01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Standing along a side street in Shinjuku 2-chome, Donden is defined by its signature Hakata motsunabe, crafted to draw out the savory richness of beef small intestine. Combining a soy sauce-based broth with generous heaps of cabbage and tender offal, lingering over the steaming pot with drinks makes for a satisfying meal. While waiting for the hot pot, the charcoal-grilled skewers are well worth exploring. Diners can easily order by the stick, sampling distinct textures and cuts such as springy shiro (pork intestine), pleasantly chewy pork tongue, and juicy tontoro (pork jowl).
Beyond skewers, the kitchen offers regional offal specialties like Atsugi-style shirokoro horumon, horumon yakiudon, and Kofu chicken giblet stew (tori-motsu-ni), alongside daily-inspired seasonal fish dishes and small drinking snacks. The drinks menu complements the food with draft beer and Hoppy, sakes such as Ichinokura and Hakkaisan, as well as wine and sours.
Inside, the understated Japanese interior provides sunken horigotatsu seating where guests can stretch their legs, along with counter seats that welcome casual drop-ins. With the host's warm hospitality and an unpretentious mood, it serves equally well for a quiet drink after work or a lively dinner among friends.
