19/09/2025: I've had the opportunity to dine several times at Dongya Restaurant, a restaurant that offers Chinese and Japanese cuisine with an all-you-can-eat (AYCE) option and à la carte options. Here's my experience, with its ups and downs.
🍣 Positive Aspects
- Fish Quality: The salmon is always fresh and well-prepared, especially the sashimi and mixed gunkan. The dishes are freshly prepared, and you can sense the care taken in selecting the ingredients.
- Fast and Courteous Service: The staff is generally friendly and helpful, with short wait times. On a few occasions, I appreciated the discretion and speed of the service.
- Quiet Ambience: The restaurant is spacious and quiet, ideal for a relaxing dinner. The atmosphere is pleasant, though not particularly sophisticated.
- Fair Prices: The AYCE option for dinner costs around €23.90 per person, in line with other similar restaurants in the area. Lunch is less expensive, making it a good option for a quick and satisfying meal.
- Convenient parking: Ample free parking is available nearby, a significant plus for those arriving by car.
⚠️ Negative Aspects
- Poorly maintained location: The decor is simple and a bit dated. Don't expect an elegant or particularly impressive setting. The visual impact is more functional than aesthetic.
- Too fast service: On some occasions, dishes have arrived without any explanation or presentation. This can spoil the pleasure of discovery, especially for those unfamiliar with Japanese cuisine.
- Order errors: I've happened to order the same dish multiple times and it never arrived. This detail can ruin the experience, especially on busy nights.
- Limited menu: Compared to other AYCE restaurants, the variety is somewhat limited. A few more original or creative options are missing, and some typical Chinese dishes are unavailable.
- Paid extras: Fortune cookies, often offered free at other restaurants, are paid for here. This can be a perplexing detail.
🔚 Conclusion: Dongya Restaurant is a good choice for those looking for an unpretentious Japanese/Chinese AYCE experience. It's ideal for a casual dinner, with fresh dishes and quick service. However, if you're looking for a more refined experience or a broader menu, you might want to explore other options in the city.
📌 Recommended for: quick lunches, casual dinners, salmon lovers.