Welcometo DOMO.

Everyone calls us DOMO in a friendly way, but the full name of the restaurant is DOMO Japanese Country Foods Restaurant. When we were brainstorming the name, some suggested that putting "Japanese" and "Country" together would make customers think of the nation of Japan. Here, "country" means countryside. If the restaurant were named in Japanese and translated back, it would probably be Taishu Shokudo DOMO: an eatery for commoners. DOMO itself is a versatile word. Most often, it is how we say thank you.

Let me explain the concept of taishu shokudo.

I was born in a small city in the Tohoku region of Japan in 1950. In my youth, the main way to travel any distance was by smoke-belching train, and at almost every rural station you could find a small eatery or two where travelers and locals ate comfort food and local specialties at reasonable prices. Like pubs in England, they were the favorite places of both locals and travelers to eat, drink and socialize.

Taishu means, roughly, ordinary people. Shokudo means eatery.

From my memories, the interiors were not particularly fancy. The dishes and glasses were often mismatched, and it was not unusual to see bowls with chipped edges. Sturdy plastic or wooden liquor delivery cases were used as chairs and tables, and during busy hours the owner-chef would just call out from the kitchen, "Hey, it's ready," and customers would act as their own waiters.

After sundown, slightly buzzed customers sang local folk songs together, some of them dancing, and the eatery became an izakaya for the night. It was common to hear the owner-chef tell a regular, "Look, your wife is here to bring you home," before he went out awkwardly pushing his bicycle, too drunk to ride it.

Titles like "restaurant" as we know them today did not exist in those towns. The restaurant was a new style, the envy of the big cities, and not somewhere ordinary people could easily walk into. Taishu shokudo and izakaya still exist in Japan. It is unfortunate that in the United States the word izakaya has come to evoke luxury, in name only.

DOMO has received numerous awards thanks to the support of many customers. DOMO is by no means a fancy, high-end restaurant.

After all, DOMO remains a taishu shokudo, an eatery for commoners. Having seen the high scores and reviews DOMO has received, some customers imagine a high-end restaurant before their first visit, only to be disappointed when it differs from their expectations.

As the owner and head chef, I am an old-school business owner who cannot keep up with the current high-end, trend-driven Japanese restaurant market. DOMO has thrived not because we boast of being fancy, but because of the warm understanding of customers who appreciate the unique experience DOMO has to offer.

With that said, I have a favor to ask of you. We cannot change any recipe for allergies or dietary preferences. Please be considerate of others when taking photos. In the cold months we open the partition to the garden every half hour for fresh air, so bring a jacket. You are welcome to visit the Musubido and the museum, with your children beside you. And we are open for walk-in customers only. We do not take reservations, and during busy hours the wait can pass 30 minutes. Immediate seating is often available after 2 pm for a late lunch and before 5 pm for an early dinner.

We appreciate your understanding and continued patronage.