3235 Hwy 7 #22, Markham, ON L3R 3P3, Canada
Unpretentious eatery dishing up Korean fried pork & seafood, plus ramen & rice bowls.
Ordered the cheese Donkatsu and it was perfectly cooked. The cheese pull was so satisfying and it really hit the spot. The portions are so generous and the service was so friendly. Highly recommend!
I arrived and the restaurant was already busy but they offered us the menu to look first and then offered to place the order in advance. The service of all the staff were great but there was on person that was outstanding in particular, who I think is the owner or manager of some sort. She had dyed light brown hair and had a low bun. She was absolutely lovely and the way she treated each customer was so nice and for a second I felt like I was back at home. I would come back to this location specifically just to see her. And of course, as always, the food was fantastic.
Wow, this amazing and must try tonkatsu house is not sure Japanese or Korean cuisine, but highly recommend it. The delicious and diverse tonkatsu with huge amounts is really crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. My family truly loves Pork or Chicken Brown Katsu, and Fish Katsu with 2 or 3 level spicy sauce. We’d like to try the other food on the menu in the near future, such as Ramen, Cheese Stick etc. It’s noteworthy that the staff is very nice and helpful, and their service is excellent and comfortable. Definitely come back again.
This is SUCH an amazing little place. The people are so nice and very sweet, easy to get someone if you need anything. And the food???? When I tell you, this is probably the BEST food I've had, I mean it. I've had these dishes many times before, but this restaurant absolutely went off the rails with how good it is. They deserve like a Michelin star guys, for real. Absolutely will be going here again, I want to try every single thing on the menu.
Get ready for one of the best meals of your life. The katsu here is MASSIVE. make sure you're starving before you get here, but also be prepared to wait up to 30 min for your seat (restaurant isn't that big and it takes a while for the katsu to be made). Holy the katsu was so big. I only ate one cutlet, while somehow my friend finished his 3 pieces but his stomach suffered after lol. Plus it all tasted so good. I usually go for the terimayo flavour when I get katsu since I didn't know if their original Brown sauce uses peanuts (like Katsuya?) and I didn't feel like asking. It tasted really good but after the first cutlet I felt a bit tired of the sour flavour. My friend got the carbonara and it was less salty than mine, but somehow still very flavourful and creamy. It was all such great value as well, with most dishes costing around $20 and look how humongous the katsu are. Definitely coming back to try the other katsu. The service is whatever, which I chalk up to them being super busy and stressed, but the food value and quality way more than makes up for any potential lack of service. Regardless I still recommend this place for everyone to try
This is located in a huge First Markham Place plaza. It is one of the better reviewed places . The sitting place is cozy and kinda small so the atmosphere is lively and loud especially for the rush hour .There is a long wait as well however it is worth the wait .The food is absolutely of high standards. The crisp on the Katsu is sublime .Pork tastes much better than chicken .The chicken flavors are alright though. The cheesy goodness of Chulpan Tonkatsu is great and it is served in a hot plate which keeps the food warm for a long time . The ramen had a great comfort to it. The portions are quite big for the price . The service is really good as well even for the business of rush hour . There are no actual drinks offered .The only beers are Asahi and Sapporo which are okay. I would surely try other things on the menu .
I wanna start by saying, the service here is fantastic! Very sweet people! We went on a Friday night. There was a bit of a wait time, maybe about 20-30 minutes. Which isn't bad considering the restaurant is on the smaller side! The lady that called us seemed so happy and appreciative that we waited. The food was amazing. This is definitely one of the best Katsu places I've tried so far. The curry was great. We got one with no spice and one with the highest spice level (3). The price was great considering the portions were huge! We both took home a cutlet and a half and itt was super good reheated too! We will definitely be coming back in the future!
Stopped by for some lunch as the reviews were really good and I must say they're well deserving. Super huge portions for the ramen and fantastic flavours!! We will need to order their signature fried dishes next time. Enjoy.
Cheap and super filling! The portions are huge and everything always tastes really fresh! Service is really fast and food always comes out piping hot. Lots of seating at this location.
This is a great place with appealing food presentations and choices. You may have to wait sometimes because this location is small.
Food was great, service was prompt and friendly. Well come back again and again.
Korean sauce and Japanese batter First of all, the amount is ridiculously large. However, it looks like it was fried with old oil and the oil was not removed properly, making it very greasy. There are many Korean and Japanese restaurants run by Chinese people who dont know the original taste and just learn the recipe, so there are many restaurants that are neither the same nor this, but this one is just like that. Recommended if you just want to see the sheep. Not recommended if you are looking for good taste.
nice place nice food nice service !
Couldn t decide which one I wanted and luckily they had the everything set that had a variety katsu to try. The pricing is very fair for the large portions they give! The food was also good and flavourful. It s hard to find katsu so crispy without the oily aftertaste. Enjoyed the meal and will definitely be back.
My favourite tonkatsu place, good portions and taste! Love it!
