I decided to take the JLPT and go on a solo trip to Vietnam. The flight was at 16:30, so I had plenty of time. I headed to Narita Airport by transferring at Asakusabashi. I left my house with some extra time to spare so I could have my last Japanese meal in Asakusabashi. My main goal was to eat at a local Chinese restaurant, but it was closed. Instead, I found this traditional family-run tonkatsu restaurant. As soon as I sat down, I was served cold tea and pickles. The menu was extensive, but I kept it simple with a pork cutlet set meal. To add some excitement, I also ordered a single fried horse mackerel. While waiting, I received a small bottle of beer and started with the pickles and homemade furikake on the table. It felt quite elegant to be among people in dress shirts on a weekday afternoon. Soon, the set meal arrived. The tonkatsu was cut into smaller pieces. It was not the thick, slightly pink meat you see these days, but a thin, well-fried piece that was not dry and had a juicy texture when chewed. The breading was crispy, fried in lard, and delicious. All of this for ¥1,050 was a good deal. The fried horse mackerel was a small, plump piece that was tasty. The table had Worcestershire sauce, a house-blend sauce, homemade ponzu, and a variety of seasonings, so I didn't get tired of eating until the end. My only complaint is that I wish the rice had been cooked a bit firmer. There was an "Ichikatsu" restaurant nearby, but that can be found in many places, so I wanted to eat something unique to that town.

I visited for a late lunch. The first floor was full so I was seated on the second floor. I had the lunch set with fried horse mackerel and minced cutlet for 890 yen. The horse mackerel had thick meat, crispy coating, and fluffy texture. The minced cutlet had a gentle flavor with no unnecessary seasoning, just the natural sweetness of the meat. I want to try the pork cutlet next time.

It's been a while since I had lunch at Asakusabashi. Today, I visited Fujioshi's store near the station. It was crowded as usual during weekday lunchtime. Luckily, some customers left all at once, so I was able to enter quickly. I ordered the pork cutlet set with one fried squid. I really like fried squid. It arrived in about 10 minutes after ordering. It looks very delicious today too. Let's dig in! I'll start with the cabbage with dressing. The pork cutlet has a crispy coating with a good thickness. Underneath, you can taste the meat's flavor and the sweetness of the fat. It's delicious! The meat quality is good and it's cooked just right, tender and flavorful. Next, I'll try the fried squid. It has a crispy coating and perfectly cooked squid underneath. The texture is just right and it's so tasty. Fried squids are often overcooked and too chewy, but this one was cooked perfectly. Both dishes are delicious! The pork cutlet was quite filling, but it was so tasty that I couldn't stop eating. I finished it in no time. Delicious food is made of "sugar" and "fat" as a commercial once said, and that's exactly how this lunch felt. Thank you for the meal! I'll visit again.

The tonkatsu restaurant offers meals at a price similar to "Ichikatsu." With 1000 yen, you can order a set meal. I ordered the hirekatsu on this day, and it was crispy on the outside, with a substantial portion. You will definitely be satisfied if you visit this restaurant. Highly recommended.

At the Asakusabashi station, there is a pork cutlet restaurant called "Tonkatsu Fujiyoshi" that I had been curious about. I heard that their pork is deliciously fatty, and I got to taste their "Bara Katsu" topped with seasonal "Oyster Fry". Wow, the fat is really delicious. The pork belly meat is turned into pork cutlet, and it's fatty but not at all greasy. The special grated ponzu soy sauce that comes with it is a big factor, making it delicious when eaten with the special sauce, but you can still feel the richness, so the matching for this Bara Katsu is exquisite. The Oyster Fry is also large and plump. The oyster's umami is wrapped in the batter, and it overflows with flavor when you bite into it. The sauce and ponzu also go well with it. Although it looks like a simple local pork cutlet restaurant, I'm happy to see that there are some small touches in the menu and how the dishes are made. With a variety of fried foods, it would be quite a delight to have this restaurant as a regular spot. If they also offered free rice refills, that would be perfect, but well, that would be a bit luxurious. Oh, it was delicious.

I went to the branch of a long-established tonkatsu restaurant near Asakusabashi West Exit, across from the Poal building in a narrow alley, and also visited the main store near CS Tower. It seems that there is a designated seating area on the second floor, which is designed like a private house, so be careful not to sit in the wrong place. I believe I had the daily special hire katsu. The menu offers a variety of combinations, similar to the main store. I enjoyed a reasonably priced and traditional tonkatsu. I didn't see the frozen green onions that were available at the main store.

