Donya Japanese Cuisine
What Makes Donya Japanese Cuisine Special
About Donya Japanese Cuisine
Donya Japanese Cuisine is a humble kopitiam stall at Blk 126 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh that has earned a devoted following by doing something that sounds impossible: serving premium-quality Japanese donburi at prices that start from just S$5.80. The stall is run by three childhood friends — Keat Hwee, Andrew, and Jonathan — who grew up in this Toa Payoh estate and wanted to bring restaurant-quality Japanese food back to their home neighbourhood at prices that local residents could enjoy every day, not just on special occasions. The trio also operates Tenryu Japanese Dining & Teahouse at Dairy Farm Estate, where the food is priced at restaurant levels. Donya was their answer to the question: can you serve the same quality at kopitiam prices?
The menu is focused and deliberate. Every item is priced under S$10. The Chicken Katsu Don (S$5.80) is the entry point — chunky slices of breaded chicken with egg sauce over rice, served with miso soup. It is filling, well-seasoned, and represents remarkable value. The Salmon Mentai Don (S$8.80) is the star: a slab of Norwegian sashimi-grade salmon, pan-fried to crispy-skinned perfection, then smothered in a thick layer of house-made mentaiko sauce and torched at the counter. The mentaiko is so generous that it rivals restaurants charging three times the price. The Unagi Tama Don (S$8.80) uses imported eel from Taiwan and Japan — charred on top, soft and sweet underneath, sitting on a wet omelette that flavours the rice below. Other options include Chicken Teriyaki Don (S$6.80), Chicken Karaage Don (S$6.80), and Chicken Mentai Katsu Don (S$6.80). The maki rolls — Donya Maki (S$5.80) and Mentai Maki (S$5.80) — are generous four-piece sets with house-made sauces. Gyoza (S$3.80) rounds out the menu.
Recommended For
Menu & Pricing
Donburi
| Chicken Katsu Don — Breaded chicken, egg sauce, miso soup ⭐ Best Value | S$5.80 |
| Chicken Teriyaki Don | S$6.80 |
| Chicken Karaage Don | S$6.80 |
| Chicken Mentai Katsu Don | S$6.80 |
| Salmon Mentai Don — Torched mentaiko on sashimi-grade salmon ⭐ Signature | S$8.80 |
| Unagi Tama Don — Imported eel on egg omelette ⭐ Editor's Pick | S$8.80 |
Maki & Sides
| Donya Maki (4 pcs) | S$5.80 |
| Mentai Maki (4 pcs) — Salmon, mentaiko, aburi | S$5.80 |
| Gyoza (6 pcs) | S$3.80 |
Budget Guide
Practical Information
Dietary Information
Not halal. Menu includes pork-based items. Chicken and salmon options available. For halal Japanese in the Novena/Toa Payoh area, consider Yoshinoya (halal, multiple locations) or Hatsumi Donburi at NEX Serangoon.
Photos
Photos loaded from Google Places. Click to enlarge.
Location
From Braddell MRT (NS18): Walk about 5-6 minutes. The stall is in a kopitiam at Blk 126 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, opposite Toa Payoh West Hawker Centre. Look for the Japanese signage in the corner of the kopitiam.
Your Dining Journey
The Kopitiam — No Frills, Just Food
Donya is a stall in a neighbourhood kopitiam — no air conditioning, no fancy decor, no background music. Just plastic chairs, formica tables, and the sound of food being prepared. This is heartland Singapore dining at its most authentic. Order at the counter, get a number, and wait for the bell and your number to be called.
The Torch — Mentai Magic
If you ordered the Salmon Mentai Don, watch the counter. The salmon is pan-fried to crispy-skinned perfection, placed on rice drizzled with house teriyaki sauce, then buried under a generous mountain of mentaiko cream. The chef picks up the blowtorch and fires it across the surface — the mentaiko crackles and bubbles, turning golden brown. The aroma of toasted fish roe fills the kopitiam. This is the moment that made Donya famous.
The Unagi — Hidden Best
Most people come for the mentai, but the Unagi Tama Don (S$8.80) is arguably the better bowl. Six pieces of imported eel — charred on top, sweet and soft underneath — sit on a wet omelette that flavours the rice with egg and unagi sauce. The eel is boneless and genuine quality, imported from Taiwan and Japan. At S$8.80 for premium unagi in Singapore, this is exceptional value. The EatBook review rated it their favourite — and we agree.
Donya is proof that great Japanese food does not require air conditioning, white tablecloths, or a CBD address. At S$5.80 for a Chicken Katsu Don and S$8.80 for genuine imported unagi, these are prices that would be competitive for a food court — yet the quality is firmly above average. The Salmon Mentai Don is Instagram-famous for a reason: the mentaiko is absurdly generous, the salmon is properly cooked, and the whole thing costs less than a Grab ride to town. The Unagi Tama Don is the quiet best — premium eel at hawker prices, something you will not find anywhere else. The kopitiam setting is not for everyone — there is no air-con, and you eat at shared tables — but for anyone who values substance over style, Donya delivers. Come at 11am or 5pm sharp for shortest waits. The maki sell out regularly. The Tenryu team knows what they are doing. This is affordable Japanese food done right, in the heartlands, for the people.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a meal at Donya cost?
All donburi are priced between S$5.80 and S$9.80 — making Donya one of the cheapest Japanese options in the Toa Payoh area. No service charge or GST.
Where exactly is Donya?
Blk 126 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310126. It is a kopitiam stall opposite Toa Payoh MRT — under 5 minutes walk.
Is Donya halal-certified?
No. Not halal-certified. Some items may contain pork. For halal Japanese donburi, consider Hatsumi (NEX Serangoon).
What are Donya's opening hours?
Daily 11am–2:30pm (lunch), 5pm–9pm (dinner). Closed in between. Come by 11:30am weekdays to beat the queue.