After catching the Japan travel bug I have been on the hunt for quality Japanese food. Donto Sapporo has been on my foodie bucket list for a while for it's range of lunchtime bento options and consistant high reviews for years.
As soon as I stepped into the restaurant, it took me straight back to Japan with the traditional decor and friendly service. The serving sizes were more than substantial and amazing quality for the price.
We stumbled into this quaint Japanese Restaurant as it was down the road from where we were staying. The Sushi and Sashimi is so fresh and delicious! The staff are polite and helpful. If you love Japanese food you will not be disappointed. You will need to book though as this place fills up very quickly.
A day full of accomplishment and farewell. Atmosphere was perfect, presentation was up to standard and the taste was absolutely astonishing! Will definitely come back again! Had this very traditional rice balls with the hint of plum! The only concern I have is that each serve could be smaller so that we could order more of the varieties. :D
Fine dining Japanese restaurant. Quite expensive but you get high quality meat. Loved my Wagyu Yakiniku, tender meat with perfect yakiniku sauce was to die for. Hubby had Unagi Grill, pretty generous and well cooked with nice sauce. We shared Kodawari Tonkatsu which took 20 minutes to cook, it’s actually a so so dish. Kiddos had Tempura Soba which they liked. I forgot to tell them to put the tempura separately so they dont get soggy :( Friend’s Ebi Tempura looked plump and crispy, yummm... We ordered too many, ate too much! Very satisfying meal though.
Very nice Japanese restaurant with great food and service. All the dishes we ordered were excellent and came out very fast the wasabi oysters were amazing:) The Staff were very nice and helpful, Will definitely be back to eat again.
Looking for a traditional Japanese restaurant in Gold Coast found this great restaurant. Went without expecting anything and we got surprised. Service is great and they give excellent advice on what to eat. At first we thought the food was of small portions but once we received the dishes we asked for, there was plenty to eat at a good price. And the flavours were delicious. Well prepared, well presented, beautiful aromas...the lot. Very happy and will come back. Definitively is worth eating here.
This was our first visit to Donto Sapporo & we will definitely go back again next time we are in the Gold Coast. The Gyoza entree was fantastic as was the Teriyaki Chicken. Tempura main was also delicious.
Great customer service, nice to seem a slightly more traditional Japanese restaurant here on the Gold Coast. The fish used for the sashimi is extremely fresh, their tempura and soba noodles are amazing! Would highly suggest if your missing the Japanese dining experience after a holiday over in Japan!
One of my favourite Japanese places on the Gold Coast. Authentic food, HUGE portion sizes. Prices are slightly steep but 110% worth it considering the portion and taste.
The bento boxes are a must-try. It does take some time for the food to arrive but thats honestly only because everything is so freshly made.
Will be back again and again !
A great little Japanese place on Broadbeach serving some truly wonderful food.
After starting things off with a large cold Sapporo beer (it was a hot and slightly stormy Queensland day after all) and some delicious goyza, we went for a set which was recommended and a giant chicken katsu curry.
The bento box, if I can do it justice by labelling it as such, had a bit of everything: the customary miso soup, some sashimi, tempura prawn and vegetables, and some truly delicious mackerel. While it will never truly be the same, this did remind me of my travels in Japan, and most importantly the food was damn good.
The place is nicely set out with booths where you sit low to the table. Staff are both friendly and helpful, and I would definitely return for dinner if I'm in town again.
Prices are high but if you want a good meal and don't mind the cost then this is the place for you. Try their bento boxes, they are superb. Their sashimi are very fresh and their staff members services are great!
The place looks just as if you are in Japan. The Japanese style table looks great!
The food here is to die for... Sapporo bento box in lunch is probably the best lunch you will ever get from anywhere.
Dinner you can order all sorts of food. Sashimi and sushi here are the best on the Coast no doubt. Sukiyaki is also to die for! Service is excellent too!!
If you are after some proper Japanese, this place is it!!! No western twist stuff which is hard to find these days.
Good on you Donto Sapporo!!
