I recently went to a popular pork cutlet bowl restaurant on a weekday when a typhoon was approaching. The main store in Monzen-Nakacho seemed really crowded, so I went to the Ikebukuro branch instead! I arrived at 10:30 when the elevator started moving and was second in line. While waiting, I ordered the special large portion of rice. By the time they opened at 11, there were 12 people in line. Maybe there were fewer people due to the typhoon. But wow, this next-level pork cutlet bowl is amazing. It's so delicious. The cutlet is incredibly thick and tender. I've never had anything like it before. The sweet and savory sauce is light and the yuzu pepper on the table adds a nice touch. It's delicious, and even someone like me who eats a lot was completely satisfied with the portion size. There's also a great tonkatsu place in the Hope Center at Ikebukuro Station, so I'll have a tough time deciding where to eat pork cutlet in Ikebukuro in the future.

Tonkatsu Maruichi Ikebukuro Branch Grilled Pork Cutlet Bowl (Special) ¥2,600 Additional Egg ¥100 Score 4.4/5 ★★★★☆ The meat is incredibly thick and the fatty part is very delicious. The coating is crispy, and the rich sauce pairs perfectly with the smooth egg. The sauce is initially lightly drizzled, with additional sauce provided separately. There are various condiments on the table, such as wasabi, yuzu pepper, rock salt, and shichimi. Instead of immediately adding sauce, I recommend trying different condiments by placing the cutlet on the lid of the dish. The sweet and savory taste of the sauce goes well with shichimi and wasabi, especially the wasabi was outstanding! I wonder if they offer extra rice or larger portions because the 300g cutlet seems like it might need more rice (laughs). In the Kanto region, the closed cutlet bowls are not that tasty, so if you're eating in the Kanto region, this open cutlet bowl is the way to go! - Other Notes - Saturday (Obon period) around 10:40 (20 minutes before opening), there was already a line of about 20 people. The store opened a little over 5 minutes early. It took about 1 hour until the dish was served. #Ikebukuro #IkebukuroGourmet #ToshimaWard #ToshimaWardGourmet #CutletBowl #OpenCutletBowl #Maruichi

- Visited before 4 pm on a weekday - As per reviews, was able to be seated without waiting at this time - Ordered the grilled pork cutlet bowl (large) - Received the dish about 10 minutes after ordering - The meat was tender with just the right amount of fat - As expected of a pork cutlet bowl, the egg topping and sweet sauce were delicious - However, the portion size might be a bit too much - Planning to visit again during regular hours next time

I went at 2:30 on a weekday and waited about 15 minutes to be seated. I ordered the Katsudon with extra egg and a large portion of rice. To be honest, I got a bit bored halfway through. There were many condiments for flavoring, but none were to my liking. Personally, I wish they had provided rock salt. If I were to order again, I might go for the special half portion.

◎Store Information・Overall Satisfaction (The thick cutlet bowl is one of a kind in Ikebukuro, comes with a sweet and savory sauce, and also includes soup. You can choose the amount of rice from small to large. The meat is very tender, so it's a must-try. It's conveniently located within a 30-second walk from Ikebukuro Station, regardless of the weather. Service is responsive when asked for recommendations, but can vary depending on the staff. The floor can be slippery, and even the staff members slip on it) Based on these factors, the overall rating is 81 points. (Rated out of 100 points for each category)◎Cost Performance: 84 points, Service: 79 points, Cleanliness: 50 points.◎Accepts PayPay and electronic payments.◎Order Details: Grilled Cutlet Bowl (Regular) for ¥1500. Appearance: Taste: 150g of pork cutlet on top of rice with a sweet and savory sauce. The meat is tender, accompanied by egg, clam soup, and pickled ginger for a rich flavor. The rice is a bit disappointing as it's slightly mushy and gets sticky when mixed with the sauce. The batter is thin. Free toppings are available on the table, with wasabi stems or yuzu pepper being recommended.◎Location: Ikebukuro Station, 6th floor of Esola. I would like to visit again. Thank you for the meal. #japan #foodporn #tabelog #foodstagram #foodie #tokyo #TokyoGourmet #Top100Restaurants #foodgram #foodlover #foodie #TokyoLunch #CutletBowl

