By Hamy Nguyễn

I was hopelessly searching for a lunch spot, and a friend suggested Dotori. I must admit, the menu didn’t exactly blow me away – just a few dishes, mostly the usual Japanese suspects. But my friend swore it was a must-try in Hồ Chí Minh City, so I figured, why not give it a whirl?

Buldak noodle. Photos courtesy of Hamy Nguyễn

Walking into Dotori for the first time, I felt like I’d stumbled into a cosy corner of the Ghibli cartoons. The place had that magical, warm vibe – like someone had sprinkled a bit of fairy dust all over the decor.

With its charming wooden furniture, soft lighting, and whimsical touches, it looked like the perfect spot that Totoro might pop in for a meal.

The delicious aroma of Japanese cuisine mingled with the ambience, making it hard to tell if I was more enchanted by the decor or just starving. Either way, I was ready to settle in and enjoy a meal that felt like a deliciously magical adventure.

What really caught my attention next was the menu’s introduction: two Korean chefs running a Japanese restaurant with a Western twist -- a culinary mashup party.

As a fan of food creativity, this sounded like an exciting adventure, so I was eager to dig in. However, since the portions are meant for sharing and are generously sized, and with just three of us, we could only sample three dishes.

Nikomi hamburger.

The Nikomi hamburger (VNĐ259,000) is the signature dish here, so I ordered one. The burger at Dotori is like a regular one that took a luxurious spa day in a simmering pot of savoury goodness.

Imagine a juicy thick hamburger patty, but instead of lounging between two buns, it’s taking a warm, flavourful bath in a rich demi-glace sauce refined from espagnole and beef stock. It’s the kind of dish that makes you wonder why all burgers don’t get the spa treatment – tender, juicy, saucy, and so satisfying. The dish is served with rice because, honestly, it deserves to be enjoyed down to the very last drop.

With its charming wooden furniture, soft lighting, and whimsical touches, Dotori looks like the perfect spot where Totoro might pop in for a meal.

The Maze noodles (VNĐ259,000) left me curious because, at first glance, it looked like a chive convention on a plate. Beneath that green blanket of chopped chives, I couldn’t help but wonder what mysterious ingredients and flavours were hiding, just waiting to surprise me.

And surprise me it did – this turned out to be the dish that left the biggest impression, and I’m now on a mission to recommend it to everyone I know.

Underneath that chive disguise was a rich ragu sauce that had been simmering for hours, making the minced beef so tender it practically gave me a hug, with aromas of herbs and red wine wafting through. And as if that wasn’t enough, there was a bit of basil pesto in the mix, all cosying up with freshly made noodles.

The whole thing was a savoury, umami-packed experience that just gets better as you mix it up: East meets West on a plate – Western ragu and pesto partying with Eastern noodles and chives. Who knew they’d get along so well?

Maze noodle.

The last dish I tried was the Buldak noodles (VNĐ259,000), a fusion creation combining fire-fried chicken with olive oil pasta. The pasta is essentially an Italian spaghetti with oil and garlic (Aglio e Olio), generously adorned with Parmesan cheese.

While the noodles and chicken were delicious on their own, I found that the combination didn’t quite hit the mark. The individual elements were great, but together, they seemed to lack that perfect harmony I was hoping for.

The small courtyard’s outdoor seating is perfect for small groups.

Dotori Dining is more than just a meal – it’s a delightful journey into a whimsical world where comfort food meets magical ambience. It’s the perfect escape for those days when life feels like a chaotic circus and you need a cosy hideaway. I’m already planning my return trips; if Dotori was a holiday spot, I’d have a frequent flyer card by now. VNS

DOTORI DINING

Address: 28 Thảo Điền Road, District 2, HCM City

Price: from VNĐ39,000-259,000

Comment: Modern, cosy, comfortable, tranquil, creative