert was very good as well and I am not big on dessert. the mango ice cream was not overly sweet and tasted great. We were even treated to a complimentary appetizer to try at the end of the meal that they are trying out to see if it should be on the menu. It was tuna with eel sauce and spicy mayo on top a "nacho". It should be on the menu as it did not disappoint. In addition, their spicy mayo was one of the best I've ever tried. has a great kick to it which I find most can use a little more spice. Overall very pleased with our visit and will definitely be returning soon!! I feel this wont remain a hidden gem for very much longer.
(5)Kimmie M.
My boyfriend and I visited on a Tuesday, and fell in LOVE! Really awesome sushi! Definitely a family oriented place, really small, but super friendly. Will definitely be back for more!
(5)Katie D.
I live in Fairmont and this is my favorite neighborhood sushi spot. High quality specialty rolls, I've liked everything I've tried and BYOB is a plus for me. They also deliver within a six block radius. However, I wouldn't recommend this for an out of towner or date night. It's a tiny place with pretty shabby decor and usually just one waitress manning tables. Great for a casual weeknight meal.
(4)Yuri L.
BEST SUSHI IN THE AREA!! Really good prices and their special rolls are def worth a try! It's also BYOB so you can enjoy a great dinner even if you are on a budget. I would recommend calling ahead of time because this place can get busy, even on a weekday!
(5)Kevin S.
Really good when I can actually get Sushi. I've walked in a few times and been told they were not serving food, or that a band was going to play or who knows. Worth a try, yes... The Sushi is great, the staff are all nice, but call ahead before you show up.
(3)Liz D.
I have been in fairmount for over 5 years and when this place opened up, Sakura was our sushi spot. The concept of a coffee place + sushi bar actually kept us away at first but I am so glad we tried dashiwa and are officially converted. The menu is creative and well executed. When ordering takeout, my fiance and i usually get one of the bigger fancy rolls and three smaller rolls and it is enough. If we are extra hungry, edamame too. Yesterday was my first dine in experience and it's even better than takeout. The menu was bigger than the takeout menu, and the presentation was beautiful -wish I would have snapped a photo before diving in. The sauce design on the plate looked like it was actually part of the plate itself! The miso soup was $2 and delicious, and it went a long way to help cure my friend's hangover. Overall I consider this place a neighborhood gem and after yesterday will be dining in more often.
(4)Joanne A.
Just had dinner here tonight with my gurlfrand who took me out for my birthday! Definitely looked up this cute place on Yelp and then decided to go cuz of the great reviews, and boy am I glad we picked this place! This place definitely has a family-run type of feel - it's very quaint and sweet. BYOB = awesome; brought myself a nice cheap bottle of wine! The prices are reasonable, I would say average - or even better than average - for Philly sushi. Between the 2 of us girls, we ordered shumai, some special seaweed salad (I don't remember what it was called), a volcano roll, an alaskan roll, a dashiwa roll, and salmon sashimi, and we were more than satisfied. THEN the server brings out this special little dish (again, don't remember what it was) that was DELICIOUS and said the chef/sushi master was testing out some new things and just let us try it!! omgosh so good. So best part: the owner comes out and offers us 2 shots of free sake. LOL THANKS!! ugh but I had to decline because I had all this work to do when I got back home (which is what I'm clearly doing right now). So he did offer it to all of the other patrons in the restaurant!! There was only another table of 3 and another table of 2 at the restaurant though, so everyone was laughing out loud and talking together. Amazing. Because I couldn't take the sake, they did bring out 2 cups of delicious home brewed americano coffees on the house! I got a very warm "Happy birthday!" from everyone at the restaurant as we left, including the owner&employees :) Wow - so generous and sweet! Delicious, good sizes, good prices, and such a comfortable atmosphere. I will be back...very soon!!!!
(5)Anthony M.
