Today, with no particular plans and nice weather, I decided to explore around Tsukiji Ginza. I stumbled upon Hasegawa just before opening. I chose to have tonkatsu today. I ordered the hirekatsu. It was delicious with both salt and sauce options. The meat was tender and satisfying.

Elderly people often wait for the restaurant to open early for lunch, even after reaching their 70s and 80s. There is a reason why they enjoy eating tonkatsu energetically. While tonkatsu is often associated with being greasy, the sweet and crispy pork served here is truly delicious. Even during busy lunch hours, they fry the tonkatsu perfectly. Sometimes I also order curry, which is very tasty with a rich meaty flavor. For dinner, I recommend the shabu-shabu. I won't go into detail about the broth today, but it is delicious. If you want to entertain foreign guests, I think this restaurant is one of the best places to experience authentic Japanese cuisine.

Katsudon with less rice for 1900 yen. The breading is not crispy. It's not fried or covered in egg, maybe that's the style. The meat is thick and thin. The egg, onion, and broth are good. Just not my preferred type. The breadcrumbs don't work well.

I used to live in Higashi-Nihonbashi for a while, and back then, I used to frequent Ryogoku's "Hasegawa" (formerly known as "Musashiya") a lot. Recently, I found out through some media that a new "Hasegawa" has opened in Higashi-Ginza, so I decided to visit for lunch out of nostalgia. I ordered the recommended "Thick-cut Premium Pork Cutlet" while waiting for the opening. The thickness of the tonkatsu when it was served was impressive. The staff recommended to try it with salt and wasabi, and when I took a bite, the sweetness of the fatty part really stood out. The quality of the pork at "Hasegawa" is truly high, with the lean meat being moist and tender, while the fatty part has a rich flavor and sweetness (yet it doesn't leave a heavy aftertaste). The breadcrumbs are crispy, and overall, the tonkatsu is not heavy at all. I found myself finishing two bowls of rice and two servings of cabbage without even realizing it. The rice is delicious too. It goes really well with tonkatsu, so I was contemplating between Koshihikari or Milky Queen rice, and then I noticed a sign saying "Koshihikari rice from Chiba Prefecture" in the store. Ah, that explains it. So, I had a very satisfying lunch. I've decided! I'll alternate between here and Nishi-Mura's place haha. It was so delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Tonkatsu Hasegawa, located in Ryogoku and Higashi Ginza, has limited edition menus at each location. In Ryogoku, they have the "Yokozuna," "Ozeki," and "Gokujou Roast" inspired by the Kokugikan. In Higashi Ginza, they have the "Sha Pork Brie" which is a unique tonkatsu only available at that location. I went to try the "Sha Pork Brie" at the Higashi Ginza branch. The Sha Pork Brie is a type of tonkatsu made from the core part of the fillet, leaving a pink color in the frying process. It remains juicy and tender from start to finish. Sometimes this type of tonkatsu can lose its juiciness over time, but there was no need to worry about that here. The breading is also good, with a nice fried oil aroma and a crispy texture throughout. It was delicious on its own, with salt, or sauce, as the flavor of the pork came through well. The shredded cabbage was cut very finely, and they have their own homemade onion dressing which you can pour generously over it. The rice is Chiba prefecture's Koshihikari, cooked to perfection and tasty on its own. The miso soup had red dashi with enoki mushrooms, tofu, and mitsuba, providing a refreshing taste. The two side dishes were simmered hijiki with a nice balance of sweetness and soy sauce, and pickles with cucumber and turnip for a refreshing touch. Overall, not only the tonkatsu but also the side dishes made the meal very satisfying. I arrived before 12 pm and could get a seat easily, but by the time I left, there were many customers waiting, so it seems like going around 11:30 to 12 pm is a good idea. It was a delicious meal.

I learned from the mistake of it being sold out last time and made a reservation to finally try the Chateaubriand. The beautiful pink color of the meat got me excited. It was so tender! First, I tried a piece with just salt. Then, I tried it with the sauce. It truly lived up to its reputation of selling out. If you get the chance, please try it out!