So tasty food and big dish. I really like this place
Good food nice place. Ramen was decent, I would eat there again :) Food
The food was honestly disappointing. The portions were good but it wasnt tasty enough to finish the whole thing. Got the brown tonkatsu rice and tonkatsu ramen. Similarly, the table next to us didnt even finish a third of the tonkatsu rice and didnt take the rest of it home.
Ramen was disappointing, i think the fried stuff is good.
Sat down in a restaurant that wasn t busy at 7 pm and was told I am not allowed to take any of the tables with 4 people. They wanted to sit me beside speakers and the cash register ! I got up and left. I am never coming back here again. You ve lost a customer for life. Good luck with your poor business practices !
I love the food and service here ! Very delicious Katsu. I usually get the carbonara one. Huge portion sizes, I can never finish! Great for the price too.
Huge and delicious portions!
I have NO idea how this place has a good rating. The food is terrible, the space is too small, and the wait is even longer.
At a glance and on the surface the donkatsu is presented well. However, there is hardly any meat inside the batter. 90% of the donkatsu is batter. Just like fish and chips that is all batter and no fish - not desirable. End result is greasy flavour and unsettling feeling from all the grease. I suspect that they did this to cut costs and cooking time.
Kid-friendliness: Very accommodating for children. Food
We have been coming to Sonoya for years and have always been treated with the same warm smile, great food, and healthy portions. This is our go-to spot when momma does not feel like cooking, but we want a home style meal. Everything here is good, even the homemade pickles you get with your meal. We love this place! October 2024 update: Just brought some American friends to eat here, and they were impressed by the quantity and quality of the food. It has not changed at all in a decade. Still love this place!
The pork cutlets are super thin and it s mostly breading unfortunately
Obsessed with their chicken Katsu dish!!!! Always drive an hour but so worth it
Great food, service and food volume!!
Great donkatsu and ramen!
This restaurant is always busy so be prepared to wait for a table, especially during meal times. As an entree, there are really only the options of ramen and katsu, and the portion was good. The ramen was delicious, whereas the katsu was just average. The staff was always there if you needed help, and they were very friendly.
Decent portions of crispy chicken katsu which comes with the cranberry & brown katsu sauces Cheese sticks are a must try Service was extremely slow but the food made up for it 5% off for cash payment
Chicken tonkatsu was over fried. Chicken cutlets were very thin as well. Rice is great, curry is sweet (beware of that). Ramen was solid.
Unbelievably delicious and huge portions
Amazing experience. Amazing food! Amazing people.
Excellent quality. Good portions
The food is so massive youll start to second guess yourself if you ordered 2 portions instead of 1. I suggest splitting the food, otherwise you better come here starving. Its worth the price for sure. Food
holy i love brown donkatsu
I ordered the combo that comes with both chicken katsu and pork katsu. They give you plenty of sauce but I ordered extra. They charge quite a bit more for the extra sauce but it is worth it. It s like crack. So tasty and addictive. The katsu is crispy and cooked well - NOT overcooked. So juicy. Parking: There s tons of parking only problem is that it s a popular mall. Especially weekends! So come during weekdays or come eary to get a spot!
Great food, best donkatsu in the city.
Ordered from Ubereats, I have to say that the portion size is crazy and really surprised me! I got the Shrimp Set A and was expecting just 1 cutlet 3 shrimp, but to my surprise, there was another big cutlet sitting underneath the first one I ate. You get 2 pork cutlets, 3 shrimp, side of rice, corn and cabbage salad, the donkatsu sauce, tartar sauce and salad dressing. They packaged it well, cutting holes into the corner of the takeout box so the fried shrimp and donkatsu don t get soggy. For $23.65, this is a great price for the portion! I would imagine it s an even better deal when eating in at the restaurant. The donkatsu is very crispy, moist and not a thin piece of meat. Really good stuff!
Very busy on a friday night, but worth the wait, the food was amazing, and everyone was super friendly.
The service is good, they are nice to customers and delicious.
I love Practice and her staffs. My families and my childrens friends all love it here. Love the hand made ramen and the texture and the noodles soup is all natural with no MSG. I normally dont drink soup but this is the only restaurant I go I finished the whole bowl. Highly recommend and their curry porkchop with rice is yum. Thank you for looking after me and my families for over 5yrs. Feel like home. She always asked about my family when she see me or when she see my son, Practice asked for me. I feel like a VIP without praying a premium $$$ Thank you for spoiling me and my families and for your excellent services with a personal touch. Is our second home when we dont have time to cook at home. Amazing ramen and everythings on the menu. we have try almost everything from them. All yummy
Its really delicious and the waiters are super nice! recommend! ! ! !
I eat at Markham Canteen every time I come back. The service is super good.
Food was good. Generous portions and the staff are extremely nice and polite.