Food and service is beyond amazing. Booked for our 10th wedding anniversary and were treated to a special seating area for two. Food was so tasty and was the best Japanese we've ever had and we've tried quiet a few different ones
One of my favorite Japanese restaurants on the Coast, their Sukiyaki is a must try. The meat is delicious, their salmon sashimi is always fresh, service is good, great atmosphere to dine with friends/family. Recommend 👍🏻
Awesome job the food was extremely mouth watering ............I really enjoyed.......definitely looking to come back. You should try and say your opinion.
This is our second visit. I have great memories of our first visit more than 5 years ago and made a mental note to bring the family back again this trip. Excellent food and service. The tempura batter was light and cooked to perfection. Sashimi was fresh and value for money. My favourite was probably the chargrilled squid, it was simply divine!!! Thank you for giving us a great dining experience.
Legitimately one of the best Japanese restaurants I have been to, with tip top ingredients and made the traditional way with a lot of care. The special sashimi platter was the highlight for me, with tuna sashimi of different degrees of fattiness. Tempura was also done really well, perfect crispy texture and tender on the inside. Flavours spot on.
Bonus point for the cute restaurant set up and decor!
We enjoyed everything we ordered at Donto, but I think the nigiri set was the best. The rice was perfect, fish was fresh, and our very kind server took the time to explain every item on the platter and where it came from (including the local selection).
The tempura was spot-on. It came with a variety of veggies and was sooooo crispy! We really loved the chicken we ordered as well, and the broth for the soba was really, really nice.
It's a shame we're headed back to NZ soon because I'd love to come here again. The service was so lovely and friendly, and it was nice to sit on tatami mat and stuff our faces full of yummy food. ^ _ ^
Great Wagyu Sukiyaki. Good atmosphere and excellent service. Traditional style Japanese restaurant. I'm a big fan of Japanese good and this place delivers! .
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This is one of the best Japanese restaurants I have had the pleasure of visiting in Brisbane/Gold Coast.
First of all, the decor of the restaurant was really nice. There is a very ambient vibe to the interior and it was really neat to sit in one of the low tables. It was rainy when I visited, so the wood, soft lighting and delicious aromas created a very pleasant atmosphere.
I also went with a group (about 10, in all), and was really happy with the service that was provided for us. The food came out promptly and there were plenty of options for sharing. We got the Chicken Karage and Zucchini tempura for the table, which were absolutely amazing. I would literally travel from northside brisbane just for those zucchini's. Notably, we had an absolutely hilarious server. He made all of us laugh countless times. I can't remember the name unfortunately and if I did, I would mention him as a compliment to the restaurant. At the end of the night, we had a funny time because he was trying on my boyfriend's motorcycle helmet (he actually processed our payment with the helmet on LOL!).
I ordered the Udon noodles as a main and was absolutely delighted by whole meal. The broth was delicious with a strong taste (but not TOO strong, you know?) and it complimented the noodles which were cooked to perfection. One of my friends got the tempura crab and were really excited to literally have a crab put in front of them (see picture). It is really rare to have an actual crab served, so that was fantastic.
Probably the only downside of the night was the small portions of rice. Rice is cheap and a good filler so I often like to get a pretty good serving of it. I found the little serving to be a tad disappointing.
But overall, I had a fabulous time at the restaurant and I would be incredibly happy to go back again and again and again.... :)
Very pleased with service. Restaurant manager Sho was accommodating to our want for desert at dinner and very friendly. Traditional Japanese looking restaurant. Have been 3 times, would go again, does not disappoint :)
One of the most delicious and wonderful restaurants on the Gold Coast. Has an authentic Japanese atmosphere and perfect for any occasion. My absolute favourite spot for a decently priced, phenomenal dinner.
Our first night on the Gold Coast called for some japanese fare, so we asked around the hotel and everyone suggested we drive to broadbeach and check out Donto. Some of the nicest Japanese food my partner and I have eaten. Very traditional style looks like a Ryokan when you walk in. Shoes off at the table and sitting on the comfy cushions. Being from Melbourne we are spoilt for choice with good Japanese food but this place made such a good impression on us. We indulged in tempura udon, sashimi platter, renkan chips, pork belly, and the Sapporo special fish cake and chives. We finished with an awesome mochi dessert and sake. We left completely satisfied and will be telling all our friends who come up to the coast to visit this place!
