Meh...I've experienced better sounds about right. I remembered seeing their food truck and then hearing that they were going to move into the spot where Sophie's Cuban Cuisine used to be. I was curious and decided to give this place a world--should have went somewhere else. I got the Mix Katsudon bowl with chicken and shrimp, which comes with white rice and Japanese pickles. I don't eat a lot of rice but when I do, I don't want it to be clumpy--it was clumpy. Also, the curry was too salty. The shrimp was only thing that I really liked. My main problem was the service--or should I say lack thereof. The cashier didn't acknowledge me, instead, he went to put some mayonnaise type thing away then came back and just said "yes?" I told him that I had ordered via the Ritual app (trust me, I would have walked out if I hadn't already ordered. He handed it to me and didn't say a word. I'm not asking for staff to pull out the red carpet but saying "hello" and "how may I help" isn't going to kill you. I think it's safe to say, I won't be back--I'll take my business elsewhere. read more

Donburi - Katsudon bowl with chicken and shrimp - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Oh this works so great for my Japanese food crave. Ordered the signature bowl that had salmon, eel, karrage and Japanese preserved veggie, and extra salmon as a side. Food was freshly made, and tasted great. Super happy! read more

Donburi - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I was saddened to see that their original Adams Morgan location closed. I used to live in Japan, and the first time I ever had katsudon, it was a magical experience. The juicy fried pork katsu, the runny egg and sauce that seeped down into the hot rice and cooked. Pure heaven. I got into the habit of going to this restaurant every Friday to have it for lunch, and then when I learned that eating katsudon before a test is considered good luck, I used that as an excuse to go even more often. When I returned to the United States I scoured all of my local Japanese restaurants. Most didn't have it, since most people only think of sushi when they think of Japanese food. Those that did have it, I don't think whoever cooked it had ever eaten katsudon before. It just never compared. So when I heard about Donburi opening, I was skeptical. I went, and I was blown away. For the first time since returning from Japan, had a god damn good bowl of katsudon. Was it perfect? No, but damn it was close. I brought friends, all similarly blown away. I went to this location downtown once when it first opened to meet a friend for lunch, and while it was good, we both noticed that they served significantly smaller portions. Which, whatever, I just made a point of always ordering from the Adams Morgan location. With that closed though, this is the only option left. I was in Farragut for an appointment, so I decided to stop by Donburi for dinner. The place has changed. First, no katsudon on the menu anymore. It's just completely gone. They still have curry katsu (called curry katsudon for some reason), they still have karaage don, but for some reason their signature dish katsudon is no longer an option. Instead, they've doubled down on serving raw fish as 90% of their menu. Whatever, I ordered the karaage don. I watched them cook it. The chicken was precooked, just sitting in a bucket. When I placed my order, the woman behind the counter grabbed a few pieces and tossed them in the fryer to heat them up. The egg, completely scrambled and hard like this was a Denny's. When it came time to eat it, what I got was not good. The old fried chicken was tough and chewy. Because the egg was fully cooked, there was no sauce to seep down into the rice, so I just had a big bowl of plain white rice. And this makes me sad. Donburi used to be a wonderful place. And it no longer is. read more

There were some highs, but a lot of lows. We got the donburi moriwase, which was an assorted donburi with salmon, shrimp tempura, chicken karaage and eel. In all honesty, my favorite part of the dish was the rice. It was well cooked and I liked how it was seasoned. I also liked the spicy Mayo dip that they provided. It was a nice touch that complimented everything. I didn't like the salmon. Something about the texture was off. It smelled a bit fishy and just seemed to lack freshness. The shrimp tempura was okay. The eel seemed really just over cooked. Very dry. The karaage was okay, also on the dry side. For $20, I feel kind of ripped off. You get a few pieces of salmon and chicken but only one piece of shrimp and one piece of eel? A little unbalanced in my opinion. I'm also a little turned off by the low quality ginger and wasabi. read more

Donburi - Donburi moriwase - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I came here for the first time with my friend who is visiting the east coast. One of the biggest draws for me when choosing a place to eat is the atmosphere - and Donburi is the cutest. When you first walk in, it seems very small, but has a large painting on the right wall. As you explore more, you find that there are three floors. I chose to sit on the second floor, which was brightly lit due to the large windows all around. We loved it! As for the food, I ordered Curry Tonkatsu. This was good, but nothing super special. Basically fried chicken + egg + rice. I could make this at home, however it was very tasty. read more

