Don is the only restaurant in San Marcos that is truly one of a kind and perfect. Nothing will ever need to change about the place, I will follow Don to the ends of this earth and out into the void. Shoutout Don for the phenomenal food and service. I've come here for many years and I will continue to until it is gone with the wind, replaced by a luxury apartment for students or just otherwise shuttered. Try the fish it's the best Also the NAN BOMB Literally everything on the menu is at least good, but most is exceptional. read more

It's been so long since I last had Don Japanese Kitchen. The food was as good as I remember them when they were still in Austin. The interior the design was very familiar to the brick and mortar which was great for a small group to dine in. Compared to when they were in Austin, I'm so glad they had free parking. It was probably everything I remember and more. Kara-age - Crispy 10/10 Torch Salmon - Nicely Torch 10/10 Fries - Crispy, but had a few stale bit. 8/10 read more

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Love this place! I come here to meet friends just to eat here all the way from Austin after we workout at golds gym. Very affordable and delicious food and sauces. Try the curry mayo sauce! That sauce would be dangerous to have access to in my fridge. Their Dons fries are insane too but only if they have waffle fries, we got regular fries once and it was not the same. I recommend the chicken karrage or katsu. read more

Don Japanese Kitchen - Chicken karrage over dons fries - Japanese Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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My friend and I were looking for a late quick bite on a budget to eat with her dog in tow. This is a very informal place with a couple picnic tables to dine in and a walk up counter to order. The perfect place for college students to eat or get something to go, which is what we did. My friend had the chicken teriyaki and I had the salmon. Lots of flavor with the teriyaki dish. The salmon had an excessive amount of ginger and rice and not too much salmon. Not the best but not bad. There are three sauces to add but the green one I was told was wasabi but it was more of the mayonnaise chile blend. We got our food to go since it was so loud for a dog and not really a place for all of us to sit as it was busy. I'd come back to dine here. The price was right but don't expect a top culinary experience. It's healthy and inexpensive and casual. Parking lot was accommodating near campus. read more

Don Japanese Kitchen - Inside to order dine in or out. - Japanese Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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I first tried Don when they were still a food truck near UT campus, and I remember loving it so much. I was so sad to hear that they had moved all the way out to San Marcos, but I'm glad to see them in a brick and mortar location now! And the food is just as good! All of the meat is so hot and crispy. You can't go wrong with the chicken or pork katsu dons. But my personal favorite is probably the karaage. The rice is perfectly cooked, and they give you a good amount of sauce on everything. They also have three different types of sauces on the tables too, so you can really mix and match flavors. But my favorite is the green wasabi one. I practically drizzled it all over my rice too! They have a lot of interesting drinks too. I tried the melon cream soda and it was so addicting! It was like carbonated melona in a can. Everything is reasonably priced, and they have so many different sides and add ons. I just wanted to try everything! But we tried the fries and they were so good! They were drenched in this super garlicky sauce, but remained hot and crispy and it was so addicting. read more

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When you fuse Asian flavors, a food truck style of serving, and a vibe straight off Austin's 6th street, you get the Don Japanese Kitchen. It's located in San Marcos, down the street from Texas State University and in a building that looks more like the tattoo parlor that is next door than the flavorful restaurant it is. You order at the register from the blackboard menu and then find an open space to sit from the two large picnic tables in the back. It's a college town so the vibe is chill, dressing is casual at best and the experience is a must if you are in the area. It's been +20 years since we walked the likes of Tokyo city, but once I tasted the fried pork, I went full Kamikaze on it. Add in the curry sauce to the sticky rice and say Sayonara to the Benito box it was served in. Wifey chose the pork belly and we shared the Brussies and all was surprisingly delicious. Since we are in San Marcos pretty often for football games and to reminisce about our younger years, we will add Don's to our restaurant rotation. read more

