I went to a tonkatsu restaurant near the site in Kyoto and tried a bite-sized pork cutlet (fillet). It tasted as expected for the price, but what surprised me was that they had both a Japanese-style spicy sauce and the regular tonkatsu sauce. I liked the Japanese-style one! Also, I saw someone using an electronic cigarette inside the restaurant during lunchtime, which was a bit unexpected.

I'm in the mood for tonkatsu♪ Whenever something good happens, I feel like going out to eat. Today, I chose the tonkatsu restaurant "Tonkatsu Shin" located on the north side of Heian High School. Since there is no parking, I parked my car at the coin parking lot "Mitsui Repark Mibu River Front East" on the west side of the restaurant and headed inside. The restaurant, tucked away in a residential area, has an old-fashioned coffee shop vibe. Inside, there is an L-shaped counter, where the owner in a chef's coat and a woman (perhaps his wife) handle the customers. The menu mainly consists of tonkatsu, along with fried dishes, ginger pork, and hamburg steak. I ordered the "Jou Rosu Katsu set" for ¥1,300. You can see the process of pounding the meat and frying it in front of the counter. The sizzling sound of the oil is so appetizing, right? The "Jou Rosu Katsu set" arrived in about 10 minutes, neatly arranged with the meat cut cleanly. Beautiful! The meat, while not too thick, is just the right size for a traditional and easy-to-eat experience. The seasoning on the meat is subtle, allowing you to enjoy the umami flavor of the fatty parts. Noteworthy is the sauce. Two types of sauce, "Japanese-style" and "Western-style," are provided in two separate dishes, allowing you to enjoy the change in flavor. Both sauces are on the thinner side, without a thick consistency. The Japanese-style sauce is light and dipping sauce-like. The Western-style sauce has a hint of cinnamon, giving it a unique flavor. It may be a bit divisive due to its distinct taste. The meat is slightly firm with a satisfying texture. The salad dressing is generously applied, perhaps a bit too much. The "all-you-can-eat rice" service is a nice touch for students. The rice is cooked slightly soft. Being close to a school, I thought this restaurant must have been student-friendly in terms of pricing and service for a long time. Thank you for the meal.

On the second day of my business trip to Kyoto, I was taken to a tonkatsu restaurant for lunch. The exterior looked like a cafe, and the inside was almost full. I was recommended to try the one-bite tonkatsu or chicken thigh steak, so I ordered the chicken thigh steak. It came with cabbage, potato salad, miso soup, and rice. Additionally, the rice was free for refills. The chicken thigh steak was a bit salty for my taste, but overall, I found it delicious. I will be going to Okayama tomorrow, so I hope to introduce another restaurant then.

I wanted to eat tonkatsu after a long time, so I visited this place. It seems to be an old shop with few reviews, giving it a hidden gem vibe. It's located near Omiya Station, on the west side, with Hira High School on the south side where high school students are actively participating in club activities. The interior has about 15 counter seats, reminiscent of an old-fashioned coffee shop. The menu includes not only tonkatsu but also shrimp fry, fried chicken, cream croquette, ginger pork, hamburger, and other Western dishes, making it hard to decide what to order. I decided to go with the tonkatsu for my first visit. I ordered the loin tonkatsu set (140g) for 1450 yen, which comes with rice, miso soup, and pickles. The counter seats allow you to see the cooking process. The tonkatsu was served with cabbage and potato salad, along with two types of sauces - a Western-style sauce and a Japanese-style sauce. The tonkatsu was not too thick but had a good amount of fat, making it delicious. The highlight was the two unique sauces, each adding a different flavor to the tonkatsu. The wall had a sign saying "Feel free to have seconds of rice," which is a nice touch for hungry high school students or anyone with a big appetite. I didn't have seconds, but it's a great system for those who do. I look forward to revisiting my favorite restaurants and discovering more hidden gem eateries in the future.

I entered the restaurant at 12:30 pm. There were only around 10 seats at the counter. The customer before me was enjoying the ginger pork set meal for 800 yen. It looked delicious. However, this is a tonkatsu restaurant. So, I decided to order tonkatsu. I noticed there were two options: Special A set meal and Special B set meal. The price has increased to 1700 yen after the tax hike. I chose the Special A set meal. It may be pricey, but let's go for it! The Special A set meal includes 1 shrimp fry, 3 bite-sized pork cutlets, and 2 scallop fries. Shredded cabbage, miso soup, rice, pickles, and dessert are also included. The Special A set meal arrived in about 10 minutes. Hmm, for 1700 yen, it lacks a bit of impact. But taste is what matters, right? I told myself. Let's dig in. There are Western-style sauce and sesame sauce on the table. Personally, I preferred the sesame sauce. Now, as I bring the supposedly juicy and thick pork cutlet to my mouth... Oh, it's thin. Well, let's say it's easy to eat. It's not fillet meat. I hope they didn't substitute the meat from the ginger pork... Hmmm. It's crispy with a great texture. The shrimp fry is juicy and thick, very delicious. The scallops also have a good bite to them. I had a second helping of rice and was full. Now, what about dessert? I was looking forward to it. But it didn't come. Huh? The lady said, "Sorry, there's no dessert." Oh well. Time to pay. Oh, it's 1700 yen. Even without dessert, it seems to be a fixed price. I had a feeling of uncertainty when the lady asked the cook in the kitchen if they could make the Special A set meal. Thank you for the meal. Until we meet again...