I LOVE THIS PLACE- went two nights in a row. one: it's cheap. two: it's fantastic quality. a true gem. if you like sushi and are on a budget, there is no better place. everything tasted fresh and delicious. i haven't had any of their baked goods or coffee although i'm sure it's good too. my gf did try one of the iced green teas and it was superb. my faves so far: appz: pork gyoza (great texture and dipping sauce) the shrimp shumai. rolls: sunburn roll (i normall dont even really like tuna sushi, but this tuna melts in your mouth.) the volcano roll, the philly roll, alaska roll and california roll. they have specials every day too. i can't recommend this place enough SUPPORT LOCAL SUSHI! go to disawa.
(5)Arthur O.
Newly opened this past week, Dasiwa, sushi bar by night and cafe by day, is the brain child of Tom, owner of Tom's Trust Deli a couple of block down the street on N 26th. Not unlike the Trust Deli, Dasiwa is a family owned and operated joint, and you can clearly see the passion and quality in the food and service. In an area nearly completely devoid of dining options, Tom and his crew have not only delivered a restaurant, but also an exceptional sushi experience. BYO for now, so don't forget!
(5)Justin S.
Always great service, delightfully chill vibe and delicious fresh sushi at a great value. Also, coffee cake is mostly all the delicious crumb parts so they know what's up.
(5)Elizabeth D.
We were very excited to try this new cafe/sushi spot as it's right on our block. It's an intriguing concept - coffee/pastries in the AM, sushi from lunch time on. If you've ever been to the old Sylvia & Joe's, you'd remember the dark, cramped, basement like interior. The new owners have completely transformed the space. A big counter, which triples as sushi prep, dining, and cashier's space. Tons of little tables, bright yellow walls, lots of lighting. We went early for dinner on a Friday, since we knew it might get really busy. You can tell the staff is new, but really eager. They all seemed a little unsure of themselves, but were friendly and polite. We ordered miso soup to start (a sweet cup for $2), then split the Rainbow Roll, Dasimaki Deluxe, and a Spicy Tuna Roll. We did wait a bit between servings (the Dasimaki took the longest). Sushi is very fresh, and extremely well priced. Completely beats Umai Umai in that department. However, my husband did find a bone in his roll, which was a bit of a bummer. I will chalk most of the issues up to this being a new spot and still working out some kinks. They definitely fill a niche in the neighborhood (reasonably priced sushi + coffee spot), and it will be great to see what they can do with the place going forward.
(3)Esme G.
I live nearby and have been here many times for lunch, coffee, breakfast and dinner. On slow days I have brought my computer and books and been able to study while eating dinner. Other days I just come for great, cheap food. The family (plus) that works here is very friendly, often talkative and always fun to interact with. They have delicious korean bulgogi and spicy pork, really cheap and good breakfast burritos (3.50 with a side of sushi rice), and sushi ranging from decent to delicious (the house special rolls are really awesome). I enjoy coming and sitting at the small sushi bar when I am on my own and watching the owner make sushi, or prepare the fish. This is a family run, neighborhood restaurant/cafe thingy, and I wish there were more restaurants like it- open all times of the day for the neighborhood to come and interact, relax and have refreshments. It is the American-Korean version of cafe/bars in small town France
(4)Erika S.
Get the Not-cho. It's perfect.
(5)Jimmy S.
If you are looking for really good sushi and a small friendly atmosphere then this your place... Also if you are looking for a cup of La Colombe coffee this is the only place in Fairmount you can get it... Great neighborhood place that we when its time for sushi this is where we go...
(5)Regina F.
The crumb topping on the coffee cake is perfectly proportioned...meaning it's three times the thickness, three HUNDRED times the density and three THOUSAND times the deliciousness of any other crumb I've ever experienced. (Then there's that whole idea that you can throw together sushi, coffee shop, and COFFEE CAKE into one cohesive environment. That's cute. It works.)
(5)leigh s.
Located in a beautiful neighborhood, this tiny cafe is worth stopping for! Despite the small size, the staff is polite and helpful, the atmosphere is cozy, and the menu is extensive. I tried the volcano roll, the orchid roll, and a piece of coffee cake - all for takeout. The service was quick, and the food was reasonably priced and very tasty! They seem to have a large drink list as far as smoothies and coffee drinks, and lots of cakes/cookies as well. Overall very pleased; Will probably treat myself to takeout (or an occasional eat-in date) frequently!
(5)Anya M.
