はぐれオタク
I ordered the Ajitobuta & Special Premium Pork Cutlet Set Meal, which I had never been to before even though it wasn't far from my home. The system is based on registering your name in a book at 8:30 am to secure a spot for the 11:00 am opening. They accept registrations in the store even after opening for lunch or dinner. There is a limit of 60 people for lunch and 40 people for dinner. It seems that on weekdays, they don't reach the lunch limit by the morning unless something extraordinary happens. Maybe if you arrive around 7:30 am, you can aim for the first round? Not sure, though. They have a space to write your phone number in the registration book, and if you write it there, they will call you 5 minutes before your turn. I arrived around 7:50 am, and there were only 2 people waiting, but more people kept arriving later. By 8:20 am, there was a long line. At 8:25 am, the staff arrived and took the registrations, then went back home. Other people seemed to pass the time at Yaotsuba Ario or the shopping street. The opening time is 11:00 am, so they advised us to arrive 5 minutes before, and we waited until then. At 11:00 am, we entered the restaurant, and I was seated right in front of the chef, which made me a bit uneasy. The staff explained the different pork brands available that day, but they only had Kurobuta and Ajitobuta, so I hesitated a lot before finally ordering the Ajitobuta & Special Premium Pork Cutlet Set Meal. I chose white truffle salt and original sauce for seasoning. First, they brought olive oil, salt, and the original sauce. They served a salad first, which I assumed was to regulate blood sugar levels before eating the tonkatsu. The dressing had a strong acidity and refreshing taste, which I thought would go well with the tonkatsu. Then, the tonkatsu was deep-fried in amber-colored oil in front of us. The pork cutlets were pounded by the chef right in front of our eyes, which was a bit intimidating. Next, they served pickles, rice, and miso soup for the set meal. Finally, after waiting for about 3 minutes, the tonkatsu was served. It was the first time I tried a medium-rare tonkatsu, and it was delicious! The texture was tender, easy to chew, and the flavor of the pork was enhanced by the truffle salt. The olive oil made it even more succulent, and the combination was delightful. The original sauce, however, didn't complement the tonkatsu well, as it seemed to overpower the meat's flavor. I would stick to tonkatsu sauce next time. The pickles were excellent, with a balance of sweetness and saltiness, and the spinach pickle had a crunchy texture and a lingering umami taste. Overall, the experience was great, especially with the truffle salt enhancing the meal.