On August 4th, during the intense heat of summer, I visited Nisegami Shrine to pay my respects for Hashi Kuyo, and then had a lunch of fillet mignon cutlet at Park Tower. Despite being a small establishment, the staff promptly brought refills and provided attentive service. The elderly server was very warm and welcoming. The cutlet was consistently delicious, and the miso soup with mushrooms was soothing for my tired body after walking in the scorching heat.

It's been a while since I had tonkatsu for lunch. So I went to Saboten. I really like Saboten's cabbage, rice, and miso soup refills. Of course, I also like the tonkatsu with its crispy coating. It's one of my favorite tonkatsu, so I was satisfied. I believe that fried food is always good.

On May 10th (Wednesday), I had lunch at Saboten Yamao Park Tower in Shinjuku. I arrived a little after 11 am, so it was still not crowded, but more customers started coming in as time passed. I ordered from the affordable lunch menu. First, I enjoyed unlimited cabbage with two types of dressing. I sprinkled sesame seeds while waiting. Then, the main dish arrived. I had the Aged Three-Element Wheat Pork Loin Cutlet Set (110g) for 1,408 yen. The freshly fried loin was crispy and had just the right amount of volume at 110g. I first tried it with freshly grated salt, then combined the sesame with sauce and mustard for another flavor. Despite being a loin, it was surprisingly light, so I finished it quickly. There were two types of pickles and I also had plenty of red miso soup and cabbage. Even without getting a rice refill, I was full. Next time, I will try the fillet cutlet, minced cutlet, cheese layered cutlet, and large shrimp fry.

The food at this chain restaurant is delicious, but what I really love is the friendly staff. They always ask with a smile if you need a refill when your glass is empty, which is very comforting. The tonkatsu is also cooked perfectly, making it very tasty.

The restaurant I visited this time is Saboten Sanou Park Tower in Shinjuku. I ordered the pork cutlet set meal, and it was nice that you can have unlimited rice and cabbage refills. The cutlet was freshly fried and delicious. They also have various dressings for the cabbage on the table. It's convenient to access as it is located in Sanou Park, so you can get there without getting wet even on rainy days from Tameike-Sanno Station. If you're interested, why not give it a try?

For lunch today, I bought and tried the popular Ebi Gra bento at Saboten in Tameike-Sanno. It was delicious.

Today for lunch, I tried the stacked pork cutlet bento from Saboten at Tameike-Sanno. It was delicious.

The hot rice is delicious, and the cutlet is crispy and refreshing.

I have been on a diet for a long time, but on days when work calms down or after a hard week, I often go alone at night as a reward. The food is delicious, the cabbage they serve is sweet and plentiful, and I love the sesame seeds and the red miso soup and soba tea that I can have refills of. One time, there was a very thoughtful waiter who made me feel really relaxed. I don't really understand about cost performance, but that doesn't matter to me. There are many people who come alone at night, so it's easy to come alone. I always appreciate the delicious tonkatsu and the service!

The restaurant has a stable and average feel. It's neither good nor bad, there are no disappointments.

Casual drinking spot

A few days ago, I saw a TV show about tonkatsu and it put me in the mood for it. Despite it being close to 3 PM due to work, I was really hungry and craving tonkatsu. I stumbled upon this restaurant near Tameike-Sanno station and decided to go in. Surprisingly, there were quite a few other people who seemed to have missed lunch like me. I found out they serve lunch until 5 PM, which made me happy. I ordered the Hirekatsu set. First, they brought out the cabbage! So quick!! I enjoyed the cabbage while waiting for the tonkatsu. When it arrived, I noticed that the meat was thinner than I expected. It was crispy, but the thin meat didn't give me the full experience of the pork fillet. Maybe I should have chosen the pork loin instead. Also, the red miso soup was a bit too salty, maybe because it was late in the day. However, the standout was the eldest lady serving in the restaurant. She was attentive, explained things well, and really took care of everyone. She was like a caring relative bustling around and looking after everyone. Despite other staff being present, she stood out. Because of her, I gave the overall score for this review.

