Welcome to Donburi Cafè
At Donburi Café, we celebrate the heart of Japanese cuisine with a welcoming ambiance that invites you to experience comfort food crafted with care. Nestled in downtown Long Beach, our café specializes in delightful donburi bowls—think savory Katsu Curry and tender Chicken Teriyaki over perfectly steamed rice. Catering to varied palates, we proudly offer vegan options with our Tofu Veggie Don, ensuring everyone finds something to savor. Each dish, prepared with fresh ingredients, captures the essence of home cooking. Here, every meal is a warm hug on a plate, where happy diners gather to create memories in a cozy, relaxed environment. Welcome to your new favorite dining spot!
- 245 Pine Ave Ste 120 Long Beach, CA 90802 United States Hotline: (562) 612-1662
Welcome to Donburi Cafè, a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Long Beach, California. Specializing in delectable Japanese cuisine with a touch of Korean flair, this casual eatery invites diners to indulge in a variety of hearty rice bowls, all served with complimentary miso soup. With its welcoming atmosphere, this quaint café stands as a testament to the comfort of home-cooked meals, just like Mama used to make.
Located at 245 Pine Ave Ste 120, Donburi Cafè boasts an inviting yet relaxed environment, perfect for everything from lunchtime escapes to cozy family dinners. The restaurant prides itself on being accessible, offering outdoor seating and making accommodations for all patrons, including those with pets. Whether you opt for takeout, delivery, or dine-in with friends, each meal embodies warmth and care.
- Menu Highlights:
- Katsu Curry Don: This signature dish features curry over a perfectly fried pork cutlet served on a bed of rice—pure comfort in a bowl.
- Tofu Veggie Don: A vibrant mix of tofu and assorted vegetables awaits, making it a favorite among vegans.
- Chicken Teriyaki Don: Dive into deliciously grilled chicken dripping with teriyaki sauce, a classic that satisfies every time.
- Ebi Don: Experience the delightful texture of shrimp tempuras, complemented perfectly with rice.
- Dining Experience:
- Relax in a quiet setting that’s perfect for group gatherings or enjoying a meal with loved ones.
- Enjoy happy hour specials, and take advantage of vegan and limited vegetarian options available.
- Witness the genuine customer service provided by welcoming staff, ensuring you leave with a smile.
Reviews from previous diners echo the sentiments of warmth and satisfaction. Patrons have raved about the Spicy Chicken Don and the delicious Katsu Curry Udon, with one enthusiastic diner even likening it to a “classic mom-and-pop shop” feel. Another customer expressed their surprise at discovering this cozy cache amidst the bustling streets, highlighting the cleanliness and thoughtful service as noteworthy features.
The ambiance invites you to take your time, savoring each bite while being reminded of the values of simplicity and community. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a returning customer, Donburi Cafè promises to leave you with not just a full stomach, but also a full heart.
So, if you find yourself hungry and wandering the streets of downtown Long Beach, look no further than Donburi Cafè. Indulge in nourishing flavors and let each bowl take you on a nostalgic journey, transporting you to a place of comfort and contentment.

Of you have a yen for good curry then this is the spot. It's Japanese with a bit of Korean mixed in. Very satisfying curry udon. Highly recommend.

Great place to eat Mommy Amy's food very welcoming and positive all the time , highly recommended

Don't sleep on this cafe! It's hidden away but very much worth seeking for. I wish I had multiple stomachs to go back for more rounds but I'm cursed with only one

SO good and SO comforting! A classic mom-and-pop shop with the most delicious curry and the happiest smiles! Seriously giving Coco Ichibanya a run for its money.

