Do you want to introduce your kids to new and exciting culinary experiences? Japanese food offers a delicious and fascinating field to explore with your young ones! From sushi and sashimi to tempura and teriyaki, Japanese cuisine is packed with flavors and textures that will delight the senses of even the pickiest eaters. And the best part? Japanese food can be a great educational tool that teaches your kids about culture, geography, history, and healthy eating. 
One fun activity you can do with your kids involves taking them out to eat at a restaurant that serves sushi in Boston or your city—but not just any restaurant!

Planning Ahead: Key to a Good Experience

Douzo's Sushi of Dartmouth Street, Boston has an extensive menu that caters to a range of customers. You can choose from traditional sushi rolls to more innovative options. The sushi options for kids are just as diverse. One of the most popular options is the crab meat California roll, which is a great introductory sushi option for kids. For the more adventurous children, Douzo's Sushi also has options like the spicy tuna roll and the salmon avocado roll.

We booked our table in advance. A big plus for this restaurant is its Validated Parking at 131 Dartmouth Street Garage on the same side of the street as the restaurant. You will want to have toys on-hand to keep your toddler engaged—a small board book, reusable Paint with Water Pads, Play Dough, small toy dinosaurs, and my favorite Wikki Stix. Wikki Stix are sculptable waxed-yarn sticks. For older toddlers, crayons and paper may also work. I highly recommend the ultra-washable variety of crayons, as they are easily wiped off surfaces with water. With my highly active toddlers, I avoid action-oriented toys, like toy cars, or any noisy toy. 

Overall, try to plan ahead to create a quiet distraction-free environment; think about how you will occupy your toddler while waiting for the server, while waiting for your meal to arrive at the table, and during long waits between courses. The key to avoiding the dreaded tantrum is distraction and prevention.

The Location: Arriving at Douzo Sushi

Our sushi outing started well with easy parking prior to our planned reservation at 4:00pm. We chose this time to avoid disrupting more formal evening dinners. While we did call ahead and request high chairs, we realized we should have requested a back table or booth. There were large decorative dividers between the center tables where we were seated, and they would wobble if our toddler accidentally bumped into them.

Douzo Sushi was very accommodating and had the high chairs immediately ready for our two daughters. Within minutes they brought out a bowl of rice, children's chopsticks, and small bowls of soy sauce for dipping. This was an immediate hit, and I was impressed with how quickly my two and three-year-old figured out their chopsticks. 

What We Ordered

We ordered Shrimp & Vegetable Tempura as an appetizer, and with the crispy batter, they were well-liked by the kids. The wait staff got us our food very quickly;  dining during a less busy time helped and we were very happy to have it suit us so well.

Sushi is the most popular Japanese dish in the US, and for good reason. This colorful and tasty dish combines rice, seaweed, and various fillings, such as fish, shrimp, egg, or vegetables, to create a unique and healthy meal that is low in fat and high in protein, vitamins, and minerals. Sushi comes in many shapes and forms, from maki rolls to nigiri bites, and each one provides a different taste and texture sensation. 

Douzo's Sushi has an extensive menu that caters to a range of customers. You can choose from traditional sushi rolls to more innovative options. The sushi options for kids are just as diverse. One of the most popular options is the crab meat California roll, which is a great introductory sushi option for kids. For the more adventurous children, Douzo's Sushi also has options like the spicy tuna roll and the salmon avocado roll.

For sushi, we ordered the Douzo Special, Sumo, Back Bay, and California Rolls.

The Experience

 We brought out several toys for our kids to play with while they waited for their food. It took about fifteen minutes for them to bring out our order. The staff did warn us about some rolls being spicier, but they were all relatively mild. 

We've been working on saying, " I don't care for that," over "yucky!" The California rolls weren't popular. But my kids did love the Tobiko fish roe, which is a win for pickier toddlers. Tobiko is a type of fish roe that comes from the flying fish. The eggs are small, about the size of a corn kernel, and have a distinct orange color. What sets Tobiko apart from other types of fish roe is its crunchy texture. This is because Tobiko is flash-fried, giving it a crispy outer layer that pops in your mouth when you bite into it.

My husband and I were able to finish our rolls, taking turns helping entertain the children. Douzo's sushi was fresh and high-quality; a long missed treat. 

Overall, I'm glad we were able to expose them to new foods and avoid any meltdowns or tantrums! I gave a five star recommendation on KidFriendlyVenues app to Douzo's Sushi. That recommendation took into consideration all those busy working moms with kids who might appreciate a venue with such considerate staff to help make your stay stress-free and organized. Hope you enjoy the Japanese experience with your kids just as much as we did.

Elizabeth H & Barbara B