Here on the 6th floor of Esola, there is a restaurant. About 20 minutes before opening, there were 4 people waiting, with more arriving one after another. I believe that the founder of Katsumarushichi, who made the famous "Mizuto Katsudon" in Shibuya, was inspired by the egg not closing in the divine spring, and their chain is expanding. Interestingly, the main store is for takeout only. Before opening, the staff will come with the menu to take orders. I ordered the special thick-cut pork cutlet bowl. The rice comes in a free large portion, but I opted for a regular size this time. When the restaurant opened and I entered, there were only table seats available, no counter. Since I had pre-ordered, my food arrived promptly. The thick pork cutlet is well-cooked, but slightly over-fried. Some parts of the breading are peeling off while others are not. This happens because the pork shrinks rapidly when fried at a high temperature. The cutlet is quite thick, made with rib loin. The fatty parts are tender, but the lean parts are a bit dry from being overcooked. The slightly runny egg on the bottom is generously topped with sweet and savory sauce. I think the cutlet would be even tastier if it had been cooked a bit less. PayPay is not accepted for payment, but some other electronic payments are. I paid with my ID.

The difference between the Katsudon (2100 yen) and the regular Katsudon lies in the weight and thickness of the pork. The poster shows that the upper one weighs 300g. Although I was served first, it took quite a long time from being seated to being served. The cutlet was indeed thick. However, when I took a bite, the breading easily fell off, and there was no sense of unity as a tonkatsu. The pork itself lacked flavor and tasted rather ordinary, which was disappointing. The portion was substantial at 300g and the thickness provided a satisfying chew, but unfortunately, it did not match my personal preference.

I went to "Marushichi," a recently opened restaurant in Ikebukuro, for lunch today. This place is known for its popular grilled pork cutlet bowl, with long lines forming even before it opens. I ordered the "Grilled Pork Cutlet Bowl (Special)" which uses a 300g rib roast, creating a thick and visually stunning dish. It was incredibly delicious. The rice portion was 240g, and towards the end, I started to feel overwhelmed by the richness of the rib roast. In the end, it was a satisfying meal.

I visited the Tonkatsu Marunana, a specialty restaurant for super thick cut pork cutlet bowls, which had opened in Ikebukuro. During lunch on a weekday, there was a line of about 10 people. I started lining up at exactly 2 PM and finally got my food at 2:40 PM, so the turnover rate was a bit slow, and there seemed to be a slightly limited number of seats. I ordered the Grilled Pork Cutlet Bowl (premium) with a 300g rib roast, and it was just as impactful as it looked in the pictures. Just looking at it made me smile. The cutlet was extremely thick but tender, with a very thin breading. The meat was juicy and easy to chew. It had less fat, so I didn't feel heavy afterwards. I enjoyed trying out different seasonings on the table and finished the meal feeling satisfied. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

On a regular Monday, I was curious about Marushichi-san's restaurant, but when I arrived at the restaurant after lazing around at home, it was already past 12:00 and there were over 20 people in line, so I had to give up for the time being. I killed time around Ikebukuro for an hour and then revisited the restaurant around 13:30, where there were about 10 people in line. I entered the restaurant around 14:00 after waiting for 30 minutes in line. I ordered the "Katsudon (large) for 2,100 yen" and the visual impact was impressive! The meat was even bigger than I expected. It looked just like the pictures I had seen online. I took a big bite of the meat... well, it was okay. When you bite into the large piece of meat, that's how it feels. It was a bit dry, but the meatiness was impressive. The taste of the meat itself wasn't very strong, so it was compensated by the greasiness of the coating and the sauce. I felt like the meat might have been cooked too much, but considering the thickness of the meat, it was understandable. The parts with more fat were delicious, so there might have been some variation in the cuts. By the way, when I saw the meat of the customer next to me as I was leaving, it was quite rare. The customer might have ordered it that way, but since the restaurant had just opened, there might be some inconsistency in the cooking. The egg and rice were both delicious, but my favorite was the sauce! The sauce was so tasty that it made even the slightly bland meat appetizing. When I started to get a little tired of the meal, I changed the flavor with the condiments on the table: yuzu pepper, wasabi, shichimi pepper, and salt (with something else in it, maybe cherry blossom or seaweed?). Personally, I liked the yuzu pepper the most. I tried my best to finish the meal, but I ended up leaving a little rice uneaten because I was so full. I apologize. Even though I eat more than average, if I left some rice, women might prefer a smaller portion of rice. When I left around 14:30, there were only about 5 people waiting outside, so if you wait a little longer, you might be able to get in easily.

