Doraku in Dartmouth

44 Ochterloney St, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 1B9, Canada

★★★★★
(427 reviews)
Categories: Sushi restaurant Asian restaurant Japanese restaurant Restaurant

About

Retro Japanese restaurant. Sushi restaurant. Halifax's favorite since 1992

Website
doraku.yolasite.com
Address
44 Ochterloney St, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 1B9, Canada
Plus Code
MC8J+GH Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
Time Zone
America/Halifax

Business Hours

Sunday
12–2 PM – 4:30–8:30 PM
Monday
11:30 AM–2 PM – 4:30–8:30 PM
Tuesday
11:30 AM–2 PM – 4:30–8:30 PM
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
Closed
Friday
11:30 AM–2 PM – 4:30–8:30 PM
Saturday
12–2 PM – 4:30–8:30 PM

Services

Service options
Outdoor seating Takeaway Dine-in Delivery
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible toilet Wheelchair-accessible seating
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Healthy options Small plates Spirits Vegetarian options Wine
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Counter service Dessert Seating
Amenities
Toilets Wi-Fi Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Crowd
Family friendly
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
Good for kids High chairs
Parking
Free of charge street parking Paid street parking Parking
Pets
Dogs allowed outside

Photos

Reviews

4.9
★★★★★
427 reviews

Most Mentioned

HRM (16) atmosphere (14) miso soup (14) nigiri (13) chef (10) sweet (7) addition (6) tuna (6) servers (5) tonkatsu (5)
5 stars
396
4 stars
21
3 stars
3
2 stars
1
1 stars
6
★★★★★
October 23, 2024

Doraku is a hidden gem, unassuming in its location and size, but provides a real sense of Japanese attention to quality, detail, and hospitality. Generous makizushi (rolls), and amazing fish quality - we splurged on the highest quality maguro - amazing! The hamachi was at its buttery best. Tempura was perfect and a generous portion. The Korokke was a perfect example of Japanese home cooking. Love the friendly and helpful staff and quick service. ごちそうさまでした!

★★★★★
October 16, 2024

A religious experience for anyone interested in fresh seafood. Best sashimi and nigiri I've had anywhere in Canada. Impeccable service, a beautiful room, the best miso soup and side salad I've had at any sushi place ever. Just a gem of a sushi restaurant.

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Doraku is my favorite Japanese restaurant in my heart now!I had an absolutely fantastic dining experience at Doraku. The ingredients were incredibly fresh, and the quality of the food was unparalleled. Each dish was a perfect blend of flavors, creating a truly unforgettable meal. The service was outstanding, with a team that was attentive, friendly, and professional. What stood out the most, though, was the sincerity and passion of the owner, which made the experience even more special. You can really feel the heart and dedication behind every detail. Highly recommend this place to anyone looking for an authentic and exceptional dining experience. "Sincerity is the most valuable thing." ❤️ Love Doraku Forever❤️

★★★★★
August 16, 2024

The best sushi restaurant in Halifax. Sushi made by Japanese people and run by Japanese people is the best. The ingredients are fresh and the level of quality is the same as that of sushi in Japan.

★★★★★
August 13, 2024

A really Lovely Little place off the beaten path. I recommend it. We came here just before close (2pm). The Karage was wonderful. The rolls are a little small but fantastic. I would have wanted more.

★★★★★
June 26, 2024

This is a magical sushi spot. The staff are extremely nice, and you can tell they’re passionate about how they prepare the food and serve it. As for the food itself, I can not put into words how wonderful their sushi is. It’s truly food for the soul.

★★★★★
May 7, 2024

Delicious fresh sushi. The menu was less commercial and more authentic. Amazing omakase, a must visit for any sushi lover. Hands down some of the best sushi I've ever had. Will definitely visit again !

★★★★★
March 31, 2024

Japanese owned and operated. Top notch authentic Japanese cuisine. They know how to use knife to cut the fish for making sashimi because they are real Japanese. The rice that making sushi is just the authentic taste cooked with mirin and vinegar. Overall is excellent. I will be definitely back.

