I went to "Suzuya Shinjuku Honten" alone around 18:30 on a Sunday, located in the SUZUYA Building 5F, about a 5-minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station East Exit. The restaurant is in a beautiful new building on the 5th floor, and when you take the elevator up, you'll be surprised by the high-quality space with elegant paintings on the walls, dim lighting, and jazz music playing softly. The interior doesn't feel like a typical tonkatsu restaurant, it's more sophisticated and upscale, which I found wonderful. The restaurant had about 20% seating capacity, so I had the freedom to choose my seat and decided to sit at the counter in the back since I was dining alone. The staff provided a large basket for my belongings and coat. The menu was displayed on the table, and I chose the signature dish, "Suzuya's Specialty Tonkatsu Chazuke". This dish originated from the chef's staff meal, where they poured tea over cold tonkatsu to make it more enjoyable, and it eventually became a popular menu item. I selected the regular size with garlic ginger soy sauce and opted for all three toppings available. The dish came with rice, miso soup, cabbage, and pickles, and you could have unlimited refills of these sides. The restaurant provided a guide on how to enjoy the tonkatsu chazuke, which was very helpful. The dish was served after about 15 minutes, and it smelled amazing with the garlic ginger flavor. The tonkatsu chazuke was beautifully presented with sliced tonkatsu, a mountain of sautéed cabbage, kimchi, and a hot spring egg on top. The runny yolk of the egg added richness to the dish. The tonkatsu was crispy on the outside and tender inside, making it a delightful meal. The restaurant's motto of "enjoying delicious food in a fun way that is ultimately good for your body" was evident in their dedication to using quality ingredients and providing homemade dishes. The staff was attentive, refilling my water promptly. Overall, it was a fantastic dining experience at Suzuya.

After a health check-up, I finally had a meal! The rain had let up a bit, so I walked to Suzuya in Kabukicho. I ordered the regular size tonkatsu rice bowl with summer limited edition spicy soy sauce. I added grated yam on top. Today, the temperature was a bit cool due to the rain, so the tonkatsu on the hot plate and the crunchy cabbage tasted even better, warm and delicious. The spicy soy sauce was just the right amount of spicy to warm me up. The grated yam had a gentle dashi flavor. The miso soup with clams was comforting with a nice clam flavor. Since I skipped breakfast, I enjoyed the cabbage tonkatsu as a side dish with the grated yam rice, but I ended up running out of rice and had to get a small refill for my rice bowl. Lastly, I put three pieces of tonkatsu and cabbage on the rice, poured some tea over it, and enjoyed the mix. I was full and satisfied in the end!

I tried tonkatsu ochazuke for the first time, invited by a friend. The place is on the 5th floor of a building at the entrance of Kabukicho, inside a Doutor. The tonkatsu was crispy and came with the classic sauce, but the ochazuke was also quite good. You can choose from 3 types of sauces, and I chose garlic soy sauce. The tonkatsu, fried on a hot plate, was topped with boiled cabbage and plenty of garlic soy sauce. The garlic flavor was strong and delicious! The miso soup was made with clams and was incredibly tasty. You can have unlimited refills of cabbage, rice, miso soup, and pickles. The price of 1600 yen is very reasonable. The restaurant was quiet with few customers, and relaxing jazz music was playing, allowing me to enjoy a leisurely lunch. Thank you for the meal.

My pregnant wife is suffering from morning sickness, but for some reason she always wants to eat at this particular restaurant. The food is consistently delicious. They always ask, "Would you like some pork soup?" but at the Shinjuku main branch, it's default to come with the meal, so I'm not really interested in it. I prefer the rice with tea topping, so I'm not really into soup. I love vegetables, so I always ask for extra cabbage. By the way, at the UDX underground parking lot, if you spend over 3000 yen, you get 1 hour free parking, so it's a good option for those who are driving.

I had the classic tonkatsu rice bowl at this restaurant, which I visited for the first time in about 20 years. The tonkatsu was topped with a slightly tangy soy sauce-based sauce on a hot plate, along with stir-fried cabbage. Finally, it was topped with seaweed. You can get free refills of cabbage, rice, pickles, and pork miso soup. It was delicious.

I ordered the pork cutlet. It was cut into 8 pieces, making it easy to eat. It was thick and juicy! The white rice was delicious, it had been a while since I had it. The shredded cabbage was fluffy and crispy. The best part was being able to see the Alpen ad! It's also a great spot for promoting your favorite activities. However, the beer was small.