When moving from the site, I used this place for lunch. The lunch special was a 120g pork cutlet for 1,500 yen. Full service, perfectly fried. It was my first time trying the lunch menu. In an area with Nishimura Yakatsuhei and Tonkichi, it may not be the first choice for lunch. The portion size felt more like a lunch portion. However, the price matched the taste and service of this truly delicious tonkatsu.

I don't have a chance to go to both countries, so I stopped by the East Ginza store on my way home from work. I sat at the counter because it was available. I ordered the thick-cut premium 220g pork cutlet. The perfect frying texture and the sweetness of the meat and fat were amazing. It was nice to have mustard and wasabi as defaults. I enjoyed alternating between salt and wasabi, and mustard and sauce. I will try it again for lunch.

The tonkatsu is crispy and sweet with a light texture, thanks to the addition of shortening. The pork used is of high quality, perfectly fried without any dryness in the lean parts. The fat of the loin is juicy and when you bite into it, a sweet flavor spreads. There is also sauce available, but eating it with wasabi and salt as accompaniments allows you to better appreciate the deliciousness of the meat. There are counter seats, tables, and a room in the back that is not easily visible from the outside.

The area around East Ginza is a fierce battleground for tonkatsu restaurants, with Nishioku and Imakatsu being packed during lunchtime. However, this relatively new place is almost full but you don't have to wait too long. I had the lunch set with 120g of loin and 60g of tenderloin for 2000 yen. I think it's a great deal for the quality of pork from Hirazakura Bark Sangen pork. Both the loin and tenderloin were delicious with a rich flavor and sweetness, but the tenderloin was particularly impressive. It was incredibly juicy, especially when eaten with wasabi. This set, where you can enjoy both loin and tenderloin, is quite a bargain! Rice and cabbage were also free for refills.

I didn't know there was a Tonkatsu Hasegawa in both countries, so I visited for the first time in Higashi-Ginza. I was able to get in relatively quickly! I ordered a combination of fillet and loin, along with rice and miso soup. It was delicious as always! Both were tender and the rice went well with it. It was delicious, it's been a while since I had Hasegawa.

Today, I visited Tonkatsu Hasegawa Higashi Ginza store. Tonkatsu Hasegawa Higashi Ginza store is a tonkatsu restaurant located in Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. It is located about a 3-minute walk from Higashi-Ginza Station, and personally, it is one of the top three delicious tonkatsu restaurants I have been to, and I have visited many times. This time, I visited during lunchtime, so it was full and I had to wait for about 5 minutes before entering. As usual, I ordered the thick-cut tonkatsu. The thick-cut premium pork cutlet has a stretchy and chewy texture with a hint of sweetness. The flavor of the sauce is also wonderful, and the fat and salt are exceptionally delicious. It is a wonderful tonkatsu that always tastes delicious whenever I come. Thank you for the meal.

On the day I became a lunch refugee, I thought of this place as a high-priced but surefire option where you can get in without waiting. And indeed, I got in without waiting! They don't have a lunch menu on Sundays, so it's a bit pricey, but it's much better than waiting in line at a less tasty place. I'm really grateful. I ordered the plum-flavored pork and garlic-flavored pork and swapped them. Both were delicious! The plum-flavored pork had plenty of plum sauce, which complemented the acidity and pork well. I thought it was the perfect choice to eat it without lemon. I also had pickled turnips, miso soup, pickles, and simmered hijiki, and they were all delicious. It was a good day.

Revisited the restaurant. Unfortunately, the "Char Siu Brian" that I was aiming for was sold out (tears). It seems like it's a super rare menu item that you can only get if you come a little earlier. I ended up ordering the "Top Sirloin Set Meal," but it was still delicious. Also, the appetizers "Meat Miso Cucumber" and "Homemade Dressing" were tasty, so I bought some dressing to take home. Hopefully, next time I'll be able to try the Brian...