Usually we go to Donto for lunch and always order the bento.. It is amazing, so fresh and great value and more traditional than other restaurants. Last night we went for dinner, it didn't disappoint, we let Sho order for us and what we ate was nothing short of delicious amazing food. Probably the best meal we have ever had. Thank you so much much Shun for creating it for us.
The decor is traditional Japanese which just adds to the wonder of this place. The staff are lovely, attentive and so friendly, especially Sho. This is the best Japanese restaurant on the Gold Coast and dare I say Brisbane as well.
Love it love it LOVE IT!!!
First time visited Donto Sapporo but I was really impressed!! Beautiful traditional settings that made me feel like I was in Japan! visited for lunch, We had Chotto sapporo Bento which was great, and miso ramen was also sooo tasty! The service was wonderful, staff are very friendly.
I hear dinner is awesome as well!
I cannot wait to come back!
This is by far the best japanese restaurant. The food is authentic and delicious, staff are the friendliest the atmosphere is electric. This restaurant is an absolute must. Everyone must give this place a go once in their life time..
I have been dining at Donto Sapporo for years and whilst it's one of those unique, perfect little places that you don't want to let anyone know about just in case it loses its character my kinder side wants to share it with the world. The food is sensational and as close as what you will find to Japan in Australia. The service is always great and also has a very good sake list by Australian standards. I've taken many of my family and friends there and every single one has asked to go back on next visit. Beautiful, authentic, casual Japanese dining. I love it. I'm hungry just thinking about it.
We've been coming this restaurant for 25years!!
It's still good or should say always better. Amazing!
Traditional Japanese with Hokkaido(North Island of Japan) essence makes this restaurant stand out. Sashimi and Sushi here is always fresh.
They started to serve some very tender Wagyu beef lately as well. We love Shabu Shabu with it.
I have been going to this restaurant for close to 20 years. I have never had a bad meal. The food and service is impeccable.
In fact it is my favourite restaurant on the Gold Coast, and I'm proud to say I eat there weekly. The staff, especially Sho is the best mine host around. He is passionate about the food, the drinks and of course his service.
Big meal for lunch and yummy. Price is very reasonable at lunch time than dinner time if order the Sapporo bento. Nice atmosphere and service, kid friendly place.
Delicious and super fresh sashimi. We ordered the Fisherman's Choice which is an assortment of 'todays' fresh catch, Chawanmushi, grilled squid with cheesy mushroom side and for dessert the green tea and strawberry ice cream mochi. The chawanmushi, which is a savoury steamed egg custard with seafood and chicken, was smooth and silky and a great little appetizer to start off with. Grilled squid was delicious, slightly chargrilled and had a beautiful smoky flavour. The dessert was our absolute favourite, we originally wanted just green tea ice cream but they had ran out so we got this dish instead. The ice cream is wrapped in thin layer of mochi, with not too much sweet rice flour and was beautifully soft and chewy.
Definitely be ordering this dessert again. Service can be slow but they are very friendly, will be back.
For a full Japanese dining experience, few restaurants on the coast transport you away to another time and place as effectively as Donto Sapporo...True to form, the food is delicious. Fisherman’s choice, the mid-size sashimi, contained five varieties of fish: cobia, kingfish, tuna, ocean trout and hapuka (35). The trout and tuna were bright in colour, all startlingly fresh and well arranged, served with house made soy sauce. Tempura Soran (16.5), crisp from the fryer, contains seafood and vegetables, even enoki mushrooms.
Today I traveled to Donto Sapporo in Broad Beach and let me tell you, i twas amazing! The food was most definitely oishi! Compliments to the chief! The Tempura had the perfect texture, the dipping sauce, the softening touch to the crispiness of the batter, heated to the perfect temperature! It tasted so great!! The Yakitori, just thinking about Donto Sapporo's Yakitori make my stomach rumble and my mouth salivate. Finally, the Green Tea Ice-Cream! The legitimate best food I have ever tasted! The service was great too! My meal was prepared fast and the staff are so friendly! That is something you don't get at ever restaurant. I really enjoyed the authenticity of the restaurant, the wooden sitting benches and small square shaped pillows. it's such a contrast to other mainstream "Japanese" eateries such as Sushi Train etc. A very nice restaurant,would definitely come again!
