Sushi in Dhanmondi: The Tao-Town way!

In search of sushi, a group of six friends would always end up on the 'other side' of Dhaka. Their common love for the gastronomy world, specifically pan Asian/Asian fusion food led to the realisation that Dhanmondi lacked a descent eatery that offered the authentic flavours of Thai, Vietnamese, and Japanese cuisine.

What followed next, was quite daunting, risky for sure, as the members of the group were rookies in the restaurant business, but they had passion, determination, and dedication. Their common goal to develop a menu that was concise, representative of Asian blends that they themselves loved and craved over the years to come is what did the trick. A place that would allow young adults to enjoy meals on a regular basis, without putting a dent in the pocket or leave their tummies half full.

Located on the fourth floor of KB Square Rangs Bhaban at Dhanmondi #9A, the building already houses six well known burger joints, and an established customer base that has fueled the restaurant's popularity. The partners refurbished the space from top to bottom and the end result speaks for itself. Well lit, bamboo screens on the windows; from the blue cushions on the window side benches to the splash of yellow sofa beside the mauve wall, the interior exudes a friendly and cosy ambience.  

It took brainstorming for a month and more to set up the befittingly named bistro "Tao Town"; the word "tao" roughly translates to "way of life" and once the doors opened up to public, the wave of responses was overwhelming for these friends-turned-partners now.

Weekends have been busy and while during lunch hours, students primarily frequent this Pan-Asian restaurant, seniors and families have dominated the night scene, further expanding Tao Town's customer base.

The menu includes a modest list of appetisers (grilled and fried options), sashimi, nigiri and fusion rolls like "Philly rolls" and "Torched crab rolls" which are 'must-tries' if you need a quick sushi fix-in, salads and soups. Their Thai clear sea-food soup tasted comforting, perfect for rainy days that are about to come. Every serving comes with a generous helping of seafood cooked in a broth infused with subtle but fragrant herbal notes of lemongrass and galangal, to name a few, and the little kick of heat at the end of each spoonful is worth ordering more bowls of it!

They also serve chicken, beef, and other seafood in bowls that can stand alone as a proper meal. The owners are already considering expanding their menu to attract a wider clientele.

"Everyone is coming for the sushi," someone commented. But that is probably an understatement. Thanks to Tao-Town, Dhanmondi finally offers not just sushi, but other authentic Pan-Asian dishes — as satisfying to the palate as it is in saving your month end ration!

Photo courtesy: Tao-Town