The Korean Anju Bar Dotori is one of my latest favorites, not only because the wine and food are great, but also because Chi and Dax are the most welcoming hosts around. You may already know Chi from Personal Chef Berlin catering and her kimchi workshops, Dax from the supper clubs and pop-ups the two have been hosting together since last year. Far from crowded restaurant corners, past a music bar that promises the best of punk and rock in Weißensee, you probably only come this way purposefully. Dax stands at the blue counter and pours us natural wine and soju – Chi brings filled plates from the kitchen, because: “In Korea, you don’t drink without anju on the table!”. Anju are small dishes that you share with friends and family at the table alongside your drinks – similar to tapas. Korean pancakes with kimchi and scallions, Dotori Jelly, a traditional jelly made from acorn flour, along with sides like kimchi, roasted seaweed and a bowl of rice – at Dotori, the two have put together a “menu for two” of their anju favorites.
In addition, there are other dishes depending on the season: Dakgalbi, Korean Fried Chicken, Gimbap – the list goes on. And then there’s this insanely great wine list: here, wine doesn’t just taste mineral or dry, but is also “fun & glouglou,” “uplifting,” or just “really spectacular.” For non-wine drinkers, there’s also craft beer and lemonades. And of course: lots of soju. Dotori feels new, familiar, open and light. It’s the little things – as is often the case – that make this place so special: the wine list with its fun yet fitting descriptions, the two tipsy acorns on the menu that give you an inkling of how the evening might end, and the interior design you’ll want in your own home. If you’re looking for an alternative to your usual aperitivo evenings – far from crowded restaurant corners – then I highly recommend Dotori.
Text & Photos: Robyn Steffen
Dotori, Gustav-Adolf-Str.159, 13086 Berlin–Weißensee; map
Thur–Sat 17h30–23h
@dotori.berlin
