If you want to enjoy crispy tonkatsu, you should visit "Haru no Chi Katsu" for the first time. The first time I visited, there was a long line at night so I had to give up, but I visited again this time. The first floor has only counter seats, while the second floor offers course menus. I was torn between the Louie pork and Fuji Duroc for the evening set, but I chose the Fuji Duroc loin set with ochazuke. The other side dishes also looked delicious and tempting! The tonkatsu, fried twice in fryers at different temperatures, is served with a note saying to let it sit for about 5 minutes to enjoy the crispy texture. I couldn't wait to eat it as I watched it being fried in front of me. After a 15-minute wait, the tonkatsu was served, crispy and juicy, with a refreshing taste that allows you to taste the sweetness of the meat. Following the recommendation, I tried it with salt, dashi soy sauce, and sauce, gradually intensifying the flavor, which was irresistible. Personally, I preferred it with a light dashi soy sauce. Finally, I finished with ochazuke, enjoying a satisfying finish. I'm curious about trying the course menu on the second floor next time. Thank you for the meal!

Sunny Cutlet♪ I went to a tonkatsu restaurant called "Harunochi Katsu" near Higashi-Ginza Station in Tokyo to have a pork cutlet♪ When I entered the restaurant, there were only 10 counter seats on the first floor, but there were private rooms on the upper floor, and if you order a group course, you can go to a completely private room☆ I ordered: Fuji Duroc Pork Loin Cutlet Set 1,500 yen, Fuji Duroc Pork Tenderloin Cutlet Set 1,600 yen *All prices include tax. The tonkatsu arrived in about 15 minutes♪ It was big, thick, and the meat looked shiny and delicious♪ Let's dig in! The pork cutlet was tender, with a strong sweetness of the pork meat and very delicious!! Even from the crispy coating, you can immediately tell the good quality and tenderness of the meat♪ The tenderloin cutlet had a good balance of the pork's umami and lean meat's umami, and it was delicious♪ The salt, dashi soy sauce, and sauce were all delicious no matter what you dip them in♪ Not only the cutlets, but also the tofu, ginger, and white dashi clam soup were all delicious♪ Thank you for the meal☆ I will definitely go again!!

I visited "Harenochi Katsu" in Higashi Ginza for lunch on a Monday. This restaurant is operated by "FIVE SENSES," which also has eateries in Ueno. As I approached the restaurant, I noticed other popular katsu places like "Imakatsu" and "Nishi Mura" nearby, making it a highly competitive area. "Harenochi Katsu" opened in August 2021, and it has been two years since then. When I arrived ten minutes before opening, there was already a group of three people waiting in line. Surprisingly, they were foreigners! Even the people behind me in line were also foreigners. I wonder if this place has been featured in foreign magazines. The staff came to take my order, and I chose the LYB pork loin katsu set with a bottle of Super Dry beer. The restaurant opened at 11:30, and I was seated at the counter. I enjoyed my Super Dry beer while waiting for my food. After about 15 minutes, my LYB pork loin katsu set arrived. The LYB pork is a crossbreed of Landrace, Yorkshire, and Berkshire pigs, hence the name "Louis Vuiton Pork." It was tender and had a hint of sweetness. I tried it with salt, which enhanced the sweetness even more. The sauce was average, but the miso soup was delicious. I had seconds of rice and finished my meal without feeling heavy. The katsu was truly delicious, and I can see why it's gaining popularity. I'll definitely visit again.

