Dashi Ramen and Izakaya Cocktail Bar: Cozy ramen, lively izakaya vibes, craft cocktails.
Located at 415 E Chapel Hill St in Durham, Dashi Ramen and Izakaya Cocktail Bar blends a cozy ramen shop with a lively izakaya and bar. Reviews highlight traditional ramen, spectacular wings, kimchi, and a warm bar vibe with crisp cocktails; some note uneven service and ramen that varies in quality. Upstairs seating offers a distinct, lighter experience.
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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.
Overall rating
Jonathan
Disgusting food
Shan Wheeler
Came here for dinner before catch a show at DPAC. Can easily walk to Dpac, the space is cute. Food is just meh, ordered shoyo ramen which was very very salty. After sending it back one time, it’s still very salty. I guess it’s the broth. Dashi has a good reputation, wish the food was better.
Chase Taylor
We arrived at 935, and upon arrival, I asked if the kitchen was still open. I was told it was, but that we needed to order in the next 5 minutes. We did, and I even got the orders of members who were still parking. Ten minutes later, we were told that the kitchen would only be serving ramen. At 958, a server came over and said, "sorry to hit you guys with double barrels, but the kitchen is closed." I asked about the cocktails we had ordered, and was sheepishly notified that they'd never even given our order to the bartenders. I worked in food service for years, BOH, FOH, garde manger, and did a stint at the only Michelin star restaurant in Cincinnati. I understand running out of food, limiting the menu, etc. What bothered me was that it seemed clear that there was no intention of serving the 4 of us anything. If we had been told that at the beginning, we could have pivoted and gone somewhere else. But to be sat, have our orders taken, amended, and then told nothing was coming at 9:57 sucked. It prevented us from finding options elsewhere, and frankly, it made me feel like an idiot for suggesting a place that would treat customers so flippantly. Assume the kitchen closes at 915.
Alain Azagury
Really tasty Ramen and small plates. Great atmosphere and service.
Kylie Dan
Came here for dinner with a couple coworkers for dinner on a Monday. We were seated immediately and all ordered mazemen with some skewers and they got some drinks. The service was friendly and fast but the food itself was unimpressive. The skewers were drenched in some kind of liquidy sauce that made them soggy instead of the classic glaze that Japanese skewers should come with, although I’ve also had skewers with no sauce at all that were better. The mazemen had WAY too much oil — the noodles were basically swimming in it like it was a soup. Mazemen means mixed noodles, so the noodles should come with just a bit of oil to mix and coat them with, not enough to drink! I got the vegetarian version and the tofu was plain and appeared uncooked, like they had just tossed some plain tofu on top without doing anything to it, no marinating or pan frying or anything. It was all very disappointing.
Mike Tumbarello
The shio ramen was good, had a unique smoky and seaside flavor. All the small plates were excellent and the whiskey selection was top-notch, featuring many from Japanese distilleries. Can't wait to go back.