Ramen mid not recommended getting Katsu and appetizers were delicious I got ramen and it tasted like instant noodles Food : 4/5
I visited with friends for a great lunch. The restaurant is easy to spot with clear white signage, and it shares the space with Sonoya, a Japanese ramen brand, allowing you to order ramen alongside tonkatsu. Inside, it was a bit crowded but clean. The walls displayed large images of each menu item, which wasn t the most attractive, but it made choosing dishes easy. Here s what I tried: Chulpan Cheese Tonkatsu: A showstopper! A freshly fried pork cutlet topped with melting mozzarella cheese, served on a sizzling iron plate. The presentation was impressive, and a side of brown katsu sauce added extra flavour. Veggies under the cutlet kept it from burning on the plate. Carbonara Katsu: Two large cutlets paired with a creamy and savoury carbonara sauce. It was rich and satisfying. Curry Tonkatsu: A Korean-style curry variation of the tonkatsu, offering a flavourful twist on the classic dish. The service was attentive, with regular check-ins and pickled radish to balance the greasiness of the fried items. There was only one washroom, which was acceptably clean. For value, the Chulpan Cheese Tonkatsu stood out for its presentation, but it came with only one cutlet, unlike other options that offered two. For the best value, go for the regular plate options. Overall, it was a worthwhile visit, and I d recommend it to anyone craving deep-fried pork cutlet. I ll be back to try the ramen next time.
Portions are huge and the food is really good. Definitely would recommend the original sauce.
This is one of my favourite spots to get Donkatsu. For starters, the servers there are all very friendly. When we asked for recommendations, the waitress would pick out 2-3 dishes and explain what was in each one which helped my family and I narrow down what we wanted. I decided to stick to a classic: the curry pork Donkatsu while my sister got the cheese bomb Donkatsu. The wait for food was a tad slow, but it was well worth the wait. I was expecting more rice than the meat itself, but was surprised when that wasn t the case. Very happy there. The pork chop was very crisp and was not cooked too dry. In addition, the pork chops were not greasy whatsoever. The curry sauce itself was also very delicious. For the cheese bomb, it was also quite good, but the only complaint from my sister was that maybe it was too much cheese to her liking. If you love cheese, the cheese bomb Donkatsu is the one for you, but if you re not a big fan of cheese like me, it s better to stick to the original Donkatsu or the curry Donkatsu. Overall, this is one the best spots to get Donkatsu.
Worst pork cutlets and curry I ever had since 2012,cut is extremely thin and dry. Japanese curry is very watery for extra $5. If you have to eat here, go with shrimp only.
A Savory Delight - Brown Donkatsu & Ramen Rating: 4.8/5 Brown Donkatsu & Ramen is a hidden gem serving authentic Japanese cuisine that will tantalize your taste buds. This unassuming eatery specializes in mouth-watering donkatsu and ramen dishes that will leave you craving for more. Food Quality: 4.9/5 The donkatsu is crispy perfection, with tender pork cutlets coated in a light, airy batter. Ramen broth is rich and savory, with springy noodles and generous toppings. Service: 4.7/5 Friendly and attentive staff ensure a welcoming atmosphere, with prompt service and helpful recommendations. Value: 4.6/5 Reasonably priced for the generous portions and high-quality ingredients. Ambiance: 4.4/5 Cozy and intimate setting, with minimalist decor that lets the food take center stage. Highlights: - Authentic Japanese flavors - Crispy, tender donkatsu - Rich, savory ramen broth - Friendly and attentive service In conclusion, Brown Donkatsu & Ramen is a must-visit for Japanese food enthusiasts. Its authentic flavors, generous portions, and welcoming atmosphere make it a standout in the culinary scene. Tips for diners: - Try the signature donkatsu and ramen combos - Customize your ramen with various toppings - Arrive early to avoid wait times - Enjoy the cozy atmosphere and attentive service
This is not a Japanese Ramen at all, I believe the owner is no longer the same. Very disappointed!
Great portion sizes and decent food quality. You can select spiciness level for the sauce. The dishes have sufficient flavour and is pretty much on par with the pricing. Parking: Parking at First Markham Place is generally a pretty bad experience. Theres nearly no spots available for the amount of visitors and the drivers are chaotic.
The best Tonkatsu in town. The curry Tonkatsu is a standout hit, as good if not better than the ones you can find in Japan. My wife also highly recommends the Cheese Tonkatsu. All around a must-try if you are in the area. Understandably it gets very busy during peak times so plan accordingly and put your name down early.
everything was so good no complaints definitely coming back
Small place with limited seats. Their katsu are very crispy and have large portions.
Must Try and love the portions!
The food here is really awesome. Usually a wait so make sure you go early at dinner time. Parking: Parking at First Markham Place is usually pretty full. Especially full on weekends.
Solid donkatsu. A great outpost of this restaurant from South Korea.
Great food
A genuine markham gem Me and my friends come here at least once a month
Delicious, scrumptious, delectable.
it s one of my favorite restaurant. I ordered Everything Set B today as usual with Uber Eat . and i m 100 percent sure the fish spoiled. It stinks.