Donburi - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I got the sakedon and the donburi moriwase. The salmon portion was pretty generous and the rice was also perfectly seasoned. I liked how they included pickled radish, ginger, and cucumbers also. The ebi and karaage were also good although I got takeout so they weren't as crispy as they might have been fresh. The portion of eel was so small but I think it was still reasonable for the price. read more

I love Donburi. I either get their signature bowl or the curry, with pork and shrimp. The meat is always perfectly fried and never overdone and either sauce is delicious. The portion is huge. I also love the barley tea. I don't think the staff is that friendly or helpful, and I do wish they'd list all bowl ingredients. It gets super busy at lunch. But food wise, this place is fantastic. read more

I love Donburi out in Adam's Morgan so I was curious to see how this new location fared. The vibe at this location is the complete opposite to the Adam's Morgan location. Quiet and not as charming. There were no water dispensers and sauce immediately available at the counter. The water is by the door and you have to ask for sauce which is why this spot loses its charm. More importantly, they serve smaller portions at this location compared to the mountain of food I get at the other Donburi. Don't get me wrong, the food is still good, but when you've had better it's tough to stay positive. Ultimately, I was caught between a 3 and a 4. The deciding factor is whether I'd come back and I'd rather much go to the other location. read more

Donburi - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

i recently visited donburi while visiting dc -- the restaurant has a self-serve vibe, where you can place your order on screens at the front for both takeout or dine-in. i chose to dine-in and was seated on the second floor, which was the designated dining area. as for my order, i went with the toridon, small salad with yuzu soy vinaigrette, and a bottled water. the food came quickly, and i was pleased with the prompt service. the toridon was filling, but unfortunately, the chicken lacked flavor. the salad was average and i was hoping for more yuzu flavor in the vinaigrette. one tip i can give you is that there is no need to buy bottled water since they have water dispensers and cups on the second floor. the total cost of my meal, including tax and tip, was $27.60. overall, my experience at donburi was mid. while the food was decent, it didn't blow me away, and i was hoping for more in terms of flavor. however, the quick service was a positive. if you're in the area and looking for a quick bite, donburi could be a decent option. read more

Donburi - Small salad and toridon - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Definitely made it to my "list" of frequent to-go lunch locations if I'm able to take a small break from work to grab lunch. My favorite items here are the sake don (salmon sashimi, rice, etc) and the mixed curry (chicken karaage and katsu). I'd knock off a star if they were strict about customization, but they were not. The first time I got these items, I felt that the sauce was lacking. I asked for extra curry sauce the second time around when I got the mixed curry, and they gave me a small side of the sauce, which was perfect. It was enough to either pour it all over the bowl or to dip the meat into the side sauce. The salmon sashimi bowl is a bit pricier, but the amount of salmon sashimi pieces makes it reasonable. The pieces were very smooth and tasty. The sauce within the rice is excellent too, and it's better to ask for some more so that most of the rice gets coated in the sauce instead of just a bit of it. read more

Donburi - Sakedon - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I came here with a bunch of friends on a Sunday for lunch. I ordered the combo curry and it was pretty darn good. I think there was a bit too much rice/uneven ratio but it was solid and relatively quick. Don't forget about the wings mural in the alley for that Instagram shot! read more

Donburi - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is a simple and casual place, perfect for grabbing a quick lunch. I got the spicy sakedon, which was cubed salmon sashimi with spicy mayo sauce, served over a good amount of spring mix and white rice. I was surprised that the spicy sauce was gochujang based, and not sriracha. read more

Quick service and delicious food! The shrimp tempura was crispy and flavorful, and the fish was fresh! The only reason for four stars is it wasn't easily accessible for my friend, who had knee replacement surgery and has a hard time getting around. The entrance was up a steep flight of stairs, and the dining area was above -- more stairs. There may have been elevators, but we didn't see any. read more

Donburi - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Per the name, you can expect really solid donburi (rice bowl). Wonderfully light and flavorful dishes. read more

Donburi - Sakedon - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place is awesome. Tempura is hot and delicious. Strong flavor with a nice balance of pickled veggies. Rice was decent. Price was right. Fast and convenient ordering system. Nice staff. Can't ask for more! Will be back hopefully soon! read more

Donburi - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We walked here for dinner from nearby Mayflower Hotel on our first night following check-in. After climbing up a stoop to the entrance, we had to order and pay for food and drinks using a kiosk displaying menu selections. Then there were yet more stairs to climb to reach the second floor where the tables (and supplies/water) were located. A server brought the food up the stairs. Other than that, there's no human interaction at all. We came after reading the rave reviews. And we were very mmdisappointed. The gimmicky Japanese set up failed to impress. Our group consensus was that the quality of the Japanese theme dishes was subpar - they were either over fried, meat too dry or not cooked properly. read more

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Great food and service. Quick and a nice vibe too. 5/5! The salmon and unagi are the best IMO.