The first time at this restaurant, I always struggle between choosing pork loin or pork fillet. However, I discovered a menu item called "Loin & Half Fillet Set" for 2900 yen. The result was impressive - both were of high quality and delicious! Personally, I prefer the pork loin, but both were equally good. The original onion dressing was so tasty that I even bought some as a souvenir. However, the "Shabu Pork Brie" that the customer next to me ordered looked incredibly delicious, so I decided to try it next time. Thank you for the delicious tonkatsu!

Due to my love for tonkatsu, I have set a rule for myself not to eat it unless invited, but today I was invited. My wife, children, and I went to Hasegawa in Ginza. Although I was tempted by the famous katsudon, I ended up choosing tonkatsu since it had been a while since I last had it. I had the special thick-cut loin, while my wife had the plum and shiso fillet. My son and mother-in-law had the fillet takeout. I have always insisted that tonkatsu is only tonkatsu if it's made with loin, but I have come to appreciate fillet as well. The fillet here was tender, sweet, and delicious. The traditional tonkatsu here is a real gem. I love it. The miso soup was piping hot, but there could have been more pickles. The seasoned hijiki side dish was tasty. I look forward to trying the katsudon and other dishes next time. This might be my favorite tonkatsu place in Ginza.

Located a 5-minute walk from Tsukiji Station, the famous restaurant Hasegawa has its main branch in Ryogoku. They specialize in brand pork from Tochigi Prefecture, specifically the "Hiraboku Bark Sangen Buta" brand. The Hasegawa Kanto Ginza branch offers tonkatsu, which is open until around 10 pm, making it a rare find in the area. Despite the high number of foreign tourists in the neighborhood, I was able to secure a seat at the counter. I ordered the limited special, a 180g top loin cutlet for 2,300 yen, along with a draft beer for 700 yen. The beer came in a small glass, and the appetizers of simmered hijiki seaweed and pickles were complimentary. While waiting for the cutlet to be fried, I enjoyed my drink, and the dish was ready in about 20 minutes. The crispy coating was as expected, but the top loin cutlet's combination of lean and fatty meat was exquisite, resulting in a juicy and flavorful experience. This must be the impact of the brand pork "Hiraboku Bark Sangen Buta"! Honestly, this may be the best top loin cutlet I've ever had, and the rice and red miso soup were also top-notch. The homemade onion dressing served with shredded cabbage is addictively delicious. Including the beer, the total cost of around 3,000 yen offers exceptional value in the East Ginza neighborhood. -------------------------------------------------------- ~ Tonkatsu Hasegawa Kanto Ginza Branch ~ Address: 1-13-11 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Takahashi Building 1st floor Business hours: Lunch 11:30 - 15:00 (Last order 14:30), Dinner 17:00 - 22:30 (Last order 22:00) Closed: Open every day except for New Year's holidays Cards accepted: VISA, MasterCard, JCB, AMEX, Diners Electronic money accepted: Suica, nanaco, WAON, iD, QUICPay Seating capacity: 24 seats - Counter 8 seats, Table 4 seats x 4 -------------------------------------------------------- #Hasegawa #TonkatsuHasegawa #TsukijiGourmet #EastGinzaGourmet #TsukijiDinner #EastGinzaDinner #TopLoinCutlet #PorkCutlet #TonkatsuSet #TsukijiStation #EastGinzaStation

Date of visit: May 26, 2023 (Friday) Arrival time: 13:15 Crowdedness: About 50% The pork is from Hiraboku Sangen Buta and is tender with plenty of juicy meat. It has a crispy texture and the meat juice and unique umami spread throughout the mouth. It's recommended to eat it with salt and wasabi for a refreshing taste that allows you to enjoy the true deliciousness of the meat. The original dressing on the cabbage, simmered hijiki side dish, pickles, rice, and red miso soup were all delicious. The lunch size was 120g, so it felt a bit small. Next time, I will go for the regular size.