Dondonya comes across in reviews as a tiny, cozy, affordable spot that consistently delivers delicious Japanese and Asian fusion dishes with generous portions and solid value. The atmosphere is described as intimate and cute, with a warm, friendly service, though the space is very small and can get crowded at dinner, sometimes leading to a wait. The menu wins praise for favorites like gyudon, tonkatsu, okonomiyaki, donburi, gyoza, and inventive fusion options, with many diners noting the quality, freshness and flavorful sauces, and standout items such as yam fries and popcorn chicken. A few notes mention not wheelchair accessible and occasional concerns about cleanliness or dust in certain corners, but these do not strongly distract most people. Overall, Dondonya is seen as a reliable, affordable, and cozy choice that brings repeat visits from locals and visitors alike, valued for consistent food quality, generous portions, and a welcoming vibe for a casual lunch or intimate dinner.
Amazing food, great options. Miso cucumber was tasty to start, had a beef rice bowl & the ginger brown sugar tea. 10/10 would recommend. Cute restaurant up a set of stairs.
This is my go-to Japanese restaurant. I always eat here when I crave tonkotsu rice. The place is small but nice, the service is good, & the value for money is solid.
Sep 24, 2025
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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
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 bathroom is kinda hard to access to but or else everything else is great. The food is the best cozy, & homemade feel! My fav is the Menchikatsu. It is 3 big slices of pork croquettes, with tons of cabbage & rice on the side. It fills you up like crazy. The place is well decorated & very clean too! 10/10
I've tried katsus at several restaurants, & this one is really bland. It's crispy with a large amount of rice & a nice portion of vegetables, but it really needs salt as an optional add-on, especially for the curry sauce & the bland beef. The atmosphere is cozy & nice, despite the heavy smell of fumes.
Small, cozy restaurant with home-made vibes. Food is delicious: flavors are perfectly balanced & portions are copious. Bonus: 5-star service. The meat is perfectly cooked & the ingredients feel so fresh. Also the sauces go so well with the rice & the vegetables. It gives you the sensation of eating at someone's house (someone that cooks amazingly well, of course). How small the place is, the old-fashioned menu, & the warm service is the perfect mix that makes you feel that you are eating home-made dishes. Don't miss the opportunity to try this little jewel in downtown!
Aug 24, 2024
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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.
A very nice rice bowl / beef bowl shop. Quick & easy. The drinks were delicious & unique. The food was delicious & there were plenty of options, both classic & innovative.
Cozy spot for an excellent casual meal. Menu has a good selection of options. The gyoza were excellent & the yam fries were unexpected. They coat them in sugar before frying, which leans into the sweetness yet somehow it works. I had the Tom Yum soup with tofu. I've never had it with rice noodles (vermicelli but it's the fat kind) & seaweed. It struck me as fusion feeling but it was good & pretty light, which is what I was looking for. I considered the udon but those noodles can be a lot. Everybody was happy with their meals. On the ambience, I'll say it has a quirky back of the house feel--they store supplies kind of in the open & the walls partially expose pipes. They use a lot of white paint on wooden strips with live plants in planters for an exposed-yet-homey vibe. The tables are tiny--it's not a place for lingering--& there aren't a ton of seats. We'll definitely be back again!
Very nice & cozy atmosphere. The yam fries were bussin bussin on god (crispy sweet & hot (just like me 😘)). The torikatsu was mad gyuuu, bouncy, succulent juicy strips of fresh poultry made me cry a single tear of joy. The balance with the rice & the veggies was very yummy yummy in my tummy (no upset tummy tonight 😊)i'm finally happy again. Never got chance to meet the older gentleman in the kitchen but he seemed like a swell fella. Overall some very menoum menoum miam miam 🤤 PS: Some cushions would be nice cuz my booty ache (straight up blud)
Fantastic food, hearty portions at a very low price especially post inflation. Had the Tonkatsu Don, sauce was savoury & sweet, & the meat was very crispy & moist. The rice was perfect with nice coleslaw & sweet corn. Dessert was also great. Service was great & food came out very fast. Would recommend to anyone looking for a full cheap meal of quality food.
Stopped by this place for lunch & loved it. It has a nice intimate vibe with some nice decor. The menu is a nice little book with a lot of authentic Japanese menu items along with pictures. We got some gyoza, curry torikatsu & the regular torikatsu. The meat, rice, & vegetables blended so well together. I did prefer the meat of the regular torikatsu more than the curry one but it was close. It was also at a good price point. Highly recommend this place over a chain type fast food joint for lunch.
Nov 29, 2023
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