Tis Me Michelle

This spot has been a staple in Orlando for a while now. Starting in East End Market, they expanded out to Dr Phillips a few years ago as well. I’ve been a few times over the years and understand why it’s a hit.

The Parking: Depends on the location. East End Market parking is a nightmare. I literally avoid going because of the parking. The food spots in it are fantastic. I believe you can park across the street. That may be a weekend thing, but it’s really a matter of luck, especially on weekends.

Dr Phillips is much easier to navigate. It’s not my favorite, cause people can get crazy in the lot sometimes, but there are plenty of parking spots as it’s a larger shopping center.

The Atmosphere: It’s a first-come, first-served spot. So it has a more lax atmosphere, but still kind of elevated. I’ve only gone to East End once, and there was quite a wait, but we ended up dining outside, and it was fine. I could see it being super hot in the summer days, but any other season or later in the evening, it’s a good option. I actually went during the winter, and it was a bit too cold to sit outside, but we got warm food, so it wasn’t too bad. I don’t even think I’ve seen the inside of that location, so I couldn’t tell you the vibes there.

At Dr Phillips, there’s also outdoor seating, but I had the opposite experience and have just dined indoors. People really do line up as soon as it opens, though. So sometimes it’s hard to get a table, but there’s usually enough spots at the bar. I’ve done both, and either is a solid option. Again, the vibe is lax and energetic at the same time.

The Drinks: I’ve gone a couple of times for happy hour now, and the deal is pretty decent. They have some standard drinks for $8, which isn’t bad. I’ve gotten the Wasabi Ginger Margarita a few times. Now… It’s a very solid margarita. But I’ve never tasted a hint of wasabi or ginger. It is very much a basic marg. I also tried the Domu Daquari. It’s meant to be rum, lime, and pineapple syrup. And I don’t know, maybe my flavor profile is off, but I didn’t get much pineapple. To be honest, when I first got it, I thought I ordered a marg by accident. Aside from it tasting like rum over tequila, the difference was barely there between the two drinks. They were both just standard drinks, and even with the descriptions of something unique, I didn’t taste it. I’ve never tried their specialty cocktails, so I couldn’t tell you if those are worth the price, but I’d hope they actually are more unique.

The Food: I’ve had a variety of things at this point. The ramen is always a solid option. Delicious, no fuss, and does its job. I wouldn’t say any of the ones I’ve had are unique per se, but solid and done well, absolutely. This past visit, I tried a rice bowl for the first time. I got the chasu don bowl, which I really enjoyed. By the time I got it, I was already rather full, so I had a bit and took the rest home. I love me a good leftover, and it was just as delicious the next day. It’s definitely a more filling plate with the rice and pork, but super flavorful, and I’d recommend it.

One of my favorite items on their menu, I feel, is slept on is the shishito peppers. I have come to love a shithito pepper. And Domu does it super well. It’s cooked up and glazed with brown butter and soy tare, and topped with crispy quinoa. Salty, savory, a nutty sweetness from the brown butter, crunch from the quinoa, and if you are lucky, some heat from a pepper.

A few other apps I’ve tried are the Tako, which I thought was going to be Takoyaki. But it was just Tako, aka octopus. I like octopus, but the one I got was definitely a bit too charred and so not as tender. I liked the potatoes and the accompanying yuzu mayo, but a basically burnt octopus isn’t super appetizing. Octopus can be easily done wrong, and the execution was not the best. The Cheezus is another one I’ve tried a couple of times. It’s good, just not my favorite. I love corn, I like cheese, I like bread, lots of good things, but it just fell flat for me both times. I wanted the corn to either be sweeter or some kind of spice to zhuzh it up.

Aside from the ramen, another major item at Domu is the wings. They are extra crispy and coated with kimchi butter sauce. These wings have a lot of loyalists behind them. Don’t get me wrong, they are good. I may have had them far after I heard about all the hype, so it was slightly underwhelming. I recall enjoying the wings at Kai Street Fare more.

Overall: A solid spot. One that I would return to, specifically for a ramen craving. I understand why it’s become an Orlando staple. I enjoy it and have clearly returned a few times over the years. It’s neither my favorite spot nor a go-to, but definitely one I’d recommend folks try at least once.

Rating: 8.3/10