Located on the right side as you enter Hongo Oicho Street from Hongo Street, there is a traditional tonkatsu restaurant called "Katsuzen" that retains a Showa-era atmosphere. It has been around for almost 40 years in this area. The owner, dressed in a chef's uniform, manages the dining area, while his son is in charge of cooking. The tonkatsu set meal and menchi katsu set meal are priced at 900 yen. The highest-priced items are the hire katsu set meal and ebi fry set meal, both priced at 1,500 yen. I was originally planning to visit a ramen shop in Hongo Sancho-me, but the sign of "Tonkatsu Katsuzen" on Hongo Oicho Street caught my attention. Upon entering, I found a cozy interior with four small tables for four people each and a counter with three seats at the back. There is a TV mounted above the counter seats. There were two men and one woman as customers. Each person at the table was facing the TV, giving it a classroom-like atmosphere. I took the last available table seat like a student arriving late. I started with a draft beer (400 yen), served in a slim Kirin Ichiban glass. The macaroni salad served was delicious, raising my expectations for the tonkatsu. I ordered the tonkatsu set meal (900 yen). After waiting for about 7 minutes while enjoying my beer, the tonkatsu set meal arrived. It came with rice, miso soup, and pickles. The tonkatsu was cut into seven pieces. I confirmed the third piece from the left, picked it up with my chopsticks, and took a bite. It was freshly fried with a crispy coating and tender meat about 1cm thick inside. I enjoyed it with sauce and Japanese mustard. It was a reasonably priced and delicious tonkatsu set meal at this traditional tonkatsu restaurant.

I knew about this place but had never eaten here before. I decided to take the plunge and entered the restaurant, which was almost full, so I ended up sharing a table with someone else. There were acrylic dividers on the four-person table. I ordered the katsu-don with less rice for 950 yen, which was not displayed at the storefront. There was also ginger pork set meal and other options on the lunch menu on the table. It seemed like there was a change in ownership as there was an older man serving as the waiter and a younger man in the kitchen. Before long, my katsu-don arrived. It came faster than the tonkatsu set meal that the person I shared the table with had ordered, so I briefly thought there was a mix-up, but it was indeed mine. The katsu was well-cooked and soaked in broth, giving it a nice flavor. Nowadays, tonkatsu tends to be on the thinner side, but the katsu-don was just right. Even though I asked for less rice, the portion seemed decent. Overall, I thought it was quite delicious. I'll try the ginger pork next time.

I entered the restaurant around 1:45 pm on a regular day. There were two salarymen inside, but since it was close to the end of lunch hours, there were seats available. I ordered the katsu-don lunch set. It had a traditional flavor like an old-fashioned soba shop's katsu-don, and it was delicious. Next time, I'm thinking of trying the pork cutlet set meal.

Tonkatsu set meal for 950 yen is delicious. It's not just tasty, but also has a nostalgic and comforting flavor. The interior of the restaurant is like something from the Showa era. I went in right after they opened, but by the time I left, there were a lot of regular customers from the neighborhood. Many people were ordering tonkatsu set meals or katsudon. It must be a taste that never gets old.

Under the sunny sky on Hongo Street. It's still around 11:30 in the morning. There is a tonkatsu restaurant in a slightly decaying shopping street that I have visited 2 or 3 times before, but for some reason, I couldn't find any record of my visits. So, I decided to wait in front of the shop, but it was still preparing. It would take about 10 more minutes, so I decided to take a walk and come back for some photos. When I visited "Katsuzen" before, I remembered that there were three narrow chairs at the counter in front of the frying area, but today there was an old man sitting in the middle, and since there were no other customers at that time, I was allowed to sit at a table by myself. It seems like the shop has undergone a generational change, with the elderly father coming out to serve customers while the young man is in charge of frying. The background music was the lunchtime news from the television above. During a meeting between the Iranian President Rouhani and Chinese President Xi Jinping in China, they issued a joint statement opposing "unilateralism" and "hegemonism" that ignore the international community and only pursue their own interests. The news announcer managed to read the script without laughing, which is impressive. I ordered the "Menchi Katsu set" for 900 yen. While waiting for my food, another man came in, and I was relieved when he sat at the table instead of standing next to the previous customer at the counter. If we had all lined up at the narrow counter, I would have felt very uncomfortable. In traditional tonkatsu restaurants like this, there is no dressing for the shredded cabbage. So, I generously poured sauce over the menchi and cabbage without discrimination, added soy sauce to the side dish of pickles, and I was ready to eat. The pre-cut menchi looked substantial, but it didn't pack as much punch as it appeared, which actually allowed the sauce's flavor to shine through. As someone who enjoys Japanese soba and spaghetti, I find the seasoning of white rice to be fresh and satisfying every time. As the restaurant began to fill up with customers, I quickly left my seat.

