Mates on Crates Feat. Nathan Lowey
G’day,
Those in the know, know where to go.
We’re excited to have just launched our latest episode of Mates on Crates, featuring Nathan Lowey, Chef and Owner at Dosanko in Vancouver’s old Japantown on Powell Street. Dosanko is a cozy neighbourhood restaurant serving yōshoku, Japanese-style Western food, with home-style Hokkaido influences, seasonal ingredients, and a deep commitment to making things from scratch. Guests can expect the kind of room that feels like someone’s living room, full of regulars, families, Japanese whisky, craft beer, handmade noodles, slow-built sauces, and food that carries the patience of a kitchen doing things the long way.
Nathan runs Dosanko with his wife Akiyo, whose roots in Sapporo and Hokkaido help shape the spirit of the restaurant. Classically trained in European cooking, Nathan worked under Robert Belcham and brings that background into a menu built around whole ingredients, handmade components, house sauces, and dishes that balance comfort with serious technique. It was a pleasure to sit down with Nathan to chat yōshoku, Powell Street, old Japantown, family-friendly restaurants, hidden-gem dining rooms, handmade noodles, and all of Nathan’s favourite spots.
Each time we do a Mates on Crates interview, our guests share up to twenty of their favourites with us. For each episode, only a handful of those favourites make it into the final two minute cut. In order to highlight all of our guest’s favourites, we are happy to share the full list of favourites right here.
What to get at Dosanko:
To Eat: Tantan noodles - Built on dark roasted sesame, handmade alkaline noodles, ground pork, chili oil, and scallions.
Drink With It: A yuzu margarita, a craft beer, a Japanese lager, sake tasting, or Japanese whisky flight.
The FULL LIST of Nathan’s Local Favourites:
Coffee: Elysian Coffee
Dying to Try: Published on Main
Family Meal: Alvin Garden
Food Neighborhood: Old Japantown / Powell Street
Fried Chicken: Jollibee
Hidden Gem: Paramount BBQ
Indian: Hyderabad Biryani House
Pizza: Don’t Argue Pizzeria
Take an Out of Town Guest: Western Lake Chinese Seafood Restaurant
Outside of Vancouver: Salt Spring Island and especially the Salt Spring Island Cheese Company
Thanks for joining us, Nathan!
Watch Nathan’s full Mates on Crates Episode below.
