Pokedon: authentic Japanese food in Rome

PokeDon, a new healthy food restaurant and takeaway in Rome’s Ostiense district, is a welcome addition to the Japanese food scene in Rome.

Launched by Akira Yoshida, a Japanese ex-footballer and now restaurateur who also owns Rome ramen bar Ramen Akira, PokeDon combines Hawaiian poke bowls with Japanese don, both rice-bowl dishes featuring delicious toppings.

Japanese food Rome: Akira Yoshida of PokeDon and Ramen Akira fame

The result is the ‘PokeDon’, a rice dish topped with a delicious mix of vegetables, salad ingredients and protein, from fish to pork, plus a vegetarian option with tofu. The whole menu is incredibly authentic and perfect for satisfying your search for real Japanese food in Rome.

Mini bowls at PokeDon start at €9, with the larger bowls starting at €11. There are also temaki rolls (€5) and a vegetarian curry dish on the menu, plus gyoza dumplings (€4), vans (sandwiches), edamame beans to snack on and wakame seaweed salad.

PokeDon serves authentic Japanese food in Rome

The selection of drinks also offers an authentic taste of Japan with individually sealed sake portions, including one infused with yuzu which I really enjoyed! You can also choose from a range of Japanese beers and soft drinks.

For Japanese food in Rome, PokeDon serves poke bowls, gyoza, dorayaki, taiyaki, mochi ice and more

For dessert, choose between dorayaki (€3.30), filled Japanese pancakes; taiyaki (€3.30), fish-shaped pancakes filled with sweet adzuki beans, and mochi ice (€3.50).

PokeDon desserts including dorayaki and taiyaki

Under usual circumstances, PokeDon will be open at lunch as well as evenings, with its regular opening hours running 12.30-15.00 and 19.00-22.30. However, the new partial lockdown as of October 26 means that PokeDon will focus on serving lunches for the next month, while teaming up with Ramen Bar Akira for delivery and takeaway options throughout the day. Full details here on the Facebook page.

All this means that means you still can get your fix of Japanese food in Rome whatever local protocols allow!

Testaccina at PokeDon, for Japanese food in Rome

To order at home or in the office write to pokedonroma@gmail.com or drop PokeDon a line via whatsapp: +39 3209649626. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.

Highly recommended for a taste of authentic Japanese food in Rome!

Testaccina was a guest of PokeDon