★★★★★
December 21, 2024

Best Sushi I ever had in North America. Incredibly fresh. Amazing staff. Beautiful presentation. The treasure of Nova Scotia.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 17, 2024

This is a special sushi joint

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 15, 2024

10/10 so good

★★★★★
December 8, 2024

Thank you for the meal

★★★★★
December 1, 2024

One of the best and most authentic sushi experiences in HRM

December 1, 2024

Very very very very bad experience in this restaurant. The server only serve customers who are natives, and ignore us. The worse is they even skip us and ask the next couple of customers who are Caucasian obversely if they have reserved or something else , but nobody care about us. IT IS SERIOUS RACISM!!! This kind of Japanese restaurant will not only influence customer experience, even influence experience stay in Halifax even Canada. The servers two Japanese girls. Really really bad experience consumption. Reply Hello, Doraku s owner. I am glad that you took notice of my feedback as someone who is not of a white racial background. This proves that the actions of your two Japanese female servers do not necessarily reflect your values or those of Doraku, so perhaps this isn t the standard of your restaurant. However, I don t think that simply trusting your employees or the fact that they have worked in your restaurant for over a year or even two can prove that they wouldn t behave in this way. I feel your response was not very objective. As a customer, I chose to dine at Doraku because I once appreciated the quality of your food, not because I intended to criticize your two Japanese female employees. I hope that, as the owner of Doraku, you can handle this matter fairly and impersonally.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Always incredible. Authentic Japanese cuisine. Very nice atmosphere.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

dont want sushi from anywhere else in HRM.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Food is fresh and tasty. Will come here again. Great service too! Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Best sushi Ive had.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Probably the best quality sushi I have had in a long time!

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Good Japanese food. The flavors are not tampered or tuned to locals & very close to what you will get in Japan. They have a small menu with some nice combinations of sushi, sashimi, nigiri, etc. Seating is limited, so on weekends, we reserve a table. Food

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Amazing sushi! Wow.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

My favorite sushi place. Its very small inside with a nice atmosphere, and lovely outdoor seating as well.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Super fresh, great place. First time, definitely not the last!

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Great sushis! A bit expensive for lunch but amazing sushi!

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

best sushi in Nova Scotia

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Without a doubt the best sushi I Halifax.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Most, if not all restaurants Ive experienced, either use rancid or near rancid meats, dont know how to cook, dont know how to season, and expect bathing their food in salt and MSG to save them. Finally, one restaurant that is none of the above. If you want food that is cooked and seasoned properly, at a restaurant where they actually use proper good quality ingredients, this is it. Normally I can easily pinpoint at least one problem with a restaurants food, theres a first for everything apparently, I wouldnt change anything about the food items I sampled. Beyond that, its a matter of what kind of cultural food fits your taste buds. The recipes are not westernized into a bland mess, they are authentic and taste like they are suppose to. This kind of restaurant is well deserving of a nicer and larger building to operate their business in.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

This restaraunt deserves 7 stars. The food is simply outstanding. Your taste buds will dance with joy. Your tummy will do a kabuki dance. We ve had sushi around the globe and this is as good as you will find in Japan.

September 22, 2024

ABSOLUTELY NOT WORTHY THE MONEY AND WORST SERVICE EVER GOT !!!! Not recommend! Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Best sushi in the city.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Love this place. If you are looking for a delicious and authentic sushi place, this is the spot. Probably the best sushi Ive had in halifax

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Nice dining environment, and good quality of food

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Delicious meals, friendly and professional staff! I really enjoyed my salmon and hamachi. Cant wait to go back

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Great omakase sashimi plate, highly recommend

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Was delish, will bring more people here

★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

delicious food . Japanese style

★★
August 22, 2024

The food was alright, although portion was a little small, was very excited to try them. But they accidentally forgot about one of our orders and we had to wait for a very long time. We ended up canceling the food and was still very hungry. Friendly staff tho

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

My favourite sushi in Dartmouth. Vegetarian options: Lots of vegetarian rolls and tofu options. Food : 5/5 |

★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Real Japanese chef making sushi. The food is decent but not to my taste; the rice was a bit too moist, and the portions were small. Overall, its a cute place worth trying.

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

Best Ive had.

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Skip the AYCE sushi restaurants nearby and go to Doraku instead. Nothing beats authentic & high quality sushi!

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Small restaurant but makes up for it in food selection and quality. Came here twice during my trip and ate once with my 11 month old. They were super accommodating, friendly and quick with food service. The fish tasted fresh and delicious. I had a variety of cooked items also and all were good. I loved sitting at the bar watching everyone prep and cook Vegetarian options: Variety of rolls & nigiri, veg curry bowls, tempura and lots of appetizers Kid-friendliness: High chair available and large counter in bathroom

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Was in town from TO for a conference. Everyone on Reddit was saying this neighborhood place had the best Omakase in city, and honestly, it was some of the best fish I have ever had. I would move to Halifax to be able to eat here every day. I hope this place stays just the way it is for many years to come. Awesome job!

