Have you heard of the ‘sports icon’ Takeru Kobayashi? This Japanese man is one of the great champions of competitive eating (he’s now ranked second according to the International Federation of Competitive Eating, after an unheralded six years at the top). I watched him in action in the documentary Crazy Legs Conti: Zen and the Art of Competitive Eating and I found it astounding that this small-framed, 73kg man, could eat so much, so quickly.
Sometimes I think that Don Don is trying to train up the next contender to win back Kobayashi’s crown. How quickly can you eat? This hole-in-the-wall Japanese restaurant is a fast food classic in the CBD – I challenge you to find anywhere else that is able to serve you teriyaki beef don, tofu curry don or a bento box in under one minute, before you’ve even had a chance to put your change back in your wallet. The kitchen and cash register are staffed by an assembly line of hyper international students (who have thankfully stopped shouting ‘irashaimase!’ at every entering customer) and the service is friendly and frantic.
In aid of the quick-in, quick-out philosophy of Don Don, the tiny stools and eating benchtops do not encourage diners to linger. In a loose time trial, I’ve managed to order and eat in five minutes, which means it’s perfect for a pre-cinema meal or lunch on the go (or if you’re training for competitive eating).
As you’d expect, the food isn’t the most refined Japanese food around, but I still think the rosette of salmon sashimi in the sashi don is beautifully presented, combined with the contrasting colours of tofu, fried beancurd, crisp salad greens, pink ginger and pickles. It’s filling and great value for $8.50.
I’m not the only blogger who loves the sashi don – check out tummyrumbles’ review. For other cheap, fast Asian eats in the CBD, try Hutong Dumpling Bar, Jolly J’s Curry Shack and Coco Rice.
- Don Don, 321 Swanston St, Melbourne +61 3 9662 3377
Thanks for the link!
Hey – when did they start serving the sashidon with tofu?!?
.-= mellie´s last blog ..Meat Free Monday: Sweetcorn Fritters with Roast Tomato and Avocado =-.
Twitter: tummyrumbles
| December 28, 2009, 10:30 am
Hi Mellie
I’m not sure when they started serving it with tofu – I’ve not been for a couple of years before my most recent visit…It’s really nice though with the dab of sesame-tasting sauce on top (not sure of the name).
Jetsetting Joyce
The sashi don is my absolute favourite too – and the sashimi rosette is the exact inspiration for the smoked salmon rosettes I made for our Christmas dinner first course! =o)
.-= Vee @ Munching (in) Melbourne´s last blog ..The Cookbook Challenge: Week 6: I Made a Christmas Dinner!! =-.
Hi Vee
Very impressive! We had smoked salmon as our Christmas first course as well, though ours were not as nicely presented as yours. Have you ever had the Japanese curry at Don Don? I’ve always wanted to order it but keep going back to the sashi don – boring I know, but I’m hoping someone will have saved me the trouble of trying it, in case it doesn’t reach the heights of the sashi don.
Jetsetting Joyce
Hey Joyce
You’re in luck – my boyfriend has nothing BUT the Japanese curry even though he loves sashimi, so that’s a tall recommendation – it’s actually really interesting; the chicken is cooked separately, much like the teriyaki chicken (which is also pretty good!) and then they pour thick pungent curry over the whole thing. So the chicken’s got good flavour on its own, and with the curry…scrumptious! Much more hearty than the sashi don, I have it on cold days! =o)
.-= Vee @ Munching (in) Melbourne´s last blog ..The Cookbook Challenge: Week 6: I Made a Christmas Dinner!! =-.
Thanks Vee – now I will be able to convince RM to join me at Don Don more often. He’s not so enthusiastic about sashi don, but I think he would love the curry don by the sounds of it.
Jetsetting Joyce
Love Don Don- I agree- great food with great value. It’s hilarious how quick the meal arrives!
.-= Adrian @ Food Rehab´s last blog ..Hamburger Cushions + Christmas Lights @ The Boulevard, Ivanhoe =-.
Twitter: food_rehab
| December 28, 2009, 12:56 pm
The ‘Don Tojo’ near Melbourne Uni serves the exact same menu but is sometimes ridiculously slow! Once I waited 25 minutes when there were no other customers – would have been quicker to zip down to the city to the original…
.-= Vee @ Munching (in) Melbourne´s last blog ..The Cookbook Challenge: Week 6: I Made a Christmas Dinner!! =-.
Don Too is the same thing up Little Lonsdale St. Same great value menu, gorgeous food and speedie Japanesie pace AND they have a dining room!
Twitter: frugalfoo
| January 3, 2010, 5:42 pm
Hi Foo
Thanks for reminding me – my first introduction to Don Don was actually the Little Lonsdale Street branch. I checked out your blog too, I like the idea! I’m always on the hunt for good cheap eats, especially now with my New Years resolution to save money (but still eat well).
Jetsetting Joyce