This is a reasonably priced tonkatsu restaurant in the Asakusabashi area that competes with "Ichikatsu" for the top spot. Their specialty is the "Bara Katsu," which is pork belly with a crispy coating. They also offer a variety of other menu items including shrimp and chicken tenderloin. When I couldn't decide, I decided to go back to basics and chose between the loin and tenderloin. Since the tenderloin was listed at the top of the menu, I ordered the "Tenderloin Katsu Set Meal" for 1,150 yen (lunchtime discount for 1,050 yen). The tenderloin katsu was not the typical round shape but a rectangular cut similar to the one at "Maisen" in Omotesando. The crispy coating was just right and the tenderness of the tenderloin was impressive. The sauce options on the table included a traditional thick sauce that paired well with the katsu. The miso soup with seaweed and tofu added to the Edo-style atmosphere of the restaurant. The cozy atmosphere of the old-fashioned restaurant, along with the warm and friendly service from what seemed to be a family-run business, made the dining experience enjoyable. Asakusabashi is a great neighborhood with a lot of charm!

The nearest station is JR Asakusabashi Station, just a 1-minute walk away. I visited the main store before, so I wanted to try the branch store for lunch. Although I haven't been here recently, I used to come on Saturdays in the past. Just like the main store, the menu here is extensive and can be overwhelming. I ordered the Bara Katsu set meal (1,000 yen). It was served in about 10 minutes. Bara Katsu is a specialty of this place, made by deep-frying pork belly. I usually prefer loin, but I felt nostalgic and decided to order it. The breading was slightly coarse and thick, with decent oil absorption. It felt a bit heavy with a hint of lard, but the texture was good. The meat slices were small, but there were seven of them, so it was quite filling. Since it's pork belly, there was quite a bit of fat, making it a bit rich when eaten without any condiments. I learned at the main store to eat it with grated daikon and ponzu sauce to balance out the flavors. It was a satisfying lunch. Next time, I'll try the regular loin. Thank you for the meal.

The restaurant review is as follows: Rating on Tabelog: 3.48 This is a tonkatsu restaurant located in Asakusabashi. It may be a bit of an old post, but please forgive me. I realized that I had been lazy in posting. I often crave tonkatsu for lunch, so I visited this restaurant in Asakusabashi during my work break. The menu has a surprisingly large variety, but I ended up ordering the hirekatsu and barakatsu. After waiting for about 10 minutes while smelling the delicious aroma of frying, the dishes were served. It's not a high-end tonkatsu restaurant, but the taste was quite high-level among local tonkatsu restaurants. The atmosphere of the restaurant is also very nice, making it a wonderful place that you would want to visit again.

Asakusabashi! We have prepared the most delicious pork cutlet in Asakusabashi! Let's enjoy the pork cutlet. The restaurant is not very spacious, but it was crowded during lunchtime. However, there were two seats available, so we sat there and ordered the pork cutlet lunch. They also had a menu for pork belly cutlet, but I prefer pork cutlet, so I chose that. The service was fast, and we didn't have to wait long before the food was served. Let's dig in! They offer various sauces like special sauce (original blend), Worcestershire sauce (also known as Prince sauce), ponzu soy sauce, and soy sauce. I personally like soy sauce, but I tried all four sauces. The pork cutlet was crispy, but it had a bit of a strong oil smell. The thickness of the meat was not consistent, with more fatty parts being thicker than lean parts, affecting the balance of breadcrumbs. Despite these thoughts, I enjoyed eating it and finished the whole meal. Phew, I managed to finish it again today. Lately, I've been finding it hard to finish the rice in the bowl. I might ask for half a portion of rice next time. But then again, rice is so delicious that I end up getting a refill even with a bowl. Another successful pork cutlet adventure has come to an end. Thank you for the meal!

