Damso Izakaya (located at 10352 Whyte Ave) is a Japanese restaurant located in the heart of Whyte Ave. Serving both traditional and innovative dishes, Damso Izakya offers a cozy, street-like atmosphere to Edmonton’s frosty streets.

I’ve been meaning to try this restaurant for quite some time. Despite its somewhat unassuming outdoor appearance, Damso Izakaya is quite popular, with dinner wait times often being 2+ hours long in the summer months, which is exactly why I haven’t gotten the chance to try it before. I visited during lunch over the holiday break and was able to have a seat immediately.

Inside, the restaurant did a great job of capturing the Japanese essence in the restaurant’s layout and design. The lighting and posters posted throughout give the space a feeling of organized messiness. The team was playing a really cool jazz-fusion album as well, which I really enjoyed! There’s also a TV that plays first-person videos of people walking through Japan. Although some people may see this as a somewhat excessive touch, I do think all the elements work well to create an atmosphere that is comfortable and invites people to hangout for a while. This visit left me reminiscing of a trip I took to Japan a few years ago, which offered a unique, almost nostalgic experience for myself. It’s definitely worth checking out as there aren’t many establishments in Edmonton that evoke these kinds of feelings.

Damso’s layout, with more seating towards back and along the bar.

Orders are conveniently placed at each table through the use of a tablet, meaning you aren’t really being served apart from whatever is requested through the tablet. This helps maintain the intimate, group atmosphere with minimal disruptions.

I tried the genmaicha tea, potato korokke, and spicy yaki udon (beef) on my visit. All of these items were really good! The green tea was light and not too strong of a matcha flavor, pairing well with all the food items. The korokke was essentially a hashbrown – it was simple but well done, so it’s very hard to find any critiques. However I will say I’m pretty sure korokke’s usually have something mixed in with it (like meat or veggies) but this one was just a plain potato one. Still good, though! It was served with soy-sauce and mayo.

Genmaicha tea ($3.00) and potato korokke ($5.80)

The main dish I tried was the spicy yaki udon with beef. The dish itself was light and great for lunch. The flavors were very Korean-esque, with the spiciness being present but not too overpowering, and also somewhat sweet which was a pleasant mix with the tenderness of the beef. Also, as a big udon fan, the noodles being on the thicker side made the dish more hearty and rich in flavor.

The prices at Damso Izakaya are somewhat average, sitting between $20-$30 per visit. It’s important to note that I find Izakaya style restaurants (Japanese style restaurants that offer varieties of smaller dishes intended to be shared) to be on the pricier side in Edmonton, so it’s a given that dishes here add up in cost quickly, though I do think Damso Izakaya offers relatively fair pricing for dish quality.

Overall, I rate Damso Izakaya a 9/10! The atmosphere was fun and I think this would be a cool place to go for dinner with a group of friends. The only downside is the difficulty getting seating in the evenings.

Written by GAPSS VP Internal Vanessa W.

Vanessa Reviews Damso Izakaya

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