We had 8 people, the restaurant was gonna closed soon. 6 people already ordered. Me & my bf came late, we ate before so we just wanted to order something that they can make quickly since we knew its closing time. So we (2 people) order 1 plate of tempura shrimp (5pcs for $11). the food was awesome. but after my bf paid for the bill, the waitress stood behind my bf (my bf sat opposite me). She looked at me, shook her head with a bad face and rolled her eyes because he did not give any tips. Very disrespectful. i worked at restaurants before so i m really sorry that her attitude was unacceptable.
Delicious donkatsu rice bowl, tonkoyaki, dumplings, ramen, etc. Every item was so tasty.
Food has good flavor and texture. Fast service. Nice atmosphere. Parking: Parking is in First Markham Place.
Good food and even better service. Highly recommend!!
It tastes very good, and the important thing is that the pictures and text match each other without being annoying
The portions are huge, and the food is delicious
Been here a lot of times. Great spot to eat Ramen. Also they play BTS for those who love K-Pop!
They had free empty table but told us to sit together with another table. Didnt eat and left . 1 bloody star for this kind of customer service.
Friendly staff. Very good foods. Pictures say all. I bought my parents there and they like this place, we have been there 2 times in a week!
Generous portions and friendly waitstaff. The food was well cooked, the cutlet was tender and juicy. An improvement could be to serve the sauce on the side so it doesnt go cold as fast and turn the breading soggy as fast. The place it very busy and the most recent time we visited we were rushed so they could get more people in. Before we were even done eating they already handed us takeout boxes and brought the machine over to have us pay the bill.
Amazing chicken katsu and huge portion sizes. Me and my spouse often share one dish because they give you two huge pieces of katsu. I usually get 0.5 spice level.
Great service! Very nice waitresses and the restaurant was beautifully decorated. Ramen was very filling and yummy
Amazing portions and love the spice level they provide here. Easily my favorite Katsu chain.
insane portions. good food. Kid-friendliness: have high chairs and children s utensils Food : 5/5 |
Mediocre, food is bad but service is good the waitresses are pleasant. The food was awful, how is the ramen served so soggy with oily vegetables. Pretty surprised at the ratings.
Huge portions and very delicious
Love their King Raman dish
The food looked exactly like how it was in the pictures on the menu. Not only that, but the portions were generous and the flavor was well balanced. The cutlets were super crispy, juicy and perfectly cooked, if that s what you are looking for! Finally, the service was fast and the staff were very nice. Please support this establishment as it is a rare find!
This restaurant is on the smaller side, so it can get quite busy at times. However, the food has always been great & we have always enjoyed their everything set as well as their ramen amongst other favourites as well! Service is typical where they only come when or if you need something (that is perfect for us) so do not expect exceptional service come for the food instead.
Massive portions. Crispy chicken, hot takoyaki. Would come back for their ramen and other dishes! Food : 4/5
Brown Donkatsus Cheese Bomb is a delightful explosion of flavor and texture. The crispy panko crust gives way to a juicy pork cutlet, overflowing with gooey mozzarella cheese. The accompanying katsu sauce adds a sweet and savory depth that complements the richness of the cheese. While it can be a bit heavy, its definitely a dish for cheese lovers seeking a satisfying indulgence. The portion size is generous, making it perfect for sharing (or not!). Overall, its a must-try for anyone visiting Brown Donkatsu.
Good deep-fried food. Lots of varieties. Service is good. Deco is a bit old. A bit difficult to find parking.
Wow... Im in love! My new guilty pleasure will be Cheese Corn and Carbo Katsu. The dine-in was a bit tight. But worth the wait. Staff is super friendly. I highly recommend trying it out.
Best donkatsu Ive ever had!! Ill be dreaming about this place until the next time. Service is quick and warm without being overbearing.
A charming Japanese restaurant known for its exquisite Katsu dishes and delightful ramen. The chicken katsu was perfectly crispy on the outside, yet tender and juicy inside. The ramen was another standout. The broth was rich and flavorful, simmered to perfection, and served with a generous portion of tender noodles and toppings. The staff is very friendly and helpful . Thank you, will come back!
Very good, very family-friendly and great service
Super crispy donkatsu! Keeps the crunch even when cooled. Huge portions for all plates. Ramen was good but I d come for the fried items. The everything platter was great includes chicken/pork, fish and shrimp. I ll definitely come back
There is nothing to talk about here
good katus place great service!
The customer service at this restaurant is definitely amazing. They are very accommodating especially for family with kids. They provided all the utensils for kids. They delivered the food on the table fresh and hot. The whole experience was fantastic. The food was delicious. We highly recommend to anyone who loves to be served on this level of respect and hospitality.
Consistently good food each time. The con here is their service. First is the wait time, which is understandable as its not a big place. The servers, though polite, always seem to keep ushering people out LOL, as in the last time we visited we were asked 3x in five mins if we were done while no one was waiting at the door and it was far from closing time. That wasnt pleasant considering we waited 30 mins to get a table, 15 mins for the food, and so far had 20 mins of seating time. We come here for the food and so dont have high expectations on the service, but it was still such a turn-off.
very noisy, food so slow, people who are late got food earlier than us, fried pork and shrimp are just warm, little bit temperature than cold. Won t come back for sure
Service was super slow, and all the food was served cold. How could the fried food be served cold.... it was very disappointing
If you want to be treated like a customer, dont go to this restaurant. The owner was very rude and didnt ask the customers who came first to be seated and gave the customers who came later first because the table was big.