I've only gone in for breakfast and coffee, haven't tried the sushi yet. They're very friendly in here and the prices are much better than a lot of the other spots in the area. I also love that they don't up charge for flavors syrups and allow you to mix up your coffee however you'd like. While breakfast is nothing wild, this is a great spot to grab something on the go.
(4)Reed B.
What a dump! Bad service all the way around. Took half an hour to place an order for a to-go cup of coffee. Fish looks and smells far from fresh. Schizophrenic indecision between being a coffee-house and a sushi joint. All-around failure in a neighborhood of bad options.
(1)Rosemary R.
Excellent sushi. Wonderful neighborhood restaurant. Fantastic personable staff. A favorite.
(5)Ilana R.
Had my birthday dinner at this small, BYOB family owned restaurant that I randomly found on Yelp and saw great reviews and very reasonable prices! The family is so nice, the food and service is excellent and they were so accomodating and fun! We took up the whole restaurant (as its' pretty small) and had such a wonderful time. Great food, prices, everything! Can't wait to go back for dinner soon!
(5)Jackie G.
Nom nom nom. Shaggy dog roll is off the hook and the chain. Dumplings were very tasty. And you can get coffee too! They have soy milk!
(5)Stephanie Y.
Really excellent neigborhood spot with amazing, friendly staff and a good selection of rolls. The one thing I wish they had is more variety in starters. The past few times I've gone, I've asked for recommendations on rolls and their suggestions have been excellent! Sunburn and volcano rolls are my favorite. This is a great place to try out new rolls too, as the prices are extremely reasonable. I always thought that the coffee/sushi bar combo was odd, but in fact I am happy to end my meal with a great cup of coffee.
(4)Brian G.
Friendly staff, good service, kid-friendly establishment. The sushi is very good and reasonably priced.
(5)Sarah S.
I chose this place because of the pretty great reviews on Yelp! However,disappointed is an understatement. The sushi was HORRIBLE! I've had better sushi from the grocery store. To start off, it was dinner time and we were the only two people eating in the little place, then the cups smelled like fish (second red flag) and then the sushi...which tasted soapy and old. As the sushi chef was packing our food he started out using chopsticks and then just used his hands which was disgusting but really didn't matter considering we threw the food away as soon as we walked out. Total waste of money! With that being said, the waiter was friendly and fairly quick (probably because we were the only people there) but if you want sushi that taste even decent then I highly suggest going somewhere else. It baffles me that this place has reviews above 1 star.
(1)Soyoung K.
A very long overdue review. I had walked by this place a while ago and wanted to try it out. They also advertised all over the neighborhood with cute drawings on the sidewalk with chalk - very clever, I say. It really induced my curiosity to find out what it was all about. So I went one afternoon with my sister. We had Tuna tataki, Sushi + Sashimi Combo, and Soft shell crab roll to share. One of the best brunches ever! I mean, I love some good sushi and that was exactly what I got. I especially liked Tuna tataki. There was just the right amount of ponzu sauce. Yum!! Now, despite the fact that the food was delish and the venue is beyond cuteness, I am sad to give 3 stars because the service was totally below average. I am not expecting Barclay Prime experience but we were given a pitcher of water but no glasses.(We had asked for some water in the middle of our meal.) I wanted to ask the guy for glasses but he never stopped by to ask us how everything was or made eye contacts... I was seriously staring at him, too. Plus, the food took like 40 minutes to come out. It seemed like we were the only ones getting food at the time anyway. I don't understand. Maybe they had to defrost a block of tuna? Overall, it's a nice place to go grab a cup of coffee and spend the entire afternoon surfing on the net on your laptop. I do not own a laptop so I won't be frequenting this place very often. P.S. Dasiwa = come again in Korean. I wanted to go again and again and again but I might or I might not.
(3)Jose A.
Great sushi, chill coffee house atmostphere, really awesome prices for the caliber sushi that you get. Sad to hear that they might not be open again for a while... As soon as they do though I am for sure going back...
(5)Rosalyn S.
