The station is situated on Rizal Avenue and slightly past Doroteo Jose Street.

Both the station and the street are named after Doroteo Jose, a Filipino who was arrested by Spanish authorities in 1898 for leading a movement against a corrupt archbishop.

Popular shopping centers such as the Isetann Cinerama Recto and the Odeon Terminal Mall are also nearby.

However, unlike the stations of Baclaran, Central Terminal, Carriedo, Balintawak, and Fernando Poe Jr., commuters still have to exit the fare gates to access the walkway above the platforms.

Doroteo Jose station was opened to the public on May 12, 1985, as part of the Rizal Line, which extended the LRT northward to Monumento.