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I swear every time I visit San Marcos I HAVE to go to Don's. The portion sizes, quality of food, and price point is amazing! I don't think there is anything off of the menu that's more than $19. Keep in mind that there is limited seating but luckily the food travels pretty well(even on 1 hour+ drives). Before we get into the food I have to say that I love love love the interior. The shop has currencies from around the world on the counter where you place your order. There are anime figurines everywhere and Japanese parasols hanging from the ceiling. The stickers on the front door make it stand out from the other shops in the plaza. Staff are always nice and they use playing cards as order numbers. The food, oh my gosh the food. While there is no wrong answer as to what you get... the nanban is the best thing on the menu lol. It's a fried chicken ball made of dark meat that is just so tender and juicy, not to mention that they're massive. I love to drench mine in their curry mayo sauce(please let me buy a gallon of this to take home lol). The ginger and cabbage help to balance out the meal so you're not just eating a bunch of carbs and fried food. It's a pretty solid meal all around. The takoyaki is also amazing. The filling to octopus ratio is absolutely perfect. I've tried many different spots around the world and dons is the only place I've found that has figured out the golden ratio. They give tons of bonito flakes, sauce, and seaweed on top that further enhance the flavor of the dish. I do miss dons in Austin but I'm glad that they found a new home in San Marcos where they can keep their prices relatively low without having to sacrifice their quality. Next time you're in the area hit them up for an amazing dinner read more

Don Japanese Kitchen - Nan Ban - Japanese Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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Don Japanese Kitchen has had a special place in my heart ever since my first year at UT Austin. Back when they were still on campus, I remember standing in long lines for what felt like hours, but it was always, always worth it. The food isn't just good -- it hits every craving and then some. For the price, the portions and quality are unbeatable. Even after they moved to San Marcos, I never hesitated to make the drive out, and I know I'm not alone. People from all over make the trip just for Don. At its core, it started as college campus food, but this place has the potential to go big. I genuinely believe everyone should try it at least once, but odds are, you'll be back after that first bite. I usually go for the chicken katsu with an onsen egg or the chicken karaage -- both always tender, crispy, and paired with the perfect rice-to-meat ratio. The sauces are what elevate everything. Their spicy mayo is a staple (and yes, you can take as much as you like), and the yellow curry and wasabi sauces are just as incredible. One of my absolute must-orders is the Don Style Fries -- crispy waffle fries loaded with teriyaki and spicy mayo. They're technically shareable, but I've definitely polished off a whole order by myself more than once. Their Bobcat Fries (Don fries with bulgogi) are a bit on the heavier side but still delicious, and the takoyaki is always solid. The owner and staff are consistently kind and welcoming, and I've never had a bad experience talking to them. Seating is limited, but I've rarely had to wait long for a spot. While the food is best fresh (like most fried items, it can get a little soggy as leftovers), I still finish every bite with zero regrets. I truly believe Don should expand to other cities because I have full confidence they would be successful anywhere they go. The quality, flavor, and heart behind the food speak for themselves. Don Japanese Kitchen is one of my top ten go-to spots whenever I'm craving Asian comfort food. It's nostalgic, crave-worthy, and truly something special. If you haven't had Don yet, do yourself a favor and try it. You won't regret it. read more

Don Japanese Kitchen - Bobcat Fries Special, Don Chicken, Takoyaki, Fish Katsu - Japanese Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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Can't go wrong with katsu don! It was my first time coming to this location ever since they moved away from Austin. Happy to say the taste is just as I remembered! Still affordable with the same great taste. I love the different sauces they have esp the wasabi flavored one. You get a playing card so they can call for your order. The egg is an up charge. The beef one is really salty. read more