We went here for dinner on a Saturday night, looking for something in the neighborhood that was casual. The sushi is very fresh -- we particularly enjoyed the sashimi salad and the nagiri. The folks that work here are also very friendly and made us feel right at home. Definitely have the coffee cake, as prior reviewers mentioned. We'll be back for breakfast and some more sushi.
(5)Chris C.
OK, so it's actually a coffee shop at the moment until they get a zoning thing worked out with the city to be able to reintroduce sushi to the menu, but... it's a cool place to hang out, have a cup of coffee, eat a bagel, some quiche, etc. and soak up the local atmosphere. Lots of neighborhood characters popping in and out (of which I am one) help add to its charm. And they actually serve a quality cup of coffee or tea! (La Colombe and Mighty Leaf). Friendly staff too.
(4)Jing G.
5 stars for staff. Awesome and attentive staff. 1 star for atmosphere - there is none to speak of. 2 stars for food. This place only had the very basic of sushi fish. ie., didn't even have ikura or roe of any type. There wasn't much to be had off the nigiri menu at all. What we did have - the tuna tataki, onigiri, udon - was OK but none could really qualify as Japanese food. The tuna tataki was more like an western-styled pepper crusted seared tuna on a bed of baby greens, and the onigiri appetizer was 4 little tiny loosely pressed triangles of rice with chopped fish inside. The udon was $5 for a bowl of udon noodles in non-descript soy-dashi broth. No vegetables, no nothing. We had ordered the yellowtail main course as well, but we saw that another customer had ordered it as well and the sushi chef had told one of the servers that they didn't have any more yellowtail. The dish was substituted with white tuna. Nobody said anything to us about there not being yellowtail or the intention to swap fish so we cancelled that order because we were not in the mood to have white tuna, and plus it had taken a while at this point, too. None of the chefs had started on it so cancelling it wasn't a problem. The staff believed we cancelled it because we had waited so long, so they brought to us a complimentary white tuna dish, which was a very nice gesture on their part, but we did end up leaving it on the table. As nice as they were, it wasn't a dining experience I'd like to have again.
(2)Mish A.
Awesome sushi that is well crafted and melt in your mouth delicious. Try the specials, don't go for your comfort stuff here. Super friendly staff makes this dining experience complete.
(4)Daniel P.
I went there Saturday for sushi. Great neighborhood spot. The owner was super hospitable and a great host. The sushi was fresh, delicious, and reasonably priced. We requested the sushi chef's spicy sauce which was awesome. Can't wait to go back to try breakfast. BYOB is also a nice addition.
(5)Kara M.
This is a fantastic addition to the neighborhood! Friendly, family owned, byob with ikea decor---in short its a hole in the wall. I knew that going into it and wasn't expecting morimotos. The food was reasonable, very good and improving daily. Once they work out their new restaurant jitters I'm sure this will become a Fairmount staple. For a quick take out meal and to support a local business-this is a great alternative to Wholefoods. As for dining in, the place is tiny but that adds to its charm. I highly recommend the sushi bomb! I plan on becoming a regular. *update* my friends and I went back tonight and it was even better than last week. The fahrenheit 451 (or something along those lines) special tuna roll was amazing! So good we ended up ordering another. We also ordered the 'picasso' & 'cajun' and completed our meal with red bean ice cream and green tea mochi. As for the cafe- my friend goes here daily and has nothing but good things to say. We will definitely be back very soon! Whether its for a sushi dinner with friends or a quick cup of coffee/tea in the morning this place is definitely worth trying!
(5)Rebecca Z.
The sushi is always fresh and it tastes soo good! Its a great little neighborhood place and now they deliver!
(5)Rachel H.
So glad this cafe opened in the neighborhood, and I'll be a frequent customer to help keep it open. Although I have yet to go to the 'cafe' version, the sushi is a hit. We had the "Hell's Sake," off the beaten path with spicy salmon and jalapenos, the "White Tiger," eel and spicy tuna topped with seared squid, and then the "Sushi Bomb," a multitude of things deep fried until crispy. Overall, although the setting is replete with IKEA furniture and fixtures, it's comfy and welcoming. The staff was great - helpful and attentive, letting us change our order after placing it because we found one of the specials too tempting. As it stays open longer, I hope the menu becomes a little more adventurous and the prices remain reasonable. Next time will be soon, and I'll be BYO'ing too. Great addition to a Fairmont that has gotten a bit too snooty for my tastes.