The restaurant has fully revived. It is now run by the son and father. The menu and interior have become a bit simpler, but it feels like a proper and normal evolution. The taste is still delicious. I hope they continue to do their best in Hongou after overcoming the coronavirus. Next, I will try the ginger pork.

A tonkatsu restaurant in Hongo San-chome. It seems to be run by a family and has a friendly atmosphere. I ordered the katsu curry (950 yen). The curry came with cabbage, miso soup, and pickles. The curry wasn't spicy, just a typical home-style curry. It was well-balanced. The tonkatsu was delicious, with a crispy breadcrumb coating and tender meat. Overall, it was a great lunch choice.

During the day, this restaurant is quite crowded. They have increased their prices starting this month. It's a sign of the times and unavoidable. The meat is tender and delicious. The pork cutlet is layered like a mille-feuille with two pieces of meat. It used to be thicker and made with just one piece of meat.

Tonkatsu set meal for 800 yen. It's been a while since I visited this local tonkatsu restaurant. It has a nostalgic Showa era atmosphere. It seems to be a community-oriented shop. The tonkatsu and sauce are delicious in a simple way, with a crispy coating and tender pork. A reliable and satisfying dish.

A small tonkatsu restaurant with 4 tables. You can find it just off Hongo Street with a navy blue curtain. I tried the loin katsu set without any sauce first. The flavor of the pork spread throughout my mouth. Delicious! I visited before noon and the small shop quickly filled up. It seemed like many of the customers were working in the area. They must be regulars, as they ordered without even looking at the menu. This tonkatsu is straightforward and doesn't require any special comments. It's a cozy place where you can relax without any fuss. There are many local "town Chinese" restaurants around, but this could be called a "town tonkatsu" place. It's a reliable tonkatsu restaurant, and I would like to visit again if I have the chance.

On June 22, 4th year of Reiwa (Wednesday) - 2977th place in Tokyo. In Edo's haiku, there is a line that says "Until Honjo, Edo's inside is peaceful". There is still a store called "Kaneyasu" at the corner of Honjo Sanchome selling miscellaneous goods and cosmetics. In the Edo period, it was like a present-day "Matsukiyo". I have some business in the Honjo area tonight, a place I haven't visited much before, but it has a rich history so I am interested. The main streets are bustling with Honjo Street and Kasuga Street, so I ventured into the back streets. I found a modest street scene and came across a tonkatsu restaurant with a blue curtain. Alright, tonkatsu it is for tonight. I like tonkatsu restaurants in such unassuming neighborhoods. I arrived a bit early around 5:30 pm and there were no other customers, just a young man running the place. Soon, an older man who seemed to be the previous owner, wearing a chef's coat, came in and they started working together. Probably father and son! The menu was posted on the wall with the cheapest being the "Tonkatsu Set" for ¥800, Rosu Katsu for ¥1250, Katsu-don, Menchi Katsu Set, Ginger Pork Set, and Katsu Curry for ¥850, Hire Katsu, Ebi Fry Set for ¥1350, which is quite reasonable for the city center. After contemplating, I decided on the Katsu Curry. Once I placed my order, they laid out a paper napkin with a spoon and fork, and served both green tea and water. The Katsu Curry arrived. It was the type where the curry covers the entire dish. I like the moment when the crispy tonkatsu starts to soak up the curry. The plate also had shredded cabbage, pickled radish, and the miso soup was a blend of red miso with seaweed and tofu. The curry was medium-spicy with a strong aroma of SB's red curry powder. It tasted like homemade curry. Satisfied, satisfied, for ¥850 in the city center, I think it's reasonable. They mentioned using Yamagata pork for the tonkatsu. In the Honjo Sanchome area (the restaurant is in the second block), with places like the University of Tokyo nearby and residential communities further in, I felt there are still good restaurants to be discovered.

