A HAVEN FOR THE BUDGET-CONSCIOUS
by Louie P. Oviedo

It is not a dating place as the lights are very bright, but, if you are planning on going to Japan or have always been fascinated with the Japanese's culture or plain curiosity drives you to reveal the meanings behind their words, this is the place to start learning. The place is casual and should you feel the need to ask the meaning of the food you are supposed to order, their menu is friendly enough to point you to the right direction since their description is very simple and easy to understand.

Don literally means rice in Japanese for Don Don this can connote for the rice toppings they have to offer. The place is not as formidable as other Japanese restaurants but the connotation that eating anything that sounds foreign is still expensive cannot be avoided. Looking down at Don Don's value meals menu, their prices might help dispel the public's generalization.

Their franchise in Robinson's Place Ermita serves Japanese fastfood that draws students from UP Manila, PWU (Philippine Women's University), St. Paul's, and the employees from the Supreme Court. The food is very affordable, with prices starting from P39 and not more than P100 for one complete meal.

One example would be their Oishi Saver Meals. You can order any of the following:
Chahan (P39) : Japanese fried rice containing ground pork mixed with carrots and bell peppers.
Tonkatsu (P69) : Breaded porkchop with sauce.
SukiyakiDon (P69) : Sliced beef with vermicelli and tofu.
TorikatsuDon (P69) : Breaded Chicken with Egg.
Mixed TempuraDon (P79) : 2 pieces prawn tempura and 1 piece crabstick tempura.
Gyudon Saver (P69) : Sliced beef with mushroom and eggyolk.
Beef Teriyaki Saver (P79) : Sliced beef in teriyaki sauce.
All Tempura Saver (P89) : 3 pieces Prawn tempura.

They all come with one cup rice, a 12 oz. Iced tea drink and Miso soup---except for the Yakisoba (P59) or stir-fried noodles and vegetables; and their Sashi Maki (P49), tuna sashimi and California maki presented as rolled rice with mango, crabmeat and cucumber.

For merienda, why not try their Ramen Time Saver Meals, available from 1:30 to 6:30 in the afternoon. These are:
Beef Suki Ramen (P45) : sauteed sliced beef in Sukiyaki sauce with tofu and vegetables in beef broth soup.
Chicken Ramen (P45) : deep-fried peppered chicken with sliced egg and vegetables in clear soup.
Yakiniku Ramen (P45) : stir-fried sliced beef with sesame seeds, sliced egg and vegetables in beef broth soup.
All Tempura Ramen (P65) : 2 pieces prawn tempura with sliced egg and vegetables in clear soup.

And if you will be coming in pairs, ask for their Beef or Chicken Misono Saver which has either sauteed beef or chicken mixed with vegetables, 2 cups of rice, 2 Miso soup and 2 iced tea for only P89.

Their newest addition to the list is their ice coffee jelly, now that one sound familiar. It is coffee with sliced coffee gelatin, topped with crushed ice. For P25, it could beat the heat come the summer months. Though the mixture is sweeter compared to the other coffee jell-os, if you are on a tight budget and still want your coffee jell-o, this could be the solution. As for the presentation, it is served in a transparent plastic cup together with a plastic white spoon---this should be improved (presentation does have its merits since it helps sell).

One thing more, their red curtain that divides the areas---the counter/cashier which is visible to the customer and hides the kitchen area slash "behind-the-scenes" area where food is prepared---it does not help in creating the image of cleanness. Better divide these areas with a permanent divider or discard the red curtain and let the customers see how the food is being prepared. Most fastfood restaurants do it this way just to prove that they have nothing to hide.

As for the food---there was a time when their beef teriyaki tasted good and can be savored long after the bowl is empty, that was year 1996 when they still had a branch in SM City. Another friend commented that the California maki and tuna sashimi tend to be soggy, also in 1996. And that their beef teriyaki in Greenbelt is too salty, this was in 1997. Unfortunately, these branches closed down and should you glance down the other branches of Don Don located in Robinson's Galleria and Glorietta 4, only Robinson's Ermita offers the value meals mentioned.