DonDonYa is a small, cozy, unpretentious spot in Montreal that diners consistently praise for generous portions, tasty Japanese and Asian fusion dishes, and very reasonable prices, with frequent notes about friendly service, a welcoming homey vibe, and a menu that includes gyu don, tonkatsu, chashu don, miso cucumbers, and yam fries; while the space can feel cramped and can get crowded at dinner, leading to wait times, a few visits mention inconsistent dish quality, and occasional misfires like curry, the overall verdict is positive and DonDonYa remains a reliable, affordable go to for students and locals seeking comforting, well-executed fare.
Perfect if you are on a budget & want a meal that is filling! Definitely try out the chicken cutlet curry & the fried chicken. It is crispy, satisfying bite to it while also being juicy & tender.
Very good food at a fair price, a very underrated dish is the Chicken Thai basil. It is slightly cramped but its part of the charm. The picture below is chashu don.
Mar 27, 2026
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One of my boyfriend & I's favorite spots for a simple & cozy dinner date. I always take the gyu don because the marinated meat is so delicious. The popcorn chicken is also a must.
Their meals are very consistent & the service is always so friendly! (Which is exactly why I never hesitate to come back :)) Keep up the good work!
Cozy little restaurant with few tables, so avoiding peak hours is recommended. The food was delicious! Everything we tried tasted great. I had tonkatsu, the savory pancake, & popcorn chicken (served fresh, so beware! It's hot). All four of us agreed that we enjoyed our food. Highly recommend.
I unfortunately must edit this review. The quality of the dishes have dropped - the chicken I received in the torikatsu was stale. What used to be a more generous helping of vegetables is now thinly spread on top, & replaced by rice on the bottom. The rice quality has changed as well. Overall edible, but would not go back because I can make it better at home.
Original review:
I thought it was quite good. The staff are amazing & they do everything there. Cute vibes in the restaurant.. The portions are smaller so you gotta get a main & a side to be full. Rice is delicious. The only thing I would say is, the egg on the Gyudon came ice cold which was a bit unpleasant but otherwise the dish was delicious
Aug 12, 2025
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The affordable prices & authentic cooking skills make it popular among customers. Taiwanese fried chicken is great, theirs pepper & salt seasoning is really delicious.
⚠? if the AC is more stronger, that would be perfect!
It is very good Asian restaurant, maybe the taste is localized Asian food, similar to Taiwanese. It is not authentic Japanese food. For Japanese visitors, I recommend Yakidon. If you prefer localized Canadian Japanese food, I recommend Toridon which so sweet sauce is on the chicken & rice. Very reasonable price. Amazing!
The popcorn chicken costs $9 for 10 pieces on Doordash! I'd rather buy KFC popcorn chicken with that money instead. The food was OK overall, but I would fine at other restaurants to satisfy my donburi cravings.
My favourite restaurant ever homey vibes nd their curry chicken is my favourite plate I ordered it at least 5 times so far & now with holidays I am craving it even more cant wait until they open again to get again ❤️
Jan 2, 2025
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Small & cozy space to enjoy very solid japanese staples. Had such a serene time on a wednesday evening chilling with friends in an intimate space. Don't get me wrong though, the place could be severely packed from the limited space, but as long as you pick a calmer time, it's great or they'll try to accomodate you as soon as possible anyway. Food was good, fairly pricy, but not as much as Mai Sri's next door if you're looking for the same quality, just not the same cuisine. Just quality comfy japanese experience. 02/10/2024 Got chicken katsu; 19.84$ with taxes & tips.
Good japanese food at a decent price! Ordered take out & got the curry katsu, katsu, & tawainese chicken nuggets. Both katsu dishes were good. The curry was on the runny side, I wished it was a bit thicker to coat the rice. The taiwanese chicken nuggets were also good, however, the portion size was small. Only half the container was filled, which was disappointing. Would go back to try the other rice donburis on the menu.
Quite authentic to restaurants you'd find in Japan! I definitely recommend trying the popcorn chicken. It has a unique sweet flavor & it's so addictive. Their specialty drinks are also very nice & worth trying! Prices are very reasonable as well.
Best japanese restaurant I've been so far. Great, friendly service, amazing food & cozy atmosphere. I'll definitely recommend the Miso Cucumber, it was truly amazing. The Tonkatsu & Citrus Chicken are also very very delicious. Great Place!!
Jul 4, 2024
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We found a hidden restaurant close to Concordia library. We ordered Yaki Don & Fried chicken which were both fresh & tasty. The food was served hot & fresh. Recommend this local place!
Cozy Japanese restaurant with some amazing dishes! I had the curry tonkatsu along with a miso soup, popcorn chicken, & a grapefruit oolong tea. It was all fantastic! Easily the best tonkatsu I've ever had!
The chicken curry was really good! Really nice little Japanese place & the setting & decorations feel very authentic Japanese. The waitresses were lovely, super sweet & helpful. Will be back for sure! Edit : having returned, I HIGHLY recommend the chicken Torikatsu, it was so delicious & crispy.
Best place to grab Taiwanese fare. Gyu don, katsudon, oyakidon, pop corn chicken are all so good. You won't regret it. Only few tables so be patient if there's a crowd
