Don Don Donki JCube Boasts First-Ever Sushi Bar & 4 New Eateries From Japan

Apparently, this quirkily named eatery is Japan’s largest take-out-only casual restaurant chain offering bento meals to-go. There are over 2,600 stores across Japan, so don’t play play.

Photo: Hotto Motto Australia/Facebook

Think affordable takeaway meals featuring Japanese comfort food such as karaage chicken, tonkatsu, noodles, curry, salad, veg and fish in convenient boxes. Time to tapow and veg out in front of the telly.

Photo: Hotto Motto Australia/Facebook

​​​​​​​It may specialise in the popular Osaka snack of takoyaki (battered octopus orbs), but Gindaco was actually born in Ginza, Tokyo. The takoyaki chain is found in practically every prefecture of Japan. Technically, this isn't exactly "new to market" as Donki claims. Gindaco actually came to Singapore almost a decade ago in the form of a small food stall at Ion Orchard’s basement. But it has since closed down. We wonder if Donki’s revived version will be a larger, more elaborate space like some of the Gindaco branches in Tokyo which offer alcohol and other bites such as teppanyaki and deep-fried snacks.

Photo: Japan Local Guide

We had Gindaco’s signature octopus takoyaki in Tokyo and found it delicious: crispy on the outside, creamy within and chockfull of tender octopus, umami bonito flakes and tangy sauces. There are also funkier offerings like the Cheese and Mentaiko Takoyaki (not bad, but we say stick to the classics).

Photo: Florence Fong

Based on our online research (Don Don Donki SG has very elusive PR reps), this is quite likely a hotpot chain from Japan with outlets in Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo and Fukuoka. And if our findings are correct, the SG branch will also serve some form of beef tripe or pork offal hotpot called motsunabe. Here, the hotpot is named after colours such as ‘white’ for a miso-flavoured stock, ‘gold’ for ponzu soup and ‘red’ for a soy-sauced flavoured number. Sounds like atas Japanese kway chap.

Photo: Tabelog

Tsukiji Unagi Daioh

Alas, we couldn’t find any info on this eatery online. But based on its moniker alone, we’re guessing it serves unagi, and that the stall has roots in Tokyo’s Tsukiji market? Oh well, watch this space for updates.

Don Don Donki opens at JCube on Nov 29, #B1-12/18/19, 2 Jurong East Central 1, S609731, 10am-midnight. From Nov 30, store opens from 9am-midnight. The food court opens from 10am-10pm. https://www.dondondonki.sg/info/

Top photo: Don Don Donki