Dashi, Japanese restaurant in Downtown Durham, US
Dashi spans two floors with a ramen shop on the ground level and a traditional izakaya pub upstairs serving Japanese dishes and spirits. The ramen counter focuses on hand-prepared noodles in various broths, while the upper level offers a larger menu of classic Japanese fare.
The restaurant was established to bring authentic Japanese dining culture to a neighborhood undergoing culinary transformation. The two-level design was intentional, combining different Japanese eating traditions under one roof.
Upstairs, the izakaya regularly features tastings that highlight Japanese drinking traditions and the social role of communal drinking in Japanese culture.
The ground-floor ramen shop suits quick meals, while the upstairs izakaya is designed for longer social dining. Both areas operate independently, so visitors can choose based on time and mood.
The spirits collection upstairs includes over 250 varieties of Japanese and international spirits, from rare sake styles to local shochu variants. This collection constantly expands with new arrivals from Japan.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
