Inexpensive and decently sized meals! The lunch box is always yum if you want a variety of food and really hungry. The curry udon is absolutely delicious as well! It’s always quite busy so takeaway is usually the best option. The owners are lovely and hard workers so the wait generally isn’t too long.
Tiffany L.
Place rating: 5 Yarraville, Australia
I lived in Tokyo for two years, and when I step into this place it feels like I’m back again. Great authentic Japanese food. I love the udon with vegetable tempura, Katsu Curry and miso soup. The service is also very japanese… excellent, efficient and very friendly.
Yannick C.
Place rating: 4 Australia
It’s one of my favourite spots for a quick takeaway lunch in the CBD. It’s a 5 minute stroll from my office and I usually end up there at least once a week. The place is run by a japanese family and it has a very traditional feel to it. It’s tiny, but there’s seats for 5 – 6 people if you want to dine in. They are extremely efficient, and look like they’ve been in the business for years and years. Service is very friendly and the food is honest. The most popular lunch item seems to be the Bento Box with Chicken Kaarage(the japanese version of fried chicken) and Beef Teriyaki. They also have the usual Katsu/Katsu Curry don, and various Udon dishes, including a Curry Udon, which I haven’t really seen anywhere else. Keep an eye out for the weekly special as well, they sometimes have a Salmon sashimi and Salmon roe with salad and rice, which is one of my favourites. If you’re after«real», no fuss japanese food, Don Bay is a really pleasant change from all the sushi chains which clog the CBD.
Samuel L.
Place rating: 4 Melbourne, Australia
Don Bay is a small family owned and run Japanese takeaway serving the Collins St locals. It’s good, it’s small and it’s genuine Japanese. It’s generally regarded as a takeaway spot but they do also have seating for 6 – 8 inside for those who don’t have an office to run back to. There’s no sushi or California rolls in sight, the fare consists mostly of Udon noodle dishes, Bento boxes with a hot offering, salad and rice or a variety of Katsu curry and rice style hot dishes. Yakitori Bento and Fish Tempura are my fav’s. There’s something quite ‘family’ about the small trio who run Don Bay. They’ve been here for something like ten years. A little gem! Prices are around $ 9-$ 12 and serves are generous. This is a great winter lunch haunt. In summer Purple Peanuts further along Collins St is hard to beat.