(4)Utteeyo D.
This small and cute restaurant recreates the japanese aura. If you have been to japan, you will notice that the very instance you walk in. The sushi is good, and the service, albeit a bit slow is friendly and welcoming.
(4)N M.
The sushi was delicious!! Great prices, friendly service. BYO. Yum!!
(5)nicola p.
Hands down the friendliest sushi place in philly! Love the folks here and the food is delicious! Their breakfast sandwiches are great too and the prices are awesome! Stop in! The gyoza is my favorite appetizer and they make a really great Philly Roll!
(5)Seth A.
been here twice for the diner food, not the japanese food: the food was cold and took a very long time to come out both times. neither time was the restaurant busy. the food is not bad, just diner food, and quite inexpensive. i'll give this place a third chance b/c it's convenient and inexpensive, but if it takes another 20 minutes to serve some cold eggs and waffles, i'll just make some of my own (hot) in 3 minutes at home. oh, and good atmosphere, mediocre inexpensive coffee.
(3)Joyce K.
OMG.. So good.. So so good. It's such a quaint little place hidden on 26st & Aspen. BYOB makes it so reasonable. I enjoyed every bite. I would so suggest this to anyone who likes sushi and bring your own bottle. Service & staff really very nice and accommodating...... Enjoy peeps!!!
(5)Gei V.
Went there for coffee. They used to have decent coffee but now it was CRAP. I asked for a small americano, tasted like warm piss. They blamed it on me since a small was only one shot, as if I've never had a cup of coffee. So they made me get a second.shot. Well that made it like slightly stronger piss. Now I'm no coffee snob but it seems like their success has made them drop their quality. You cant make a shot with a teaspoonful of coffee. Shame, I like supporting local businesses.
(1)Wade G.
Great place to go for coffee and breakfast in the morning! The sushi is a little overpriced but pretty decent. Not the best atmosphere (a little cramped) and can get busy (long waits). Overall a great addition to the area!
(3)Erin F.
I have no clever anecdotes or anything this time. I burnt out on reviewing stuff afternoon but am busting out of my skin with excitement about there being an excellent sushi restaurant so close that I have to write this review now while I listen to Mike play Super Mario Galaxy in the other room. So Stephen S., the future Mrs. Stephen S., Mike, and I just had dinner here. It is humorously close to the S. household and a new addition to the neighborhood in which we both live, so I'm glad Stephen suggested it as our dining destination tonight. Holy shellfish the food here is good. I am going to try to recall everything we ordered - there was a lot. We started off with steamed shrimp shumai and fried veggie gyoza. Small but appetizing (therefore, effective). Between the four of us, we ordered a whole mess of rolls including simple stuff, like the spicy tuna, Philadelphia, and California rolls, all of which were delicious. The real highlights were the four special rolls: the dragon roll, shaggy dog, spider monkey, and volcano roll. I ordered the spider monkey, which is spicy salmon with soft shell crab (my favorite!) and other tasty things. It rocked my world. I also last second ordered the rainbow roll, which is a tasty little number encased by strips of avocado, salmon, tuna, and whitefish. So good, so good. I sampled all of the others' rolls and they were all very different but incredible in their own ways. Mike's volcano roll was topped with a pile of scallops with hot sauce on them that set my lips on fire for a couple of minutes - delicious. For dessert, the S.'s had a bowl of green tea ice cream and a bowl of red bean ice cream that looked yummy. Mike and I split a "Caribbean Monkey". It is hard to mess up fried bananas covered in honey and mango chunks in coconut milk, but this was warm and just tasted special. The service here is incredibly friendly and there seems to be an understanding that Dasiwa isn't a fancypants, showoffy establishment, but I will gladly sacrifice ambiance and scenery for delicious food in my mouth and eventually in my gullet. It was pretty busy tonight, which is a good thing. The service wasn't perfect and isn't quite working like a swiss timepiece just yet, but I have absolutely no complaints about what they've got going on in there. I heard that the menu has expanded significantly from their first few weeks of operation and the selection is somewhat substantial now, so if you've been, I'd suggest returning as soon as possible. Going here with friends is good because it's nice to share with each other and get a whole mess of stuff, but I could see going here on a date and sitting at the sushi bar and enjoying myself. I could eat the food here forever and am already itching to go back.
