When purchasing take-out, I often buy the oyster fry from Mai Izumi, which is larger compared to other deli shops and has a good oyster aroma. I also tried the shrimp cutlet, which is equally delicious as the shrimp cutlet from RF, with both having proper amounts of shrimp and tasting great. Since I can no longer buy tonkatsu from Umebayashi in the Ginza department store basement, Mai Izumi is the best choice for tonkatsu purchase.

I found a chain store specializing in tonkatsu in the food floor of Shinjuku Takashimaya. It was around 6 pm on Saturday. The products on display were discounted by 40 yen, including the "Potato Croquette" I was eyeing, which was reduced from 184 yen to 144 yen. The breading was quite crispy and thick. When it cools down, it becomes soft, but you can still faintly taste the sweetness of the potato. The seasoning seemed to be a broth or stew base, giving it a nice flavor. The mashed potato texture was just right. It wasn't too greasy and overall, it was a pretty delicious croquette.

I felt guilty indulging alone, so I bought my family's favorite katsu sandwich at Takashimaya's basement food court.

I didn't notice that this place was inside the department store basement as I always see the same shops there. I usually buy from Keio. This time, I got the following: ・Pork cutlet sandwich 843 yen I enjoyed it at home with beer. It's a limited edition package for autumn. It makes me want to go on a field trip with it. It's the first time I bought the larger size, and it comes in packs of 3, which is convenient. I still think it would be even better with vegetables, but it's tasty as it is. It seems like there's no place in Shinjuku department store that doesn't have it. Maizumi-san is truly amazing.

Located in Kitaaoyama, the main branch of the tonkatsu restaurant "Mai Izumi" is a branch restaurant that originated from "Izumi" in Ueno. The tonkatsu at this restaurant is known as "soft tonkatsu that can be cut with chopsticks" and is popular not only in Japan but also overseas. There is also a take-out store for bento boxes and side dishes at Shinjuku Takashimaya. The number of retail stores is greater than restaurants, and including consignment sales, there are quite a few stores. My image of Mai Izumi is the "Hirekatsu Sandwich" (although Izumi is the original). I purchased the "Tamatebako" bento, which includes 3 pieces of Hirekatsu Sandwich, 1 piece of inari sushi, 2 rolls of kanpyo maki, and one side dish. I chose this carb-heavy bento because I wanted the Hirekatsu Sandwich, which is not included in the more expensive pork cutlet bento options. In conclusion, I should have just stuck with the simple Hirekatsu Sandwich. The Hirekatsu Sandwich is tender and occasionally has a stringy part, reminiscent of traditional Hirekatsu. The thick sauce also has a strong vegetable sweetness.

I love Mai Izumi. The first time I tried it, a senior colleague brought it as a souvenir to the office. When I tasted it, I was so impressed by its deliciousness. It has a perfect texture, not too hard or too soft, with a tasty sauce that makes it unforgettable. I enjoy it for lunch and also use it as a souvenir. I had seen it on TV before and always wanted to try it, but I didn't expect it to be this delicious. It has been featured on TV multiple times. Highly recommended. I also eat it when I ride the Shinkansen!

This is a shop I visited when I was in Shinjuku for some errands. I stumbled upon it while wandering around. This time, I bought a cream croquette. It cost 172 yen per piece (including tax). Once again, I warmed it up in the microwave before eating. The potato part was well mashed, but I couldn't really taste the cream-like texture. It was a bit different from what I imagined. The taste was just average.

I don't feel like cooking dinner today... I was out running errands since morning and now I have no motivation. On my way back home, I decided to stop by the basement of Takashimaya for some takeout. I bought the "Gochisou Nori Bento" which had a great variety - shrimp fry, bite-sized pork cutlet, croquette, and grilled salmon. It also came with simmered dish, seasoned dish, pickles, and more. The fried items and rice were delicious, of course. I also made miso soup and vegetable salad, but sometimes a bento is a good choice too. I think it cost around ¥1,080. Thank you for the meal.

I purchased these sandwiches from here when I went mountain climbing on Mt. Gassan during the peak autumn foliage season. It was a last-minute decision based on the weather forecast I checked two days before. Luckily, there were 2 seats left on the Friday night bus (Yuuhi-go) to Shinjuku, so I was able to make a reservation. On the day of the trip, I went to Shinjuku early to buy breakfast at Takashimaya, where I bought a pack of 3 slices each of Cheese Menchi Katsu Sandwich and Ebi Katsu Sandwich. I enjoyed them at the Es Mall Bus Terminal in Tsuruoka City. - Cheese Menchi Katsu Sandwich: Just as delicious as before. - Cheese Menchi Katsu: Menchi katsu with Camembert cheese. Eating this makes you appreciate the importance of the texture of the fillet meat, which is enhanced by the cheese. The Cheese Menchi Katsu Sandwich wins in terms of taste. - Ebi Katsu Sandwich: The shrimp is not ground but formed into a cutlet to maintain its firm texture and umami. The Aurora sauce complements it well, offering a different and delicious taste compared to the fillet katsu. The highlight of this trip was enjoying the Ebi Katsu Sandwich. I will visit again if I have the chance during my next mountain climb.

Deluxe seaweed bento box for 999 yen. It was truly delicious!