Needed to pass some time so I thought I'd grab some lunch in the area. Walked past Donburi and decided to give it a shot. The price was good, the curry was average. The rice was a little too sticky, but the pork was cooked and seasoned to perfection. I like that I can sit at the bar and see all of the food being made. My favorite part though was the staff. It wasn't busy at all while I was there, and when there was nothing for them to do the young female employee was teaching the young male employee Spanish. It was so wholesome. I would definitely come back. read more

Donburi - Curry Katsudon - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Donburi is a super cute place between Dupont and Farragut West. It features a simple menu of different types of rice bowls, or donburi, and this location has an ample amount of well-decorated space. There are actually three floors of seating, nice wooden tables, and free barley tea! It's a simple fast-casual place where you order at the front counter and get your food when your buzzer is rung. There's a lot of good options of donburi on the menu including salmon sashimi bowl, chicken karaage bowl, different types of tempura, curry, gyudon, etc. Food: Curry tonkatsudon - curry pork fried cutlet bowl over rice. It was a good amount for $11 (most of the bowls are $11) and it was very tasty with the curry over my fried pork cutlet. I'm glad there's a solid place in DC serving delicious Japanese rice bowls. It's not often that you see them in sushi restaurants or izakayas. Definitely a solid cute place, good for bringing friends to. read more

Donburi - Curry tonkatsu donburi - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I'm a huge fan of the original Donburi in Adams Morgan, which is within walking distance from me. We were in the area of the new location and decided to take some out of towners there for a quick dinner. In comparison to the original location, this Donburi has so much more space and seating. You're always rolling the dice at the one in Adams Morgan, but here you and your friends are sure to be guaranteed a seat. The food tastes the same, although it's in to-go style bowls. I always order the Sakedon because the salmon sashimi is consistently fresh and plentiful. My fellow diners ordered the Gyudon, Karaggedon, and two sides of shrimp. Everyone enjoyed their meals. The free barley tea is also here, and served in much larger containers. Overall, great second location, and I would definitely recommend to friends. read more

Donburi - Two sides of shrimp! - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went on a weekday evening with my brother to get late lunch and the meal was delish! We sat upstairs and dined in. Both bowls we tried were absolutely amazing! read more

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This place was amazing! Love the concept. First time trying the food with my friends and it reminded us of our times in Japan. The menu includes rice bowls as well as sides and noodles (udon)! I ordered the sake don (salmons bowl) and it was so delicious! The salmon was fresh and pieces were thick cut - it went well with the furikake that was on top of the rice. Not sure what they soaked the salmon in but it was hella good! My friends enjoyed their bowls as well! The curry was very good. Also, you get a free fountain drink when you order a bowl! If you're not a soda person, there is also complimentary barley tea (so don't buy that over priced oi ocha green tea bottle lol). Its a bit pricey but overall I'd come back here again for lunch or dinner! read more

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My boyfriend and I enjoyed this uncomplicated take on Japanese curry. We ordered the Chicken Katsu Curry and Karaage Curry. Overall, very thick curry texture and flavorful kick to taste. The meat was decent as well The service was incredibly fast and simple - we ordered at the register, received a buzzer, and self-served our drinks and condiments. There was plenty of seating and our food was ready within nearly minutes. It was a great option for a quick and filling bite. read more

Donburi - Chicken Katsu Curry and Karaage Curry. - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I'm not sure why this Donburi location has lower ratings than the other Washington D.C. location. Donburi is conveniently located near Dupont Station: it's actually only a 4 minute walk from the station! Employees here are super kind, quick to make their food, and the food is the same quality as the Donburi location in Washington. The fish is fresh, the karaage is crispy - the food is flavorful and high quality. I loveee Donburi! Another huge plus about Donburi is how quickly they prepare your food. My buzzer actually went off as I was attempting to go to the third floor of the restaurant. My only complaint (which is incredibly minor) was that you could only get water from the 1st floor, unlike the other restaurant where they have several water pitchers available in the restaurant. read more

Donburi - Sakedon with a side of Karaage - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Carving for Asian comfort food? Here you go. Raised in Asia, Katsudon is one of my many "soul" foods I can't live without. Unfortunately not all places pull it right. This is no perfect paradise of Katsuland but hey, for $12? I couldn't ask more. Curry! Tastes like home. All my meats were super juicy and tender. (One thing to note...Something was off and my meal was very greasy. Use cleaner oil or fry them on a higher temperature to fix this, please.) read more