Tonkatsu Maruichi in Ikebukuro, a 2-minute walk from the south exit of Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo, offers a "Yaki Katsu Don" (large) with an additional egg for 2,200 yen. This restaurant, which is known for its trendy "toji-nai" katsudon, has been gaining media attention lately and recently opened in Ikebukuro at the beginning of this month. Their claim to fame is having the thickest tonkatsu in Japan. Located on the 6th floor of Esola Ikebukuro, the restaurant had a line of about 10 people when I arrived around 4:30 pm due to some errands in Ikebukuro in the morning. After waiting for about 40 minutes, I was able to enter and was served the dish in just over 10 minutes after being seated. In addition to the katsudon, it also came with miso soup with clams and pickled ginger. The meat, which is about 300g, is approximately 3cm thick and easily falls apart when lifted. While the meat is tender, it is quite fatty. In addition to the sauce, there were four types of condiments for flavor variation, but personally, I liked the wasabi stem the best. After finishing the meal and feeling quite full, I realized that I might still prefer the traditional katsudon with the egg on top. Nonetheless, it was a delicious meal.

This shop, with its main store located in Monzen-Nakacho, had a long line when I tried to visit the main store before, so I gave up. However, I found out there was a branch in Ikebukuro, so I decided to give it a try. When I arrived around 3pm, there was just one seat available and I was seated promptly. The system was to order the menu before entering. I ordered the tonkatsu (pork cutlet) set. A few minutes later, a huge tonkatsu arrived, covering the plate. It was beyond my expectations! The flavor was very rich and the tonkatsu was tender. Each bite spread the delicious taste of the pork in my mouth. However, if you eat slowly, the meat will cool down and become tough to eat, so it's better to eat it quickly while it's hot. I forgot to take a picture, but there were condiments for changing the flavor. If you get tired of the same taste, using them is a good idea. Personally, I found the simple salt seasoning to be delicious. There were also female customers dining alone, so I think it's a casual place where anyone can feel comfortable.

I didn't quite understand... There was a restaurant that opened on August 1st, and locals who had waited in line for over 30 minutes were urging me to go. I had thought there would be a long line when it first opened, but when I went around 3 pm four or five days later, there were only two people waiting so I thought I was lucky. As I approached the restaurant, a staff member came out and said, "Please line up." Well, I get it. I would line up even if you didn't tell me to. There were already people waiting in line, after all. But the attitude and tone of voice bothered me, and I decided to leave that day. It felt like they were being very high-handed by saying "Please line up" without even a simple "Welcome" or "Please wait as the restaurant is full" which would have been more appropriate. It made me feel like they were acting like lords, and I didn't like it. About two weeks later, I happened to be heading to Esola with the intention of trying the restaurant "Kamo Oufu," just to see what had happened to it. To my surprise, there was no line at all, and there were even some empty seats, so I decided to enter to complete the task. It was around 4 pm on a weekday. They had run out of rib roast, so I agreed to have the regular roast cutlet bowl instead. The "Grilled Cutlet Bowl - Regular (150g of roast)" (1,500 yen) was as shown in the photo. The sign saying "The 'Untopped Extra Thick Cutlet Bowl' Lands in Ikebukuro" caught my eye, as there were posters and signs on the first floor and basement of Esola. Ah, it certainly wasn't topped with an egg. It felt like the egg was laid between the rice and the cutlet. I even thought, why not just put an egg on top? That way, the cutlet coating would become softer from being steamed. But these days, there are many believers in crispy textures, so maybe that wouldn't work... Thinking about it, I remembered "Kyogoku Kaneyo" in Kyoto. They offer an untopped egg omelette eel bowl, and they are a long-established popular eel restaurant in Kyoto that has been around since the Meiji era. Now, about the cutlet, is this what they call "extra thick"? I think the "Thick Cutlet" at "Nakamura Menbei" in Ikebukuro East Exit is thicker. As I had reviewed before, "Thick Cutlet" was much thicker. I felt that it was a dish meant to be eaten quickly and casually if you like tonkatsu, eggs, and rice. Considering the price, the service, and whether it was worth waiting in line for, my answer would be no. I shared my honest feedback with the locals who had recommended it as a challenge. Thank you for the meal. The rating was relatively low due to significant negatives in addition to the taste. I cannot go into details, but I witnessed behavior that did not seem like that of restaurant staff over and over again. There were moments during the meal that made me feel uncomfortable. For example, I don't expect that kind of behavior from the staff at chain restaurants like "Katsuya," but considering it was a restaurant with a certain price range, it bothered me a lot. *Although it is limited time, I have listed my recommended restaurants and my favorite "tonkatsu" restaurant. For example, if there are people who look down on "NiiMura" or "Minoya," I would like to ask them. Who do you think will still be around 50 years from now? Recently, there has been an increase in restaurants that focus on rare cuts of meat or high-quality meat, which even amateurs can easily source. I think chefs should compete in terms of the marinade, coating, and frying method. By the way, in the last review of "Minoya," I wrote this: "What brand pork, what?"

