One of my go-to bars when I'm looking to have a good time with my friends. This bar brings me back to Tokyo, with their decor, menu style, and the way that the staff greets everyone warmly when they come in. The drinks are reasonably priced. For food items, I recommend getting a bunch of small appetizers/snacks to share rather than main dishes. I really liked their torched salmon sushi and their honey butter yam fries. One thing that really makes Dondon unique is their Dice Challenge, where for $9 you can roll two dices and the numbers correspond to a drink on the menu! These drinks can range from a simple can of coke to expensive liquor, adding a fun twist to your night. I'm always hoping to roll a 4-5 for their peach calpico :) It's definitely not a quiet spot; there's a lot of chatter, and you frequently hear people screaming their "sake BOMB" drink ritual. But that's what I'm there for: a joyful night spent laughing and cheering with my friends! read more

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Came here on a Saturday night to have a good time and celebrate my birthday. Staff were really great. They have a cool thing called dice challenge were you roll a dice and whatever number you land is the drink you get. And then the ultimate Samurai Challenge is what I would recommend to everyone. Bumping music the whole night. 100% recommend this place. Next time I'm back in town, I'm coming back here. read more

DonDon Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Maybe it was meant to be that we didnt make a reservation. We ended up sitting on the bar and met the owner. Tony was very nice, welcoming and a delight to talk to. We had a great evening. We will definitely be back. Oh and the food was alllll perfect! Such a well decorated ambiance too . read more

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This is a traditional Japanese izakaya (bar). They have daily specials for drinks which were actually quite good bang for buck. I tried the Wednesday night sake special and it was a glass and flat sake cup overflowing for $7.90. I also tried the Iko (squid appetizer which is great for one. It was small but very flavorful. Finally I finished off with the omelette that looks like okonomiyaki. It was small but surprisingly filling. Again good for one person but also paired with something else. The service was quick and they took away empty plates quickly. 5/5 Overall the environment was dark but nice. You may want to bring a small light for reading the menu. 4/5 stars. read more

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I love that this place took me back to Tokyo. The skewers were good, and service was very friendly. Great place to have friends over to have drinks and yakiyori and for parties as well . read more

Came in here at around 9 on a Friday night and there was a table for two and some seats at the bar, whew. Fun vibes in here with hip hop music playing with drum celebrations interspersed. Definitely not a tame, quiet atmosphere! Where we were seated we could see the grill, but I'd love to sit near there next time. Seems like a lively experience -- they get staff to hit the drum when preparing certain dishes. We tried: - sake flight b: a nice selection of dry sakes! Different flavors to experience - yuzi and calpico chu-hi: refreshing shochu beverage! Not too boozy - housemade pickles: this comes with a ton of bonito flakes on it so if you don't like fish, get the other pickle option - ginger fried karaage: didn't taste the ginger much but these were tasty -- big portion and good dark meat - dondon special black croquette: this was maybe my favorite thing we had. Super crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside. Mm. - skewer combo: we got this with salt. Definitely tasty but didn't blow us away. - smoky hay salmon sashimi: tender and tasty salmon. Seemed good quality. The smoke imparted an interesting flavor. All in all a good meal! Would love to stop in again and try different things. Loved the vibe in here but take note from other reviews -- you gotta be patient with the staff as service can be slow. Just go with the flow :) read more

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Great lively atmosphere (more on the loud side but still able to talk and hear each other fine) perfect for groups if you're looking for a fun night. Large variety of menu options to choose from which was a huge plus. The service was friendly and attentive. I highly recommend booking a reservation in advance if you're planning to go in a large group. Group of 8 or more they put you in a more intimate room area which was cozy and great vibes. Overall, had a great experience and would recommend if you're looking for a vibrant spot for an evening dinner with friends. read more

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We came to DonDon Izakaya as a group of 3 friends celebrating birthdays. It was really fun, reasonably priced, with good food. Highlights included the Beef Okra Yaki, and the gyozas. I tried a lot of dishes, and everything was very tasty. The only negative for this restaurant is the service. While they were friendly and got the order correct, the waitress sort of disappeared at times. She would serve us, and then we wouldn't see her for 30-45 minutes. We waited quite a while for the bill. This could be improved. But overall, this was a really fun place with good food. I would recommend it! read more