This was my second time ordering the Nagasaki spicy seafood ramen and it is consistently so good. This soup comes in a large shareable portion for just under $20. The broth is creamy, peppery, and spicy as promised in the menu description. There are lots of veggies in there including cabbage, broccoli, sprouts, onion, and carrots making it feel extra healthy, flavourful, and filling. The noodles are medium thickness and perfectly chewy. The service is always very sweet. If dining on a weekday at lunch, you can walk in but for evenings or weekends think about calling ahead to check wait times. I appreciate the roasted brown rice tea and refills. :)
Everything Set A - Fried shrimp and pork cutlet are good, fried fish is average. Tonkatsu Ramen - the soup is not flavourful enough, and has a bit of a gingery taste. The meat seems to be pork belly ends? Im not a fan.
Having only tried their ramen, I found it decent, and the prices at Donkatsu were definitely reasonable. It s a good option for a budget-friendly meal.
Delicious food and really large portions. Great value for the price! The everything set B was amazing, because you get the chicken, shrimp and the fish. I can t wait to go back again.
Cute small cozy place. Dine in will get you best experience as you have to eat this fresh .. since it will not be as crispy or gooey if you take out.. must try! Parking: Lots available
Yummy food
If you re looking for great raman and good apps this place is definitely the place to go. The food was made to perfection and it was followed by great service. The waitresses were super friendly and were constantly checking on us to make sure we were enjoying the food. Will definitely be back to try out the rest of the menu :)
In a city full of Asian dining options, love that we decided to give this place a try! The variety of offerings for the titled tonkatsu are plentiful and hard to choose from as they all look great. As we selected a few different options (classic, cheese filled, and curry) as well as the shoyu ramen and spicy jampong. Can confirm - all are delicious and a great value to boot!! All of the fried dishes (katsu and shrimp appetizer, of which a few are missing already in the photo ) are so well prepared - crispy, light, and tasty. The jampong was fantastic, just enough spice but nothing uncomfortable or unappetizing - great stuff. Will be back for sure!
From my recent visit, I found that the ownership has been changed. The once flavorful katsu now arrives soggy, seemingly fried in questionable oil. To compound matters, my ramen came with an unexpected and unsavory addition - a part of a vinyl bag. Even more disheartening was the owners dismissive response when confronted about the issue, claiming it was merely a bag and not dirty. Such lack of accountability only adds to the disillusionment. Having previously favored this location over its North York counterpart under the original owner, its regrettable to witness this decline. With the evident lapse in quality under new management, its clear I wont be revisiting this establishment.
Amazing portion sizes and service!
Had the brown katsu twice already and it is so good, need to come back again to try the ramen. The restaurant itself is really busy at peak hours but the turnaround is fast, waited around 30 min for table on Saturday night
I recently enjoyed a visit to Brown Donkatsu and Ramen with my friends, drawn in by the allure of Korean-style tonkatsu. We were delighted to discover tasty meals that offered great value. Upon our arrival, we faced a minor inconvenience with seating. After waiting for 15 minutes, we were initially offered a 6-seater table, with the possibility of having to share it later due to the restaurant being full. This setup wasnt ideal for us. Thankfully, a 4-seater table became available, and we could relocate to this table, thanks to the communicative and helpful servers. Heres what I ordered: Original Brown Katsu: This dish featured two large, deep-fried pork loins that perfectly balanced crunchiness with a satisfying fill. The savoury sauce, poured over half of the cutlet, allowed for both sauced and crunchy bites. I did not like the excessive use of panko crumbs, which made the dish a bit too rich for my taste. Kimchi or pickled radish could have balanced this richness. Also, although the menu stated that more sauce would be extra, our server kindly offered more sauce without any added cost, a gesture that we appreciated. The ambiance of the restaurant warm and inviting, giving enough space for diners, and everything looked neat and clean. The men s room was overall clean, but only one person could use it at a time. Overall, the menu left us satisfied and convinced of the excellent value for the price. I would not mind coming back to try some of their other offerings.