I was looking for a solo-friendly and cost-effective meal in Ginza, and although there were several tonkatsu restaurants, I decided to come here because I liked that they serve it with salt. The restaurant seemed to have opened about 2 years ago, so the interior was clean and neat. I was seated at the counter and I ordered the Fuji Duroc pork fillet cutlet after some hesitation. The cutlet is fried twice in oil at different temperatures, so it took a bit of time for it to be served. The crust of the cutlet was crispy and the pieces were large, making it satisfying to bite into. The fillet meat was tender and easy to eat. The seasoning of salt and pepper was just right, and it was delicious even without any additional condiments. They provided salt, dashi soy sauce, spicy sauce, and sweet sauce, and I preferred to eat it with salt and dashi soy sauce mixed with mustard. The clam soup, homemade tofu, and pickles were all delicious as well. The portion was larger than it appeared, and it took me some time to finish the meal. The pork fillet cutlet set meal was 1600 yen, and I think it's a good value for the location in Ginza. There was a woman who spoke English and she efficiently guided foreign tourists, making me feel that tourists can confidently enter the restaurant. The fillet cutlet was very delicious, but since everyone else seemed to be ordering the pork loin cutlet, I also thought I should have ordered that. Next time, I would like to try the loin cutlet made with Louiebi pork.

Recently, I often hear about this restaurant, "Harenochikatsu," located near Higashi-Ginza station with good access from the station. The interior of the restaurant is compact with only counter seats, but it is clean and each seat is spacious so you don't feel cramped. They use two types of pork in their menu, "Fuji Duroc" and "LYB Pork." The characteristics of the breeds are that Fuji Duroc is juicy and tender with a fluffy texture, while LYB Pork is a rare brand with high-quality sweet fat and fine meat texture. This was my first visit, so I ordered the basic Fuji Duroc 200g hirekatsu set. They take orders while you wait in line, so the waiting time once seated is short. They even bring barley tea to sip on while waiting, which is thoughtful. The hirekatsu itself is a generous 200g portion, with a crispy coating and a good balance of fat sweetness. The rice is fluffy and deliciously cooked, and you can get a free refill. The miso soup is a white miso soup with clams, light and gentle on the body. The shredded cabbage is thin and served without dressing, meant to be eaten with the sauce. The pickles are daikon with yuzu, low in salt and refreshing. Additionally, they serve cold tofu as a side dish, which is much appreciated in the hot summer. Not only the food but also the staff's attentive service while waiting is excellent. The portion size is substantial even though they use brand pork, so you will definitely leave satisfied. Next time, I might try the LYB Pork, as it also seems promising. Thank you for the delicious meal!

Visited on a Sunday around 11:30 am. The counter was the only seating available and was half empty when we arrived, but quickly filled up and a waitlist started. Cold barley tea was a nice touch. The interior of the restaurant, with only a counter, was very clean and beautiful. I ordered the Fuji Duroc pork fillet cutlet set for 1,400 yen. It took about 15 minutes for the food to be served. The pork was cooked at a low temperature, resulting in a beautiful pink color. It was crispy on the outside, juicy, and tender on the inside. I've been to various famous tonkatsu restaurants, but this one exceeded my expectations by far! On the table, there were condiments like hot mustard, salt, dashi soy sauce, spicy sauce, and medium sauce. Additionally, wasabi and ponzu sauce were available as optional toppings. Personally, I enjoyed the salt the most. The miso soup was made with white miso and clams. The pickled radish and grated tofu were refreshing and complemented the meal well. Even though the portion was already quite generous, you could get free refills of rice and cabbage. The service was excellent, with the staff explaining the differences in meat quality and displaying a high level of hospitality. Whenever I crave tonkatsu, I will definitely come back to this place without hesitation! They only accept cash payments.