(5)Amy W.
After ironing out the kinks, Dasiwa is serving sushi once again! I live around the corner and have ordered take out from here about ten times in the last few months, since they started serving again. The sushi is so phenomenal and so reasonably priced, I am totally hooked. The fish, along with the rest of the ingredients they use, is super fresh and top notch. Lately, I've been craving the udon, which is the perfect comfort dish in these cold winter months. So far, I've only done take-out, mainly because of my lifestyle (toddler at home). I wouldn't hesitate to dine-in here, either, but for what it's worth, the atmosphere lends itself more to the day-time cafe/coffee house side of things than to a cozy, romantic dinner-type kind of place. All in all, Dasiwa is a total gem and a great addition to the neighborhood!
(5)jane k.
Wonderful wonderful food; great addition to the neighborhood, though we were sorry to see 'The Red Store' go. So, first: the dashi [broth] in the soups is really excellent! Really. Second, staff are really nice and service is not only excellent, but food comes fast. Third, cozy. Also, it is a great combo of a coffee place in the AM [La Colombe!] and from 12pm, a sushi place [and more, not just sushi]. The 'specialty' rolls we got were all [3] away above expectations, as these things are often over-done or flabby. The Dragon, Picasso & Spider Monkey rolls were all great. Masterful ratio of rice to other stuff; great tobiko nigiri sushi too. High honors.
(4)Paul K.
Awesome sushi! I first got my normal boring California roll and Philly roll because that's what I always get, and it was real good, but also tried one of their specialty rolls. I think it was called the Umai King. TADOW!! It was great, I'll be back!
(4)Lisa O.
I'll start by saying that I'm thrilled to have another alternative in the area. While this spot isn't the biggest or the trendiest, they've done a lot with what they had to work with. The staff is top notch and cannot do enough for you. The sushi is probably just about average. We had two specialty rolls, one with scallop that I did not care for at all and another that was called the Shaggy Dog, which I really enjoyed and would get again. Our third roll was a simple spicy tuna roll that was fresh, but not spicy. I felt like there was more rice on the rolls than necessary, but the ingredients were fresh. Overall, it isn't as good as Umai, however it is relatively close to home and I would definitely stop by again.
(3)Stevie S.
Went again the other night and the food was great but the atmosphere was bad. Everyone was running around like crazy and it was very loud. It is very bright inside for a restaurant at dinner time...just a very chaotic meal when we were trying to relax. I liked that there is outdoor seating now and the new napkins and tablecloths add something. Food is still crazy delicious!! Great chefs!
(5)connie y.
I really wanted to love this place! its a block from me and its a byob! i do love their sashimi salad but their specialty rolls are too expensive for what you get. $8 for dougie style...only 6 pieces and doesnt look any bigger or better than the regular spicy tuna...except for the apple bits. i spent almost $20 for a salad and a 6 piece roll...i was still hungry after and thought about ordering a pizza. i was in a week earlier and tried their $15 specialty roll and again...not much for the price. i wonder if they compared their portion/price to other sushi places in the city. i really hope they stick around but with so many great sushi byos in the city they really need to make a good impression from the beginning...and so far im not too impressed...and i really really want them to stay!! hope dasiwa reads these comments and make a few changes. would be greatly appreciated! one last thing...the wait staff is very friendly and attentive.
(4)Gerry S.
Came here with a friend for lunch on a weekday after visiting the art museum. We were just walking around the neighborhood with no particular food destination, but as we approached Dasiwa, we decided right on the spot. The place is small but still really comfortable, and they had a nice selection of teas. Might not be the best place for a date or something fancy, but if you're looking for a simple, casual meal on a lazy afternoon (and really fresh & yummy sushi) I'd definitely recommend this place! The waitress was very sweet and helpful without being all in-your-face like at some other sushi places I've been. Plus, they have mochi :)
(5)