Don Don Donki in Singapore is a treasure trove of Japanese snacks that are popular among locals and tourists alike. The store offers a wide variety of sweet and savoury treats, including Pocky, KitKat, Umaibo, and Calbee chips. Some of these snacks come in flavours that are exclusive to the chain.
In addition to traditional Japanese snacks, Don Don Donki also carries a selection of international snacks, including Korean and Taiwanese options. The chain is also known for its freshly-baked pastries, including melon pan and curry pan.
If you’re a snack lover, then this list is for you. Here we bring you the 10 best snacks at Don Don Donki that you can get for less than S$7 to experience the taste of Japan. Oishii!
1. Japanese Strawberry Jelly (S$2.90)
How different could it be from all the other jelly I have eaten? That was the old me, the naïve one. It was moments before I popped a piece of Japanese Strawberry Jelly (S$2.90) into my mouth. By Jove, those few moments as the jelly laid itself out on my tongue were an epiphany!
So wonderfully rich and so densely strawberry-ish (strawberry-ful?), this simple little snack knocked it out of the park.
You can eat them right out of the pack at the store but I discovered that they are even more delicious if you freeze them beforehand. It was such a pleasure walking about on a hot Singapore day, popping the little frozen wonders as I window shopped.
This treat is also available as Japanese Peach Jelly (S$2.90) and Japanese Plum Wine Jelly (S$2.90). Certainly no complaints about those flavours but the strawberry one is the clear winner for me.
2. Kit Kat Mini Daifuku Flavour (S$6.50)
What daifuku? Oh, yes, it’s exactly what I thought— the traditional Japanese mochi filled with sweet red bean paste. You know, daifuku.
Kit Kat has a habit of releasing some very strange flavours, many of which go on to become cult favourites. While this daifuku Kit Kat isn’t the most famous, it was definitely appealing enough for me to want to try.
Considering the taste of daifuku, I assumed this Kit Kat would taste like a dou sha bao mixed with chocolate. In fact, it turned out to be better than I had originally assumed.
The standard Kit Kat wafers are covered in white chocolate but there is just a smidgen of mochi flavour and dash of red bean powder. It creates a very nice balance between east and west, with neither needlessly overpowering the other.
This bag of 10 mini Kit Kat bars will disappear very quickly, partly because of the curiosity factor.
3. Kameida Seka Waza No Kodawari Pepper Flavour Rice Crackers (S$5.50)
I almost didn’t buy these Kameida Seka Waza No Kodawari Pepper Flavour Rice Crackers 110g (S$5.50). Looking at the partially transparent packaging at the red devils lounging about inside, I feared they would be overly spicy. Fortunately, that turned out to not be the case.
Despite their fierce appearance, these rice crackers are quite mild. Unlike other chips that have a uniform shape, they are intentionally broken during the cooking process. The logic is that the greater surface area (along the broken sides) lets each fragment soak up more of the seasoning powders and flavours.
I think it works! That double dose of flavouring helps give these chips an umami taste I haven’t really tasted in other chips before. They are exceptionally crisp and a fun little side snack to munch on as you work or study.
Note that it contains gelatine and may not be suitable for people with dietary restrictions.
4. Funwari Meijin Hokkaido Cheese Mochi (S$6.90)
Mochi puffs? Man, the Japanese food industry really is one the cutting edge of innovation. This heavenly union of two of my favourite snacks is addictive!
Part of the reason is the glorious cheese. Hokkaido is renowned the world over for its superior dairy products. The chilly weather and rich soil imbue the milk and cheese with a richness that is palpable. The depth of the cheese flavour in this snack is readily obvious from the very first munch.
Then, there is the absolute airiness of each puff— it feels as if every piece could float away with the wind. Place them in your mouth and they crumble away into nothingness… except for the cheesy flavour that lingers enticingly.
This Funwari Meijin Hokkaido Cheese Mochi, 66g (S$6.90) pack contains 6 mini packets of 11g each. Perfect for sharing, if you are very generous. I ate all 6, thank you very much.
5. Japanese Noodle Snack – Tonkotsu Ramen Flavour (S$2.50)
Tonkatsu ramen is such a complicated medley of different levels of taste! How in the world do they get all of the flavours of pork bone broth in a chip? Well, what’s more important is that they do.
I picked up this Japanese Noodle Snack – Tonkotsu Ramen Flavour, 65g (S$2.50) as an aside some time ago when I was shopping hungry. It turned out to be a wise decision. The moreish snack has a nice proportion of flavouring that gives you all the essence of a real tonkotsu bowl. You get all the taste without even touching a chopstick!