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

The atmosphere is amazing and very welcoming. Their food is incredible and so insanely fresh. The flavours were crisp and delicious. The highlight was the miso soup though! Of all the miso Ive ever had this was by far the best by leagues. They make the miso in house and its sooooo good. Id come back just for the miso. Vegetarian options: Lots of veggie options. If you like pickled rolls this place has a few!

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

The sushi was amazing, the rice was fresher and softer than i ve ever had at a sushi place before and the fish was really tender and fresh as well. Was quite busy when I went so the service was slightly slow but i ll definitely be back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Some of the best sushi Ive ever had. Everything is so wonderful and the staff are extremely gracious. The Yuzu cheesecake in particular might be the best cheesecake Ive ever had. Food : 5/5

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

Friendly, affordable and the food is authentic and to die for! I have eaten here many times and have never been disappointed!

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

I feel like in today s day and age people don t understand how to use a five star rating system. If people have an average but not unpleasant experience, they give five stars. I m not that kind of person and I don t give out five stars willy-nilly. However, in the category of hole in the wall sushi bar, Doraku is truly exceptional and probably my favourite restaurant in Halifax.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Amazing sushi and sashimi with real wasabi (!). The una don is also very delicious

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

The best sushi in all of Halifax. Nice staff and good prices

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Really fresh Nigiri combo and sushi was amazing as well. Miso soup was tasty. Staff working hard right in front of us. Very cool place and good prices and portions!

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Best sushi in town. I think we ve ordered over 40 chirashi bowls over the last two years.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

This is a gem of a restaurant with the best sushi in town. If you are craving damn good sushi!! Here it is!! Youre welcome!!!

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

I have not had better sushi in HRM and I ve tried many. The rice is fresh and slightly warm and the nigiri fish is fresh, unique, a good size and beautifully presented.

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

Best sushi in the western hemisphere.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

INCREDIBLE tempura dishes, lovely and efficient service. One of the best dining experiences available in the HRM. Dietary restrictions: Excellent gluten free options.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Amazing customer service, fresh delicious and authentic food, affordable price - couldnt recommend Doraku enough!

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Love every bit of that meal! Delicious and fresh!! Service was amazing and the atmosphere was relaxing and cozy. Would highly recommend!! Will be returning for more great food!! Thank you for such a pleasant experience!!

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

A small, unpretentious place that seats maybe 20 inside, with patio seating available in the nice weather. We sat at the bar. Service was exceptional and the sushi was easily the best I ve had in the HRM. By a long shot! I will be coming back

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Best Japanese restaurant in the city!!! Totally different level compare to other sushi restaurants.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Best sushi in Dartmouth hands down

★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Real Japanese food by Japanese chefs. Set menu - wish that there was more than just rice on the plate + main item. Usually we would expect to see some sides - veggies, pickles, etc. We have to pick miso soup or salad. I would want both in the set otherwise it is a bit too light loaded as a set dinner. Aldo sushi + a deep-fried item such as tempura would make a perfect combo menu.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Very fresh and delicious sushi! Extra recommendation for nigiri combo, wont disappoint! The staff is also very friendly, the restaurant is a little small. Highly recommended!

★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Very cute restaurant with great atmosphere, lovely service. I got take out and did not wait long. The food just wasnt for me. I dont like white rice, the peices of tofu were huge and soggy and the vegetables were just ok. The miso soup was good but the container was only 1/3 full.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

A very authentic experience. The quiet and cute atmosphere is very detailed down to the smallest item. Food was incredible thank you for the great dining experience.

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Best sushi around! Would recommend making a reservation as it gets busy. Good prices and friendly staff. Will definitely be back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

Enjoyed a nice tuna roll and gyoza at lunchtime with some colleagues. Very busy spot that managed to fit in a large amount of people. Reasonably priced. Would definitely return!

★★★★
March 22, 2024

Not a lot of combo options on the menu and I make the mistake of ordering stuff that was a bit too boring. Not my favourite tempura batter (more life what you get on fish n chips) but everything else was delicious.

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

Best sushi in the HRM. Service is excellent, and the chefs expertise is evident. Thanks Doraku!