This spot, once the bustling Sonoya Ramen, has transitioned seamlessly into a haven for donkatsu enthusiasts, bringing with it a vibrant charm that keeps the regulars, including myself, coming back. Although the frequency of my visits has waned post-pandemic, my appreciation for their solid budget-friendly options has not. The portions here are nothing short of generous, a rarity that commands acknowledgment. Its like receiving a comforting hug in the form of food, ensuring you leave with a happily full stomach. This generosity extends to their pricing too, particularly notable with the Brown Donkatsu and Everything Set, both of which offer substantial value for your wallet. However, its the Cheese Stick Combo where the value equation seems a tad skewed, lacking the same appeal as its counterparts. A little tweaking here could make a huge difference. Admittedly, the culinary journey at Brown Donkatsu has seen its share of ups and downs. The sauces, once a riot of flavor, now whisper rather than shout, their blandness a shadow of their former glory. Its a small grievance but one that s palpable for those of us who ve savored the better days. On the flip side, the fried batter, while criticized by some for its thickness, I view as a testament to their commitment to hearty portions. It s a minor critique in the grand scheme, especially when weighed against the generosity on the plate. One aspect that could enhance the dining experience is the sauce availability. While additional sauce can be requested, making this option more known could smooth over some of the bumps, adding back a splash of the vibrancy in taste that seems to have dimmed. Service-wise, Brown Donkatsu remains efficient and friendly, further cementing its place as a go-to spot for those seeking a budget-friendly feast. It s this combination of hearty portions, approachable prices (with a few exceptions), and welcoming service that keeps Brown Donkatsu in the hearts of its patrons. Vegetarian options: No vegan/vegetarian options. Dietary restrictions: No vegan/vegetarian options. Parking: It s constantly crowded plaza so be patient looking for the spot. Kid-friendliness: Well versed menu for kids to share. Wheelchair accessibility: Might be struggling even if seated at the center of the table. Tight space
Curry and fried pork chop are both very good $24inclusive What a big contrast compared to the broccoli and white rice next to it A big plate of fried pork chop with two pieces as big as a mans hand After eating the second piece, I started to feel a little bored Ill try ramen next time *The tableware is super clean and ordered immediately
great food, had the best time had to be our first stop in toronto !
Good potion size. Slightly salty for my taste. Waited long time for the bill.
Very good place, try not to go during lunch time because you won t get a seat, go around 1:45pm and later there will be seats then.
Long wait time but it is worth it. I am full each time
Always extremely busy, however, the food makes up for it. Portion sizes are incredible and the pricing is reasonable.
I had a life altering experience here 10/10
Food was very good that we were not able to finish it. good service and ambiance. will come back. Parking: its near other shops we liked
If youre craving katsu (fried meat cutlets) or ramen, this is one of the places you need to go to. They are known for their katsu dishes, and they do not disappoint. I ordered an appetizer of tonkatsu (pork cutlet) and it was exquisite. Light, crispy, and tasty. Their king ramen also has an amazing flavour profile, topped with many vegetables and pork slices. Would highly recommended.
If it wasnt for Katsuya not being at First Markham Place anymore, I dont think this restaurant would be nearly as busy. The quality of the food has downgraded, cutlets are pretty dry and ramen lacks flavour. Worst part is that they start rushing you like theres no tomorrow. Within 5 mins, 3 servers came to my table to ask if we wanted a box while we were still in the middle of eating. They wanted us to leave so quickly, I didnt even have time to pull out my wallet from the time they asked me if I wanted the bill to them holding it infront of me to pay. Overall, I think theres better katsu places nearby. If youre looking for a quick mediocre place, maybe this is the place for you. Otherwise, its better to go somewhere else if you want to sit down and actually enjoy a meal.
The service is so good, you dont even have to ask. We needed a spoon, the waitress brought one without asking, i was eating from someone elses plate and she gave me a small plate. The food was amazing as usual.
Lots of food for the price, very good quality too.
Great food and service. Will definitely come back again!
This place is always packed with a waitlist. After visiting, we would say it was worth the wait. The katsu was tender, the breading was very unique as it was on the flaky side, and the portions were huge. There are two huge pieces of katsu with the sauce, salad and rice which make for a very filling meal. There are many sauces to choose from, like carbonara, curry, Italian, snow cheese, and some katsu also comes with cheese inside. The rice portion is on the smaller side which is fine because of the huge katsu. There is also a huge selection of ramen which are well priced as well as rice bowls. The gyoza which we tried were great and they had a very thin wrapper.
I honestly love their cutlets! Ordered their Everything Set B and Ramen. The cutlets are always made fresh as it always tastes hot and super crispy on the outside. Last time I came and ordered Everything Set B, the waitress gave us a second chicken cutlet (on the house) because the one they gave us originally was a little bit burned even though it wasnt noticeable. For the ramen, The noodles are chewy and the portion size is reasonable compared to the price. I went at lunchtime on a weekday and surprisingly, all the tables were full.
Good portion. 1 dish is ok for 2 person. Service is a bit slow since there is only one waitress in front. Katsu is crispy and tasty.
Not a big place and a lot of times there will be a line up
Loved it!! The best katsu ive ever had! Yummers
The Brown Katsu was the best katsu I ve ever tasted. It had a beautiful balance of crispy and tender textures, topped with with fresh bread crumbs too. Can t wait to come again!
The best noodle soup I ve ever had! The soup base was very deep and rich and complex but also light and not greasy. The bowl was loaded with veggies and the egg noodles were very addicting. There was a generous amount of seafood as well, and the spice level and temperature were perfect! The servers were extremely friendly and accommodating and the music and overall atmosphere of the restaurant was very pleasant! All the dishes have very generous portions and the cherry on top is that the owners make the breadcrumbs for the katsu from scratch! The restaurant is conveniently located in First Markham, a must visit if you come here!
