Traditional Japanese ramen including tonkotsu, chicken, and vegan options, served with charred pork belly, jammy eggs, and silky broth.
Shareable appetizers like duck skewers, wagyu sliders, kimchi, and takoyaki hushpuppies for a social dining experience.
Handcrafted cocktails at the bar, designed to complement the ramen and izakaya dishes in a warm, lively setting.
Cozy seating for groups, ideal for casual dinners or gatherings in our upstairs and downstairs areas.
A wide selection of drinks, including beer, wine, and spirits, served in a vibrant izakaya atmosphere.
Food is decent quality. Ive loved everything- small dishes, apps, deserts except for the ramen. Ramen its not terrible, but definitely the worst of the 5+ ramen places ive been to in the triangle. Just poorly balanced and 50% of the time its too salt. For the quality and small portion I cant say it's really worth it. Service had much to be desired. Half the time Im not provided utensils or napkins and have to grab my own anf end up using the tiny cocktail napkins instead. Additionally, I sat for around 20 minutes after finishing a meal waiting to get checked out and was completely ignored (even after pushing all my dishes to the side to indicate I wanted to leave). Not super fun after working a long day and wanting to get home quick after eating out. I dont think it was the bartenders fault though. Having 1 person man a bar that size and prepare cocktails is horrible. The poor service is on management, the tender was doing moving non stop the entire time making drinks for the up and downstairs and trying to take orders for 8 people. Really felt for thr guy and ended up still leaving a good tip cause I could tell he tried his best. Atmosphere is fairly nice.
Do Not Go! Not only the worst ramen but the worst food i ever ate. The vegan ramen we ordered was nothing but only soy sauce in water. The shoyu ramen was more of a fish ramen than shoyu and smelled bad. Food is very bad.
Dashi nails the balance between cozy ramen shop and lively izakaya. We started with kimchi (bright and spicy), duck skewers (smoky and tender), and wagyu sliders (rich, juicy, and topped with kimchi — a must-order). For ramen, the chicken bowl was light and clean with silky broth, while the tonkotsu was creamy, porky comfort with charred belly and a jammy egg. Both were excellent in their own style. The warm bar vibe and crisp cocktails tied it all together.
DO NOT EAT HERE. $18 bowls for horrible food quality. Ramen broth is watered down and tasteless, just salty. The only thing that was acceptable about the bowl was the noodles. The pork, toppings and broth are extremely poorly prepared. Takoyaki hushpuppies also tasted like frozen crab cakes at best, an embarrassing imitation of takoyaki. Thoroughly disappointing meal and waste of money and calories.
Best traditional ramen around. Sit upstairs got a different experience. The wings are spectacular. Sam was an amazing server who offered superb guidance and helped make our evening extra special. We love this place.
Where authentic ramen meets lively izakaya vibes and craft cocktails in Durham.
No photos available
Dashi Ramen and Izakaya Cocktail Bar offers a unique blend of traditional Japanese ramen and a vibrant izakaya experience. Located in downtown Durham, we serve rich, flavorful ramen bowls like tonkotsu and chicken, alongside small plates such as duck skewers, wagyu sliders, and kimchi. Our cozy yet lively atmosphere is perfect for casual dinners or social gatherings, complemented by a full bar with crisp cocktails. Whether you're craving a comforting bowl of ramen or looking to enjoy shareable plates with friends, Dashi provides a memorable dining experience that balances authenticity with modern flair.
Claim Dashi Ramen and Izakaya Cocktail Bar to update business info, respond to reviews, and access analytics.