I went to "Shinjuku Saboten Yamao Park Tower Building Store". Here, you can eat rice, miso soup, and cabbage as much as you want. First, there are a lot of cabbage. Next, I ordered the tonkatsu set meal. It costs 1,080 yen, which is the cheapest option. This place has a very simple setup. The taste is average, the prices are a bit high, but the portion size is generous. I come here alone when I feel like eating a lot. See you later. [Link to the blog article of "Shinjuku Saboten Yamao Park Tower Building Store"]

First time trying a tonkatsu chain restaurant! I usually go to the more traditional ones, but today I tried Saboten for the first time!!! The breadcrumbs were a bit rough, but had a nice crunch. Everything was delicious. The cabbage, miso soup, and rice were all-you-can-eat. The cabbage came with sesame dressing and yuzu dressing, which was a nice touch to keep things interesting. However, compared to other places like the traditional ones, I felt that the portions and variety of tonkatsu were a bit lacking. Maybe it's because the cabbage wasn't served together with the tonkatsu. So, I got the impression that the cost performance was not that great... But with the unlimited rice, miso soup, and cabbage, maybe the volume can be compensated for... Thank you for the meal.

I went to another nearby restaurant to eat tonkatsu, but it was full, so I looked for tonkatsu and ended up here. Luckily, it was not crowded. I was surprised to see that both the inside of the restaurant and the bento shop outside were packed. I ordered the rosu katsu set with grated yam for 1,080 yen + 108 yen = 1,188 yen. They have various types of katsu, including seasonal items, but the prices are a bit high (around 1,500 yen). On regular days, I just enjoy the normal katsu. When I used to go to Opera City, I would order a Japanese set meal (with less katsu and more side dishes), but here, the Japanese set meal (or whatever it was) didn't even have katsu! They also had dishes like demi-glace hamburger. They have quite a wide range of choices. On the other hand, I was a bit disappointed that they didn't have katsu curry like they did at Opera City. It seems that menus vary from one restaurant to another. Anyway, I'll come back for the katsu next time.

Tonkatsu restaurant located on the basement floor of Sanwa Tower. During lunchtime, it is non-smoking and accepts payment with Edy. I accompanied a colleague for lunch and visited after a few years. They offer Rosukatsu made with Sangen pork for 1050 yen and Kenbi pork for 1180 yen. The difference is that Sangen pork is 100g while Kenbi pork is 120g. As for taste, I'm not sure how different they are. They also have a lunchtime limited Rosukatsu plate for 980 yen, but it doesn't come with cabbage. Other options include Hirekatsu set for 1230 yen, as well as mixed set meals with items like shrimp fry and cream croquette. I ordered the Kenbi pork Rosukatsu set. The style of grinding sesame while waiting remains unchanged. The cabbage arrives separately from the tonkatsu. There is sesame dressing on the table. Among chain restaurants, I quite like their tonkatsu. The rice can be white or mixed grain. It may have been just my luck, but I noticed the cabbage wasn't drained well.

I had lunch at Saboten in Yamao Park Tower in Shinjuku. They also sell bento boxes at the storefront. The place was bustling with customers. They had sesame seeds on the table before we even sat down. It takes a while for the food to come out, so grinding the sesame seeds too early can make the aroma fade. I ordered the Chef's Special Lunch Plate today. It came with a bite-sized fillet cutlet, ginger pork roll cutlet, and one salmon avocado croquette. Rice, miso soup, and cabbage were all-you-can-eat. They also served pickles. The ginger pork roll cutlet was juicy and delicious. The croquette didn't have a strong avocado taste, so even people who don't like avocado might enjoy it. You could choose between white rice and mixed grain rice. The miso soup had burdock, leeks, carrots, and was more like a clear vegetable soup. The cabbage was served like a fresh spring roll. You could have more cabbage either in the rolls or shredded.