Tonkatsu Fujiyoshi Ekimae Store, Asakusabashi 1-11-4, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Rating: 3.48 on Tabelog. I was in ramen mode, but stumbled upon this place while passing by. The lady at the front came out, so I ended up going in. The tonkatsu was a bit sweet, but unfortunately, I forgot to ask about the free extra serving. The refill wasn't free, so it wasn't that sweet after all. Overall, it was a good meal. Thank you. #tonkatsu #Japanese cuisine #Asakusabashi #foodie #gourmet #food blogger

The biggest feature here is the variety of menu options. There are many different combinations available. While they have a fillet cutlet rice bowl on the menu, they don't have a loin cutlet rice bowl. However, when asked, they can still make it. Upon being seated, they serve tea and pickles, which is a nice touch. It's customary in Japanese cuisine to enjoy these before the meal arrives. Even though it's before 2 o'clock, customers keep coming in one after another. The meal arrived after 12 minutes. Instead of green onions, they use shredded cabbage, which adds a nice touch of color. However, the taste and texture are just okay. The loin cutlet isn't very thick, but the breading is. At 1100 yen, the cost performance isn't great. The main attraction here is the mixed cutlet plate, not the quality or thickness of the meat, especially in the cutlet rice bowl. Overall, it feels a bit lacking for a place that calls itself a tonkatsu restaurant.

We went to a tonkatsu restaurant near Asakusabashi Station with my family. My wife and I ordered half servings of the fatty tuna cutlet and the pork belly cutlet. The prices were cheap but the portions were generous. We enjoyed the cutlets with demi-glace sauce and grated ponzu. The ponzu was refreshing, while the demi-glace sauce was rich and delicious. The sauce itself was quite tasty. The seasoning on the table was also delicious. The prices were low, the portions were large, and the flavors were great. It's a good restaurant.

The pork cutlet was 1,000 yen and came with two types of sauce - original and Worcestershire sauce. The description was clear and easy to understand. The crispy coating had a nice thickness and the cutlet had just the right amount of fat. It was delicious. The miso soup seemed to have a broth made from scratch and the homemade sesame topping was a nice touch as a side dish for the rice. Thank you for the delicious meal!

During the state of emergency, some shops may be closed, causing sudden changes in plans. However, this place is open even at night, which is much appreciated! I've tried their famous tender tonkatsu at the main store before, but this branch near JR Asakusabashi Station West Exit is also great. I arrived after 7 pm on a weekday and there were a few customers already, but there were still seats available. I ordered the Bara Katsu (pork belly cutlet) and Crab Cream Croquette set for 1300 yen. The Bara Katsu is an original menu item of this branch, so I had to try it. I was worried it might be too oily because of the pork belly, but it was actually fine. The pork belly had a bit of fat but wasn't greasy, and it tasted great with grated radish and ponzu sauce. The Crab Cream Croquette was also delicious with its creamy filling. They will start serving Oyster Fry set from October as a winter limited menu. They also offer takeout service, so you can call ahead and pick up your order when you arrive at Asakusabashi. Overall, it was a delightful meal!

『Tonkatsu Fujiyoshi』@ Asakusabashi On my way to Asakusabashi station, feeling a bit uneasy in my stomach... no, actually feeling hungry. Reminded me of the scene in "Solitary Gourmet" where Goro-chan stands still due to hunger. I've only had iced coffee since morning, so I should eat something before heading back. "Now, what do I feel like eating?" (in Goro's tone) Spotted 'Ichikatsu' under the elevated tracks at Asakusabashi station. A cheap and delicious tonkatsu joint. Should I go there... or wait, I see another tonkatsu shop over there. My foodie radar is going off intensely. As I approach, I notice the copy on the door saying "Featured in dancyu October 2019 issue on fried dishes." With great trust in dancyu, I quickly decide to enter. Holding a lemon sour in hand, I look at the menu, and there are many tempting dishes. I quickly decide on the "Melty Belly Katsu Set" for 1150 yen. It's a combination of tender pork belly block katsu and layered deep-fried pork belly kalbi meat, creating a mille-feuille katsu. It was so delicious that it gave me goosebumps. The melting tenderness, the crispy texture, and the fine batter were all a pleasant surprise. The homemade furikake made from reboiled bonito flakes, taken with dashi, was also a hit with the rice. It's so good even on tonkatsu, I'm completely satisfied! The sustainable approach of the restaurant was also impressive. An ideal example of a casual tonkatsu joint. Unconsciously said "Thank you" to the staff after paying. Reading through the dancyu issue at home, I realized how delicious it was. Definitely coming back for more! Thank you for the meal. #tomyamfoodie #TonkatsuFujiyoshi #IrresistibleDishes #CreativeTonkatsu #FeaturedInDancyu #IJustLoveMeat #AsakusabashiGourmet #yummy

