Dondori Review - Authentic Singaporean Donburi Bowls

I love rice bowls. You get everything you need all in a bowl, how convenient is that? With rice bowls becoming commonplace in Singapore, a couple more rice bowls here may not seem all that exciting. But what’s different here, is that you get a fusion of truly authentic Singaporean flavours in a Japanese takeaway concept – and that’s what gives the familiar “home” taste. Though I would say, these rice bowls are done in a style more towards Japanese minimalism. 

Dondori has sent us 6 Donburi flavours for this review: 

• Creamy Salted Egg Katsu Don  
• Cheesy Dory Don 
• Aburi Salmon Mentaiko Don  
• Marmaite Teriyaki Chicken Don  
• Ha Cheong Gai Don  
• Creamy Tom Yam Katsu Don  

Read on to find out how these bowls fare!  

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Creamy Salted Egg Katsu Don

Beneath this dish sits a fluffy bed of Japanese rice that will complement the different flavours of the toppings. The creamy salted egg sauce paired very well with the rice. The chicken katsu surprisingly still retained a fair bit of crispiness even though we tasted it a couple of hours after they were prepared! The chicken was a tad dry, but I believe it was due to the delay in trying it out. The Salted Egg sauce, being the star of this dish, (thankfully) tasted pretty mild so it didn’t overpower the other ingredients and we still managed to get some flavours from the chicken itself as well! 

Price: $7.90
Rating: 3.5/5

Cheesy Dory Don

Honestly, who would be able to resist the presence of toasted, gooey cheese in any dish? Cheese on top of fish fillets? It’s a YES from me. Some dory fish can get really mushy and wouldn’t taste the best with a cloying amount of cheese on top. But I’m glad to have this bowl of Cheesy Dory Don which contained a sizeable amount of fish fillet that’s soft, tender and delicate.  

I liked that the fish wasn’t over-seasoned and was able to balance out the “jelak-ness” from the cheese. Lightly flavoured fish fillet coupled with cheese that’s melted to the right consistency, this definitely made a fairly good rice bowl! 

Price: $6.90
Rating: 4/5

Aburi Salmon Mentaiko Don

Mentaiko and salmon are a marriage made in heaven, but the aburi (flaming) component really helped to elevate this pairing to the next level. Above the salmon, laid a thick, generous layer of Mentaiko sauce which contributed to the creamy undertones of this dish. This robust umami-packed less-than-$10 rice bowl certainly left me wanting more. Lovers of decadent rich flavours, this would probably be the bowl for you!  

I wasn’t exactly the biggest fan of the sweet chilli crab sauce on top of the tofu as it tasted more like a sweet chilli sauce, but the tofu is surely soft and silky just like how you would expect it to be!  

Price: $7.90 
Rating: 4.5/5  

Marmaite Teriyaki Chicken Don

Although I’ve tried Marmaite dishes before at the Zi Char stalls, I still didn’t know what to expect as there was a “teriyaki” element in this rice bowl. This bowl indeed had a very unique and acquired taste, it was in fact quite flavourful compared to the usual sweet teriyaki chicken I’ve had. Just by hearing it from its name, you could tell it would be a sweeter rice bowl compared to the other savoury ones.  

It was sufficiently good for my first try, but I reckon it could have been even better if the chicken was juicier or if there was some sort of sauce topped over it because it was got a little dry-tasting towards the end. What really saved this bowl from the abyss of dryness, was when I mixed the runny Onsen egg with the rice which helped to add a little more moisture and creaminess from the egg yolk. 

Price $6.90 
Rating: 4/5 

Ha Cheong Gai Don

Ha Cheong Gai is one of those dishes that is popular among Singaporeans and many would actually claim it to be the epitome of fried chicken wings. This rice bowl here contained a crispy Ha Cheong Gai katsu chicken battered in Panko breadcrumbs that’s very commonly used in Japanese cuisines. What made this bowl stood out was the Sambal chilli which had the perfect amount of tanginess tied together with the spiciness, in which I would describe it to be a fiery tangy chilli sauce. I really enjoyed the “kick” and the flavour that the Sambal had added to the dish!  

The Katsu probably won’t make you think that you’re having a “Ha Cheong Gai” chicken as the flavour was considerably mild, but it’s sure fair-to-middling for the price you’re paying. After all, it’s not an everyday thing that you can get substantial rice bowls at such affordable prices!  

Price: $6.90 
Rating: 3.5/5 

Creamy Tom Yam Katsu Don

This was quite a sturdy rice bowl, though it would have been good if there was a little zing and more spice for a more dimensional Tom Yum sauce. I was glad to know that the Tom Yum sauce wasn’t overly rich and creamy to the point that the other ingredients would be overshadowed. Instead, the Tom Yum sauce with hints of creaminess actually combined well and elevated the savouriness of the dish. 

I’m not a person who would enjoy such contrasting textures in a bowl, so I prefer having this bowl without the Edamame. But I’m sure it would be great for those who would love a great hardy bite for texture or if you need some greens to cut through the creaminess.  

Price: $6.90 
Rating: 4/5 

I’m always that friend that goes “this looks like a small portion” whenever I eat Donburi Bowls because of how unassuming it is, yet also always the one that won’t be able to finish my bowl. However, with Dondori, they gave a substantial amount that’s just enough to fill up the space in my tummy!  

Get some rice bowls from Dondori HERE!
*Information accurate as of 16 July 2019.