*ORIGINAL REVIEW WAS TOO LONH. PLEASE SEE PHOTOS OF SCREENSHOTS FOR THE FULL DETAILED REVIEW* we came by on a friday night, made a reservation for a group of 8. we were seated at one of the semi-private booths where we had to remove our shoes. 2. service 1/5 i would honestly say service is a zero star, but i squeezed out a one, for the hostess (and only the hostess). she politely greeted us and walked us to our table, advised us to scan the menu on the corner of the table and that "a server will be over with you shortly". this "shortly" was about 15+ minutes long (i really want to say 20+ but 15 is already bad enough). five of us sat down first, each taking turns going to the washroom. still, no server came by to greet the table, take our drink order or at least even offer water. after another "short" while, i got up to go find the hotess. when i had approached her asking why no one came by or if we were even assigned a server, she kind of stared back w.a blank face - then immediately appologized, and went to look for server. about 3 minutes after that, a girl appeared in a cat/maid costume and says, "are you guys ready to order?" i was taken back because i actually thought she would first introduce herself and then appologize for the 20+ minute wait. nope, nothing. ffd i realised either: a) our server (along w.several other employees) were part of the party group beside us or b) there was a staff party/event going on during public business hours this was because several staff walked by our booth repeatedly and no one looked or stopped by to do a table check, food check, drink check, nothing. each time we needed someone (as i mentioned earlier) we had to get up, walk through friends, put on our shoes, then go play a game of "guess who works here" so we could request some table service. a "short while after" i saw several employees drinking shots and alcohol with the party group/their friends, our server's lack of service and inability to properly perform her job, was due to the fact that she was "too busy drinking, having fun, and holding hands/hanging out with her boyfriend". this was absolutely infuriating and completely unprofessional. i myself have worked for over 15 years in the food & hospitality industry and actually spent 7-8 years at a very busy izakaya as well. never in a million years would i, or any of my izakaya co-workers would have done what the employees at don don were doing (neglect table service and the lack of appologies to customers, because they were all too busy drinking and partying on the job). not sure if there were any management and or owner(s) present last night, but that would not have sat well at my previous izakaya job. 3. food/drinks 2/5 there some decent dishes but overall taste and presentation fell short. skewers 0/5 for all of it. choice of beef, chicken, pork, cherry tomatoes or zucchini. you can get the skewer combo, which is 5 skewers (but you dont get to pick/choose) they give you one of each - and choice of terriyaki or salt. all the meat skewers was dry and or chewy. zucchini was sliced ridiculously thick, barely grilled, and still raw. only 1 piece was charred on one side. teriyaki sauce looked like it was scooped out of the jar w/a spoon and dumped half-assed on top. you would think it was brushed on and grilled or marinated, but no. plain, bland, zero seasoning/marinade. not sure why the skewers take "20 minutes to prepare". i think its because its literally made as you order it. **price was $7.20 each skewer. yes, youre paying $7 for 5 tiny shriveled up cherry tomatoes. the skewers were a rip off. do not order this. **missed food item: pork belly kimchi udon 0/5 i asked our server to check this dish for us because everything came (including the 20 minute prepped skewers) yet, she never returned to follow up with us. we were looking forward to this dish so much but was left with disappointment. overall experience 0/5 i had very high hopes for don don, especially being an izakaya, you know (and come to expect) that food and atmosphere would be great. unfortunately don don did nothing but fall terribly short in every category for points. we would not be coming back here nor recommend this place to anyone looking for a good time. they even had the audacity to charge 18% service charge (i understand we were a "large group of 8". how do you justify charging 18% service charge when you provided absolutely next to none????????? i guess this is why we received absolute garbage service. if you think charging auto gratuity means you dont have to tend to your tables, then this is where your zero star ratings come in. read more

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Really fun atmosphere here. Loud drums, great selection of drinks, and izakaya favourites to accompany those nice drinks. This is a great place for a group to hang out at, have drinks. All the fun of a weekend night out, without having to go to a nightclub. So, not a place for a chill dinner. One of the more fun izakayas in downtown Toronto. read more