I felt like eating tonkatsu around Asakusabashi, so I entered this place. I visited on a weekday night, and there was only one group of customers before me. The interior is small with only table seats. I ordered the Bara Katsu and Aji Fry set meal (950 yen). Along with the sauce on the table, they also brought dressing, furikake, ponzu, and mustard upon request. It was ready in about 15 minutes. The Bara Katsu uses the rib part similar to yakiniku. I thought it would be layered like mille-feuille, but it was a single piece of meat. The batter had a crispy texture and was not greasy. The ponzu sauce had a soy sauce saltiness that paired well with the grated daikon. There were several types of sauces, and the one with a spicy aroma was perfect for the tonkatsu. The Aji Fry had a light and crispy batter, and the fish was tender. The cabbage portion was generous, accompanied by leaf lettuce and pickled turnips and greens. The rice was cooked slightly soft and shiny, served in a large bowl with a sweet bonito flakes furikake. The miso soup had wakame seaweed and green onions in a flavorful miso broth. The meal was reasonably priced, and it had the taste of traditional, well-prepared tonkatsu. I wish there were more restaurants like this nearby. Thank you for the meal.

When the season for delicious horse mackerel arrives, I plan to visit the restaurant where I wanted to eat delicious fried horse mackerel. Previously, at the "Tonkatsu Fujioshi Main Store" in Asakusabashi, I enjoyed the delicious Toro Katsu & Oyster Fry. This time, I visited the branch store in front of the station. Here, they have handmade shumai on the menu, which was not available at the main store. Is the day coming soon when I can drink beer with shumai as a side dish? This time, I ordered the set meal with pork cutlet and fried horse mackerel for 950 yen. The pork cutlet comes with grated ponzu soy sauce. The pork cutlet bento with grated ponzu soy sauce is 50 yen more expensive than eating in the store, probably because of the cost of the grated ponzu soy sauce container. The other bento boxes are the same price as eating in the store. The pork cutlet is about half to one-third the thickness of a tonkatsu. It is also smaller in size by more than one size. I tried a piece with grated ponzu soy sauce. It can be enjoyed in a refreshing way. If you want to experience the satisfaction of eating meat, I think it's better to order a thicker tonkatsu. It might be better as a side dish for beer rather than a rice dish. For those who want to eat with sauce, there is the original blend sauce from the restaurant and the Worcestershire sauce that was favored by Emperor Taisho when he was Crown Prince, now sold under the name Prince Sauce. Please enjoy it with your preferred sauce. As for this fried horse mackerel, it seems like the tail part should be cut off when filleting. It is divided into two pieces. Even though it's the same amount of fish, I would prefer if they didn't serve it to customers and used it for staff meals instead. The flesh is plump and the fried horse mackerel is delicious. This time, I had it with ponzu sauce. This ponzu sauce is a versatile seasoning that goes well with anything. Just before noon, customers start arriving one after another. There are many delicious eateries around here, so I guess it's a fun lunchtime for people working nearby.

I visited the restaurant after seeing the sign for the original Bara Katsu set meal. I was in Asakusabashi, so I had to choose Ichikatsu Asakusabashi branch, but I was curious about the Bara Katsu. The menu offers various set meals with options like pork cutlet, fillet cutlet, mixed fry, and more. Bara Katsu was listed as the third option on the menu. I ordered the Bara Katsu set meal (¥950). As soon as I placed my order, I was served with pickles and tea. On the table, there were Bulldog sauce, Worcestershire sauce, ponzu sauce, and soy sauce. About 10 minutes later, the Bara Katsu set meal was served. The rice portion was generous, even without ordering a large size. The Bara Katsu consisted of two thin slices. I started by trying it with the special grated ponzu soy sauce. Despite the thin cutlet, the breading did not overpower the taste at all. It was crispy with a light texture and a hint of sweetness. As expected from a pork cutlet, it had a good amount of fat, but the light breading made it easy to eat. I think they can proudly call this their original dish. I usually don't have a good impression of thin cutlets, but this one exceeded my expectations in a good way. I also tried the Bulldog sauce and Worcestershire sauce on the table, and both complemented the meat well. I felt like the sauces brought out the meat flavor more. I believe it would still be delicious with salt or wasabi. The meat and breading stayed together until the last bite. It takes skill to make a thin cutlet like this. It was a random choice to visit this restaurant, but I thought it was a very good one. The quality of the breading made me want to try dishes like fried horse mackerel or fried chicken breast.

After 7:00 PM, it becomes difficult to find a place to eat, but I managed to make it to this restaurant before their last order at 7:30 PM. I was grateful for that. The tonkatsu was neatly shaped in a square and made a good impression. Overall, the atmosphere was homely and pleasant.