★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Definitely high quality food and all the items I got were very fresh and clearly made with care. However, I ordered takeout and I think it sat a bit longer than it should so everything was a bit less warm but still amazing and will be back for dine in

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Finally got the chance to try Doraku and I can say they deserve the title of the best sushi in HRM

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Doraku on Ochterloney is my absolute favorite sushi place in the HRM, hands down. The freshest fish and rice you can get, prepared wonderfully, and the avocado is always perfectly ripe. I particularly -love- the kanpyo roll (dried gourd); the squash is sweet, chewy and a bit umami. Also, the agedashi tofu is the *best*. An explosion of flavors and the texture is delightful. Truly special. The staff is warm, friendly and professional. I love the relaxed ambiance, it makes me want to slow down and savor my food.

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

My absolute favourite restaurant in Dartmouth, we go at least once every two weeks. Incredible value, every dish is prepared with care and the best ingredients. The rice is cooked perfectly, fish and vegetables are all fresh. Everyone who works here is lovely and takes good care of you. Call ahead for a reservation if you want to dine in as its a very small space. Vegetarian options: Good selection of vegetable rolls

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Perfect sushi and lovely staff! Fresh and friendly ;)

Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Average food!

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Best sushi in HRM, its always so fresh and the staff are so pleasant despite always being slammed. RIP Shuji Manabe.

★★★★★
January 22, 2024

Awesome place. Amazing service, great food, reasonably priced. One of my favourite spots. 10/10 would recommend.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

We popped in we happened to be in the city and everything was wonderful!

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Doraku is definitely going to the top of my sushi faves in Nova Scotia. I got take out, the food held nicely even after 30 mins. The servings were a little small to my liking, but they did not skimp on the flavour. This was our first time coming, so well definitely have to come back and try their sashimis Wheelchair accessibility: Had a ramp on the side

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Literally every single food they serve is indescribably good. Their pricing is pretty fair for the quality of food you get, not a single item is (at least in my opinion) too expensive. The service is great, fast and a wonderful atmosphere. My only pssible complaint which isnt on the restaurant itself, but finding a place to park is always hell. Halifax and dartmouth in general are awful for parking, but for doraku just hope theres a spot on the road next to the building. Overall its the best sushi place Ive ever been to hands down. If you like food go to doraku asap.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Very cozy and clean environment, the combo food worths trying

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The best rolls in my life. Ive never thought that even small rolls can be so tasty. Thank you for that experience Food

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

I would 100% recommend this sushi place to EVERYONE. Amazing spot for a personable dinner or date. Food: It s hard to find a sushi restaurant in HRM that cooks rice as perfectly as they do (not mushy, not hard) and serves the sushi slightly warm They actually serve other things than sushi!! Try the curry rice or onigiri (rice ball), just like my mum used to make it The unagidon is what I normally get because the BBQ eel is just sweet and salty enough, I could eat bowl after bowl. (Like an explosion in your mouth ) You can tell so much care in preparation goes into making each meal. All their sushi is great, I like with unagi maki and inari (sweet bean curd with rice) a variety of sashimi is good too. For anything fried, their batter is on the lighter end unlike other places in HRM. I find this nicer because you don t feel like you have a rock in your stomach after eating. Service & interior: The interior design is incredibly thoughtful and comforting for a small restaurant. It features modern minimalism with traditional Japanese elements and natural wood. (It is also very clean) The staff are very kind and competent. Erika and Shuji I think are their names, both incredibly sweet and smiley. If you are a larger party, call a day or two beforehand and book because they only have a small bar (seats about 5-6) and three tables (seats about 4-5). Also they get a pretty busy takeout rush around dinner time so maybe go there for lunch or a 7pm dinner (or call and ask) Side note: Plum wine is an aperitif usually taken before or with a meal but I personally prefer it as desert afterwards (since it s quite sweet and tart) and have brown rice tea with the meal. (brown rice tea has more depth of flavour than green tea, and less bitterness.)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Not only the best sushi in Nova Scotia, Doraku excels at every aspect of their business. Restaurant - spotless. Atmosphere - happy, welcoming, fun. Ingredients - quality and fresh. Service - friendly and professional. Menu - varied and interesting. Food - amazing. The Oyako-don - chicken and egg simmered in a savoury gravy served over rice - is the most perfect comfort food! Try it. I m so pleased they re in Dartmouth!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Great restau - don t think twice give it a try! Chef s choice was delicious. High quality ingredients. No cutting corners going on at this place.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