These crisps are also very crunchy. I love the mouthfeel I get when I munch away at them. You might want to have some mouth-freshener with you after you finish, though. The soy sauce, onion and garlic flavouring packs quite a punch but isn’t the aroma you want to carry around all day!
6. Donki Oishii-Bo Mentaiko (S$5.90)
It’s insane how some flavours just take off like crazy in Singapore and mentaiko is certainly one of them. It’s not always done very accurately but one of the exceptions is this Japanese chain’s Donki Oishii-Bo Mentaiko 6x30g (S$5.90).
If you didn’t know, mentaiko is a type of cod roe typically found in Japanese and Korean cuisine. Here, that flavouring is infused into a puffed corn snack stick.
I remember loving the similar jagung snacks as a kid. Word of caution: the traditional ones I remember were usually softer and had a sweeter taste. This one is crunchier and saltier so they aren’t for you if you crave that nostalgic flavour.
This pack of 30 mentaiko corn sticks (it also comes in Corn Potage flavour) is a snacker’s delight. When I buy it, I visualise it as 1 month’s supply of a lunchtime snack. Looking at it cost-wise, that’s quite a steal! It’s also great for parties.
7. Donki Takoyaki (S$3.90)
Tako-very-much to whoever invented the wonderful little side dish and snack we know as takoyaki. These amazing octopus-filled fried spheres are one of my favourite ways to add seafood to my diet. I’m happy to pick up a pack of Donki Takoyaki (S$3.90) any day.
Don Don Donki’s rendition of this very popular snack uses Japanese cabbage, a fact emblazoned prominently on the packaging. Take a bite into these little orbs and you are rewarded with a delightful filling of minced octopus (tako). Of course, you can’t compare it to the stuff served in a good restaurant but for this price, ready to eat, this is a steal.
The overall texture and taste is vastly improved by the addition of bonito flakes. I think there is ginger in there somewhere, too. Unfortunately, I ate all of mine too quickly to do a proper dissection. Oh yes, but I did definitely taste the signature flavour of takoyaki sauce .
8. Seto Queen Baked Fish Sheet (S$6.90)
What are these piles and piles of wrapping paper doing in the food section? That was my first thought when I walked along the aisle where this Seto Queen Baked Fish Sheet 70g (S$6.90) was displayed. Well, thank heavens that it does have such an unusual appearance. I would never have found this delicious, affordable snack otherwise!
Don’t be fooled by this rather plain-looking beige affair. Stuffed densely into this unassuming and humble snack is a bucketload of flavour. I fell in love with it partly because of its texture, too. You get this strange sensation that you are chomping away at a bit of thin cardboard as you bite it.
Get over that initial peculiar feeling and you will be rewarded with all the rich fishy goodness packed away inside. Another advantage of this snack is that you could hide it in plain sight and no one will think of stealing a bite. Hehe!
9. Yangnyeon Chicken (S$5.90) – NEW!
I am always pretty excited when Don Don Donki comes up with something new. However, it’s usually something wrapped up in an airtight bag. This Yangnyeon Chicken (S$5.90), though, is from the Japanese chain’s ‘ready to eat’ range (you may still have to reheat before eating!)
On the day I bought it, it seemed to be freshly made. The chicken was tender and juicy and the sauce had the rich consistency that makes for great condiments.
Take note that the time of day that you buy this pack of Yangnyeon Chicken is important. If you happen to be there right when it comes out of the kitchen, you will get the best possible combination of aromas and flavours. Unfortunately, there is no way to know when that is at each store.
If you want a tasty and affordable snack that isn’t filled with preservatives, this is one of the best options.
10. Chilled Soba (S$5.90)
Another excellent item on the Don Din Donki food court menu is this Chilled Soba (S$5.90). The main ingredient is Hiyashi soba. As a helpful sign explains at the food court, udon noodles are usually served warm; when they are served cold like this, the cold udon is called Hiyashi (cold) udon. Given the weather in Singapore, hiyashi is definitely the better option.
It is a surprisingly affordable meal set. For S$5.90, you get a very generous helping of soba noodles. The noodles are well garnished with shallots and also narrow strips of nori (seaweed). The addition of shallots and nori gives the noodles a very nice subtle crunch.
I would have preferred if the serving of fish on the side was a bit bigger. However, for this price, it’s a forgivable compromise. I can definitely recommend this not just as a snack but even a convenient lunch meal set.
For all locations of Don Don Donki in Singapore, please refer here.
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