Move aside, Daiso. The rush of Singapore shoppers has shifted from the famous $2 discount store to a new Japanese discount retailer in town: Don Quijote, better known as Don Don Donki.
Since the Japanese retailer opened its first discount store in Orchard Central late last year, Singaporeans have been buying up the entire store.
However, if you are not a regular customer, visiting Don Don Donki can be a dizzying affair due to the illogical layout of the space, crowded aisles and 20,000 signs vying for your attention.
It’s like going to see Mustafa, ONLY WORSE. Because their stupid theme song is constantly blaring in your brain and will haunt you for weeks.
Before you get overwhelmed, here’s our highly scientific guide to the cheapest and most worthwhile items you can buy at this Japanese discount supermarket.
Don Don Donki Sweet potato and other ready-to-eat foods
Judging by the long lines (and the ever-present smell), the main attraction here is undoubtedly the famous sweet potato don donki, which costs $2.80 a piece and is “incredibly delicious.”
Aside from sweet potatoes, there is a selection of snacks available outside Don Don Donki, such as grilled scallops ($2.50), oden ($3.50 to $6), a banana cake “hot dog” ($2.90), fried mochi ($2.50), and Hokkaido milk latte ($2.50 to $2.90).
But don’t stop outside Don Don Donki—if you venture out into the crowds and go inside, you’ll find plenty more ready-to-eat dishes, like salmon aburi sushi ($5 for 5 pieces), onigiri ($1.80), yakisoba ($3.90), and tori karaage ($7.90 for a large box).
Of course, you won’t get Japanese restaurant quality food at these prices, but if you just want some fried delicacies to go with your booze (see next section), this is the place to go.
Alcohol: Japanese whisky, sake, beer and shochu
Speaking of alcohol, Don Don Donki is a nice place to get a little more fancy drinks than boring old Tiger. The product range is a little limited – it’s a Japanese supermarket, not a liquor store – but it’s definitely a worthwhile place if you don’t have any particular demands on your alcohol.
There are signs everywhere boasting that they have the cheapest Suntory beer in town: $4.50 per can and $22.90 per six-pack. Yes, it’s better than the best promotional price we found elsewhere. $23.95 for a pack of 6 at NTUC.
But the real fun starts in the sake section. Not many places in Singapore sell such a wide range of sake in 2-litre cartons. If you are not a huge sake snob (i.e. your priority is to get wasted), then the Nomonomo carton at $48 is unbeatable in terms of price. Normally you would expect to pay at least $50 for a large box of sake so.
There are also a few bottles of Suntory The Chita Whisky for $89.90. It is cheaper than Cold Storage ($99) And Redmart ($92.49) but only a tiny bit more expensive than Wines and spirits (89 USD).
$10 meat section: Shabu Shabu, Sukiyaki, Yakiniku beef and pork
If you’re not into drinking or partying, the $10 meat section at Don Don Donki is the section that’s likely to freak you out. That’s right, it’s a section with refrigerated shelves after refrigerated shelves of pre-packaged fresh beef and pork for just $10 a pack – the Daiso of premium meats. Here’s what’s available:
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American Angus Beef – Shabu Shabu
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American Angus Beef – Sukiyaki
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American Angus Beef – Yakiniku (Bulgolgi)
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Hokkaido Wagyu Beef – Burger Patties
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Kurobuta pork shoulder – Shabu Shabu
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Hokkaido pork neck – Shabu Shabu
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Hokkaido pork loin / belly – Sukiyaki
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Hokkaido pork belly – Yakiniku
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Hokkaido pork – breaded croquettes
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Japanese pork – breaded tonkotsu
Everything is either prepared or pre-cut into one of three thicknesses: shabu shabu (thinnest), sukiyaki (slightly thicker) and yakiniku (thickest).
Considering that it is fresh meat and not frozen, the price is very competitive. For example, meat wholesaler MMMM sells Kurobuta pork shabu-shabu slices at $9 for 200g and generic Sukiyaki beef at $8.80 for 200g.
At Don Don Donki, the quantity per pack of meat is typically around 250g (varies slightly), which makes it around 10% cheaper than wholesale.
Japanese seafood: Hokkaido uni for $58/100g
As you would expect from a typical Japanese supermarket, Don Don Donki’s fish and seafood section is super fresh and packed with Atlantic salmon of various grades: sashimi grade ($6.80/100g), fillets for frying ($4.30/100g), salmon skin ($2.90 a bulk pack), and boneless ($5 a bulk pack).
But the prices are affordable, but not crazy cheap. For example, you can buy fresh salmon fillets from RedMart for about $3.10/100g.
What is really remarkable about Don Don Donki is the uni – the sea urchin. Where else can you get a uni + salmon don for less than $10?!
Food: Japanese curry, gyoza, furikake, natto and Japanese rice
Aside from fresh meat and seafood, Don Don Donki is a great place to buy Japanese groceries and pantry staples.
Think Japanese rice, furikake, frozen gyoza, udon, natto, Japanese curry and various sauces. Even breakfast items are available: Don Don Donki has the best prices in town on the best-selling Calbee cereal (Frugara cereal) and Japanese filter coffee.
I’ll just let this table speak for itself:
Japanese snacks: Japanese Kit Kat, Calpis, Cup noodles & more
You can’t go to Don Don Donki without buying a mountain of I mean, A respectable Lots of Japanese snacks.
This will require a bit of searching as junk food is scattered everywhere. But if you are patient, you will find many Japanese snacks that are not so easy to find in Singapore. Here are my recommendations for things you should definitely not miss:
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Bourbon Cookies – Choco & Coffee / Choco Digestive / Bitter Cocoa / Butter Cookies / Choco Chips ($2.50 at Don Don Donki, $3.30 or not available elsewhere)
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Kameda Seed Snack 6-Pack ($3.90 at Don Don Donki, $4.50 and more elsewhere)
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Mount Fuji Strawberry Cheesecake KitKat ($9.90 for 9 pieces, $15 at Lazada)
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Sake Kit Kat ($11.90 for 9 pieces, not found anywhere else)
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Calpis Concentrate, 1-liter pack ($9.80 at Don Don Donki, $16 at Meidi-Ya)
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Cup noodles (lots of different brands and prices – go for the ones in the boxes, they are usually discounted)
What are your favorite Don Don Donki finds? Share your reviews in the comments!
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Photo credit: Don Don Donki Singapore
The post Don Don Donki Singapore Shopping Guide – The Best and Cheapest Things to Buy appeared first on MoneySmart blog.
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