Platto, today's lunch was a stroll around the area near Higashi-Ginza. From Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Higashi-Ginza Station Exit 5, when you go up to the ground, you'll see a traffic light in front of you and Harumi Street to your right. Make a U-turn, head towards Kabuki-za, turn right at the first T-junction, walk a bit, then continue straight at the first crossroads, walk a bit more, and turn left at the first crossroads. A little further on your left, you'll find the restaurant I visited today, "Hare Nochi Katsu." I arrived at the restaurant at 11:55 on a weekday. When I entered the restaurant, a male staff member guided me to the front counter seat. The counter seat was only one seat available, and the restaurant was full. First, I checked the menu after sitting at the counter. The menu included: Tonkatsu set meal (lunch menu) - Fuji Duroc loin cutlet set meal (200g) 1,300 yen - Shoulder loin cutlet set meal (200g) 1,600 yen - Top loin cutlet set meal (200g) 1,700 yen - Fillet cutlet set meal (180g) 1,400 yen LYB pork (Louisville pork) - Loin cutlet set meal (200g) 2,300 yen - Shoulder loin cutlet set meal (200g) 2,700 yen - Top loin cutlet set meal (200g) 3,200 yen - Fillet cutlet set meal (180g) 2,800 yen - LYB minced cutlet (60g) 350 yen Toppings - Dashi tea pickles 250 yen - Homemade grated yuzu ponzu 200 yen - Wasabi 100 yen Drink menu - God foam draft beer Premium Malt 700 yen - Bottled beer 700 yen - Non-alcoholic beer 550 yen - Midori 550 yen - Kakuhai highball 550 yen - Yamazaki highball 950 yen - Chita highball 750 yen - Homemade marinated lemon sour 550 yen - Domestic plum wine 500 yen - Oolong highball 500 yen - Glass of white wine 550 yen - Glass of red wine 550 yen - Cold sake 650 yen - Sweet potato / barley shochu 550 yen - Oolong tea 350 yen - Jasmine tea 350 yen - Cola 350 yen - Ginger ale 350 yen - New sake Koshu white wine 2022 900 yen. I wanted to eat "loin cutlet," so I chose the "Fuji Duroc loin cutlet set meal" which caught my eye at the top left of the menu, and ordered it from the male staff. After ordering, I checked the condiments on the table, which included mustard, salt, dashi soy sauce, sauce (spicy), and Madros medium thick sauce. Then, I waited while drinking barley tea. After 13 minutes, the "loin cutlet set meal" was served. The "loin cutlet set meal" consisted of "loin cutlet (200g) with shredded cabbage," "cold tofu," "pickles," "rice," and "miso soup." The "loin cutlet" was freshly fried, with a crispy golden brown coating and a slightly pink interior. I first ate a piece of "loin cutlet" without any sauce. The original taste of the loin cutlet was robust. The crispy coating and tender meat texture were irresistible. The meat was sweet and delicious. After eating a piece, I ate rice and cabbage. Next, I sprinkled salt on a piece and ate it. Sprinkling salt enhanced the sweetness of the meat and intensified the umami flavor. Then, I poured "dashi soy sauce," "sauce (spicy)," and "Madros medium thick sauce" on the "loin cutlet" and ate it. For the cabbage, I used "dashi soy sauce" at first and "Madros medium thick sauce" at the end. I tried various ways of eating the "loin cutlet," but personally, I recommend using "salt" and "Madros medium thick sauce with mustard." "Salt" enhances the flavor of the "loin cutlet." "Madros medium thick sauce with mustard" made me feel like I was really eating a "tonkatsu." The miso soup was made with clam broth, and it had plenty of clams in it. I ate the clams and drank the miso soup.

Inbound tourism is back and all the famous restaurants near Higashi-Ginza Kibamachi have long lines. Here, it's not quite a line but more of a short wait on a Sunday afternoon around 1 pm. I checked if they had the limited shoulder loin cutlet set for 1600 yen and entered. It's 200g, made with Fuji Duroc pork. After a 10-minute wait, the set arrived with homemade tofu and miso soup with clams, making it a great deal. Today, the frying of the cutlet was perfect, with a pink color and a lot of fat visible, but the fat made it really juicy and delicious! The balance between lean meat and fat in today's shoulder loin was particularly wonderful. I asked for extra cabbage and rice, which are free refills. It feels like the quality improves every time I visit, and I was very satisfied with today's Sunday lunch!

I finally made it to Harenochi Katsu, a place I've been curious about for a while. It was around 12:30, so I was prepared to wait in line, but luckily I was able to get in smoothly as there was a changeover happening. While waiting for my LYB Rosukatsu, I read the recommended way to eat it written on the menu, and the staff noticed and kindly explained it to me. They said that dipping the tofu that comes with it in a little salt makes it delicious. When I finally tasted it, it was sizzling hot, but surprisingly light and really tasty with just salt! The tofu was also delicious with just salt! After trying the recommended way once, I kept attacking it with just "salt" and it was still delicious. After finishing the meal, I felt full for a few hours haha.