This is a restaurant I've been wanting to try for a while. I finally found the place, but the nearest parking lot was a bit far away, so I had to walk a little to get to the restaurant. It was just before the lunchtime last order at 1:30, and I was the only customer there. I looked at the menu and was surprised by the variety of options. After much deliberation, I decided to order the pork loin tonkatsu set meal (1430 yen). The sound of tonkatsu being fried and cut in the restaurant filled the air, whetting my appetite. When the set meal arrived, it included pork loin tonkatsu (140g), rice, cabbage, potato salad, pickles, miso soup, and dessert. There were two types of sauces, Japanese-style and Western-style, and I was encouraged to try both. The Western-style sauce was a bit sweet, while the Japanese-style sauce brought out the deliciousness of the tonkatsu. The tonkatsu itself was not very thick, but it was packed with flavor. Each bite seemed to enhance its deliciousness. The potato salad seemed homemade and was also delicious. The rice was refillable, and I was encouraged to eat to my heart's content. I finished everything and was served a dessert of yogurt with fruit, which was tasty, but I wished I could have ended the meal with the lingering taste of tonkatsu. Overall, I really enjoyed the meal and am already thinking about what to order next time.

I had decent tonkatsu after a long time. I visited the restaurant on the last holiday night at 8 pm. There were no other customers. There was a small TV, giving off a casual tonkatsu restaurant vibe. I had the loin tonkatsu set meal, which was around 1400 yen. Sometimes the breading can be thick and tough, but this time it wasn't. The fatty part was also sweet. There were two types of sauce, both of which were good. Personally, I preferred the Western-style sauce. It was not too strong and tasted good. The yogurt dessert at the end was also delicious! It had chunks of fruit (from a can), yogurt, and fruit sauce. It was mild and gentle. The restaurant is located in a residential area near Heian High School. I hope it doesn't go out of business, so please visit!

Visited on April 14, 2012 (Saturday) around 11:50 AM. There were no other customers present. The restaurant is small with a kitchen on the right side upon entering, and a counter with 13 seats in an L-shape. The owners, an elderly couple, have been running the place for 18 years. The menu includes various tonkatsu dishes, such as loin cutlet and fillet cutlet, as well as chicken and pork dishes. I ordered the loin cutlet (140 grams) for 1,430 yen. The meat was tender and delicious, served with two types of sauce – a Western-style dressing and a traditional tonkatsu sauce. The miso soup, with tofu and seaweed, was also tasty. They offer free rice refills and even a yogurt dessert. Overall, it was a satisfying and enjoyable dining experience. The restaurant also offers takeout for individual dishes if you call ahead to make a reservation. It may be a bit pricey for lunch, but it's worth it for the quality and service provided by this hidden gem of a restaurant.

I visited this tonkatsu restaurant after a long time, and it was my first time visiting for lunch. The menu seems to be the same for both lunch and dinner. I ordered the ginger pork, shrimp fry, and minced cutlet set meal. The plate came with the main dishes, a mountain of shredded cabbage, and potato salad. The miso soup was really to my liking, with a strong dashi flavor. The ginger pork had a crispy and fragrant texture, with a nice ginger flavor that went well with the rice. The shrimp fry and minced cutlet set meal included a large shrimp fry with the head still on and a juicy minced cutlet. The minced cutlet had a fairly strong sauce, which I initially mistook for hamburger sauce. The shrimp fry was topped with tartar sauce. The strong sauce on the minced cutlet made it easy to eat with beer or rice, and it seems like you can get a rice refill. The atmosphere of the restaurant, especially the wife, used to be a bit intimidating, making me feel nervous. However, now they seem much calmer and kinder, which was a pleasant surprise. Despite the slightly higher prices, I feel like I would want to come back again in the future. This tonkatsu restaurant is located on the street north of Heian High School (Omiya Shomen Street?). It seems to be run by a husband and wife. I have visited a few times as it is within walking distance from my home. They only have long counter seats. I have visited in the evenings a few times, and it is usually empty, although the food is delicious. I have never been there for lunch, but I wonder if teachers from the high school come here? The interior of the restaurant has a small TV, and both the husband and wife are there, but it is quite quiet and there is a strange tension. Especially the atmosphere of the wife...she seems a bit scary, with no smile and an expressionless face. The food in general is delicious. There are two types of tonkatsu sauce, Japanese and Western, and I prefer the tangy one. Having two sauce options is great as it prevents getting tired of the taste. The shrimp fry here is quite large and satisfying to eat. It is delicious and perfect for those who love shrimp.

The Tonkatsu Shin's Chicken Grill (with miso soup) is a must-try. The chicken thigh meat sautéed with garlic flavor is tender and flavorful. The garnish of cabbage and potato salad complements the dish perfectly. You can also get a rice refill. The crispy skin and balanced fat make the dish enjoyable. The miso soup with tofu, fried tofu, and seaweed is a classic combination. The pickles are outstanding, you'll definitely want more. It's a hidden gem, although it would be even better if smoking was not allowed. Yogurt dessert is also included. The service by the couple is polite, and they have a good selection of books. The "Tsurutsuru" in the title refers to noodles. In the summer, I switched my homemade sauce from Tsubame to Union. Tsubame from Kyoto has a rich flavor, perfect for dipping vegetable tempura. Union, used at Taimeiken and Renga-tei, is not too sweet and has a light and aromatic profile. It makes croquettes topped with it delicious.