One of Dartmouth s gems! Relaxed, no frills, no fuzz, simply good authentic sushi. The owner was an incredible man, always greeting you with a smile and eager hello when you arrived, then hurried back to work. The staff are also excellent, and the small is simple and often low-noise, great for quiet conversation. Very happy to hear it will continue on as it s possibly my favourite spot to eat now: been waiting for a good sushi menu that isn t full of pools of mayo and Florida Explosion dragon rolls lol

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We were in the welcome hands of an expert!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Its my favorite hidden gem I go every week!!! Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Looking for an authentic Japanese restaurant? This is the place to go. Friendly staff, awesome authentic food, and a quent setup. A must try place.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Best sushi place in Halifax!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great food, great prices, friendly people.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

My favourite sushi place. The staff are super friendly and the fish is always fresh:)

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Great sushi! Pricey but it s worth it.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This place has the best sushi rolls I have ever eaten. We have good places back in Ontario and Ive had a lot of sushi from arou d Halifax as well. This was my first time and it was the best. Vegetarian options: Great sweet potato rolls

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

What a hidden gem! Never thought we couldve found an authentic Japanese Sushi and Sashimi place in Halifax. Highly recommended! (p.s. Better make reservation first)

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Cant believe Halifax has this super awesome restaurant. It lets us recall our experience in Tokyo 10 years ago. If you hope to dine in, please make a reservation in advance.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Delicious food with quick and friendly service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This is the best sushi Ive had in the city. With such amazing quality fresh fish and fantastic unique rice. Everyone in the restaurant was super friendly which added to the experience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Best sushi in town, very fresh. Also the miso soup is incomparable!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This place is clean, friendly, and authentic! The staff are all Japanese, and they serve real Japanese-style sushi. The fish tasted very fresh. They even had tuna belly (toro)!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The sashimi is very fresh. Best Japanese Sushi restaurant in HRM!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Absolutely fantastic food and service. Would highly recommend too anyone who enjoys sushi

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Cannot believe this restaurant wasnt recommended yet. Good price and an awesome quality. DO NOT waste your money at other sushi restaurants.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Tonight was the second time I have ordered from here, the first time it was very good, tonight it was excellent! I ordered the nigiri combo and two maki rolls, it came with miso soup and salad. The nigiri combo was the best I ve ever had, generous portions of fish and the texture/flavour was perfect. You can tell Doraku uses quality ingredients, I really enjoyed the ginger/wasabi, the miso soup and salad were delicious as well. The service was very fast and friendly, I will be stopping in more often!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

try and excellent service, fresh and tradition japanes good.. Love it so much

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

not bad

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Incredible meal and fabulous staff. So refreshing to have an experience like this.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

eating this was the best thing that has ever happened to me

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

This truly has the best sushi in town! So fresh and the staff are so kind and hard working

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

First rate sushi.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Favourite sushi spot! I usually get the lunch special while at work at leeeasstt once a week. The Doraku salad dressing is delicious. Quick & never disappoints!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

It was excellent

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

I want to put 10 stars. Fresh fish, great staff. Everything is very tasty.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

One of the BEST places to get sushi in Halifax! If you want to indulge yourself in authentic Japanese sushi, this is the place to go. I was blown away by the freshness of the fish and the quality of every single dish. Agedashi tofu was amazing, I would highly recommend. The sushi combo came with 8 pieces of nigiri, and the cool part about it is that we got to see the chef make the nigiri at the bar. I wish it had more seating area so that I can go there more often without waiting, but it was well worth the wait!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The best sushi in town. The food is so fresh and delicious. Highly recommend the Nigiri menu especially the O Toro nigiri. Cant say enough how delicious it is. The staff are very friendly. Prices are very reasonable.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The miso soup in the set meal is delicious, and the fish in the nigiri sushi set meal is very fresh. The only shortcoming is its soy sauce. The flavor of soy sauce is relatively insufficient and it is difficult to bring out the good flavor of nigiri sushi.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

This place is a treat and the food was excellent. Highly recommend, definately will come again!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Sushi combo is amazing in value and quality

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Best sushi Ive had in Nova Scotia.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Probably one of my favourite a la carte sushi restaurants. Love the atmosphere and the service is top notch. Everyone is friendly and the sushi is delicious! 10/10 cant reccomend enough.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Absolutely love it here! Amazing sushi (best I ve had in Halifax!), very reasonable pricing, and friendly staff. The service was quick and efficient, and overall a great atmosphere for a delicious meal. Will definitely come again :)

