domo 39

Sweet spot with delish onigiri right next to the train station 🍙 ✅ Delicious onigiri, freshly made. Full coffee bar, too. Also bento boxes and a fridge of Japanese goodies. 💰 The onigiri are a touch expensive. The bento boxes are good, but the price is on par with what you'd have on a sit-down Japanese restaurant. 🪑 Indoor and outdoor seating. Small tables, best for singles or couples. 🚻 Clean toilets, ambulant friendly. Probably a touch tight for a wheelchair.

I didn’t realise Domo 39 was tucked away near St Peters Station until I walked past and got curious. At first glance, I wasn’t even sure what it was until I got closer, then it became clear it’s a Japanese-style café. Let’s talk about the good and the bad. I came during breakfast time and tried their freshly made onigiri for $7 each. Honestly, not a bad price overall and the size was reasonable. I tried the spam & egg and the spicy pork. The spam & egg was solid, but in my opinion the spicy pork lacked filling for the price, it felt like mostly rice with not much pork. The vibe of the café is nice: plain, simple, and minimal, with not too much branding, which can be a good thing. However, the coffee was a letdown. A small flat white set me back $5.50, which feels quite expensive, especially considering the quality wasn’t great. Looking at the rest of the menu, items like the bentos and other dishes also seem a little on the pricey side. Service was a bit odd. The lady at the cashier was friendly, but when the coffee was brought over it was just placed on the table without being announced, no “small flat white” or check to see if it was actually mine. Not a huge issue, but it did feel a little awkward. Overall, it’s a nice hidden spot with potential, but the pricing, coffee, and service details hold it back from being a five-star experience.

Such a great spot! The chicken nanban and the special that day, unagi don were the highlights, perfectly cooked and packed with flavour. The onigiri rice was a little bland compared to the other dishes, but still okay. The overall vibe of the place is warm and relaxed, and the staff are super friendly.

A friend and I came here after a quick google search of best Japanese cafes - and let me tell you, it was phenomenal. Very simple, but delicious. We both had the onigiri, and matcha lattes (fresh and bright green), and I had the soft serve option they had as well. I am one of the pickiest eaters but honestly it was fantastic. The only thing is the cafe is quite small so I wouldn’t go here with a big group, but perfect for 2!

A hidden gem serving up satisfying Japanese comfort food in a casual setting. Their fried chicken bento was packed with flavour and came with a variety of sides that made the meal feel really complete. The onigiri was fresh and simple, and the miso soup added a nice warm touch. I loved the matcha here. Especially the ‘swamp’ - a mix of chocolate and matcha that was not overly sweet nor bitter. Quirky crate seating gives it a relaxed, street-style charm. Great spot for a casual lunch or matcha fix.