I ordered the top loin cutlet from the Fuji side. There are four table seasonings: hot mustard, salt, dashi soy sauce, spicy sauce, and some sauce from Tochigi. The meat is soft, juicy, and sweet when eaten as is. It tastes even sweeter when eaten with salt. I tried all the seasonings little by little, but salt is the best. However, as it is a side dish for rice, I recommend adding hot mustard, dashi soy sauce, and a little sweetness in addition to salt. The breading is intact with the meat, but the breading is not crispy because it is fried at a low temperature. It would be even better if they fried it at a high temperature for 10 seconds at the end to make the breading crispy. The rice was also delicious. Most importantly, the homemade tofu in the small dish was incredibly delicious.

I had the Fuji Duroc pork cutlet set meal (1300 yen). It's a bit hard to say "Duroc" so I always end up laughing when I try. I think it's amazing that they can offer such quality at this price. My favorite way to eat it is with salt. The side dishes of miso soup with clams, pickled vegetables, and tofu were all delicious. It seems to be a busy restaurant, especially during the day when there are many foreign customers. The restaurant only has counter seats, but it's easy for a woman to dine alone here. In fact, there was a woman dining alone when I visited. And you can get a free refill of rice and cabbage once! ✨

Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and Toei Asakusa Line "Higashi-Ginza Station" is a 4-minute walk away. During lunchtime, there is always a line waiting to enter the restaurant. They offer two types of tonkatsu: Fuji Duroc and the rare brand pork LYB Pork. LYB Pork Shoulder Loin Cutlet Set 2,700 yen LYB Pork Menchi Katsu (60g) 350 yen The LYB Pork (Louisville Pork) has a rare value that lives up to its name, with elegant fat and fine meat texture that is delicious. The large tonkatsu has a good amount of fat, but it is not overly sweet and can be eaten quickly. You can enjoy it with sauce, salt, or soy sauce, but the sauce was delicious. Instagram ID: kuidaore.8.

Fuji Duroc/Top Loin Cutlet Set Meal I gave up on Tsukiji and was wandering around when I stumbled upon this gem. The meat in the cutlet was tender and had a subtle sweetness from the fat. There were various seasonings available like salt, spicy sauce, and Madras sauce. You could also get a refill of cabbage, which was a nice touch. The cutlet was coated in breadcrumbs and fried carefully at a low temperature, allowing the meat to settle. The service was attentive, and the size of the restaurant was just right. Overall, very satisfied! If I had to nitpick, I would say they could improve the rice a bit. Thank you for the delicious meal!

I happened to come across a nice looking restaurant while strolling around. Although there was a line, I was lucky to get in after waiting for only about 5 minutes. I was feeling really unwell due to a hangover in the morning, but I believed that eating good meat would make me feel better. The meal had a generous portion with 200g of meat and rice. I didn't know what the difference was, but since I had visited, I decided to order the expensive menu item. I ordered the LY (Louis) beautiful pork shoulder loin set meal (2700 yen). I forgot to take a picture of the cross-section. The unique selling point is the low-frequency double frying, so it took some time to be served, but when I saw the final product, I felt that waiting was totally worth it. There was attention to detail not only in the meat but also in the salt, soy sauce, and sauce, and I enjoyed it very much.

I arrived a little after 2 o'clock and the restaurant was full. I waited for about 5 minutes and got a seat. I ordered a 200-gram pork cutlet for 1300 yen. There were two types of sauce available - salt, soy sauce, and sauce. It was recommended to start eating without any sauce, then try salt and move on to the others. The pork cutlet was thick and had just the right amount of fat. The quality for this price in Ginza is highly commendable. You can have seconds of rice and cabbage, and I left feeling full.

