YOU DON YA — Restaurant in Toronto

Finally got around to checking this place out. Located on Dundas and Bay just a stone throws away from Toronto Eaton Center. This Donburi place is fairly new opened maybe about 6 months ago is very traditional style Donburi.

My wife and I ordered the Fried Brie Cheese and the Shrimp Tempura. Both of these appetizers were good as they were not overly battered yet still crispy and golden. We also ordered the Karubi Oshi-Zushi which is the pressed and torched beef sushi. This guy was fairly big I mean if you aren't super hungry you could probably order this plus an appy and you would be on your marry way. The flavour is great and smokey with a drizzle of sweet sauce.

I had ordered the Hamachi Nabe Don which is served in a sizzling stone pot finished table side with a drizzle of their sauce, I also ordered the Hot Spring Egg to go along with this. The rice at the bottom was my favorite as the stone pot fried up some of the rice to make it crispy and crunchy, the overall flavour of this dish was good 3.5 star only be cause the hamachi was getting over cooked as I mixed everything together. My wife ordered the Karubi Don and also with a Hot Spring Egg. The boneless beef short ribs were so juicy and tender a baby could eat it. I think I prefer the Karubi Don over my own dish. For the price I think you get a very generous serving. Both of these dishes also come with a bowl of...

A Reliable Spot for Delicious Rice Bowls

"You Don Ya" has become a familiar haunt for me when dining with friends, and this time I decided to introduce my boyfriend to its culinary delights.

My boyfriend opted for the Yakiniku Don, and I must say, the beef was nothing short of excellent. Tender, flavorful, and cooked to perfection, it was a true delight for any meat lover.

As for me, the Karaage Don has always been my go-to choice here, and once again, it didn't disappoint. The chicken was exceptionally crispy and paired wonderfully with the bed of rice. It was a filling dish, and I was pleasantly surprised to find some rice left even after devouring the delicious karaage.

One aspect I wish "You Don Ya" would consider is including some veggies in their bowls. A little greenery would not only enhance the visual appeal but also provide a fresh contrast to the rich flavours of the meat.

Overall, "You Don Ya" maintains its reputation as a reliable spot for satisfying Don bowls. The food quality is consistently impressive, and the portions are generous. While I'd love to see some veggies added to the bowls, it's a minor gripe in the grand scheme of things. I'd rate our experience at a 4 out of 5, and I'll definitely keep coming back for more of those...

This place is still rather new, and at peak times there is usually a small wait for seats.

The decor is very nice and modern, typical of most new asian eateries these days. The food here is very good for its PRICE. I think a thing that I had to keep in mind was that the presentation of the food was great, and they look very similar to what way more expensive restaurants have but for a lot cheaper, and that is a tradeoff.

I personally thought the Ake-Oshizushi was a GREAT DEAL, for under 12$ you get 6-8 blowtorched pressed salmon squares. they use at least 50% more rice under the fish (so the squares are very large) but I guess you can't complain about getting lots of food. They still taste great, and while you can't compare it to say, the 36$ ones at Miku, they are way worth it at the price point IMO.

That app was so large that I couldn't even finish my main, which was the number 1 bowl, a Karubi Don. I always get the Onsen egg with these, and it was decent. The photo definitely makes the cuts of beef look much softer, and while the taste was good, you can definitely tell that the cuts are of average quality (chewy). But for 14$, I think it meets my expectations.

Service was fast and efficient.

Will come back again for more blowtorched...