Mr Don

You know you’ve been a «regular» at an establishment, when the people serving you, know you by your first name, or know what you are having before you even utter a word. I fell into the latter category with Mr Don.
Mr Don is located on 466 Boundary Street Spring Hill, amongst a group of shops, next another gem, Caffe Amante.
I’ve come here enough times that they would just yell out «Chicken Katsu Don» (in Japanese) to the kitchen, as soon as I stepped in. Definitely my favourite dish from Mr Don. In fact, they should call me Mr Katsu Don.
This little Japanese Sushi and takeaway shop is quite small, with hardly any space inside and only a handful of chairs outside. On any given weekdays at lunch, its very busy and its easy to understand why. Prices are cheap, and portions are generous. More importantly, the staff are friendly, the food tasty, and even on busy days, you still get your order in a reasonable amount of time. A simple recipe for success really. With an International English School just across the road Mr Don is a big hit with the international students.
Of course Mr Don does have other choices, like classic sushis, udons, and japanese teriyakis.
A chicken katsu don (with rice) is only $ 7.50 with lots of chicken katsu and not just heavy with rice, like some places like to do. Although they have EFTPOS, there is a minimum charge of $ 10, so my «regular» meal was always chicken katsu and a can of diet coke.
Mr Don is a great example of cheap, not necessarily having to mean «nasty». In fact, I’m going to starta new saying. «Cheap and flavourful».

Mr Don sells great Japanese take away, from your classic Japanese curries to your Una Dons. There is also sushi on offer for those who are after a cold meal. This place is always a lunch favourite for Spring Hill locals, but it’s always very quiet at night and shuts early, which I think is a shame. They do good food at good prices and people on the prowl for a cheap dinner should know about it!
The meat is always perfectly cooked and seasoned, and if you’re ordering take away, the staff practically fill the containers with rice. This may be a good thing or bad thing depending on if you’re a big rice eater, but when you’re starving and after a substantial meal, more rice can only be a plus.
If you’re eating in the interior is a pleasant and intimate place to sit; there are wooden stools set around small tables, and you can see right into the kitchen where your meal is being prepared.

I like Japanese food. Especially when all you have to choose from in the food court is fast and greasy.
Out in the suburbs, a restaurant area is usually blessed with at least one authentic Japanese restaurant. Spring Hill is blessed with two. One veers towards the more expensive end of the spectrum, the other is accessible to those with a thin wallet. This place is called Mr Don.
Perhaps it has recently opened? I only think this because there isn’t to many people inside for what should be the lunchtime rush. What patrons I do see are heavily involved in the decimation of meals. It’s a little quite for my liking.
I give the menu a once over and check it again because I don’t believe my eyes. There is not one single meal that is over the price of $ 10. So I order the Katsu Curry ($ 7.50) and pull up a table. I think to myself, maybe it’s the atmosphere in Mr Don to why there isn’t a line up. Looking around, it’s clean and simple in that traditional Japanese way, I watch the paper lanterns bobble like clouds overhead.
My Katsu comes out. It’s Served in a deep white bowl, heavy with what I assume is rice but actually turns out to be a large piece of chicken, so far so good. I dig into the chicken breast with my chopsticks, its crisp on the outside. I bring it to my mouth, it cracks and flesh beneath is juicy. I’m happy. It’s absolutely delicious. I’m joining in the defining silence of the restaurant, consuming this dish until its gone and my belly screams with engorgement.
I check the menu again on my way out, I just cant believe.