During lunchtime, there was a line at Harekatsu. Well, that taste is worth it. Managed to get in despite the heavy rain. Here, the only choice is the pork loin set meal. It has a good balance of lean and fatty meat. Last time, I asked for wasabi and now it's available as a topping menu! The staff also recommended trying tonkatsu with wasabi. Try the salt and wasabi with tonkatsu, it's definitely worth a try. It might become popular, probably.

I ordered the 200g Rosu from Louis Vuitton for 2300 yen. The seasonings included salt, dashi soy sauce, spicy homemade original sauce, sweet sauce, and mustard. Unlike the nearby tonkatsu restaurant, they fry the cutlet after you order it, so it takes about 15 minutes to come out. The cutlet coating is crispy and nice. They place it on a wire rack so it doesn't get soggy. This is really important. The cooking is perfectly done with a thin pink color. I usually don't like rare cutlets, but this one is exquisite. I tried the salt and sauces, but the salt was the best. You can taste the meat itself the most. Louis Vuitton... it's delicious. But it has a slight unique taste, so... hmm. Maybe it's because of the pepper scent? At first, the sweetness of the fat hits you, but there's a lingering smell in the aftertaste. Also, there's cabbage, clam soup, tofu, and pickles, is that shiso leaf? These pickles are delicious. Oh, and of course, the white rice is delicious too. Next time, I want to try the Fuji Duroc. But 200g was a bit heavy.

I came to Tsukiji with a purpose but ended up empty-handed. To lift my spirits, I decided to eat tonkatsu on my way back. There are many delicious tonkatsu restaurants in Higashi-Ginza for some reason, and this was my first visit to this one. It's located in a narrow alley, which seems like a tough spot, but the restaurant itself is clean and seems to cater to women. It was a weekday night, so there were only two other customers at the counter. The menu offers two types of pork. There is also a tonkatsu set menu, and after some deliberation, I chose the premium "Ryubi" pork for 2300 yen. I'm not a fan of brand names, but why not. After a short wait, the dish arrived. It looked bigger than 200g, with a light pink color and thin breading. When I took a bite, I could feel the firm texture and richness of the meat, it felt special. There were some tough parts, maybe because I ordered the regular option, but overall, it was delicious. I prefer a lighter taste with a more pronounced fatty impact. The recommended salt seasoning was indeed a good match. The dashi soy sauce was okay, but the spicier sauce was a bit too hot, and the medium sauce was a bit too strong in flavor. The miso soup with clams was delicious with plenty of clams. The pickles were also included, and I appreciated the attention to detail. Personally, I might have preferred the regular meat option. I will come back again. Thank you for the meal.

I arrived at 11:35 and there was only one seat left for the Fuji Duroc pork tenderloin cutlet set meal. They informed me that it would take about 15 minutes because they fry it twice at a low temperature. They also provided instructions on how to eat it - first as it is, then with salt, soy sauce with dashi, spicy sauce, and sweet sauce. It was tender and delicious.

This restaurant is always crowded, and I always wondered why, but it turned out to be a tonkatsu specialty shop. I had the cheapest pork loin for lunch, and I was completely satisfied with the thick and large piece of meat. I enjoyed changing the taste with salt, soy sauce, and sauce, and for 1300 yen, I felt a little luxurious.

I visited this restaurant once before and tried the "Louie Pork" at that time. While it was tasty, I didn't find it particularly delicious considering the high price, so I hadn't been back since. The menu offers two types of pork, Louie Pork and Fuji Duroc Pork, in set meals. This time, I decided to try the Fuji Duroc Pork fillet cutlet set meal. The order arrived in about 10 minutes. On the counter, there were salt, dipping sauces, and two types of sauce for you to try. I used a small dish to try the salt, spicy sauce, and sweet sauce. The meat was very tender, and even though fillet cuts can sometimes be dry, this one was delicious. I also had clam miso soup, which had a refreshing taste that paired well with the cutlet. The portion was generous, and the price was reasonable for a fillet cutlet.