Stumbled upon this place, tucked away in downtown LB. I was looking for some ramen and there was a sign out by the sidewalk with pictures of ramen and other food items. It caught my eye and I decided to check it out. It was empty inside and out so I was unsure if it was open. But upon entering, we were greeted by a nice woman who took our order. I think she was the owner because she gave us a "first time" discount when we paid. The food was ready in a timely manner and placed on the counter for pick up. You take your food on a tray back to your table. I actually liked busing my own table (they have a sign that says please bus your own table). There was music playing and the ambiance was calm and encouraged us to take our time enjoying the meal. I ordered ramen and had asked for spicy but ended up being okay with being served mild broth. The flavors were delicious. The gyoza was filling as an appetizer but were served very hot and stayed warm while I enjoyed the other parts of my meal. The beef bulgogi was very filling and tasty. Coupled well with a Saparro drink. Enjoyed our meal and the experience in the restaurant, even though we were the only patrons. Definitely worth exploring outside of my normal downtown eateries, so glad I found Donburi!

Wow! I was pleasantly surprised when I traipsed down Pine Avenue and popped into Donburi Cafe. The location is somewhat strange being kind of a 'dead end' in an older mall setup on Pine. I had dined at a neighboring restaurant that unfortunately closed so I popped into Donburi. Only one person was seated outside at the time; upon questioning him - he said it was good. The place is amazingly clean and organized. Without a ton of staff, they obviously want diners to take on some responsibility for bussing their trays back to the main counter and NOT being wasteful with utensils, napkins, etc. I like that. I ordered the Spicy Chicken Don albeit I'm not a huge chicken fan but it was getting close to my bedtime. First, the portion seemed quite generous so I took some home albeit I could have finished it off. Second, the miso soup was really delicious. I forgot how good it could be. Third, finally, the chicken don was quite good although I think more Korean than Japanese, which is fine. I like both and I appreciated the white rice. By the time I left, several other folks had popped in and a few takeout orders had gone out the door. I wouldn't mind if they offered a mini portion for about $10 for less hungry times. I'll be back.

This is a prime example of a great local business that is not pretentious and focused on their customers' experience. We each ordered a bowl of udon (one with broth and one with Japanese curry) and the food is simply phenomenal. None of that premade stuff from US foods or Sysco, just great ingredients made with care and love. There's also outside tables if you enjoy outside dining which adds to the chill vibe. Worth a stop if you're looking for a simple meal that won't break the bank in downtown Long Beach. Bon appetite!

Nice little Japanese restaurant in the heart of downtown Long Beach! Atmosphere: 10/10 This is in an amazing location and I truly hope downtown LB can find a way to recover and flourish again like it used to so this quaint little restaurant will thrive and stick around. The decor is simple and beautiful. The place is very clean and well maintained. Service: 10/10 The woman who greeted us and took care of us was very sweet, patient and just all around gave perfect customer service. We were the only two there so there was no wait. The woman took our order, cooked our food and brought it out. A young man came in to work and he was also very polite and courteous. Food: 8/10 I ordered the tofu veggie don and my daughter ordered the katsu curry don. We both enjoyed our meal and my daughter wouldn't stop talking about how amazing the curry was. I prefer Indian curry over Japanese so I'm a bit biased, my daughter is the opposite so her opinion is more valid than mine. So the curry was 10/10 for her. Miso soup was ok (7/10) and the tofu vege don was pretty good (8/10) but tasted better after I added the sauce it came with. That sauce was perfect (10/10)!! They could successfully bottle and sell it on the market.

We walked over from the Renaissance Hotel for dinner. The reviews were rather favorable so worth a try. Even smaller than I had imagined, with apparently all of their outside tables stacked indoors for some reason. Not very inviting for indoor dining but we didn't want to haul our orders to go back to the hotel. So we settled in at one of maybe only 4 indoor tables. Our orders were for me, the Curry Karaage Chicken Don(bowl). And for her the Teriyaki Chicken Don. Not the greatest ambiance but we had no real complaints with the food. Downright delicious. Very noisy outside though, situated right below a nearby apartment complex. With a large group of kids coming inside badly in need of a bathroom, which this restaurant does not have. They were very polite and well mannered in their asking I must say.