Takeout sushi

Sushi to-go is the theme at new takeout spot Dozo Sushi in Richardson

Dozo Sushi is to-go.

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A new restaurant has opened in Richardson that's doing an unusual twist on sushi: It's takeout-only. Called Dozo Sushi, it's in a former doughnut shop at 800 E. Arapaho Rd., #112A, east of US-75, where it sells sushi-to-go in cute boxes, plus matcha drinks.

The concept is from young couple Yisha Zhao and Ronald Le. Some may recognize Zhao from Instagram: Her foodie account @shefliesfromdallas, where she posts about Asian food finds around Dallas, has more than 18,000 followers.

Dozo was born from their mutual love of eating sushi. As much as they enjoy traveling and trying new sushi spots around the world, they appreciate a night at home with takeout, Zhao says.

“We love going out to nice restaurants and eating sushi, but we also really love to be comfortable at home,” she says. “Sometimes you just don’t want to dress up to the nines. We liked the concept of having good quality sushi in a to-go manner.”

The menu is simple with five boxes full of different maki roll, nigiri, and sashimi variations:

Lunch Box: four-piece nigiri, two-piece sashimi, and two maki rolls, plus edamame
Classic Box: four-piece chef’s nigiri, two salmon nigiri, two tuna nigiri, and two maki rolls
Salmon Lovers: three salmon belly nigiri, three salmon sashimi, a salmon maki roll, and spicy salmon uramaki
Maki Roll Box: a roll of salmon, shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, and spicy crab
Dozo Omakase: eight-piece premium nigiri, four-piece sashimi, a mini seasonal donburi (a rice bowl made with fish, meat, or vegetables), and a special maki roll

Prices range from $25 for the lunch box to $80 for the Dozo Omakase box.

Dozo also does seasonally-themed boxes, like its recent Lovers Box for Valentine’s Day, which included nigiri and flower-shaped sashimi in a heart-shaped box.

While supermarkets and even some regular sushi restaurants sell sushi to-go, there's no restaurant doing it exclusively as they do at Dozo. Zhao says that the restaurant uses fresh fish, while the sauces are made in-house. And having a short menu was by design.

The drink selection includes matcha drinks made with ceremonial grade (the highest quality) matcha, including a strawberry or mango matcha latte, yuzu matcha soda, and Kuromitsu matcha latte. An espresso latte and several canned Asian sodas, teas and milks are also available.

Zhao says they’re working on getting Dozo Sushi registered on Uber Eats and DoorDash for delivery. For now, customers can pick up from the restaurant themselves, with hours at lunch and dinner, from 11 am-2:30 pm, and 5:30-10 pm.

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Red letter opening

Dallas bar veterans open Italian speakeasy-restaurant in Denton

Photo courtesy of Red: Italian

Exposed stone walls and a backlit glowing bar anchor the subterranean space at Red: Italian.

A new speakeasy lounge serving high-end Italian food has arrived at a cool historic building in Denton. Called Red: Italian, the subterranean restaurant opened in the basement of Ruby Rodeo, a bar and live music venue located at 122 N. Locust St. on Denton Square.

The concept comes from Victor García and Mike Church. García spent years at Truth & Alibi — the popular speakeasy lounge disguised behind the faux storefront of the Deep Ellum Candy Company — before acquiring the same space for Scarlett Lounge and Kitchen in Deep Ellum in 2024. Church, a commercial pilot, trained at The Culinary School in Fort Worth and the Ritz-Carlton to refine his passion for cooking.

The business partners say they fell in love with the historic nature of the 1877 building in Denton, which housed Andy’s Bar for 30 years.

“We have always loved the building — it is the oldest building on the square. We saw the vision and loved the aesthetics for both our Ruby Rodeo and Red: Italian concepts,” Church says.

After opening Ruby Rodeo, the duo launched Red: Italian this month. Church notes that the "red" naming convention across their concepts — Scarlett, Ruby, and now Red — nods to his favorite color, a symbol of passion, and the red wines and tomato sauces central to Italian dining.

Church’s passion for Italian cuisine defined the menu, which he created alongside executive chef Denise Gabrielle, his former culinary school instructor. Gabrielle brings decades of hospitality experience from the Westin Hotels, The Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park, Arizona, and most recently, The Taste Project in Fort Worth and Arlington.

The 58-seat underground space — which includes 10 seats at the bar — serves elevated Italian classics. Entrees range from $25 to $40, with menu highlights including:

Spicy sausage lasagna with arrabbiata sauce
Cacio e pepe bucatini
Chicken piccata
Braised lamb leg
Mediterranean Sea bass
Shrimp diablo
Espresso-crusted filet mignon with Italian seasoning

Appetizers are priced under $15 and include house-made fried mozzarella, stuffed mushrooms, grilled artichokes, bruschetta, meatballs, and flatbreads. The kitchen also serves salads, featuring a classic Caesar and a house chopped salad with nine toppings.

Shrimp diablo served over pasta with toasted slices of bread at Red: Italian.Photo courtesy of Red: Italian

Desserts feature house-made panna cotta, ricotta-amaretto Italian cheesecake topped with drunken cherry sauce, and a table-side bananas Foster served with house-made amaretto gelato.

The bar program leans into Italian flavors with options like an Italian margarita made with house limoncello, tequila, amaretto, and simple syrup, alongside a peach Bellini and a smoky Godfather. The wine list spotlights Italian bottles and a selection of Napa Valley options.

“The place has the perfect intimate, upscale, fun Italian wine and food ambience,” Church says.

While entering Red doesn't require a password, it still has an off-the-beaten-path entry that is characteristic of speakeasies. Social media posts direct patrons to "look for the red awning" adjacent to Ruby Rodeo’s black awning. A set of red stairs leads guests downstairs to a door with a small sign reading "Red:".

To preserve the speakeasy atmosphere, cell phone use is discouraged. The space also features subtle Easter eggs for guests to discover, such as conversation starters tucked beneath the napkins.

Following a sold-out opening weekend, Red: Italian is now open, with an official ribbon cutting planned for September (exact date to be announced).

Hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 5-10 pm, with last seating at 9 pm to wrap up dinner service before Ruby Rodeo’s live music starts upstairs at 10:30 pm.

speakeasy italian restaurant denton