On June 28, 2023 (Wednesday) for dinner, I had work in Shinjuku in the afternoon and decided to have dinner there as well. I visited a restaurant that I had bookmarked previously. It is located at the entrance of Kabukicho, on the left side of the Suzuya Building on the 5th floor. Established in 1954, this restaurant is famous for its tonkatsu rice bowl, so I decided to give it a try. I sat by the window and ordered the Suzuya specialty tonkatsu rice bowl in a regular size (1680 yen), with the sauce being the classic soy flavor and topped with a hot spring egg (180 yen). The dish arrived with tonkatsu on an iron plate, topped with cabbage sautéed in soy sauce, and a hot spring egg on top. It was a bit confusing, but I followed the instructions and tried it as it was served. The crispy texture of the tonkatsu was already lost due to the soy sauce, and the combination of sautéed cabbage and hot spring egg added to the chaos. However, this was just the beginning. I ate about half of the tonkatsu, called the staff over, got some tea, poured it over the rice with tonkatsu, and turned it into a rice bowl. The tonkatsu became soggy and not very appetizing. The rice was enjoyable, but I still believe that the crispy texture of tonkatsu is essential. The total bill came to 1860 yen. While eating, I noticed the cover of the menu, which featured Shiko Munakata. Looking around the restaurant, I saw two paintings of Munakata on the wall. The menu explained that the founders of Suzuya had a close relationship with Munakata and other artists. Moreover, the founders were originally fond of folk crafts, and artists like Munakata, Soetsu Yanagi, and Bernard Leach used to visit the restaurant. It was indeed an impressive place. Another remarkable aspect of the restaurant was the view from the window seat, overlooking the Kabukicho entrance intersection. You could see the main entrance intersection of Kabukicho on the left and the elevated tracks of the Yamanote Line and Chuo Line on the right, with Yasukuni Street passing underneath. This reminded me of a story shared by Ota of the comedy duo "Bakusho Mondai." He mentioned feeling suffocated and uncomfortable in New York City with its grid-like streets but felt a sense of freedom upon returning to Tokyo and passing through the large gate of Shinjuku by car. He believed that the paths created by people's footsteps are the true roads, unlike the organized grid-like streets. I resonated with his sentiment. Shinjuku was hot today, with Tokyo's highest temperature reaching 32.3°C.

Tonkatsu Chazuke, regular size, with karashi soy sauce, for 1680 yen. The interior of the restaurant doesn't feel like it was established in 1954, with its high-quality atmosphere, and you can see the sparkling neon lights of Shinjuku Station from the counter seats. I ordered the famous Tonkatsu Chazuke. The tonkatsu was bite-sized, topped with plenty of stir-fried cabbage and sprinkled with chopped seaweed. At first, I enjoyed the cabbage and tonkatsu as a side dish with rice. The cabbage, with a strong karashi soy sauce flavor, paired perfectly with the rice, whetting my appetite. Contrary to my expectation of a tonkatsu with a wet sauce-like coating, the actual tonkatsu had a crispy texture with a soy sauce flavor. The meat itself was juicy and tender. The rice was shiny and of high quality. The tonkatsu itself had a strong flavor, possibly adjusted to be stronger for the chazuke, but personally, I found it a bit too strong. When about half of the rice was left, I ordered tea and enjoyed it as chazuke by pouring high-quality hojicha over it. The tea diluted the strong flavor, resulting in a refreshing taste. This was the perfect balance.

"Ordered Item: Shrimp Fry Set Meal for 1,850 yen (3 shrimp fries, cabbage, lemon, mustard, pickles, miso soup with clams, tartar sauce, rice) - Tartar sauce and rice are free for upsizing. I'm not sure if miso soup refills are free. - Potato salad for 580 yen. Good Points: - The tartar sauce paired well with the rice. - The sesame dressing for the cabbage was delicious. Bad Points: - The shrimp fries were long but small. Overall: 5 out of 10. Neither good nor bad. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat the shrimp fries."

I entered the restaurant as soon as it opened. A few customers started to come in gradually but it was not crowded. I tried the tonkatsu chazuke for the first time. I ordered a small size with an additional order of a large shrimp fry. The tonkatsu portion was small, but you could get unlimited refills of cabbage, miso soup, pickles, and rice. I added extra cabbage, but I should have asked for only half the portion as it was quite a lot. Although it was labeled as a large shrimp fry, it wasn't that big. I was worried if I could finish it, but it turned out to be okay. The taste was just average. It was fun to eat it normally and then have the chazuke.

The specialty is "tonkatsu chazuke". Here, soy sauce is recommended instead of sauce. The savory aroma of soy sauce burned on a hot plate stimulates the appetite. The steamed cabbage piled on the side is also delicious. Shortly after, get a refill of rice. This is when the chazuke mode kicks in. Add plenty of extra soy sauce since the flavor becomes mild. Delicious. A dish that goes beyond the concept of tonkatsu.

Suzuya specialty, Tonkatsu Chazuke in regular size with soy sauce flavor for 1,680 yen. Delicious light soy sauce flavor with crispy tonkatsu and soft cabbage. The chazuke with tonkatsu, cabbage, takana (mustard greens), and nori is a perfect match. Rice, miso soup, pickles, and cabbage are all-you-can-eat. About 20% of the seats were occupied on Sunday at 20:48. After entering the store, a staff member led me to a table and wiped it, but then asked me to sit elsewhere, which was a bit too much.

