DAMI Sushi & Izakaya @ Buena Park – Media Tasting & Giveaway

Buena Park is home to the well-known tourist destinations: Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City water park. Several other unique attractions are also nearby: Titanic The Experience, Bodies, The Exhibition and Lost Coyotes Paleontology Museum. After a day of fun, where would you take your family to for great food?  While there are many restaurants to choose from, one notable new restaurant I recently visited is not to be missed, especially if you are a sushi lover.  

Dami Sushi & Izakaya, “a  Japanese pub-style restaurant featuring top-notch sushi, sashimi, seafood, fresh oysters, yakitori and a variety of izakaya-style dishes”, is located in the new plaza called Village Circle On Beach neighboring the famous Japanese discount store, Daiso and Taiwanese bakery, 85C Bakery Cafe.  

I love the abstract design of the interior with roll down screen TV and flat screen TVs on the wall.  The restaurant looks ultra modern and hip.  I knew the restaurant was Korean operated, so I was curious about how Korean food would play into the menu.  And I was pleasantly surprised at how innovative many of the dishes were.  Our first sample plate consisted of Jawanmushi– Japanese steamed egg custard + shrimp + ginko nuts + shitake mushroom, Whole Grain Salad – Black rice + Indian millet + lentil + kidney beans + fresh mozzarella + baby mesclun + soy vinaigrette and Siraegi (Dried Radish Greens) Rice Bowl – Slow cooked with special soy dash + baby anchovy, over rice and topped with masago + radish sprouts. 

Pictured top left plate is a sample tasting plate.  The other images were of the actual serving sizes.  These would be perfect starters to share.  In Japan, Izakaya (pub) is where people often go after work with friends and co-workers for some light bites and drinks, very much like the Happy Hour in the US.  Next we were served these cute little Oyster Shooter with Quail Egg.   Have you ever seen a more adorable presentation than this?  The sauce tasted much like Yuzu sauce which really complimented the oyster and quail egg well. The 3 Yakitoris  (pictured above clockwise left to right) were Enoki Mushroom Maki, Asparagus Maki and Chicken Breast.  The first 2 were wrapped in Japanese Pork Belly slices which were much healthier than bacon.  The Oyster Tempura (above left) – enoki mushroom + grated radish + ponzu sauce was a crowd pleaser.  We also got to sample Pink Lay Roll (above upper right) – crabmeat + avocdo + cucumber + tuna, Love Roll (forgot to take pic) – salmon + tuna + yellowtail + albacore + avocado + cucumber + soy paper, and homemade Oshinko – Japanese pickled carrots + radish + cucumber + cabbage.

Korean run Sushi restaurants often offer a lot more sushi rolls than Japanese run ones.  Here at Dami, there are 20 different rolls to choose from.  Are you curious what they are?  I guess you will have to come find out.  😉

The Ssam-Bab Set (above) – spicy pork belly + lettuce wrap + assorted vegetables + ssam-jang + rice was a complete meal in itself.  I absolutely adored this dish.  You would take a piece of lettuce and wrap some meat, rice, and vegetables and roll them all together to eat.  It was heavenly bite after bite!  This is a great supplement or as an alternative for someone who doesn’t feel like sushi.  The next plate (picture above middle) was samples of Saewoojang (Preserved Shrimp) Rice Bowl – Raw shrimp preserved with special soy sauce + dried pollack + jujube + lemon slices, over rice, Miso Chilean Sea Bass – marinated in miso and sake and Golbang Yi Muchim (Sea Snail Salad) – Sea snail + dried pollack + hot chili pepper sauce.  I also photographed the full portion of Saewoojang (Preserved Shrimp) Rice Bowl and Golbang Yi Muchim (Sea Snail Salad) so you can see what they would be served.  The star of the tasting meal had to belonged to Dami Seafood Box – eight assorted sashimi/sushi for two (from top left to right); Salmon, Red Snapper, Blue Fin Tuna, Yellowtail Toro, (from bottom left to right) Halibut, Abalone, Halibut Roll in Seaweed, Wasabi/Ginger.  These sushi/sashimi were so fresh!  The Salmom, Tuna, and Yellowtail practically melt in your mouth!  I also really appreciated that the amount of rice was kept small like the real sushi should.  I want to enjoy the fish and not be stuffed with rice.  The grand finale was the Matcha Green Tea Breme Brulee!  My oh my!  This dessert was worth coming in for!  You must order this to complete your meal!  Yes, it’s that good!

Are you drooling over these beautiful food?  It gets better!  Dami Sushi & Izakaya offers $1 Oyster Happy Hour twice daily!  YES, everyday 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm.   The restaurant is open daily from 5:00 pm until midnight.  So gather your friends and family and head on over!

Dami Sushi & Izakaya has graciously given me two $50 gift certificate to give away.  So enter below for a chance to try these delicious food like I did!  Good luck!

Dami Sushi & Izakaya
5151 Beach Blvd, Unit A
Buena Park, CA 90621
(714) 739-2537

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