DŌZO, a Japanese-American food counter, will open inside City Kitch in Wesley Heights on Sept. 10.
Why it matters: For the last three years, Katsu Kart owner Perry Saito and sous chef John Gamble have been running one of the city's most popular food trucks. Now, Saito says he's excited to show Charlotte a taste of his Japanese-American upbringing.
What to expect: The 600-ish-square-foot food stall has 12 seats — six at the counter and three two-tops.
- Much of its service will be take-out, but Saito is looking forward to experimenting with the space and the kitchen.
- Saito says he plans to make his dishes reasonably priced.
"Whether you're an experienced eater or somebody that doesn't know a lot about food, I want you to feel comfortable going in," Saito tells Axios.
Between the lines: DŌZO will open in the spot that was originally occupied by
What The Fries , another popular local food truck-turned-restaurant. What The Fries
closed in June because of a tragedy in the owners' family. Photo: Alexis Clinton/Axios
Dig in: Some of Katsu Karts' weekly specials will become mainstays at DŌZO, like the okonomiyaki, for example, which is a sort of Japanese pancake.
- Saito says he's also excited to bring new seafood dishes that he didn't have space to make inside the food truck, like shrimp and blue crab yakisoba.
Pork Curry Don — crispy braised pork belly with Japanese Curry on steamed short grain rice. Photo:
@d_c5 The vibe: Saito compares DŌZO to an izakaya bar in Japan, which are casual neighborhood dives filled with regulars.
- On the walls, you'll spot vintage samurai movie posters, which Saito says he loved as a kid.
"I didn't grow up with any of my Japanese family because they're on the other side of the planet so I didn't really know that part of my life, but I was obsessed with it," he said.
City Kitch space. Photo: Courtesy of Lillian McGuire
Zoom out: Japanese cuisine has made strides in Charlotte in recent years. Menya Daruma , a Japanese comfort food restaurant in Elizabeth, is one of the best in the city.
- Menya's owner Ted Nakato recalls a time when people in Charlotte were hesitant to try ethnic foods. "When [my parents] first opened Nakato here in '76, we didn't have sushi because no one ate it," he said .
- Today, Charlotte's appetite for Japanese cuisine goes far beyond sushi . We have everything from speakeasy Japanese tasting menus to omakase experiences to yakitori .
Perry Saito and John Gamble. Photo:
@d_c5 Flashback: Saito grew up in the restaurant industry and comes from a family of restaurant owners dating back four generations.
- He recalls learning firsthand about sushi and other traditional Japanese cuisine from his father, who immigrated to Myrtle Beach from Tokyo in the '70s.
- Saito sees himself and the food he makes as a blend of both cultures — his Japanese dad and American mom.
"I always wanted to carry on his legacy of bringing the underrepresented parts of Japanese cooking to America," Saito said, adding that he wants to do it in an approachable way for people in the South.
- "My grandmother [mom's side] taught me everything she knew about soul food cooking."
What's next: Katsu Kart will "live on in some shape or form," Saito said, adding that their main focus now is getting the restaurant up and running. But he still plans to do pop-ups at the Matthews Community Farmers Market on Saturday mornings, the first and second week of each month.
Stop by: Find DŌZO at 2200 Thrift Road .
- To start it'll open Tuesday-Saturday for lunch from 11:30 to 3:30pm and then reopen for dinner from 4:30pm to 9pm.
- Eventually, he plans to stay open later to cater to service industry workers and people looking for a late-night bite.
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