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First time using delivery for them (Yelp option routes this establishment through grubhub)--it was elusive for quite a while. I recommend preordering before they open or doing it early in their service hours; otherwise you get the message ordering is closed. May have to do with their parking lot, which gets pretty packed just with dine in and to-go customers. NY STRIP was cooked medium rare as stated in the menu. Haven't found a speck of gristle. Very good with teriyaki sauce, crunchy onions, and nori toppings and their standard arranged rice/cabbage/ginger base. I'd grabbed a fork/knife when I felt there were zero utensils in the grubhub bag, but in proper style the steak was already cut to be chopstick ready. Apologies to Don for my brief, rash assumption. EBI 4pc I should have opened and sampled this box first, since while I was eating steak steam was having a go at their perfect crunchy coating which suffered a bit for it. Still delicious, of course. Beautiful fat sweet shrimp with enjoyable properly cooked texture. VEGGIE CROQUETTE My first chance at it, as Mr T didn't share the Lenten croquette I ordered with his stir fry this spring. All the deep fried pleasure without the meat sweats, it was lovely. Only veg I recognized (as I took off tiny pieces to share with the pups) was delicious sweet corn. If I ever made croquettes--my house never has spare mashed potatoes for some reason--I'd aim to make them as good as these. It's obviously best fresh, but I'm enjoying leftovers the next day and feeling spoiled with new-to-me dishes. It's hard ordering anything other than their amazing pork belly when it's available. Try anything, including all their sauces if you're dining in. I haven't tasted one thing I've regretted here and their employees have been great every single visit. read more

Don Japanese Kitchen - Ebi order, add a Veg Croquette. Eat the crisp fried stuff first if you're getting delivery because they do it SOOO good. 01JUN24 - Japanese Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

The best and amazingly priced on the go Asian food and that dang curry sauce... it's gas.

I love the kakuni! So delicious everytime. The onsen egg is also perfect to add! I love all 3 sauces they offer. Yum

Don has my heart. I tried something new today and it was the pork belly which was HORRIBLE. The sauce was overwhelming and the pork belly was so incredibly fatty I was a little nauseated. HOWEVER fries were delectable as always and so was the chicken karaage. Same with the sauces, they need to figure out how to bottle up those sauces. Vibes are always great and the people are so friendly. Cashier was 10/10. WILL COME BACK FOR MORE read more

Don Japanese Kitchen - Don Fries - Japanese Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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I miss when this place was in austin so much. Right behind the coop. Ugh. One day maybe. Dons is classic. Thanks for all you do for the community. The vibes are always awesome, the service is excellent, and the food is beyond tasty. read more

Don Japanese Kitchen - Veggie king - Japanese Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

I have been eating this place for so many years! I have tried it as a food truck, store in Austin, and store in San Marcos. The Bobcat fries have minced meat, scallions, and lots of sauce! It is so yummy, basically an entree in itself. The food is always so consistent. I love all the dons (chicken, pork, tofu, fish)! The wasabi, spicy mayo, and curry sauce are a must try. Each bite, I dip it in another sauce! Service is always friendly, fast, and VERY personable. Love the umbrella lighting decor and huge playing cards. You always enter a food coma afterwards. If you don't, then you didn't eat enough :) read more

Don Japanese Kitchen - Japanese Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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My husband had mentioned eating here (without me) and raved about it. We both went for dinner a couple of weeks ago ... AMAZING! The restaurant has quite an extensive menu so everyone should be able to find something! Food was delicious, visually appealing, fresh, hot, all the things you expect in a yummy meal. Restaurant was VERY clean. And it was busy!! Can't wait to go back!! read more

Don't underestimate the size of this place for the quality of its food. I had the Salmon Poke bowl, and the flavors were incredible. The salmon tasted really fresh, and their spicy sauce really gave it that extra kick. I also liked how we chose to dine in, and yet they put it in to-go boxes already so you don't have to ask again. Great little atmosphere and amazing food, give it a try if you haven't! read more

We went here based on the Yelp reviews. The employee at the counter was really helpful when we asked what we should order. Everything was fried and just too greasy. The entree was tasty, but the egg rolls too greasy. There are numerous sauce options. This is a great place for the college kids. It was full of them. I say that in a positive light because it is close to the campus. read more

