Don Don City — Restaurant in Sydney

30/9/24 - 3.5 stars

Unassuming casual Korean eatery accessed via a random hole in the wall lift on George St. Have heard good things in general about it but, overall, impression is that its fairly ordinary especially with the myriad of other Korean options. Decent value for the city, ~$30pp with dishes catered more for larger groups. Service and decor aren't focal points as this is clearly a place meant for noisy groups.

Banchan: S, 8/10. Decent variety with kimchi, pickles and fish cake.

Bossam Flavour: SS, 9/10. Surprisingly good and definitely the best dish of the lot. Pork is not overwhelming and has a good level of umami. Texture: S+, 8.5/10. Tender with a good mix of meat/fat but maybe a touch fatty Value: B, 6/10. Comes as part of a $111 set with pancake, rice ball and cold noodle.

Rice ball: S+, 8.5/10. Quite flavourful and fish roe / seaweed adds nice texture. Compliments the other dishes well

Garlic soy chicken Flavour: S+, 8.5/10. Overall decent with good coating of sauce but would say the glaze is a bit sweet Texture: S+, 8.5/10. Again fairly solid crunchiness with tender chicken. Not the best but decent. Value: B, 6/10. $45 for a whole

Jokbal Flavour: A+, 7.5/10. A little bit weak in flavour compared to other dishes Texture: A, 7/10. Skin was a bit gelatinous and meat a bit tough. Didn't seem super fresh? Value: A, 7/10. $55 but a fairly large portion.

Seafood pancake Flavour: S, 8/10. Chives and seafood flavours are ok but a bit marred by the oiliness Texture: A, 7/10. Again, probably would be good if not sitting in oil Value: B, 6/10. One of the 3 dishes in a $111 set

Cold noodles Flavour: A, 7/10. Pretty much just the gochujang taste with not much else Texture: S, 8/10. Noodles and salad work are decent together Value: B, 6/10. Wouldn't get this if it wasn't part of...

I recently visited Don Don City on George Street, and I have to say—it’s a hidden gem for anyone craving authentic Korean comfort food in the heart of Sydney. The vibe is casual and lively, with that familiar buzz of K-pop music in the background and groups of friends sharing giant plates of food.

What stood out to me the most was the self-serve banchan bar- such a fun and generous touch. You can pile up on kimchi, pickled radish, and other side dishes without limit, which really made the whole dining experience feel more homely and authentic.

I ordered the sweet chili Korean fried chicken and a bowl of bibimbap, and both were spot-on. The chicken was super crispy with a perfect balance of sweetness and heat, and the portion size was very generous (I definitely needed help finishing it). The bibimbap was fresh and comforting, with a nice mix of veggies and gochujang sauce.

The service is fast and efficient, not overly chatty but friendly enough. You order at the counter and the food comes out pretty quickly. Prices are very reasonable, especially for the portion sizes—you really get value for money here.

It does get quite busy during dinner hours, especially on weekends, so go a bit early or be ready to wait a few minutes for a table. But honestly, the food...

I recently dined at Don Don Restaurant with a group of friends, and while the food taste was not bad, my experience left me deeply concerned about their food safety practices. Unfortunately, I encountered a severe allergic reaction due to an excessive amount of MSG in the dishes I consumed.

Shortly after our dinner, I began to experience alarming symptoms, including a rapid heart rate exceeding 130 beats per minute and difficulty breathing. These distressing symptoms persisted for over two hours, causing great discomfort and anxiety. Furthermore, all of my friends reported feeling unusually thirsty after the meal, suggesting that the high MSG content may have affected them as well.

As someone without any prior history of allergies, this incident has left me genuinely frightened about the food safety standards at Don Don Restaurant. While I understand that certain ingredients like MSG can be used in moderation to enhance flavors, the excessive use of such additives raises serious concerns about the establishment's commitment to providing safe and healthy dining experiences. This is the first time I visit here and really disappointed with my...