Edmonton, Late Night Bites, Whyte Ave

Dorinku

Hi guys! I’m back! I’m gonna start getting back into my blogging mode so I’ll start off with one of my new favorite eateries. Dorinku is an izakaya located on Whyte Ave with an amazing atmosphere. It gives off a “feel good” vibe with delicious food. The food portions are meant to be small so I wouldn’t recommend going if you’re super hungry. If you do, you might end up spending a bit more on Japanese food than per usual! The service is friendly and you’re greeted as soon as you walk in. Little touches like the Japanese vending machine and Japanese arcade game made Dorinku an unforgettable experience. If being in Dorinku is like being in Japan (as many close comparisons have been made) then I absolutely cannot wait to go there one day. 
Pressed Avocado Sushi $11.80
I ordered off their soft opening menu during my first menu since their actual menu wasn’t available yet. (Update: it’s fully available now). One of the main items I wanted to try here was the pressed style sushi. Dorinku offers three types: avocado, wild salmon, and wild saba. The avocado pressed sushi was the most simple dish we had that night. Although it was served with a Japanese citrus seaweed sauce, the sushi was still plain. It tasted fresh except it kept breaking apart when we tried to pick it off the plate. 

Pressed Wild Salmon Sushi $13.80
The next dish that came out has become one of my favorite dishes here. The pressed salmon sushi uses wild sockeye salmon that is slightly seared. They kept the sushi from being dry with their Japanese mint and creamy soy sauce. Compared to other places that serve pressed sushi, each piece is a good portion size. 
Ramen Salad $10.30
This salad was a refreshing addition to our meal! It was a mixture of egg noodles, pork chashu, cucumber, Japanese pickles, onions, sliced nori, and a soft boiled egg. The creamy dressing was a sesame soy dressing. It’s a good sharing dish if you want something that isn’t as heavy. 

Chicken Karaage $9.80
Another one of my go-to dishes. It’s a simple, deep-fried chicken dish that Dorinku never messes up. The chicken is juicy while the outside texture is slightly crispy. It’s served with a delicious chili mayo sauce and green tea salt. The salt can be very salty so I suggest you only try a tiny bit at once! Whenever I finish the chicken and still have some mayo left, I eat it with my Shaka Shaka fries.

Japanese Style Calamari $9.80
It didn’t really differ from regular calamari at other places. I guess the only difference with this calamari is that it’s served with a Japanese style tartar sauce and special Japanese mint salsa sauce. 
Since I’m making a review based on my first visit, I did go back a few times after to try other dishes. These are a few of my other favorites…
Shaka Shaka Fries $6.80: regular French fries served in a paper bag with a side of Japanese seasoning. You’re suppose to put the seasoning into the bag then shake it! The fries are similar to Mcdonald’s fries. In Japan, this is a common menu item at fast food places.
Ebi-Mayo $10.30: deep fried Tiger prawns with spicy mayo. I didn’t find the mayo to be very spicy so it’s good for mild eaters. 
Hamachi Carpaccio $13.30: I find this to be one of Dorinku’s more exquisite dishes. It’s seared yellowtail, mayo and parmesan cheese with sesame soy dressing and goji berry.
Jewelry Bowl $12.80: this is a rice dish that consists of diced sashimi, Japanese mint, pickled daikon, and salmon roe. My only complaint would be that it’s a smaller portion.
Dorinku is a great place to eat, drink, and socialize! Definitely a great addition to Edmonton’s foodie scene. 

dorinku Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
Address: 10205 82 Ave