Exceptional Service. I had my birthday dinner at this place and I got to say, it was excellent! The staff were incredibly nice and friendly, the food was amazing, and the interior was awesome. I would definitely eat here again.
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Loved it!. We had a fabulous meal here to celebrate my friend's birthday a couple of months ago.
We started with edamame beans, Seaweed Salad (different to any I've had before) Nasu Misoyaki (Fresh eggplant scored, lightly deep fried, basted with sweet miso paste and grilled) and Oyster Donto (House specialty - fresh oysters topped with wasabi blended with Japanese mayonaise sprinkled with diced eschallots and grilled) All were fantastic. I don't even like oysters, and they were absolutely sublime!
Next we had prawn mayo (very lightly deep fried prawns served with Aurora sauce). Again, delicious.
One dish we had that I wasn't so keen on was shoulder of Blue Fin Tuna. Not because it wasn't well prepared. Mainly, I hadn't expected it to be so big or actually look like a shoulder. I'm sure anyone who likes Blue Fin Tuna would love it. It was moist, succulent and meaty. Just not to my liking. My friend ate the lot.
We also had desserts and our waiter who was very happy and friendly, also gave us a slice of cake each.
Accidentally stumbled upon this gem after our original choice for dinner was shut. Very glad we did. Some of the best Japanese I have had. Staff were amazingly attentive and helpful. Food was great, authentic, tasty and came out swiftly. You know you're in a good place when its packed full of locals! Wish I lived in the gold coast so I could frequent this place
A little improvement. The customer service and some of the dishes were amazing. Can't go wrong with salmon sashimi, tempuras, sushi and etc. But one problem, I ordered Mini Spicy Ramen and it was... watery and blend. My partner had the fried rice and it was overcooked. Overall, the experience was quality of food was good.
Bento Box. The lunch menu is quite good value for money. In particular the bento boxes are great. Fantastic selection of food that were all really tasty! The portioning was really decent in the boxes as well and it was difficult for me to completely finish everything. I would recommend to try these bentos out.
Haven't had dinner here yet, but I have heard it's quite expensive. Frequented by lots of Japanese people, which is a good sign the food is authentic! They have both seated tables and also floor tables if you want to be more cultural. It's a rather popular place so it can be very busy sometimes.
Absolutely the best Restaurant on the Gold Coast! Been coming for 13 yrs. Amazingly fresh food and fantastic service. My two favourite dishes are the Agedashi tofu and the Seaweed salad. Best I've ever tasted, delicious and fresh flavours! If you love traditional Japanese, you won't be disappointed.
To date- this is the most Authentic and quality Japanese I have had. My partner and I visited here whilst on holiday, initially offput by the aging decor and unusual location we were soon amazed by the astoundingly delicious, delicate and fresh food coupled with the superior service. The only problem with this restaurant is that it will permanently change your expectations of food- a significant problem if you live 16 hours away...
We've always make a point to visit Donto Sapporo when we visit Gold Coast.
They have the freshest sashimi we have tried. Their terriyaki salmon, king crab tempura and other dishes have never dissappointed us.
We had the blue fin tuna platter yesterday and was an absolute delight!
They're very attentive and make a point to explain the dishes to us.
Their desserts are also a great way to round off the meal.
We have always recommended Donto Sapporo to our friends and will continue to do so.
We have been coming here for about 10 years.Ichiban!!( ie our number one ) Japanese.Great Sapporo Bento today.
Authentic and great menu. It is always a good sign when you see Japanese speaking customers chatting to the Japanese speak chef. Donto Sapporo is such a place with a pleasant environment serving delicious Japanese food. We sat next to the tempura bar and my boys enjoyed watching the chef fry up batches of fresh tempura. I really enjoyed my Northern Star sashimi which had no less than 6 different types of fish on it to sample. The only sour note was the 15% public holiday surcharge for Easter but I guess most places on the Gold Coast do this.
Beautiful Japanese. I am into Japanese cuisine very much, so I am quite critic when I go to japanese Restaurant.
Donto Sapporo has been my absolutely favourite restaurant.