A new restaurant in Ikebukuro Esola that I was curious about. I visited around 6 pm on Sunday and they only had the regular size (150g) of pork cutlet rice bowl left, and there were 3 groups waiting in line! The turnover was fast, and they took our orders while we were waiting in line, so the food was brought to us shortly after we sat down. First of all, I was surprised by the appearance! There was a lid on the rice bowl!!! The amount of rice was normal, but it was quite generous! And the taste was unbelievably delicious. What is this. Following Mizuto, I found another favorite pork cutlet rice bowl restaurant.

I visited Tonkatsu Maruichi on the 6th floor of Ikebukuro Esola. I had the Roast Pork Cutlet Bowl (1,500 yen) and a Mini Salad (400 yen). The Mini Salad was really small, so if I were to visit again, I probably wouldn't order it. Despite being a popular place, the seating is very limited. Even though I went during off-peak hours, it was still crowded and I had to wait. It would be nice if they had a few more seats available. The tonkatsu itself had a sweet flavor, but it was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Visited on a weekday at 10:30 AM. There was already a line... Luckily, I was able to join the first group in line, so that's good! If you go on the weekend, I recommend arriving before 10 AM. They opened 10 minutes early due to the line. It took about 15 minutes from seating to being served. I've also been to Akabane, but this place is amazing. The special cutlet is delicious. If you can't finish your meal, they give you a container and bag for takeout (free of charge). I decided to take some home for a snack with my evening drinks. Another reason I took it home is that the rice wasn't very good. It was poorly cooked. It's a shame that the rice wasn't as tasty as the cutlet... I got the regular portion, but it was hard to eat because the rice wasn't good... I regret not getting a smaller portion. I managed to finish it by using condiments to mask the taste of the rice. The rice at Akabane was delicious though... If it was the same rice, then they must not cook it well here... I lost my appetite for the rice after the first bite... I wonder if they would sell just the cutlet for takeout? It's a shame because the cutlet is delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I visited around 2 pm on a weekday. There were about 8 people in line. They take orders while you are waiting in line, so the turnover rate might be fast. I waited for about 20 minutes. While waiting in line, you can see inside the restaurant, but it looks messy with cardboard boxes and sake cases exposed. There were water and wet towels placed before seating, but the water was warm. When did that happen? There is a water pitcher, but no ice. In the middle of summer, if a tonkatsu restaurant serves water like that, they should at least offer some cold tea! There are 3 people in the front of the house, but I wish they would pay more attention to refilling the water. However, by around 3 pm, the staff may not have the energy to do so. The restaurant seemed lacking in vitality. The tonkatsu, a regular loin cutlet, cost 1500 yen. The appearance was overcooked and oily. The sauce, which should be sweet, tasted salty. The meat inside was tender and tasty, but the breading was awful. Also, the egg was not fluffy and creamy. The miso soup with clams that came with it was mostly hot water, as they seemed to have skimmed the top layer off. When I pointed this out, the kitchen staff simply added miso directly to the pot without saying anything. This surprised me. Maybe it's a miso soup base that you just mix with hot water, but at least they could have pre-dissolved the miso in a small pot in the kitchen before adding it to the pot, ensuring consistent flavor and avoiding cooking in front of customers. Oh, this is Maru-Nana, right? Even though it's an open kitchen, this seems different. After getting a replacement miso soup, I tried to eat the tonkatsu, but I couldn't finish it. I was getting hungry, but it didn't taste good. The pork is delicious, so they should reconsider their recipe, including the miso soup. Also, the queue system is confusing. The customer in front of me was in the wrong line. With such a small dining area and no need for 3 staff in the front of the house, maybe one of them could help guide the line. Well, there are various locations, but if they continue like this, survival in Ikebukuro might be difficult.

