Update-date: Feb 25 2025
Crispy, freshly fried batter, juicy meat oozing with flavor, and rich, high-quality fat make the exquisite Japanese dish, tonkatsu! This time, members of the editorial team from the Japanese gourmet site "Hitosara" will introduce their top recommended tonkatsu restaurants in Tokyo!
Pork cutlet, is this really necessary?
The restaurant "Tonkatsu, Can You Go This Far?" is an ideal tonkatsu restaurant filled with the passionate thoughts of a producer who has walked through numerous famous establishments, imagining "If there were a tonkatsu shop like this...". They use carefully selected ingredients for everything, from the pork to the sauce, cabbage, and rice. In particular, the "Special Premium Fillet" features a crispy coating and a perfectly cooked rosy interior, delivering an overwhelming flavor that bursts with deliciousness the moment it enters the mouth.
The interior features a calm counter seating that evokes a long-established Japanese restaurant, allowing guests to fully enjoy the deliciousness of freshly fried dishes. There is also a rich selection of fried dishes and courses made with seasonal seafood and vegetables, making it highly recommended to savor them slowly with a drink.
TONKATSU KOKOMADEYARUKA SURPASSING EXPECTATION
Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, National Holidays] Lunch 11:00 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm), [Weekdays, Saturday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] Dinner 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 7,999 JPY / [Lunch] 3,999 JPY
Access: 5 minutes walk from Exit 1 of Gaiemmae Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line / 12 minutes walk from Omotesando Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line
Address: Central Aoyama No6-BA, 3-2-4, Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
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Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 7,999 JPY / [Lunch] 3,999 JPY
Access: 5 minutes walk from Exit 1 of Gaiemmae Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line / 12 minutes walk from Omotesando Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line
Address: Central Aoyama No6-BA, 3-2-4, Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
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Ponda Honke
Located just a 2-minute walk from Okachimachi Station, [ぽん多本家] is a long-established Western-style restaurant that has been in business since 1905. The dish that visitors should definitely try is the signature 'Katsuretsu'. The carefully selected loin meat is meticulously trimmed of fat and sinew, and is slowly fried at a low temperature to achieve a beautiful golden crust.
The first-floor counter seats, which accommodate only four guests, offer a prime view of the artisan's skills up close. It is recommended for those who wish to enjoy their meal at a leisurely pace. The second floor features table seating, while the third floor has private rooms available for customers who have made reservations for courses, making it suitable for various occasions. Please savor the traditional flavors that have been passed down through four generations.
Ponta Honke
Open: [Tuesday - Saturday] Lunch 11:00 am - 2:00 pm (L.O. 1:45 pm) / Dinner 4:30 pm - 8:00 pm (L.O. 7:45 pm) [Sunday, National Holidays] Lunch 11:00 am - 2:00 pm (L.O. 1:45 pm) / Dinner 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm (L.O. 7:45 pm)
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 4,000 JPY
Access: 2 minutes walk from the south exit of Okachimachi Station on JR Yamanote Line / Keihin Tohoku Line
Address: 3-23-3, Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo
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Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 4,000 JPY
Access: 2 minutes walk from the south exit of Okachimachi Station on JR Yamanote Line / Keihin Tohoku Line
Address: 3-23-3, Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo
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Satsumaya Tonton Harajuku
Nestled in a back alley away from the hustle and bustle of Omotesando, [さつまやとんとん 原宿] is a renowned Kagoshima cuisine restaurant that has been loved for over 20 years. The signature dish, "Kuroton," features black pork made from Kagoshima's "Rokuhaku Kurobuta" and is coated in bamboo charcoal breadcrumbs, resulting in a black tonkatsu. The Rokuhaku Kurobuta is characterized by its rich flavor and elegant fat, which is fried to a fragrant and crispy perfection.
The interior features a warm, traditional Japanese house style, allowing guests to relax and enjoy their meals. Additionally, there is a wide selection of over 50 types of alcoholic beverages, primarily focusing on Kagoshima's sweet potato shochu. This restaurant is suitable for various occasions, whether for individuals, couples, or friends.
Satsumaya Tonton Harajuku
Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday-Sunday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm) / Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Access: 5-minute walk from JR Harajuku Station / 3- minute walk from Tokyo Metro Meiji-jingumae Station / 7-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Omotesando Station
Address: 2F, Kakuta Bldg., 6-1-6, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
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Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Access: 5-minute walk from JR Harajuku Station / 3- minute walk from Tokyo Metro Meiji-jingumae Station / 7-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Omotesando Station
Address: 2F, Kakuta Bldg., 6-1-6, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
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4. Tonkatsu Seizo
Located just a 3-minute walk from Minami-Asagaya Station, <成蔵> is a renowned restaurant famous for its tonkatsu. The charm of <成蔵> lies in its "lightness of the batter." As soon as it enters the mouth, the batter melts away, allowing one to enjoy the savory flavor of the meat and the sweetness of the fat. The "tonkatsu set meal" allows customers to choose not only the cut of meat but also the type, including "Ume-yama pork," "TOKYO X," and "Iwanaka pork."
The carefully crafted tonkatsu, which takes over 20 minutes to fry just one piece, is a must-try dish that everyone should experience at least once. Currently, it operates on a completely reservation-only basis, so it is essential to make a reservation before visiting the restaurant.
Narikura
Open: Lunch 11:00 am - 2:00 pm *Reservation Required/ Dinner 5:30 pm -8:00 pm *Reservation Required
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 6,000 JPY
Access: A 3-minute walk from Minami-Asagaya Station on Tokyo Mero Marunouchi Line
Address: 4-33-9, Naritahigashi, Suginami-ku, Tokyo
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Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 6,000 JPY
Access: A 3-minute walk from Minami-Asagaya Station on Tokyo Mero Marunouchi Line
Address: 4-33-9, Naritahigashi, Suginami-ku, Tokyo
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Agezuki
Located in Kagurazaka, [あげづき] is a renowned restaurant that has been featured in the Michelin Bib Gourmand for four consecutive years. The photo shows 'Southern Island Pork Fillet Cutlet' and 'Free-range Chicken Tender Fry'. The chicken tender fry is incredibly fluffy and tender, with a moderate sweetness that is addictive. The 'Fillet Cutlet' uses a rare brand of pork called 'Southern Island Pork'. It is said that the owner selected this brand as it stood out as exceptionally delicious among various pork samples he tasted.
Before enjoying the tonkatsu, one can order some appetizers and enjoy some drinks first. A nice point is that when ordering tonkatsu as a set meal, it comes with pickles and potato salad. The happy sounds of the tonkatsu frying and the knife cutting through it can also be heard. Reservations can be made for the evening, so it is definitely worth a visit.
Agezuki
Open: [Monday, Wednesday - Friday] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm) / Dinner 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm) [Saturday] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:30 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm) / Dinner 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm) [Sunday] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:30 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm) / Dinner 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm (L.O. 8:30 pm)
Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,000 JPY
Access: 5 minutes walk from B3 Exit of Iidabashi Station on Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line / Nanboku Line
Address: B1F, Yamanouchi Bldg., 3-2, Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
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Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,000 JPY
Access: 5 minutes walk from B3 Exit of Iidabashi Station on Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line / Nanboku Line
Address: B1F, Yamanouchi Bldg., 3-2, Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
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This article was written by AI Translation.
Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.