Needed to do this review to bring natural order to the universe, Yamoir. Don japanese has saved my life on multiple occasions. Whenever I needed a shoulder to lean on, Ryan and JCs massive lateral deltoids have always provided solace. I can't imagine my authentic Japanese food being cooked and served by anyone that can't rep 225, but luckily at don japanese kitchen this is a worry that you never have. I have been coming here almost every week from Austin for the past 4 years for anything from financial and investestment advice to Omi's handmade ice cream. This place is family and I'm Bengali Dom Toretto. For the people who miraculously stumble upon it passing through San Mo, please understand that your life is about to change. You will begin craving don chicken, waking up restless in the middle of the night, sleep-shopping for plane tickets to San Marcos. Your wife will beg you to try to replicate the spicy mayo recipe, worsening your marriage as she hovers over you in a whiplash-esque fashion. She'll cool off later on her date with her boyfriend. These are the sacrifices you begin to make in pursuit of one morsel of dons. You will have other rice bowls and pray they come anywhere close to the magnitude of that sweet sweet torch salmon. They never will. There's is legitimately not a single miss on the menu, my personal favorite is JCs smile, a delicious appetizer before you commit war crimes to the main entrees like the NY strip with 4 pieces of crunchy delectable ebi. Kids, let me translate for you, if you don't like dons, that is not Ohio skibbidi toilet rizz. Tell your parents you will not love them anymore if they don't take you to dons, and you will start smoking the marajuanas. I know these actions sound dire, but let me reiterate, these are the necessary measures you have to take to ensure you eat don japanese. Attached below is: read more

Don Japanese Kitchen - Light Application of Spicy Mayo - Japanese Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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I got the #5 and it was soo good I've always heard great things about this place and def lived up to the hype

Dons is truly a one of a kind. It's my favorite go to for dinner with my son and daughter in law. The atmosphere is unmatched in San Marcos, the staff is hands down the best in the area, always met with a smile and they seem to remember what we order every time. The food is fantastic, I always get the fried shrimp. The portions are big, the prices are very very reasonable and the flavors are consistent and tasty. I would recommend Dons Japanese Kitchen to anyone who loves food and good people. The communal seating is also pretty cool. You never know who you will meet. read more

Yummy food, cool vibes, great service. What else are you asking for? The katsu is crispy and flavorful. They have different sauce bottles on the table for you to either mix in with your rice or dip your meat. One thing I must point out. They are crazy generous with their rice portion lol. It's like 2 heaping cups of white rice. I recommend you ordering an extra side to go with it or just save it for to go. Long tables and benches. Suitable for hanging out with friends or just for spending some me time. Fun decor and dark lighting make it suitable for many occasions. Plus it's walking distance from the campus, perfect for college students based on the price and the vibe. read more

I LOVE DON. Don is the best restaurant in the world. I will follow Don to the ends of the earth. I have seen Don move from its brick and mortar location on 27th and Guadalupe to becoming a UT Coop food truck to its reign now in San Marcos. This was my first time at the San Marcos location, and I loved it. The restaurant has very nice Japanese decor, and I loved how the TV was playing first-person footage of walking through the streets of Japan. The staff were very friendly. I had the pork don (my former go-to) and takoyaki. It was sooooo good. I miss the $5 don days, but even now at $8.50 it is a great price. The portions are large. Love the fries too. The sauce is delicious. They give you bottled water free of charge when you order, which is so nice. I hope that one day, Don will make its return to the UT campus. Don is legendary. read more

Don Japanese Kitchen - Don Pork and Takoyaki - Japanese Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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Best food around for the price. For 10 bucks you won't need to eat for the rest of the day. I have never seen anything but a smile and good jokes from the workers there. Chill atmosphere as well read more

THE best bang for your buck! They give you so so so much good food and at a great price. I've had this place since I was in undergrad at UT Austin and went there consistently until I graduated. I just visited this location for the first time and I love how everything tastes exactly as I remembered. The Don with onsen egg (sometimes avocado) and chicken karage are my favorites. The chicken karage is the best I've had, can't find it anywhere else. read more

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Great food! Fast service! Friendly staff. Very busy- if you are going to sit inside it can be tight, but nothing we had a problem with.

Went with my girlfriend as this place was highly recommended. I got the NY Strip and she got the Teriyaki chicken. Absolutely delicious for dine in and takeout. read more

Oh Dons...where do I start. My addiction to this place first started my freshman year at Texas State where I realized the master piece I was putting in my mouth. The addiction was so bad that I started to dream of this place in my sleep. Furthermore, I am starting to believe the recipe to there amazing teriyaki chicken is like the krabby patty formula - You can't replicate it or figure what it is. Besides that, service is great and even with it being packed, I usually get my food at a reasonable time. Dons, if you're reading this, please move to college station, I can't go my college life without you. I miss u so much and the food you used to provide me. Maybe one day I will have your catering at my wedding. #Ilovedons read more

Don Japanese Kitchen - Teriyaki Chicken and Side Nan Ban - Japanese Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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Unique vibe, good food, customer service was unmatched. Lots of variety and fun environment. College campus clientele.

