DonDonYa comes across as a neighborhood staple with a cozy, eclectic vibe and a menu that blends comforting Japanese options with generous portions and fair prices. Reviewers praise tasty dishes like tonkatsu, torikatsu, gyoza, onigiri, curry and miso soup, along with strong tea selections and desserts, noting the food is consistently fresh, well prepared and visually appealing. The atmosphere is described as warm and inviting, with charming decor and a family friendly feel that makes it suitable for quick lunches, casual dinners or takeout. Service is frequently described as friendly and efficient, though a few visits mention slow or uneven pacing during busy times and occasional gaps in attention, suggesting that the experience can vary. Overall, DonDonYa is regarded as a go to spot in the area for flavorful Japanese comfort food at reasonable prices, with many locals promising to return for both the food and the welcoming, lively ambiance.
A cozy quaint neighborhood restaurant!
Jill, the owner, is a wonderful person & hostess! This is my favorite spot in Cote des Neiges by far!!! I invite all my friends to come here. It is a beautiful spot to have a nice lunch or dinner, very nicely decorated, so many things to look at all over the walls. The bubble gum machines, little tiny hand made items for sale. Lots of pictures & notes from happy customers. Just so cute!!! Also great to order out or to pick up. We enjoyed the cucumber miso, gyozo dumplings, Tom Yum soup, menchikatsu, (my favorite dish), with Brown Sugar Ginger Tea With Osmanthus(also my favorite tea), Tonkatsu & a chicken with basil dish on rice with cabbage, carrots & corn. Our server, Ryan, on Sunday March 1st for lunch deserves 5 stars!✨✨✨✨✨ He was kind, attentive & efficient even though he was alone & it was quite busy!!! The kitchen crew are awesome, the food is always hot, fresh & beautifully arranged! I recommend customers ask questions if they're not sure what to order, ask for sauce on the side etc... instead of giving a bad review! The staff will do their best to answer all questions & accommodate you. This is a neighborhood gem & we are lucky to have Don Don ya in Cote des Neiges!!!
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I ordered Torikatsu (rice with chicken) & Steak rice (beef with cheese) & both were absolutely delicious. The chicken was tender & flavorful, & the beef was juicy & well-seasoned. Everything tasted fresh & perfectly cooked.
For dessert, I had black tea panna cotta, & it was so smooth & creamy - the perfect sweet ending to the meal.
The restaurant itself is warm & cozy, with cute decor that makes you feel relaxed & comfortable. Overall, great food, great atmosphere - I would definitely come back again!
Feb 16, 2026
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Although the place looked very cozy & pleasant to dine in, the overall experience was mid for me.
I came here to eat on a Saturday night. The place was very quiet & only had two customers when I arrived with my friend. The atmosphere was really relaxed, the decorations nicely put together, & the ambiance very warm & cozy.
The menu was also excellent, & I liked that they were able to offer customers a wide variety of selections, ranging from appetizers to cold & hot dishes, from rice to noodles, to desserts & drinks. The prices were also reasonable & fairly priced in this economy. We especially liked our desserts, which were the panna cotta flan & the hojicha tiramisu, not too sweet & a perfect balance for people who have a sweet tooth.
However, I'd like to say that the service was quite disappointing & really slow for a Saturday night. The server never came once to our table to ask how we were feeling, if the food was delicious, or even to fill up our cups. He even mixed up our bill for our meal when it was time to pay. I disliked the fact that he took way too much time to notice (eight minutes) that we were finished & wanted to pay to leave. Also, minus one point for the bathroom because it stank a little bit, though it was clean (might consider purchasing an air freshener).
I was craving a good tonkatsu after my japan trip. This place delivered a pretty good product for Montréal's standards. They have good rice, the pork is not overcooked & it has an okay crisp, & the price is good. It is far behind the Japanese standards however. The veggies are a bit too basic & random, the breading is not fluffy, tasty, & crispy enough & most importantly the sauces are very basic & were a big disappointment to me. That being said, I'm really demanding. Taking the low price into account & the Montréal standards, it is pretty good.
