Uncle Don West End

If you regularly hunt down Japanese fare in your dining adventures around town, you probably already know about Uncle Don in Rosalie and their impressive donburi. But now, there’s another location where you can get your rice bowl fix, with a second Uncle Don landing in West End. Even better, here the popular eatery has levelled up not just in size in comparison to their Paddington store, but also with an elevated menu, interior, and drinks list. 

For the uninitiated, Uncle Don’s name pretty much gives away the specialty here, with an extensive menu of chicken, beef, seafood, vegetable and even rice-free keto bowls. Take your pick from the likes of salmon sashimi, grilled uck, spicy pork, wagyu steak and scrambled egg curry don, all of which come atop a bed of piping hot rice and other accompaniments. 

There’s also an ample number of starters if you’re extra hungry, including a few that are exclusive to the West End store, like the Uncle’s Pot Pie, with braised red miso pork, chilli oil and a golden egg yolk wrapped up in crispy puff pastry. For Paddington fans though, you’ll be happy to know their crispy eggplant chips, hefty pork katsu sando and parmesan karaage chicken have made their way onto the menu here as well. 

If just all round, delicious Japanese food isn’t enough to sell you on Uncle Don, the venue itself is a looker, with plenty of natural timber paired with red leather banquette seating and grey tiles. Plus, the menu recommends the perfect traditional tea pairing you should have with each bowl—though if tea isn’t your style you can also order sweet and refreshing Japanese sodas, fruity wines, cocktails and sakes with your meal. 

Image credit: Ranyhyn Laine