What I love about them is that they present authentic Japanese; unlike those others. Sushi and sahimi are always great! Oyster donto is to die for, and always a great service which i think is lacking in a lot of Japanese restaurant.
If you ever wonder where to have dinner at, think about this place!!
Really authentic Japanese. Very fresh. Price isn't over the top. If you plan on bringing a pram, ring ahead and advise them. They get a bit funny when it is unexpected.
I took clients here last night and we were blown away by the quality of the food and the service. The price of the food was very reasonable. The restaurant itself is not that fancy but they let their food be the hero. Definitely give this place a try.
Had dinner here a couple weeks back for the first time in ages still as good as it always has been 5*
Went for a friends birthday dinner was amazing! I wasn't that hungry so I ordered the tempura vegetables and that did it for me. They were delicious! Fresh and crispy. I cannot wait to go back! Highly recommended!
My new favourite restaurant. I have been to this restaurant twice and both times had exceptional food and service. They staff were lovely, very attentive but not crowding, and the food was to die for! I highly recommend the dumplings and the tempura garlic appetisers. I especially love the traditional atmosphere, complete with taking off our shoes before sitting at the table! But it also caters to people prefering Western style seating arrangements by providing both the "normal" tables and chairs as well as Japanese style seating.
The only downside I can think of is that some of the dishes are a bit pricey, but on the other hand there are cheaper ones to choose from so you don't have to break the bank to go there. I urge everyone to give Donto Sapporo a go, you won't be disappointed :)
Fantastic experience. Fabulous Japanese food! We ordered the sushi banquet, and my husband who is a big eater, struggled to finish the banquet. I just loved the freshness of the sushi, every mouthful was so succulent and the flavours were to die for, i salivate just thinking of how good that food was. Will absolutley be returning. Sensational food and very well priced!
Authentic, affordable Japanese.. Good sushi. The waitstaff were efficient and were prepared to go further to provide most accurate information about each dish, which was very helpful for those with special dietary requirements. Good sushi. Will be happy to return to try different items on the menu.
Fantastic sushi and gyoza. Good service and ambiance. I will go back for sure.
Had a great feed at lunch, the sushi is very nice! And great value for money. We will be back
Excelent food and service will go back there again for sure. A+++
The biggest compliment I can give a restaurant is to have back to back meals in the same place. Still, those two meals were not enough to try the extensive range of traditional Japanese fare on offer at Donto Sapporo. I already had a good feeling as I entered the restaurant to find daily specials which featured the freshest produce they had to offer. For dinner we sampled a gorgeous sashimi platter and I tried a smoked mackarel bento box for lunch. The staff were friendly and hospitable during our visit. I shall now look forward to my next visit the next time I find myself down at the Gold Coast.
Fantastic Japanese with fresh ingredients, excellent service, great sake and beers, and a.place that will make you feel like you are in Japan even though you're actually in Australia. HIGHLY recommend.
Had a great NamaChirashi bowl and Special oyster for lunch. Great variety of seafood. Very satisfied. Only wished I didn’t have to drive so I could have a beer with it.
Personally, it is a pretty normal Japanese restaurant. We've reserved a table, however, we were arranged to sit outside the restaurant on the public aisle..Food taste is normal as well. Maybe we just didn't order the correct food.
すごい懐かしい味！
Wow, it's been too long since I had flavours like this.
For people looking for true Japanese flavours executed perfectly, then Donto Sapporo is a must!
Their lunch set special at just under $20 was insane value!
We love the cozy ambience. We love how polite the owners and staff were. We love how amazing the food was. It’s this hidden gem we discovered in Gold Coast and we are so glad a friend recommended them and told us ‘it’s the best Japanese food in Brisbane’. It really is. 🥰🥇 We are so coming back for sure when we visit Gold Coast. I strongly recommend everyone to visit this place especially for dinner. It may be busy so might be good to walk in or book early. Worth it, I promise. ❤️
At the first I was thinking it is a bit over priced. But the sashimi is very fresh and fatty. The cuts were thick. Usually I only like salmon sashimi the most just because of how fatty and it feels like it’s melting in your mouth but all the sashimi here is quite excellent!
Delicious & excellent quality! A lovely and special dining experience with family over warm house sake
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