Tucked under an awning on Callowhill Street in Fairmount, Doma is a modern BYOB serving up innovative Asian plates. With a primary focus on Japanese cuisine with hints of Korean and Chinese influences in some dishes, the restaurant’s menu is hard to narrow down.
As fans of Chinese scallion pancakes and Korean kimchi pancakes, we began our meal by adventuring into an okonomiyaki: a japanese seafood pancake topped with bonito fish flakes. Once past the initial aroma of fish flakes, we dove into the fluffy pancake filled with bacon, calamari and mixed vegetables. Paired with a drizzle of sweet and
savory okonomiyaki sauce and Japanese mayo, the pancake had a perfect mix and melody of flavors. It was exciting to see this on the menu, along with some other authentic casual fare, such as takoyaki octopus balls, that is typically rare in Philadelphia.
Also inspired by a mix of Asian cultures, the spicy pork steamed buns combined Chinese peking duck steamed buns with Korean bulgogi. The soft buns were stuffed with flavorful meat, pickled cucumbers, and scallions. A house sauce, similar to hoisin, was plated alongside for necessary dipping. Another enticing appetizer option was the popular korean tacos with a choice of bulgogi, spicy pork or braised pork belly served with spicy slaw.
While every Japanese restaurant has their wild, innovative, signature sushi rolls, Doma sets itself apart by reinventing a lot of the basics. Even the Naked Salmon Roll is not a typical roll. Instead, it’s spicy salmon tartare with avocado, masago and jalapeño slices laid over crispy, sticky rice crackers. The simple presentation with a twist was definitely compelling and a delicious, little snack bite.
Between two people, the sushi deluxe platter was the perfect sampling of Doma’s fresh raw bar options. With an assortment of 10 pieces of sushi and a classic spicy tuna roll, the overall quality was apparent. Our plate didn’t include anything atypical; there was maguro (tuna), sake (salmon), ebi (shrimp), hamachi (yellowtail), masago (roe) and others.
Among all the sushi competition in the city, Doma’s ambiance and food stands out from the crowd. The menu borrows many cultural influences for an innovative take on Japanese cuisine without feeling overly “Asian fusion.” On top of all that, the restaurant has many interesting yet affordable options – plus a BYOB bonus!
What are your favorite sushi restaurants or BYOBs? Share with us in the comments or social media!