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This is an Izakaya place on the upper level of a building. Pros: + There's plenty of seating (a lot of bar seating). + There's a large selection of drinks / alcohol. + The price is reasonable and there is a 15% cash discount. + Chicken karaage portion is large, but it is oily and not crispy like other places. Cons: - Food is very average. For example, the chirashi was very small and the fish wasn't super fresh. - Service is average to below average. - Loud. read more

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Hurry, you need to experience this mind-blowing restaurant now--it's a culinary explosion as vibrant as a Chinese New Year parade! The atmosphere grabs you like a steaming hot bowl of congee on a frosty night, warm and inviting, while the staff's high-octane, heartfelt service makes you feel like royalty at a lunar feast. Dishes flew to our table faster than a dragon dance in a storm, each one a flavor-packed masterpiece--bold, fresh, and crafted with precision, like lanterns blazing in a midnight sky. The menu's a treasure trove, bursting with classics like dumplings and daring new dishes that'll thrill every taste bud. The vibe? A sizzling mix of cozy tea-house warmth and the electric buzz of a bustling festival market--perfect for any gathering, big or small. I'm itching to rush back to this culinary gem, shining brighter than a jade dragon! Don't wait--go now, la! read more

It has been many years since I last came but I still cannot let this bad experience go away from my mind. The last time me and my bf came to this place, was a Friday evening. The place was busy so we got seated down by the counter. We've placed our order and we were waiting for our food. I noticed one of the chefs just placed a really nice looking dish on the counter waiting to be picked up by the server, so I thought to myself that it looked great, but I didn't know what it was, so I used my phone to take a picture. By the time I shot a picture of the food, the chef shot me a very mean and nasty look, that I could never forget how bad it made me feel. I never came back because of this unfriendly experience and still can't forget how it ruined my mood on that Friday night. read more

Wow what an incredible experience. I really liked the unique take on cuisines, which mixed food and drinks perfectly. Our virgin yuzu calpico and pomegranate calpico were great. The service was top notch, with excellent server who was very knowledgeable and guided use through the menu. We started with the zucchini skewers as an appetizer which was great, along with the Don don miso soup, which was an new, and awesome dish. The Buka Don with the pork belly was a flavor overload, so good, but the Salmon Belly was special, so so good. Definitely a gem. They take credit cards but There is a 15% discount if you pay cash. read more

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Came here on a wed night, more people than i expected! Overall experience 5/5! Food came pretty fast! 1. Kimchi Udon: 10/5! DELICIOUS! YOU HAVE TO TRY IT IF YOU LOVE PORK BELLY AND KIMCHI AND UDON 2. Salmon Neck: 5/5 It was actually really good. I saw reviews saying they were overcooked, but mines was made perfectly! 3. torch Salmon Sushi: 3/5 It wasnt bad, but it isnt great. I would recommend KINKA. Price for this is also a bit ok the pricey end. Almost $25 for 8 pieces feel like i can get something in a sushi store. 4. Skewers: overall 3/5 we got the salt version. It wasnt great, but its a good mix with all the other food. Drink-wise its pretty good! 1. Don don special Blend: very interesting shot drink that pours all the way to the plate. 4.5/5 2. Capico Sour 5/5! LOVE IT! read more

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Very fun atmosphere! It was lively and loud on a Friday night. We were looking for a dinner spot without a reservation around downtown and was lucky to grab a table here. We ordered the kimchi udon, karaage and sushi set of 30 pieces. I ordered mango juice on the side as I'm not a sake bomb person myself! The dishes were all tasty but the kimchi udon was excellent. Not too spicy and so comforting to have on a cold winter day. Would come back again! read more