Fun local spot with delicious food. They have two long narrow pinging tables for family style seating. Awesome atmosphere

My spouse and I got a to-go dinner here, and it was just perfect. The line was long, but moved quickly, and the staff was friendly and courteous. I had the veggie sauté and veggie croquette, and my wonderful spouse shared some of her seaweed salad with me. The stir fry was delicious: a deep tastiness pervaded the veggies, which were just crunchy enough, and the pickled ginger was wonderfully intense. Served on a bed of white rice, this absolutely made my evening. read more

Food was pretty good. Not many places to sit down. Definitely a good place for orders to go. Cute environment. We didn't have to wait long for our food even though they were busy. read more

Don Japanese Kitchen - Picnic table seating - Japanese Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

loved don since it was a food truck behind the UT campus and some things really stay the same: from the taste (delicious) to the portion sizes (huge- lots of rice) to the wait time (still only a couple people working so long wait to order, long wait for food so factor that in) it's such a great choice for comfort food. - pork don: classic, honestly still my favorite (chicken don is solid as well) must add an onsen egg to whichever rice you choose and mix it in! so creamy and delicious - steak: not something i would usually get but they did such a good job cooking it, i'd vote for this one if you don't get the classic don - pork belly: also quite solid - tofu king: i really enjoy the tofu but wish the fry on the outside doesn't get soggy so quickly - veg croquette: i would also get this again, really yummy read more

Don Japanese Kitchen - Veg Croquette, veggie king, pork belly, pork don - Japanese Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Dons is so good, me and my best friend plan road trips from Austin just to go get it. Our go to is the Dons chicken, add the egg and some avocado. You can truly not go wrong read more

I love this place so much. The workers are nice, the owner is there everyday I have been and the food is awesome! Love the team there!

Food, amazing. Service, amazing. Vibes, amazing. And the sauces. Got damn.Everything about this place is amazing. Best restaurant in San Mo hands down. read more

The food is absolutely delish!! They bring the food to your table. Outstanding !! The atmosphere is super chill, sitting at industrial picnic tables. Can't beat it. The prices are SO affordable !!! read more

So this is the second time my wife and I have been here. After the first time, I started a Yelp review giving them 4 stars. I had the Pork Don and my wife tried their Chicken Karaage. I couldn't decide between 4 or 5 stars...so perhaps we needed a repeat visit. This time, for a late lunch or early dinner (we were actually there before they opened at 4 PM having done an errand that ended quicker than anticipated) I ordered the Pork Belly with poached egg and pork egg rolls while my wife tried the Ebi with pork egg rolls. One thing we remembered from our first visit was how friendly everyone was...and that was only reinforced during this visit. Service was quick and we were chowing down on our food in no time. We were actually the second set of diners to be served but we were the first ones to finish our food...not that it was a race or anything. Perhaps we were just hangry...yeah, that must've been it. The pork belly was very good and the poached egg, when mixed with the hot rice, was a great accompaniment. I was expecting deep fried pork belly but this braised preparation worked just as well...with that tender and flavorful meat. The egg rolls were equally as good. My wife raved about how tender the shrimp were in that panko crust. All in all, a very good early dinner for two which came out to just under $38 with tip. Good flavors, tip top friendly service, and great value...guess that adds up to 5 stars! read more

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Don is my go-to when I want something quick, filling, and super tasty. Huge portions, budget-friendly prices, and food that always hits the spot. The casual, no-frills setting gives it that classic neighborhood joint feel--laid-back, lively, and full of regulars who know what's up. Whether you're grabbing a solo bite or bringing friends, it's the kind of spot that feels familiar in the best way. What more could you ask for? read more

love it. miss it. simple at that from when they were still in Austin. made the drive down and still the same :)