Donburi - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Straightforward japanese fare in a very chic setting. I can't say much for creativity nor stand-out qualities, but the meals are satisfying and appealing. There is a complimentary drink and the optional spicy mayo that you can grab from the napkin stand is so good! Will try again, to see what the curry is like. read more

Donburi - Sakedon - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Good place to grab some quick, Japanese comfort food. The word Donburi translates to "over rice". The majority of their selections include different meats and vegetables over rice. I stopped by here to grab some lunch in the city. The wait was short when I arrived, but the lunch rush began briefly after placing my order. Your buzzer will light up once the order in ready. You have 3 stories of seating to choose from. All the drinks and condiments are located towards the entrance. I liked that they had complimentary barley tea. I ordered the Ebi Katsudon (curry with shrimp). The portion was decent and the taste was good. The shrimp was nice and crispy. The curry had good flavor with a subtle hint of spiciness. My boyfriend enjoyed his karaagedon (chicken curry) a lot. The curry was as good as mine and the chicken was crunchy yet juicy. We're both big fans of Japanese food and we both agreed that this place was pretty good! Definitely want to give the original location a try too! read more

Donburi - Ebi Katsudon - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Had the panko-crusted tofu with curry/rice- delicious!! The tofu was hot, fresh; crispy panko crust was great! Dipping it in the curry sauce elevated the experience! They separate the tofu from the rice/curry so the crust wasn't soggy. Rice was perfectly cooked and hot, fresh as well! Curry was well seasoned, not too salty but enough to highlight the curry flavor. Portion size was good- had plenty left over for a snack later! Ordered take-out to first try out the food... note that they do not take orders over the phone, and not all the menu is available via the app, so we just went there and ordered/picked up; service was friendly and very quick! read more

A nice-ish Japanese place close to Foggy Bottom and Dupont. Another one of those Asian places that's dolled up to look like a hip white restaurant and upcharged accordingly. I had the Mix Donburi bowl (chicken, shrimp). For the price (~$15), not very memorable. The pickled vegetables were too sparse and lackluster. The chicken was decent and the shrimp was fine, both but fried so not saying much. The sauce helps a bit, but even if you get extra it doesn't save the dish. The rice was fine but not very fresh or very good. The egg is mixed in, but I think it would've been better fried or poached. I hardly noticed it. My friend got the curry, which I tried a bit of. I liked that better, so if I come back I'll have to try that instead. The soda selection is pretty decent as well. It's not a bad meal overall - you can't really go wrong with fried meat and rice. It's filling and satisfactory. But for the price I expect more flavor or variety. More quantity at the least. read more

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Polite and helpful servers and wonderful food with some authentic options. The seating was lovely and relaxed, definitely a good spot for lunch. read more

A casual 2-floor Japanese restaurant that's affordable with great picture spots! Food: The menu is pretty small and they DO NOT have any alcohol that is made in-house anymore. Only bottled and canned things. I ordered the Donburi Moriwase, which has tons of individual components in the rice bowl! The tempura was light and flakey, though still satisfying. The pickles provided a surprisingly good sour crunch to the dish. The bed of rice is nice and hearty that pairs well with the many different aspects of the dish. The salmon was crisp and savory though still light. The eel was smooth and offered a variety in texture. And the chicken was prepared in very stiff and crunchy bites (though the flavor profile was lacking beyond that). The food is very light, so don't expect something filling. Service: The servers were patient, though they weren't immediately aware that they did not carry certain alcohol anymore. You are given a buzzer to let you know when to come down and pick up your food. Aesthetic: The storefront is actually really aesthetic. Practically every place is a golden opportunity for a photo op. A really cool coffee house vibe with nice neutral colors with key attention-grabbing decals that light up any picture. There is a good amount of seating upstairs from high-rise tables, booths, bar style, and regular tables. Finish: Come here with a friend who has a knack for photography. After the shoot, enjoy a light japanese lunch that is moderate in price read more