The tonkatsu with mustard-flavored sauce and the cabbage on top complement each other perfectly, making it delicious even when eaten as is. The second half can be enjoyed as ochazuke for a refreshing taste. I ordered the large size, which turned out to be more filling than expected, but the regular size seems to offer good value for money.

Located in Kabukicho, Shinjuku, this famous restaurant known for its tonkatsu rice bowl is situated on the 5th floor of a building owned by Suzuya. The interior exudes a luxurious atmosphere that you wouldn't expect from a tonkatsu restaurant, with a view of Shinjuku's neon lights sparkling through the windows. I ordered the tonkatsu rice bowl, opting for the regular size and the classic soy sauce flavor. The staff explained how to eat the dish: first, enjoy the cabbage and tonkatsu as side dishes with the rice. When the rice is about half gone, order some tea and pour it over the remaining rice to enjoy it as ochazuke. The tonkatsu is bite-sized, served with boiled cabbage and sprinkled with chopped seaweed. It has a rich flavor even without any additional sauce, which complements the dish well. The miso soup, made with white miso and clams, is delicious. You can also have seconds of rice, pickles, cabbage, and miso soup. It seems that many comedians frequent this restaurant.

Tonkatsu Chazuke Suzuya Shinjuku Main Store, located near Shinjuku Station, is a must-visit spot for tonkatsu lovers. The signature dish, tonkatsu chazuke, was enjoyed by a group of six diners who tried both the classic soy sauce and mustard soy sauce flavors, with each person giving it a thumbs up. This restaurant is definitely worth revisiting, as everyone left fully satisfied. Highly recommended when in Kabukicho's 1st Street for a taste of the new era. Once you step into LEIWAN, you won't be able to escape its captivating charm. #TonkatsuChazukeSuzuyaShinjukuMainStore #ShinjukuDinner #LEIWAN

When I was struggling to find a place for lunch in Shinjuku, I stumbled upon a famous restaurant known for its tonkatsu chazuke. I was torn between ordering the regular tonkatsu or trying their specialty dish. I decided to go for the chazuke and it was delicious. I started off eating it as it is, then later mixed it with tea. It was a great experience.

"It was delicious, the tonkatsu ochazuke. Four colleagues from work visited, but it was the first time for three of us. There were various reactions, but everyone agreed that 'soy sauce flavored tonkatsu is delicious.' It's a valuable shop that teaches us that tonkatsu doesn't always have to be served with sauce."

Today, after several years, I had lunch with the president of the company I work for at "Suzuya Shinjuku Honten," a famous tonkatsu tea pickles restaurant at the entrance of Kabukicho Ichiban-gai in Shinjuku. This tonkatsu restaurant is quite unique and is always full during both lunch and dinner. What surprised me was that instead of the usual shredded raw cabbage, they served stir-fried cabbage with several seasonings. Personally, I prefer this over raw cabbage. After finishing the tonkatsu set meal, it was enjoyable to change the taste by adding pickles, umeboshi, and placing the tonkatsu on top of rice, then pouring hot tea and sauce over it. It was delicious! Thank you for the meal!

The companion ordered tonkatsu chazuke, which may have influenced it, as I was able to get three types of cabbage for tonkatsu chazuke as a refill, not just the normal shredded cabbage, which felt like a good deal. Among the three types, the garlic ginger soy sauce cabbage was my favorite.

Lunch on 04/06 at Suzuya Shinjuku Main Store. I had the tonkatsu rice bowl for 1,680 yen. The service was good, the food was served quickly, the taste was great, they provided cold water, and the portion size was just right. At first, I was surprised by the combination of tonkatsu and rice, but it was actually really good. The view was also nice, and I enjoyed my meal until the end in the best environment. I think it would be a great menu option for foreigners as well.

When living in Tokyo, it is common to expect long lines at popular ramen and tonkatsu restaurants, even during off-peak hours like 3 PM. However, I recently found a tonkatsu restaurant in Shinjuku called "Suzuya" (Shinjuku Main Store) where there was no line and I could be seated right away. The restaurant is located on the 5th floor of a building with no prominent sign downstairs, which might explain the lack of crowds. I ordered the "Suzuya Lunch (¥1,380)" and it arrived in about 6-7 minutes. The meal included 5 pieces of fried items (2 menchi katsu, 2 tonkatsu, and shrimp fry), miso soup, rice, and unlimited cabbage. The cost-performance ratio was great at ¥1,380, and the food tasted delicious. I particularly enjoyed sitting by the window overlooking the streets of Shinjuku. Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience. Additionally, I was able to pay with a credit card.