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Best Japanese food in NS

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Authentic Japanese food, authentic J-town vibes. And good people! Parking: Parking in downtown Dartmouth, given the time and day, can be tricky. Heads up. We have a walkable downtown core around there though, so park away, walk in, and enjoy the sights and sounds of a jumping local community. Dartmouth is rad

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We did not make a reservation but were lucky to get a seat at the bar despite making a reservation. The place was busy on a Monday evening, but despite that the servers were prompt and jovial. We absolutely loved the crispy chicken skins seasoned with lime, the bbq eel sushi roll and miso soup. It was also my first time trying octupus( tentacles wrapped in potatoes and fried) and while I enjoyed the chewy texture of the meat, I could predominantly taste the mayo like sauces added. The gayoza were small and taated average. The California roll and fried tempura were also as youd expect from any other place. Overall, I enjoyed the experience, especially seated Infront of the kitchen with prompt service and good food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Easiest review I ve ever left. Best sushi we ve had outside of Japan!! So delicious and the service was fantastic too.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Excellent food! The fish melts in your mouth and tastes so so good! Atmosphere and decor in there was gorgeous - simple but still so elegant. The service was super friendly and efficient. 10/10 would recommend.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The best sushi you can get in Dartmouth and its not close

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Absolutely amazing! If you like sushi, this is must visit spot. The restaurant is not big, but not tiny. We reserved a table to be sure we had one. There is seating on the patio and on stools at the bar and around windows. The service was good. I would say that the staff are authentic. Some broken English as they clearly prefer Japanese when speaking to other staff or yelling orders to the kitchen. The staff all shout when you arrive and when you leave. I think that s traditional. So what about the food? It was bonkers good! We had the sashimi plate. Chef s choice turned out to be the way to go. The salmon was melt-in-your-mouth. The tuna was the same. And the scallops were served with a slice of lemon in between the pieces. My girlfriend loved it. We also has the Doraku roll. Sublime. We couldn t turn down a second helping of tuna and salmon in the form of rolls. We were very satisfied and would highly recommend this restaurant.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I had the best Japanese food that I ve here had in Canada here. The food quality is out this world for its price. It was very affordable. From the miso that started the meal, the house made Wasabi, sushi, to the Dango dessert, nothing disappointed. The Dango was a VERY sweet, but my spouse and I shared a skewer to end our meal. The only odd thing was the exterior tables sort of folded down, which made it so someone couldn t really tuck their legs in. Wheelchair accessibility: It was not wheelchair accessible. There were 4 steps up onto the deck, 1 into the house, and it was quite close quarters.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

the sashimi was amazing

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The quality of sushi was top-notch

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Absolutely amazing!!! My boyfriend and I visited from Toronto and heard all about Doraku from Reddit, so we had to try it. Did not disappoint at all. The servers were so sweet and enthusiastic. The food was made right in front of us and tasted delicious. The raw salmon was incredibly fresh! Would definitely recommend.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The taste is extremely authentic, and the flavor is outstanding. The culinary style is excellent, and the service is top-notch.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Fantastic friendly service! You can literally see them making the food and the vibe was so inviting Vegetarian options: There were many veggie options and they were very satisfying

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Found this place by accident. Fantastic nigiri and attentive, friendly service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This was the best sushi I have experienced in a long time. I love the atmosphere of this little hidden gem. The sashimi was very fresh and flavourful. This isn t a sushi dish, but you must try the TORIKAWA PONZU!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Fantastic sushi and great service in a cozy joint!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Simply the best. Fantastic sushi, friendly staff, and very reasonable prices.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Good food, nice place, friendly staffs!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Stopped to eat here on our NS road trip, and so glad we did. Amazingly fresh, tasty, nicely plated, and great service despite being busy. I would say the best sushi I have eaten in Canada so far. Would highly recommend going here!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

This is the best sushi place in Dartmouth by far. The people here are really kind aswell

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Visited from Toronto. Came in for lunch and was blown away. The freshest fish from local and Japan suppliers. Staff was very nice. Quality through the roof, flavours out of this world. For once I didnt get sick eating mackerel compared to other places. Highly recommended!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Lovely and fresh