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Donburi is one of my go-to places to eat whenever I want delicious Japanese food that isn't sushi. Having been to the original Adams Morgan location several times, I wanted to visit the Dupont Circle location to see how this place faired to the original. I can say that this location is just as good as the original. I visited during the evening on a weekday and noticed how similar this location was to the Adams Morgan one. The only difference is that this spot has an upstairs dining area, which I was unable to see as they had a private event the same time I was there. This new location has solved the limited seating of the original. I ordered my favorite dish, the curry katsudon with half chicken and half pork. My meal came out really quickly, despite the big event upstairs, and my server/cook was incredibly nice. He gave me an extra side of red pickles when I asked for it! Guys, my meal was so delectable. Japanese curry with crunchy katsu is just so hearty and filling. I will say that I feel like I got less food at this spot as I normally can only finish half of the dish and this time, I was able to finish the whole plate. Service is great, food comes out quickly, and I enjoy the DIY atmosphere of getting your own utensils and drinks. Oh and free barley tea! My mouth is watering as I'm writing this review, and I can't wait for the next time I eat Donburi again. read more

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Wow! Being away from DC makes me miss the awesome food in the city and Donburi is definitely something I'm missing right now. A must try concept of Japanese comfort food! Our chef/server Keith was great! We sat at the bar so we were able to see him cook our dishes. He was able to give us recommendations and ask us questions on our order as he cooked. My friend and I got the fried chicken app, the unagidon and the gyudon. I cannot complain about anything we ate here because it was all delicious and full of flavor! The bowls may look small, but they definitely fill you up. You get plenty of protein and flavors hitting you in each bowl. I'm so in love, many places charge so much for a eel bowl and they sure give big cuts of eel! The art is awesome, they have 3 floors of seating, and service was excellent. I love this place and will always go back (despite the fact that parking is hard and expensive. but that's what metro is for!) read more

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Got the donburi moriwase to go. Ordered through the kiosk and the food came out super quick (waited less than 5 min). The food was pretty good and was a decent portion. The salmon was very fresh and the shrimp tempura was good as well. They give a good topping to rice ratio. read more

Simple, delicious, and affordable. Donburi delivers quality flavors with quality ingredients. The Katsudon is perfectly breaded while still maintaining some lightness and avoiding that greasy/oily feel. I appreciate that they keep a small menu, and that the options they do serve are consistently good. read more

Their mix donburi (I got pork and shrimp) was the bomb dot com. Fried to perfection. Sauce was on point. So fast and easy. It's on the second floor so you walk up a flight of stairs, and there's a Colette Miller angel wings mural right outside on the adjacent building! You order and get a device that will vibrate when your meal is ready (like Shake Shack). We sat at the bar to catch the action. Love Japanese comfort food! read more

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One of my favorite Japanese dishes is Katsu Donburi. If you haven't tried it and like comfort food, you should give it a shot. Donburi has numerous options as toppings in addition to the standard pork (i.e. chicken, shrimp) and you can also add curry. Since I love Katsudon, I go with that. For $11 you get a decent sized bowl with rice, panko coated pork mixed with eggs, onions, and a salty, slightly sweet soy sauce based sauce. They also add the prerequisite pickled radishes. What a nice comforting meal. That said the sauce they use here is a bit on the darker/saltier side then other Japanese restaurants which tend to sometimes be more on the sweet side. The pork cutlet is fried nicely and there is no gristle in it which is a big plus. I could try all their dishes and probably will the more I am in this location... read more

Damn fine lunch spot near DuPont Circle! I spent about $12, which is fair for the neighborhood, and I enjoyed every bite of the somewhat generous portion. I forgot the name of the dish, but it had rice, curry, chicken and pork. Service was very fast, maybe five minutes from the order to walking out the door. The dining room is nice and modern though light on seating. There is a sauce at the condiment area near the door that I recommend skipping. Not that it was bad, but it did not add to the meal. I might describe it as a glorified mayonnaise given that I don't know what it was really called. They do serve alcohol. read more

Donburi - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I had some friends that lived in Japan and were visiting DC. Naturally, they were curious about Japanese food in the area so after looking at the reviews, I figured Donburi was a safe bet for them. Boy, I was extremely wrong. The location was very spacious so finding a table wasn't a problem. The workers were all personable and very helpful, but the food left much to be desired. First, the rice wasn't fresh. It was hard and parts of it were dry or The meat was a little dry and would have benefited from more sauce. The egg was cooked into the meat which my friends enjoyed because that's how they do it in Japan. Unfortunately, no one was impressed with their orders. If you want something that tastes like Asian fusion, this would be an okay place. But don't come here expecting authentic Japanese food. read more

The sakedon was great! Generous cuts of salmon and reasonably priced. With the quality of the dish itself, it seemed odd that they would provide soy sauce packets for dine-in customers and it definitely took something away from my perceived quality of the restaurant. Plenty of space upstairs if you want to dine in, but sticky floors and surfaces make it a less than ideal dining experience so you may want to consider ordering out. read more

Donburi - Japanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia