Treat Yourself to Japanese Delights with Don Don Tei’s ‘Osaka’s Finest’ Donburi and Desserts

Filipino foodies are set for a gourmet surprise this March, when Gourmet Kineya launches Manila’s first Don Don Tei restaurant.

Don Don Tei, known for serving “Osaka’s finest Donburi,” is located on the second level of Robinsons Galleria (ADB Wing) and offers a menu that has been thoughtfully adapted to cater to the Filipino palate, as well as an exquisite array of Japan’s most celebrated rice bowls and desserts.

“The arrival of Don Don Tei in the Philippines furthers Gourmet Kineya’s dedication to sharing the joy of simple, delicious, and affordable meals with the world,” says Hideto Nishijima, Managing Director of Business Strategy & Planning. Don Don Tei, also known as Kineya Don Don Tei, believes in the ‘Easy Japanese’ philosophy, which combines simplicity and taste.

Our thorough training with Japanese culinary professionals, as well as our strict dedication to excellent ingredients, ensuring that each meal served is an experience rather than a dish.

FROM DONBURI TO DESSERTS

Their carefully crafted menu offers a cuisine for every taste, combining the warmth of classic rice bowls with the crisp pleasure of properly fried tempura. Experience the crunch of their Tempura Specials, including Special Ebi Tendon with Black Tiger Prawns, Ebi Tendon, and the must-try Kakiage Ebi Tendon.

Don Don Tei’s serves a variety of donburi to suit all tastes. From the cozy Gyudon, with thinly sliced beef and onions cooked in a sweet sauce over rice, to the opulent Wagyu Yakiniku Don, with grilled Wagyu beef revealing the smoky essence of Japanese barbecue, each bowl is a culinary celebration. The Sukiyaki Jyu, a sumptuous combination of beef, veggies, and tofu in a sweet soy broth, adds a touch of luxury to the menu.

Those who like pork can choose Katsudon, which mixes the crispiness of a breaded pork cutlet with the comforting warmth of eggs and the strong tang of onions. Tonkatsu Don consists of a crispy, breaded pork cutlet doused with a sour sauce. Katsu Curry combines the crispness of a breaded pork cutlet with the rich, nuanced flavors of Japanese curry.

Chicken Donburi features Oyakodon, which represents the parent-child bond by combining chicken and egg over rice. This bowl combines flavorful chicken and softly cooked eggs, resulting in a dish that is both healthful and comforting. The Chicken Karaage Don has Japanese-style fried chicken paired with rice and a tangy sauce. Chicken Teriyaki Don combines the savory sweetness of teriyaki sauce with delicate chicken, served over rice. Then there’s Chicken Karaage Curry, which blends crispy fried chicken with the spicy richness of a Japanese curry served over rice.

Don Don Tei also offers Fish/Seafood Donburi. Unajyu is grilled eel with a sweet sauce served over rice in a traditional lacquered box. The soft texture of the eel, along with the caramelized sauce, creates an attractive meal that is both flavorful and traditional. Grilled Mackerel highlights the natural flavors of the sea with flawlessly grilled mackerel paired with rice. Salmon Teriyaki combines the rich tastes of salmon with a sweet and delicious teriyaki sauce served over rice.

Each of these pork, chicken, and fish donburi meals at Don Don Tei exemplifies the culinary skill that Japanese cuisine is known for, allowing customers to experience a range of flavors and textures in one bowl.

To enhance the dining experience, each donburi order is served with miso soup. Diners can also upgrade to a Teishoku lunch, which includes side dishes including as potato salad, green beans and carrot kobachi, and Tsubozuke pickles.

Don Don Tei provides a variety of hot and cold soba options, with the Niku Soba standing out for beef fans. The beverage menu features a Yuzu series with refreshing alternatives such as peach, raspberry, rose lemonade, and ginger beer, which make excellent dinner accompaniments.

While donburi bowls take center stage on Don Don Tei’s menu, their dessert selection is equally enticing, delivering traditional Japanese delights with a modern twist. Among these wonderful choices, the Monaka Ice and Mochi Ice Cream stand out as the ideal, refreshing end to a delicious dinner.

Monaka Ice, made from the traditional Japanese dessert known as Monaka Shells, is a delicious blend of textures and flavors. These shells, thin mochi wafers, provide a sharp contrast to the soft, thick ice cream inside. The crispy Monaka Shells combined with the lusciously sweet ice cream create a one-of-a-kind and extremely gratifying dessert experience. Diners can pick from Vanilla Monaka Ice, Cheese Monaka Ice, and Green Tea with Azuki Monaka Ice.

While Monaka Ice provides a crisp sensation, Don Don Tei’s Mochi Ice Cream is a softer, more delicate delicacy. Don Don Tei’s rendition of this popular treat, which is often served as mochi balls encasing a tasty scoop of ice cream, elevates it by wrapping the ice cream in thin, delicate mochi sheets.

This small twist improves not just the texture but also the entire enjoyment of the ice cream by allowing the flavors to blend wonderfully in each bite. Don Don Tei also provides three flavors: Vanilla Mochi Ice Cream with Strawberry; Cheese Mochi Ice Cream with Strawberry; and Green Tea Mochi Ice Cream with Azuki.

Gourmet Kineya: A Legacy of Authentic Japanese Cuisine.

Don Don Tei, which translates to “Rice Bowl House,” debuted in Abeno, Osaka, in November 1988. It began as a small 14-seat bar and has now expanded into a popular chain with locations in Hong Kong, the United States, and, most recently, in the Philippines.

Its main company, Gourmet Kineya, has been at the forefront of presenting authentic Japanese cuisine to consumers since its beginning in 1967. With over 400 stores across Japan, the brand has established a reputation for quality founded on its guiding values of simplicity, convenience, flavor, and cost. These values have not only influenced the brand’s dining philosophy, but also opened the road for international expansion, including the highly anticipated inauguration of Don Don Tei in the Philippines.

Marissa So, Executive Vice President of Oishi Gourmet Foods, Inc., the firm that franchised Don Don Tei, said that the whole Don Don Tei team, from the kitchen to the service staff, received extensive training from Japanese specialists. “The high-quality ingredients, from the sauces to the meats, and even the presentation of each bowl, have been meticulously monitored to match the company’s high standards. This focus ensures that each item served not only tastes authentic, but also exemplifies Japanese cuisine’s painstaking care and attention to detail.”

The devotion to authenticity is obvious behind the scenes, with the entire personnel, from kitchen to service, having received thorough training from Japanese experts. Every component, from the rice and sauces to the meats and presentation of each dish, is held to high standards, highlighting each serving bowl as a testament to quality and authenticity. The introduction of Don Don Tei in the Philippines is a watershed moment in Gourmet Kineya’s history, bringing the legacy of authentic Japanese food from Japan to a larger audience.