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I've dined in 3 times and recently done takeout twice. Although my friends love this place, the items are hit or miss. For example, the first time I came I got some sort of grilled mackerel? It was so salty and tough that I avoided this place like the plague until my friends kept raving about it to try items like the ginger fried chicken. The ginger chicken is good, it comes with two mayo based filling sauces. One is more mild and citrus while the other is more flavourful. I really like their thick sashimi cuts and chirasahi bowl. Despite the small size, the fish marinade/sauce was delicious and there was a good variety of fish that I did not expect. I also like the variety and amount of veggies that are included in the Bento. I feel like I'm eating a traditional Japanese meal! On the downside, the fancy omelette was drowning in sauce and the grilled salmon was overcooked. It stuck to my teeth and was like chewing salmon jerky!! Luckily, the stiffness was helpful to scoop extra sauce off the omelette. The abundance of mayo helped added fat back into the salmon. read more

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Came here w a few coworkers on a Monday night (super quiet) but service was still on point. Great place to share and a fun atmosphere. read more

DonDon Izakaya - Sapporo with frozen beer on top - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Could not go to Japan due to Covid so I went to one of my favourite spots for Izakaya. As usual, great service and good food. Just keep in mind the portions are not overly big like all izakaya. Also bring cash to get a cash discount. read more

DonDon Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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DonDon is a trendy izakaya right near the Eaton Centre that calls for a young, hip crowd. It gives dive bar vibes as they play the music loud, the lights are dimmed, and everyone is drinking and mingling. I came on a Friday evening for dinner with my boyfriend and we were able to get a spot right away at the bar. We shared the beef tataki, beef bowl, and buta don. We also had the Witch's Brew drink. The drink looked really cool and had an interesting flavour, not as sweet as most cocktails are. I enjoyed both the bowls, although the beef bowl was literally just beef and rice (can't complain tbh), with no sauce to flavour it. The buta don was a bit better as it had sauce on top to make it flavourful. The beef tataki was an interesting dish that I probably wouldn't order again; it tasted good but was really chewy and that's just not something I'm a fan of. Overall, this place is decent for a quick bite - but I think it's mostly for drinking. read more

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Been here a few times. It's one of the closest izakayas near the Eaton Centre. In terms of decor, it has the typical loud bar style. Staff for the most part are friendly. The only part that threw me off is the swearing from the owner as he walked in. Dropping f bombs here and there in English and Chinese, it did interrupt the dining experience. Food for the most part is average, nothing to write home about. The ramen is probably the only item that is slightly above average. It has the at home feel. Will only return if friends ask to go or else I would go to Guu or other izakaya in the city. read more

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$15 for 3 pieces of sashimi. Whoever ordering their Hay Sashimi for take-out please know what you're getting. read more

DonDon Izakaya - $15 for 3 pieces of salmon sashimi. This is no doubt a very expansive take out. - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Don Don Izakaya is a great place to go for a night out with friends. It has a dive bar vibe - the atmosphere is dimly lit and seedy, with sticky beer-coated floors and a venue that's past its prime. But the food is good and the drinking selection is large, and the tables get loud and rowdy. The food is reasonably priced and the drinks are strong, so you can keep the party going late into the night. Just be prepared for the rowdy atmosphere as it may get loud in enclosed space. read more

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Had a very meh experience when doing a quick takeout here a while back. Partner and I really love Japanese food so we leapt at the opportunity to try a new place. We tried the DonDon-style butter soy ramen and the daily chirashi rice bowl. Sadly the ramen lacked any butter taste or even any richness and distinct flavour at all, and the pork was very greasy. Honestly, cup ramen might have been better. :/ The chirashi rice bowl although better was not that much better. The fish tasted fresh enough but I'd have to say it was just ok with barely any memorable qualities. read more

DonDon Izakaya - DonDon-style butter soy ramen - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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We arrived around 7pm on a Thursday night and was seated in the back corner by the washrooms when there were lots of other seats available. The guys at our table ordered a pitcher of Asahi. They poured it drank a sip from their cold glasses and almost spat it out because beer itself was warm. The server who we called over to fix this was unapologetic and looked annoyed, not sure if she's having a bad day.. Aside from that two of the menu items were sold out already which was disappointing. We weren't told about the sold out items when we were first given the menu. That would've be been helpful to know when we were deciding on what to get. In general the food was really average and service was slow. Every time we needed something, such as refilling our tea, it took a while to get someone's attention. read more

