As chef and owner of Don Japanese Kitchen in San Marcos, Edward Sumner developed a deeper appreciation for the food his mother made him as a child. He wasn’t a big fan of it growing up, but it’s become a cornerstone of the restaurant.
“She was very conscious about what she was putting on the plate; we hardly ever got fast food,” Sumner said. “Everything that we’re eating leads to our growth and our future.”
During college, Sumner began working in restaurants to pay his bills, and it evolved into a lifelong passion that explored the integral nature of food.
“It’s necessary for our day-to-day lives, but it also passes down history in a very interesting way,” he said. “I fell in love with the whole identity behind the food service industry.”
He rose in the ranks from a dishwasher to an apprentice to a chef.
“I realized ... that I was looking forward to waking up every day to go hang out with my coworkers and looked forward more to working rather than being a student,” Sumner said.
How it started / How it’s going
Sumner opened Don Japanese Kitchen in late 2015 as a food truck in Austin and moved into a brick-and-mortar location in 2018.
The opportunity to move to San Marcos in 2019 presented itself, and Sumner never looked back.
“We have a more interpersonal connection with our guests as opposed to in Austin [where] it’s very grab-and-go,” Sumner said.
In a college town landscape, Sumner and his team still have the opportunity to make connections with customers through their quality food and ingredients.
“We specialize in providing rice bowls having your carbs, protein [and] some veggies on the side, making it a complete meal,” Sumner said. “It’s as nutritious as we can get it to be. It’s high quality; ... all of our seasonings we get shipped from Japan so it’s as authentic as possible. I think all of those factors combined is what sets us apart.”
What’s on the menu
• The Don Pork entree ($8.50) comes with Panko-coated chicken fried in katsu sauce, and served with white rice, cabbage and ginger.
• The Nan Ban entree ($10) is large popcorn chicken marinated in garlic, sesame and soy sauce topped with a homemade sweet and sour glaze.
• The Don Fries ($5) is a pound of waffle-cut fries drizzled with a homemade teriyaki sauce and spicy mayo.
Did you know?
“Don” is short for “donburi” in Japanese, which translates to rice bowls, the restaurant’s specialty.
Don Japanese Kitchen
• 829 N. LBJ Drive, San Marcos
• 281-725-3686
• https://don-japanese-kitchen.square.site
