8 places to get your donburi fix in Singapore

SINGAPORE — Honestly, what’s not to love about donburi? Those warm, delicious bowls laden with tasty goodness are intensely satisfying, no matter which meal, and they also scratch the itch for Japanese food and carbs all at once.

But if you don’t waste your calories on a bad bowl, here are some suggestions where you can get donburi for every palate and budget.

PREMIUM WAGYU DON FROM SUSHI JIN (1 Farrer Park Station Road, Owen Link, #01-11/12. Tel: 6443 3378, www.sushijin.com.sg)

If you’re feeling fancy, spring for this S$88++ bowl (see picture above). Slices of A4 wagyu beef sit atop a bed of fried or white rice, along with a generous serving of uni and cubes of pan-seared foie gras. To top it all off, there’s an onsen egg and truffle caviar. Call it indulgence at its finest.

TRUFFLE YAKINIKU DONBURI FROM TANUKI RAW (#04-01, Orchard Central. Tel: 6636 5949, www.tanukibar.com)

One of the best-value beef bowls we’ve ever had, Tanuki Raw’s truffle yakiniku donburi features pan-seared US black angus short-rib, onsen egg and truffle soy sauce over its signature furikake-dusted rice, all for just S$14.90. Top up to S$19.90 and you get pan-seared foie gras in addition to the truffle yakiniku combo.

YAKITORI DONBURI FROM THE WALL (76 Tanjong Pagar Road. Tel: 6225 7988, www.facebook.com/thewallsg)

You get four skewers with the The Wall’s Yakitori Donburi — Tebasaki (chicken wings), Negima (chicken thigh with leek), Nankotsu (chicken cartilage) and the signature Tsukune (minced chicken ball with cartilage and yuzu peel). While they’re all toothsome, the Tsukune’s our pick of the lot. Priced at S$22++ for a set with salad, fruits and coffee.

WAGYU CLAYPOT DONBURI FROM FAT COW (#01-01/02, Camden Medical Centre. Tel: 6735 0308, www.fat-cow.com.sg)

Lunch is probably the only time you can enjoy a (relatively) affordable meal at Fat Cow, and the donburi lunch sets here are truly value-for-money, considering the quality of the ingredients. The Fat Cow donburi, a charcoal-grilled wagyu beef bowl with onsen egg and shredded leeks over rice, is always a big favourite. Priced at S$45++ for a set with salad, chawanmushi, miso soup and dessert.

BARACHIRASHI DON FROM D2TLLRY (#01-28A, Golden Shoe Car Park. Tel: 9111 8928, www.facebook.com/dstllryco)

The barachirashi don here has been touted as one of the best in Singapore, and deservedly so: In it, you’ll find large, plump chunks of marinated prawn, tuna and salmon tossed in a savoury mirin, dashi and soy sauce mix. It’s all served over rice (or salad or noodles if you prefer other forms of carbs) - the ultimate comfort combo. Priced at S$19.90++ for a set with a side, soup and green tea.

GYUNIKU DONBURI FROM THE REFINERY (#01-02, 115 King George’s Ave. Tel: 6293 1204, www.therefinery.sg)

This luxurious and umami-laden combo of truffle hon shimeji mushrooms, tare-marinated beef and a wobbly onsen egg makes for a real treat. Priced at S$19++ for a set with agedashi tofu and a soft drink, hot coffee or tea.

HOKUBEE RIBEYE DON FROM GASTROSMITHS (#03-06, I12 Katong. Tel: 9772 9511, www.facebook.com/gastrosmiths)

If you want to enjoy beef with quality reminiscent of wagyu, but without the accompanying price tag, Gastrosmith’s Hokubee Ribeye Don is the way to go. Hokubee is often described as poor man’s wagyu (fat is injected into the meat to create artificial marbling), but that doesn’t take away any of its yumminess. A quick fix at S$26++.

SPECIAL TENDON FROM GINZA TENDON ITSUKI (101 Tanjong Pagar Road. Tel: 6221 6678, www.tendon-itsuki.sg)

Two generously portioned pieces of prawn and chicken dressed in a light-as-air batter, served with an onsen egg atop rice ... No wonder there are snaking queues outside this place. Every. Single. Day. A vegetarian option, featuring pumpkin, shiitake mushroom, lotus root, eggplant and more, is also available. And it's affordable too, at S$13.90++.

A version of this story first appeared on ELLE.sg