DonDon Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This place is... supa cooool. Love the ambiance here. This is a very centrally located Japanese izakaya restaurant located just steps away from the Eaton Centre. Like a tapas restaurant, you order a bunch of dishes to be shared amongst your friends (or you can just fight your friends and eat it all, whatevaaaa). We came on a Friday evening and hallelujah we luckily did not have to wait for a table. Unfortunately though some items were already sold out like the Steamed Shabu Shabu (which my friend said was really good!). We tried: Salmon Carpaccio - Good but a little bit too mayo saucy (and thus salty) for me. Black Croquettes - Holy aesthetics, this dish basically matches my entire wardrobe... it's squid ink BLACK. These were fried fresh and very yummy! Pork Belly Gyoza - OK. Just tasted like normal gyoza. Pork and Mushroom - OK. The leeks added a nice crunch in addition to the pork and mushrooms. Service was a little mehhh. It's kinda difficult to flag someone down for the bill or for any additional help. Nor do they come over to check on you during your meal. Overall, dece food, mehhhh service! Location location location thooooo, can't beat the fact that you can come here for a cool meal after shopping. read more

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Walked into here on a cold and windy day. Ordered the kimchi udon thinking I would have a yummy broth and ramen like dish but it was disappointingly dry and okay. I got chicken skewers which were not amazing but better than the udon. Ended dinner with green tea ice-cream. Friend ordered the don don burger. The fries were okay as well. The reason i'm giving 4 stars is because of the amazing and attentive service. Staff was so sweet and constantly checking in and so polite. One of them told me I could get free refills on my 50.cent tea!! The other one hung my jacket on a rack. Really was above and beyond. Looking forward to returning for the staff and to try their drinks. read more

DonDon Izakaya - Kimchi udon - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Last time I came here for lunch and gave them 2/5 stars. I went back to try their dinner menu and it was much better! We got the okonomiyaki, DonDon black croquette, kaarage, pork kimchi udon. Izakayas are always a feast because you get to try multiple different dishes We got some pretty standard dishes here to fill up on, no complaints for those! The black croquette was something more unique that I haven't seen before. It's made with squid ink, hence the black colour. Honestly it tastes the same as normal croquettes from other restaurants That is probably my fault for having the wrong expectations though! This place was bustling at dinner time, so you would want to reserve if you can or expect a short wait for a table. read more

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People yell hello in Japanese at you when you pop in. Interior was dark and trendy. Good thing we sat at the bar so we had some light! We came here because we weren't too hungry but we also wanted some cute eats. We got chirashi and a whole ton of that smoky hay sashimi (various types). I believe we got smoked hay tuna, salmon, and some other fish. Chirashi was pretty disappointing. I don't expect a $25 quality bowl but there was way too little fish in the rice. The rice still had the sushi vinegar mixed in there, which is par, but IMO they could have put more varieties of fish on top. Really? Only salmon and maybe one piece of squid? Talk about budgeting. Smoked hay sashimi was pretty great! We loved the layers of flavour it had and it wasn't so overwhelming that the taste of the fish was lost. Def a good combo. I totally recommend the... non-triangular piece. I feel like it isn't salmon but I honestly can't remember the name of it. I deducted 2 stars because service wasn't amazing. It was pretty hard to flag down a person and it wasn't even super busy. It was also pretty hot. :( read more

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This is a great place for a larger group as they have big picnic style bench tables throughout the restaurant and food is share-size. It's a hole in the wall with a cozy, yet lively atmosphere. Service is okay but the food comes quick. Food can be a hit or miss. The salmon carpaccio is best on the menu. Would not recommend the deep fried oysters. read more

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I love the ambience for Izakaya This is the only one that is in downtown near work. The food is pretty good. They have a great selection of menu. If you have a thing for Izakaya, I will recommend here. read more

DonDon Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Great welcome staff, decent food but terrible service! Had to flag down the waitresses for water, the bill, etc. I liked their hay smoked salmon sashimi (Altho I still seared it), charcoal grilled beef, and drinks!! I kind of liked their ramen, but I can't tell if it's cuz I was drinking and wanted the carbs to fill me up or because that was my carb intake. We ordered the butter soy ramen and it wasn't bad! I liked the "butter" that was added lol. Garlic beef was normal and as expected, chicken kaarage was normal and as expected (crispy, meaty, fried), gyozas looked normal and nothing special. Overall this is an alright place to go for beers, sake or soju w some good food but poor service! read more

I never realized that there was an izakaya near Bay and Dundas until now. Don Don Izakaya is situated in the upper floors of the building. When you walk upstairs, you are greeted by a bustling dark dining area. We were shown to our seats and given the menu to order. Right away, I noticed how pricey the menu items were. We ordered the Ginger Fried Chicken ($11.40), the 5 Skewer Set ($12), Gyoza ($6), the Otafuku Omelette ($11), the Torched Salmon Sushi ($20), and the Grilled Salmon Shoulder ($6.90). The sushi seemed way overpriced, but we were craving sushi and that was the only thing they offered for sushi. There were 8 pieces and total and they were regularly sized. They tasted nice and but it was not worth $20. The ginger chicken came with two mayo based sauces which were differently coloured but oddly tasted high similar. I could not taste any ginger in this "ginger chicken" dish. It just tasted like fried chicken bites. Again, it was crispy and light, but not special. I liked the skewers a lot. We chose teriyaki sauce for our skewers and they arrived at our table with a nice char. The flavour was sweet but savoury, and the beef cubes were oh so juicy. I probably wouldn't order this again since it was $12 and 2/5 skewers were veggies. I felt the omelette was way too mushy for my liking. The flavour was similar to that of okonomiyaki and it was topped with bonito flakes. It also had noodles inside. I just felt that the dish was a bit too soft for my liking. The salmon shoulder was pretty small. I didn't particular enjoy the bland fish. The service here was great and the livened atmosphere is great for drinking however, their food is just okay read more

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Cute Japanese food spot. They are sort of unassuming, located up a winding staircase, but the space is quite ambient. The lighting is absolutely non-existent--it was so dim inside the restaurant! I really had to squint to see the menu, or take out my phone's flashlight. We ordered the spicy seafood udon, bura don, takoyaki pizza, bone broth miso soup, and creme brûlée pudding. The spicy seafood udon was pretty good. The broth, which I believe was pork based, has a nice umami to it. There weren't too many seafood pieces in the bowl though--they were very similar to those seafood chunks in frozen seafood medley packs you can find at grocery stores. The bura don was a pretty standard beef and rice bowl. Nothing too fancy but decently filling. The takoyaki pizza was just a bit of tomato sauce and cheese on top of takoyaki. The takoyaki was nice and hot and gooey on the inside though! The bone broth miso soup was a slightly elevated miso soup, like the name implies. However, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it unless you're super into miso. The creme brûlée pudding was very nice! You can't go wrong with a creme brûlée, and this had a nice crisp sugar layer on top with a very jiggly pudding layer underneath. The food is okay here, I wouldn't necessarily say there's anything that stands out. The prices are also a bit high, but I suppose it's pretty normal for the location. It's also one of the only restaurants still open later at night, so there's that. read more

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I have ordered delivery from Don Don Izakaya at least 5 times now and have never been disappointed. Surprisingly what first drew me to their restaurant is their homemade 'Wild Wheat' Witbier which is my favourite beer in the entire city! So far in terms of food, I have only ordered the Makimono Trio from their menu with the beer but It was fresh and tasty and light on the stomach as sushi should feel. I have had bad experiences with sushi over the past few months from other restaurants but Don Don's Maki was as Maki should be! My all around experience thus far is: Don Don Izakaya is Delicious, fresh, and refreshing, and I cannot wait to visit the restaurant in person when the Pandemic lightens up! Would highly recommend! read more