When walking through the underground passage in Ikebukuro, I saw a large advertisement for a Katsudon (pork cutlet rice bowl) restaurant that had just opened in August. Even though I had just eaten Katsudon, my feet took me to the restaurant on the 6th floor. When I arrived, I saw the menu, and noticed that everything except for the regular size was sold out due to its popularity. There were two women in line ahead of me, and as I waited, more and more people started lining up. Eventually, there were about 10 people in line, and I was lucky to have arrived at a good time. While waiting in line, I was asked to place my order, and I chose the regular Katsudon for 1,500 yen. After about 10 minutes, I was seated, and a few minutes later, my Katsudon arrived. It looked luxurious, and I wondered if the pork cutlet was already seasoned. However, when I tasted it, it was delicious with a sweet and salty flavor, and the meat was incredibly tender. I thought to myself, "So this is the power of a 1,500 yen Katsudon." I quickly finished my meal, and although I can't eat it every time, it's nice to indulge in a high-end Katsudon once in a while. The larger sizes are priced in the 2,000 yen range, which is a bit steep.

Tonkatsu Maruichi, famous for its delicious katsudon, is a popular restaurant that has been praised for its quality. I had always wanted to try it when it first opened in Monzen-nakacho, but living along the Ikebukuro Terminal Tobu Tojo Line, it was quite far for a casual visit just to have katsudon. However, with the increasing number of branches, a new branch recently opened in Ikebukuro this month. I decided to visit for lunch. The restaurant is located right in front of Ikebukuro Station's west exit, on the 6th floor of Esola. As expected, there was a line of about 10 people waiting outside. I ordered the "Grilled Katsudon (upper)" as the "Grilled Katsudon (special)" was already sold out, along with an additional egg and a Sapporo Red Star beer as an appetizer. The katsu was tender due to low-temperature cooking, and although the breading was a bit crumbly, it was understandable due to the thin layer. The katsu was indeed thick, as advertised, and the sweet sauce added a delicious flavor. The additional egg made a fluffy addition between the katsu and rice. The katsudon also came with four condiments (wasabi, yuzu pepper, rock salt, shichimi), allowing for flavor variations throughout the meal. Overall, the Grilled Katsudon (upper) priced at 2100 yen offered great value for its generous portion and delicious taste. It was a satisfying meal, and I highly recommend trying the additional egg.

Grilled pork cutlet bowl (large) - The low-temperature cooking makes the meat tender like a brick, and it's delicious. There are four types of condiments for flavor variation. I like salt. I was able to finish it, and my stomach was full until night. I arrived around 1 pm on a weekday during Obon, and had to wait for about 30 minutes to be seated as there was a line. The order was taken while waiting in line, so I received my bowl shortly after being seated. #meat #porkcutletbowl #Marushichi Ikebukuro #grilledporkcutletbowl #bigportion #heartymeal

【Grilled Pork Cutlet Bowl (Large) (2100 yen)】This popular restaurant, which opened in Monzen-Nakacho on August 1, 2023, has a main store. I aimed for the highest grade special (300g of rib roast), but it was already sold out by 12 o'clock, one hour after opening... They still had the rib roast half portion (150g), but since I wanted to eat to my heart's content, I upgraded to the large portion. When it arrived, I was surprised by how big it was!! It has quite a thickness. The staff mentioned that it has less fat compared to the rib roast, but the edges have a good amount of marbled fat. In addition, it comes with miso soup with clams and pickled ginger. First, the thickly sliced pork loin is moist and not dry, making it easy to chew. It is very juicy and delicious. The sauce is on the sweet side and has a light texture. There are condiments on the table such as stem wasabi, yuzu pepper, shichimi (seven-spice blend), salt, and pepper. I recommend the stem wasabi! In this pork cutlet bowl, instead of being topped with a soft-boiled egg, there is a half-cooked omelet on top of the rice. This also paired well with the pork cutlet. For those with a smaller appetite, the 150g portion of meat should be satisfying enough! I arrived at noon on Sunday, and there was already a line, taking about one hour before I could start eating!

Arrived at 4:00 pm and there were only a few people in line. Despite being the first round, all dishes except for the half-size were sold out. It seems like they only prepared a few servings of the visually appealing Katsudon. Unfortunately, the taste was not great, with no desire to repeat.