Delicious! Give it a try. I come here often enough, lol. Must try! The panko they use is so flaky, and light just makes you want to keep eating, lol. Ive tried other good places for donkatsu, but I like these guys just a little more, but I still support all my fav donkatsu places !!! The portion is proper! I think to be honest after the pandemic and prices went up I did notice a change in the amount of meat given, but im hoping with many complaints or due to the inflation and people not spending and that was just few months back and when I went just recently this is what we got so I was content! Its like the same portion, if not maybe even just a tad bit more given anyways. Im happy that they care to make it a proper portion!
Love their donkatsu sauce, and they give you two big pieces of pork. Well worth the price.
Amazing food!!!! Highly recommend it! Love cheese tonkatsu and noodles soup.
Wow this place was an excellent find! Super busy and it was quick too! Food was delicious! Probably the best Ramen broth I had tonight!
Huge portions! The katsu dishes are all very yummy.
Big portions that go with the price. I got everything set B, which comes with 2 pieces of chicken cutlet, 3 pieces of fried shrimp, and 1 piece of fish cutlet. It was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The sauce, which is their original, is sweet. The cheese stick Tonkatsu AP was good as well, with a good pull of mozzarella once you bite into it. I would come back to try their other dishes. You will definitely be leaving this place full from just their entrée. Great service, the staff were friendly. It was busy on the weekend, but they do have a quick turnaround. I didnt have to wait too long for a table, and if you sit by the door during the wintertime and another table is free, they will move you away from the door. Parking: On weekends it can be hard to find parking.
This is a small ramen place. Even though it s small, the food is great tasting and the service is good too. They were busy when I was there on a weekday night. However, the food arrived in a timely manner. Without prompting, the wait staff noticed the water needed filling. They apologized and said they would be around shortly to refill since they were busy and they did indeed. Had a Tonkotsu Miso Ramen and some of the Corn Cheese. The ramen was delicious and portion size was just right. The Corn Cheese was quite tasty with cheese oozing and stringy. It was in the oven for the right amount of time with some of brown bits that added texture to the dish. Pricing is as expected for ramen. Parking: First Markham Place parking can be challenging. The parking lot is big, but expect to park further and walk to the restaurant.
A busy restaurant but they dont accept reservations. They only have two large tables. If you go with a large group, the group might to be seat separately. Parking: Too many restaurants at the same place, lunch time and dinner time needs at least 15 to 20l minutes to find a parking space.
Got the hot and spicy cheese katsu & yakisoba chicken, and loved the combo! Weve tried the classic Brown Katsu before and liked that too. The brown katsu is a good size to share between two people.
Everything was bland and gross! The coating was flavorless, even with the addied seasoning. The curry was weirdly sweet and weird. Just gross!
Food was fresh and well portioned. My husband and I shared some pork cutlet and a spicy king noodle dish. Broth was clean with a peppery spice. I can handle up to a medium, and I feel this was mild medium when asked for medium. The pork cutlet was tender and delicious, the sauce was like ketchup. Pictures made it look like curry. Recommend, especially because you get good amounts of vegetables.
The experience at Brown Donkatsu & Ramen was simply splendid! Everything from fair prices, large portions, friendly service, and cozy atmosphere were amazing. At first, I felt slightly cramped, but the food would blow any thoughts of it away. The place really is a treasure trove.
Came here with a large group and the staff was really accommodating and got us seated within 15 mins. I got the snow cheese katsu, it tasted great and was a huge portion size with 2 large pieces of katsu.
Ramen is ok. The tonkatsu and the other fried stuff is great. I had the Everything Set A. Service is very good too. Very busy at dinner
After eating donkatsu from here, I only come here. It is hands down the best donkatsu restaurant in GTA. It does get pretty busy!
The food was good and the portions were huge. the staff were super nice and friendly to me and my family. They were very understanding and accommodating to my shellfish allergy. I love the cheese bomb tonkatsu. I recommend and will return :)
Small and quaint, the servers there are super friendly. Didnt even have to wait too long either for the food to come! The best part though... The food was absolutely delicious! Seriously, the hot and spicy cheesy tonkatsu was one of THE best things Ive ever eaten my life. The portion was large; it had a sweet and spicy flavour, and the tonkatsu was done crispy to perfection! Wife chose this place out and I am in love (with her, of course, and the food). Im sorry for only taking a picture of this delacacy after I had enjoyed the majority of it...
Staff refuse to let us in, and said need wait for at least 30 minutes. Yet the resturant is full of empty seats, and confirmed there are no other resversations. Pathetic.
Great food.
Absolutely love this restaurant. Honestly needs more recognition. The food is quite large portions and its very fresh. For the price its right. Only aspect is this place needs a bigger seating area, or just a bigger restaurant cause when it gets packed, its packed.