DonDon Izakaya - Don Don Izakaya's Organic Wild Wheat white beer. 10/10 flavour profile notes of banana and floral hints. smooth and fairly sweet. - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Came here with friends (like with all my other reviews) and passed by this place while looking for something to eat. My friends said that it's not filling since obviously it's a tapas place. Still didn't stop me from trying it though! The decor inside is very dark like a Hollister store and when going inside, a waiter would bang on the drum..I guess to announce arrival? I'm not sure tbh. Their tables were picnic style with the long benches, but there's a row of hooks to hang your jacket and bags by the wall. Since this place is tapas, so small appetizer like dishes, it's not filling unless you order multiple dishes. I wasn't feeling hungry that day so I ordered a chirashi don which is a small bowl of rice with some sashimi on it. I mean... it was ok? The fish isn't unique at all and for the price you pay, I don't think it's worth it. I could get something better at a local sushi restaurant so you shouldn't expect much from place like this. I can see the total adding up quite quickly if you order many small dishes. I believe they also had daily specials on the drinks so my friends ordered some beer and that was pretty good. Obviously, don don is more like a hang out for drinks and small snacks so stay away if you're looking for a main meal. read more

DonDon Izakaya - Chirashi Don - Japanese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Super fun place to catch up with friends and have some drinks! The food here is so good and the sake tasting is a must! The staff are pretty hands off (in a good way!) and typically allow you to just be present in your group, but are always around and are super friendly and happy to be there! Will be going back for the Sake bomb challenge read more

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Always a great time at Don Don! Food: fair pricing for a decent portion, were very quick to arrive at the table and all delicious. Drinks: they've got an extensive drink menu, separated into various categories such as sake, sochu, cocktails, Chu-hi, wine and many more. Service: friendly and knowledgeable staff. Ask your server about the wheel and dice challenge! read more

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Overall good ambiance, service, and food. I give it only 3 stars as it pales in comparison to some other izakayas. I have been here a few times but most recently had the tako wasabi, smoky hay sashimi (BC tuna and yellowtail), aburi salmon sushi, ginger fried chicken, and Jaja beef. For dessert I had the taro potato ice cream and mochi, which are two separate items but I recommend combining them as the warm sesame mochi goes very well with the taro ice cream. I highly recommend the smoky hay sashimi which is seared sashimi but seared over burning hay, so it has a nice smoky taste to it. I liked the BC tuna more. The Jaja beef is also pretty good, and you can grill your own beef on the mini grill they provide, along with asparagus, oyster mushroom, and zucchini. read more

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On a busy street, right off of Dundas Square is a discreet little restaurant within a discreet brown building. As you ascend the stairs, you hear it, quietly at first (dondon). What was that? You continue up the stairs, feeling like you've stepped into a portal that has bridged together Toronto and Japan. Japanese posters and decorations enter your peripheral. Dondon! There it is again, the rhythmic pounding. You reach the top, pull back the black curtain, and a wave of deliciousness hits your nostrils. DON DON DON DON! IRASSHAIMASE! And there it is. Happy faces striking a Japanese drum. And you are led through a high-energy, dynamic space with the promise of good food, good drink, and good times. Good food: Dondon has an amazing range of shareable goodies that go from $5 to $20. No, you're not going to classify it as "cheap eats", but it certainly gives you quality for your money. Best to come with a big group so you can try as much as you can. My recommendations: black croquettes, wasabi octopus with seaweed, chicken cartilage, karaage, and torched salmon sushi. Good drink: Alcohol and more alcohol! Fantastic variety of drinks including sake tasting menus ($~20) and special cocktails. There are a bunch of creative non-alcoholic drinks as well for those that can't hold their liquor (me). I recommend the Pomegrenate Calpico. Good times: Great choice for larger groups, as mentioned before. They've got sectioned off areas with traditional Japanese tables for larger groups. Just a note, there is an auto 15% gratuity with these tables and you have to take off your shoes. The server wasn't very clear when we asked about this and then halfway through the meal, another server (better English) came by and told us to take them off. Other than that, the service was top-notch, with that signature sense of Japanese courtesy. Dondon is one of the many Izakayas popping up in Toronto and definitely a worthy competitor. It's a perfectly lively atmosphere, inviting all to add their voices to the sound of upbeat chatter and beating drums. Despite the average rating, I promise you, you DON want to miss out. ;) (87/100) - 2016 read more

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