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I loved dining here! Staff are friendly, the food is really good and affordable, and thr interior is cozy and very nice. Especially, the thick wooden high tables were nice! Shrimp tempura:

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Visited from Montreal and their sushis are the best I have ever eaten.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Most amazing meal in a long time. We had a bit of everything. The staff was so nice but the food made me forget about everything else once the fish started rolling out. Was worth the drive!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

It is actually sushi made by japanese and really delicious. This might be crazy to say but it might be the best real japanese sushi in Canada.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I think here is the best Japanese restaurant.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Amazing sushi, friendly staff, and a cool retro atmosphere. Best sushi Id had in a while and sake prices were very reasonable! Will Def go back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I love coming here, one of my fave sushi restaurants.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The store has a Japanese feel and the people working there are all Japanese, so you can feel like youre in Japan! Everyone has a good personality, is kind, and is fun hehe. And above all, the food was the best. It was the best food I had in Halifax!! The sushi is soft and you can watch the sushi being made right in front of you! I will definitely visit again,,

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Freshly made sushi

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We ate several different dishes and found them to be very tasty. Looking forward to dining in next time. It is a small dining room so reservations recommended.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Outstanding quality and taste. Just perfect sushi, state-of-the-art! Highly recommended! Reasonable prices, very friendly service.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Had heard about them from several people- and the reports were true- delicious!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Every time I go there I feel like Im back in japan because how authentic the food is. I have to go there every month or so since I live downtown, but let me tell you, I have tried sushi everywhere and nothing compares to this place. Everyone there is so nice and polite too, its the best :) cant wait to go again soon!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The best sushi in the city.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Our family have been loyal customers of Doraku since the early days of Ko-Doraku. Despite their growing popularity and the challenges they ve had to endure, Doraku remains HRMs top Sushi restaurant. From the quality of their product and their respect for ingredients to front of house service, no Sushi restaurant east of Toronto holds a candle to Doraku at least, none that I ve eaten at, and I ve eaten at many.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Best place for Sushi, hands down!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

A very authentic Japanese restaurant

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Best sushi in Dartmouth/Halifax!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Very friendly and welcoming little spot with really tasty sushi and Japanese food. The broth with our agedashi tofu was SO good! Eating area is small and intimate with bar seating as well, washroom very clean.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

We frequent sushi restaurants back home in the GTA. Nothing was as delicious and cozy as this shop. Melt-in-mouth sushi! If we find ourselves back in town, we will definitely be back!! Arigato!!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

One of my highlights when visiting Nova Scotia. We ordered a Kaisen Don for take out. We were so impressed that we had to get it a second time during our trip because it was so good! I would highly recommend this place for anyone who is looking for top quality sushi at a reasonable price ran by very friendly and talented staff.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Cute little Japanese restaurant with great food and prices

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

100% the best sushi I ve ever had in my life! Very cozy atmosphere as well, and friendly service. l recommend this place to every sushi lover I know!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Friendly, great customer service. Fantastic food. We love this restaurant!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Personally my favorite place in the HRM to get sushi, its such a vibe.

Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Today was my son s 13th birthday and he wanted sushi. Doraku is our go to and has been for some time. I got our order together early and tried unsuccessfully to put in an order online beginning at 4:30. After a few attempts, I also tried calling. They were obviously busy so I drove down to put in my order in person. They take my order and tell me it will be 1.5 hours-no problem, I m happy to wait and come back. It wasn t a huge order, just for two adults and four kids. Just as I m about to pay another employee chimes in and advises that they won t take my order-they re too busy. My order would have been completed well before closing and they can only really explain that they re too busy, no further explanation. One employee says it could take longer than 1.5 hours which I was okay with. I calmly tried to clarify that I still wanted to order and was okay with the wait but they still refused to submit my order. I m so beyond disappointed in how this was handled. I ll likely never go back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Doraku is Dartmouths hidden gem. I wanna gatekeep this place & not tell the world how I love this place, but I know the chef & the rest of the staff deserves the recognition. If youre looking for affordable, delicious, authentic Japanese cuisine, Doraku is the place to go. It is a small joint, probably sits 22 people at once. The service is fast. The servers are the most polite, smiling people. We recommend the Ko-Doraku roll, miso soup, & tempura! Arigato gozaimasu!!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Tried most of the Japanese restaurants in Halifax. Here has the best and freshest sashimi. Highly recommend hamachi and tuna. Also the salmon here taste sweeter and fresher than anywhere else.