Donya Japanese Cuisine
At a Glance
About Donya Japanese Cuisine
Donya Japanese Cuisine is a Japanese food stall in a kopitiam (traditional Singapore coffee shop) at Block 126, Toa Payoh Lorong 1 — and it has quietly become one of the most talked-about affordable Japanese food spots in the neighbourhood. Founded by three friends — Keat Hwee, Andrew, and Jonathan — who all grew up in Toa Payoh, Donya was born from a simple conviction: premium Japanese donburi should not require a trip to a mall restaurant or a S$20+ price tag. The trio, who also run Tenryu Japanese restaurant at Bukit Panjang, brought their restaurant experience to the heartlands, opening Donya in a kopitiam to keep overheads — and therefore prices — low.
Every item on the Donya menu is priced under S$10 — a remarkable feat for Japanese food that uses quality ingredients. The Chicken Katsu Don (S$5.80) is the entry point: a properly marinated and breaded chicken cutlet, deep-fried to a golden crispness, served over rice with donburi sauce and miso soup on the side. At this price, it is arguably the best-value chicken katsu don in Singapore. The Salmon Mentai Don (S$8.80) is the signature: Norwegian sashimi-grade salmon is deep-fried to achieve crispy skin and tender flesh, then generously slathered with house-made mentaiko cream sauce. The dramatic finish happens at the counter, where the mentaiko is torched with a blowtorch — caramelising the sauce into a crackly, aromatic crust that smells incredible and tastes even better.
The maki rolls are another highlight. The Donya Maki (S$5.80) is essentially a California Roll elevated: crabstick, avocado, and cucumber inside, topped with a thick slab of salmon and torched tama miso sauce with bonito flakes. For S$5.80 for four pieces, it is outstanding value. The Mentai Maki (S$5.80) goes further with generously drizzled mentaiko sauce and tobiko (flying fish roe), adding briny pops of flavour. Both rolls are beautifully presented — you would not guess from looking at them that they came from a kopitiam. The Unagi Tama Don (S$8.80) is the sleeper hit: properly grilled unagi (eel) with tamagoyaki on rice, delivering a richness that belies its price tag.
The kopitiam setting at Block 126 is unpretentious: ceiling fans, shared tables, and the ambient noise of a busy neighbourhood coffee shop. But it is well-ventilated and clean, and the stall itself is neatly organized with visible torching happening at the counter — which gives the stall a certain theatrical quality. The location is about 5-10 minutes' walk from Braddell MRT (NS18) and directly opposite Toa Payoh West Market and Food Centre. Donya has since expanded to Bugis (2 Tan Quee Lan Street), but the Toa Payoh original remains the sentimental favourite. Business is brisk — maki rolls can sell out before dinner rush — so arriving early is recommended.
Recommended For
Menu & Pricing
Cash and PayNow accepted. No service charge. Maki may sell out before dinner — arrive early. All donburi include miso soup.
Donburi (Rice Bowls — all include miso soup)
| Chicken Katsu Don — crispy breaded chicken cutlet on rice | S$5.80 |
| Chicken Teriyaki Don — teriyaki-glazed chicken on rice | S$6.80 |
| Chicken Karaage Don — Japanese fried chicken on rice | S$6.80 |
| Chicken Mentai Katsu Don — katsu + torched mentaiko cream | S$6.80 |
| Salmon Mentai Don — fried Norwegian salmon + torched mentaiko cream (SIGNATURE) | S$8.80 |
| Unagi Tama Don — grilled eel + tamagoyaki on rice | S$8.80 |
Maki & Sides
| Donya Maki — crabstick, avocado, cucumber + salmon + torched tama miso (4 pcs) | S$5.80 |
| Mentai Maki — salmon + mentaiko cream + tobiko (4 pcs) | S$5.80 |
| Gyoza — pan-fried Japanese dumplings | S$3.80 |
Practical Information
Dietary Information
Photos
Sourced via Google Places — food-focused photography
Location
126 Toa Payoh Lorong 1, Singapore 310126
Kopitiam (coffee shop) stall at Block 126, opposite Toa Payoh West Market & Food Centre. Look for the Japanese food signage in the kopitiam. Well-ventilated, clean space. 5-10 minute walk from Braddell MRT (NS18).
📍 Open in Google MapsYour Dining Journey
From the kopitiam counter to the mentaiko torch — what to expect at Donya.
Find the Stall
Donya is inside a kopitiam (traditional coffee shop) at Block 126, Toa Payoh Lorong 1. From Braddell MRT (NS18), exit B and walk along Lorong 1 for about 5-10 minutes. The kopitiam is directly opposite Toa Payoh West Market and Food Centre. Look for the Japanese food signage — Donya's stall is neatly organized with a clear menu display. The kopitiam itself is well-ventilated with ceiling fans and shared tables. Find a seat first, then go to the stall to order.
Order and Watch the Torch
For first-timers, the Salmon Mentai Don (S$8.80) is the must-order — this is the dish that built Donya's reputation. As you watch from the counter, the chef fries Norwegian sashimi-grade salmon until the skin is crispy and the flesh is tender, then squeezes a generous amount of house-made mentaiko cream sauce over the top. The dramatic moment comes when the blowtorch is pulled out and the mentaiko is torched until it bubbles, blisters, and caramelises into a crackling, aromatic crust. Pair it with either the Donya Maki or Mentai Maki (both S$5.80) for a more complete meal. Budget diners should try the Chicken Katsu Don (S$5.80) — at this price, with miso soup included, it is extraordinary value.
Enjoy Premium at Kopitiam Prices
When the Salmon Mentai Don arrives, the torched mentaiko crust is still warm and crackling. Break through it to reveal the fried salmon underneath — the contrast of the crispy, caramelised mentaiko exterior with the tender, flaky salmon and the sweet donburi sauce-seasoned rice is genuinely impressive. The miso soup that comes with every donburi is a nice touch — it cleanses the palate between bites of rich mentaiko. If you ordered maki, the presentation will surprise you: these look like they belong in a S$30-per-plate restaurant, not a kopitiam. After your meal, Creamier Handcrafted Ice Cream and Coffee is just around the corner if you want dessert — a perfect Toa Payoh food crawl.
Donya Japanese Cuisine is proof that great Japanese food does not require white tablecloths or air conditioning. In a kopitiam opposite a wet market, three friends from Toa Payoh are serving restaurant-quality donburi and maki at prices that would be considered cheap even for hawker food. The Salmon Mentai Don at S$8.80 — with its torched mentaiko crust, sashimi-grade salmon, and included miso soup — is one of the best value Japanese dishes in all of Singapore. The maki rolls at S$5.80 are beautifully presented and genuinely delicious. The Chicken Katsu Don at S$5.80 with miso soup is almost absurdly cheap for what you get. Donya proves that the Japanese food revolution in Singapore is not just happening in Orchard Road malls — it is happening in heartland kopitiams, one S$5.80 bowl at a time.