In this blog interview with Ken, the founder of DOCO Donburi and Hororok, we get a glimpse into the inspiration behind the popular food business and learn about their standout dishes, catering to corporate clients, and their experience with partnering with SmartBite. The founder also shares exciting news about their upcoming Korean restaurant, Cha Re Re 차루루, and a special promotion for readers to try their best-selling SH-NACK DON variations.

 

 

 

What inspired the creation of DOCO, and you entering in the F&B business?

 

 

DOCO is a food business that originated from its parent company, Fish Sh-nack, which specializes in snacks. We started by offering its snack products for events as a takeaway concept in the CBD area. Due to the customer's request, DOCO decided to set up a store in the town itself.

 

The dishes served at DOCO are inspired by Fish Sh-nack's snacks, and most of their bowls contain fish skin, which is the main ingredient. DOCO's bowls stand out due to the extra crunch provided by the fish skin, which is paired with egg and torched meat to make a complete meal. While Fish Sh-nack is still operational, DOCO has shifted its focus to more on-request services due to manpower issues. They can accommodate wedding favors or corporate orders during Christmas, among others.

 

 

 

 

 

All right, let's talk a little bit more about Doco Donburi. What are the standout dishes, and why do you think they're so well loved? 

 

 

At DOCO , we highly recommend trying our two signature dishes, the Sh-Mega Don and the Sh-nack Don. The Sh-Mega Don includes three types of proteins in one bowl, allowing you to choose up to three options from our five available choices, along with two eggs and fish skin. Our best-selling dish, the Sh-nack Don, consists of beef, fish skin, and an onsen egg, which is torched to give it a seared, umami flavor.

One of the things that sets Doco apart is the simplicity of our dishes. Despite their simplicity, we take great care to ensure that every step is done perfectly to create the best possible taste experience for our customers.

 

How does DOCO cater to the unique needs of corporate clients?

 

 

At DOCO, our dishes are loved for their simplicity and the different textures they offer. When delivering to our corporate clients, we separate the eggs to provide an interactive experience for them. While some might find it troublesome, most of our customers enjoy cracking the egg themselves and pouring in the fish skin, giving them a sense of completion in their meal.

 

We make sure to highlight that the egg is not just any regular egg but is an onsen egg, which is pre-cooked and adds an interesting touch to the dish. Our customers find it fascinating and enjoy the experience of cracking the egg and bursting it themselves. It's not just super Instagrammable; it's as good as it looks!

 

 

 

 

Doco has been one of the precursors since we opened up here in Singapore with SmartBite. So how's your experience so far, considering that you also participated in the SmartCanteen program with recurring meals?

 

One of the reasons why we at Doco love using SmartBite is their lower delivery options and commissions. They offer fairer rates and don't overcharge their clients, which is crucial in the business world where money matters the most.

 

Moreover, the aftersales service provided by SmartBite is exceptional. From the moment we signed up, we received constant follow-ups, and they provide positive and negative feedback to help us improve our performance. It's fantastic to know that someone is always there to take care of our account and ensure we have the best experience possible. At Doco, we value this kind of support and consider it an important factor when choosing our partners.

 

Would you like to present a promotion for the readers of this article about DOCO Donburi? 

 

 

Yes!  We have recently launched our 10% OFF on our best sellers – The SH-NACK DON variations: Cheesy Peasy, Garlicky Charms and Truffle Throttle on Smartbite.

You can check the whole offer on SmartBite, at the DOCO Donburi page.

 

 

 

And the last question is, what will be the next step? I know you're opening up a new concept, and I would like to know a bit more about it.  

 

 

We are excited to announce the upcoming opening of our Korean restaurant, Cha Re Re 차루루, in Raffles Place. The name Cha Re Re represents the sizzling sound of the meat, and it was inspired by my wife who is a skilled chef. All the recipes used at Cha Re Re are family-owned and authentic, originating from Korea.

 

While I typically enjoy experimenting with fusion dishes, my wife is a firm believer in sticking to the authenticity of the dish and enhancing it. Therefore, everything at Cha Re Re will be authentic and true to its Korean roots. We are set to launch in April and will be partnering with SmartBite for this new venture. We are confident that with their support, we can offer the best prices and amazing deals to our customers. We can't wait to share this exciting new chapter with everyone.

 

 

 

 

About SmartBite

 

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