Simply the best
Food are delicious.
Simply incredible.
Originally came for ramen which was okay but WOW the chicken katsu is AMAZING! And definitely became a repeat customer because of it
The ramen was really good, broth could have had a little more taste. There were a lot of veggies in it but it was overall really good. The place is small and looks like around dinner time it gets very busy for a Friday night. We got lucky and only waited 5 minutes for a seat.
Amazing food. Must try.
Very cool ramen place. Staff was super friendly upon entering. Ordered the panko shrimp and tonkatsu ramen. The shrimp was delicious. Crispy and flavorful with the side dipping sauce; def a great starter. Tonkatsu Ramen: huge portion ordered it with extra egg. Broth was perfect. Full of flavour and tasted great. The pork was so good and cooked just right. My only knock against the ramen was that I wished they offered a spicy version. I asked for hot sauce and was offered siriracha. Which was ok but I do love a spicier version Other than that, def recommend everyone to check it out. Great value and very good food 4/5
The fried pork is very good. Ramen is also decent.
Amazing restaurant! Some of the best and quickest service Ive had in my life. The place was packed full but they brought out the food and got to the tables super fast to take out orders. Even when my tea was low they filled it right away! I got the chicken katsu with curry and My gf the pork katsu combo with the cheese sticks! My portion size was huge! The photo doesnt do it justice for how much food was on the plate since its covered by the curry sauce and other meat! Fast service and great food Id highly reccomend coming! Plus the prices were good for the 2 of us with Tax and tip I paid 54$!
Good food Good service A little cramped/limited seating Food : 4/5
Large portion, polite staff, crispy katsu, and wonderfully flavorful sauces.
Unique experience. Ramen was good, wasn t the most amazing but still solid. The fried tonkatsu is their specialty. So crispy and delicious. Very fun and unique meal. Prices were on the higher side
Had a Teri Tonkatsu and Tonkotsu Ramen. Very good flavors. Atmosphere was laid back and would return to try other dishes.
good food and service
Food : 8 Service : 8 Price : 8 The food was MASSIVE and delicious. I ended up eating my meal for lunch and dinner. I do recommend having the sauce on the side for next time. We also had the cheese and corn appetizer *insert idk what I expected meme* Staff was friendly and attentive and serving was quick. Overall experience was great and will definitely come again
The food was great except for Miso soup. It had a after taste that I was not familiar with in a Miso soup. The servers were very friendly, adhering to various needs.
Been meaning to try this place for a while. They were unfortunately closed last time we came. Anywho, we (a group of three) had to wait about 5-10 minutes for a table. We ordered Takoyaki, Cheese bomb tonkatsu (0.5 spice), Hot and spicy cheese chicken katsu (1 spice?). The Takoyaki and cheese bomb tonkatsu was tasty and for me, 0.5 spice wasnt spicy, but the hot and spicy cheese chicken katsu was too spicy perhaps we misunderstood what the chilly meant? The one with the most spice tolerance ended up finishing most of that dish. Parking: Arrived at the tail end of the lunch rush, but still had to go somewhat further away to find parking.
The ramen was so good with chasu slices that are thickly sliced. Its less salty than most other ramen places which is perfect for me, which I drank without worrying about my sodium intake :)
Fantastic Ramen. Likely some of the best in the city. It was piping hot for more than 20 minutes and the flavor was fantastic and also spicy. The broth was great and just fantastic flavor, make sure to always get the double noodle option. I ordered the King Ramen. The cheese stick appetiser was pretty good but basic, youre literally getting melted cheese inside a deep fried tonkotsu with a bit of chicken. Parking: Plentiful, its in a plaza. Kid-friendliness: Didnt see any kids in there. Wheelchair accessibility: Nonexistant
Donkatsu was so big. Tasted wonderful.
It was ok, nothing to call home about. I wouldnt go out of my way to come back, but I wouldnt be upset of friends wanted to go. Food was decent sized. Service was average.
Best Katsu in Markham, really nice atmosphere inside
Great service, food was excellent would highly recommend!
Pretty solid place to get some donkatsu. The portions are good and the donkatsu is always fried nicely. Service is nice too and food comes out quickly. They do get pretty busy during prime time so if youre going around lunch/dinner time expect a wait.
The location s parking lot is crazy packed but the food was worth the trip. The corn cheese is a must have!
Incredible food, generous portions, friendly staff. Ordered tonkatsu which is a must try, well worth the value. Tonkatsu was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The sauce made the meat even more flavourful. Highly recommend. Kid-friendliness: This is a family friendly restaurant. Many family with children present in the past two visits.
Food always hits. The Katsu has the perfect amount of crispiness and tenderness and is overall delicious. Portions are generous and put at reasonable price. The quality coming out of this restaurant is astounding. Y all never miss
One of the best tonkatsu place in town, would recommend and will come again
Big portions, good taste.
The serving sizes and value at Brown Donkatsu are absolutely off the charts. I highly recommend the teri mayo katsu.