Located on Ochanomizu Daimyōchō Street in Hongo, this tonkatsu restaurant has been visited several times but never reviewed. This time, I tried the katsu-don. It seemed like there wasn't enough egg to fully cover the pork cutlet. The tonkatsu was slightly thick and the seasoning was mild. It didn't have a strong impact, but the natural flavor was good. The rice portion was generous and cooked just right.

On this day, there was an event at the Tokyo Dome, and all the shops around Suidobashi were packed with long lines. Even ordinary chain stores that are usually not crowded were filled with people... To avoid such crowds, I decided to take a little walk towards Hongou. I thought about getting tonkatsu, so I visited this place. It seemed like they had been closed for a while, but they were open when I passed by, so I decided to give it a try. I entered a little after 1 PM, and there were 3 groups of 7 customers, so it was quite busy. I sat at the counter and looked at the menu on the wall. Before entering, I was thinking about getting the recommended set meal, or maybe the menchi katsu set meal (800 yen) or the tonkatsu set meal (800 yen), but I ended up ordering the hire katsu set meal (1,250 yen) that caught my eye (lol). While waiting for my order, I listened to the TV above my head, even though I couldn't see the screen. I waited alone, and it took about 12 minutes for my order to arrive. It felt like quite a long wait. First, I tried a piece of the katsu without any sauce. The sweetness of the meat slowly spread in my mouth. Yeah, I think just a little bit of sauce is enough. I generously poured sauce over the shredded cabbage and put a small amount of sauce on the katsu, and also added a little mustard as I continued eating. The hire katsu was not tough, easy to eat, and the frying was just right. The crispy coating was nice. It's not a dish that aims for volume, but it's enough to satisfy your hunger. It's not cheap at 1,250 yen, but it's worth the price. After finishing the katsu and sipping on tea, I relaxed. They only accept cash for payment, but I guess that's unavoidable.

A pork cutlet restaurant located near Hongo-sanchome Station. It is close to the Hongo Oyokocho shopping district, near Resona Bank. The exterior is plain, with 3 counter seats and table seats inside. It is always crowded during lunchtime on weekdays, a very popular restaurant. Today, I finally got to visit! I had the "Hirekatsu set" at the counter seat. The main visual is plain, but the meat preparation is perfect, and the taste of the pork fillet is amazing. The quality of the rice is high, and the miso soup broth is delicious. The pickled daikon is from Tokai pickles "Takuan Taro"! Let's consider the shy demeanor of the landlady and the chaotic atmosphere in the restaurant as part of its charm. I understand why it's so popular.

After 12:30, as I was heading towards Hongo-sanchome Station from Ochanomizu, I came across a pork cutlet restaurant with a somewhat appetizing curtain, so I decided to go in. I ordered the 800 yen pork cutlet set. I thought that the price was reasonable around here, but when I poured the pork cutlet sauce over the pork cutlet and shredded cabbage, and added plenty of mustard to the pork cutlet, it turned out to be a delicious pork cutlet with just the right amount of fat. Back in my student days, I might have been able to eat two bowls of rice with it. It was a simple pork cutlet set like that. I think it was the right choice.

The tonkatsu restaurant on the street. I wonder if it's run by a family? I was healed by the kind service. Thank you for the meal ♪

On weekdays at 1:30 PM, the restaurant is 80% full. It is run by an old man and his son. They serve tonkatsu set meals for 900 yen. The tonkatsu is the standard type, but they prefer the cabbage to be cut a little thinner. The miso soup is average, the rice is on the softer side, the pickles are good, the portion size is adequate, the atmosphere is okay, the service is average, and the value for money is excellent. I would definitely come back again.

I came because I wanted to eat katsu curry. I had the classic katsu curry for 950 yen. It was delicious. It's recommended to come at a time other than 12:00-12:30 because it gets crowded. There is a 300 yen parking nearby.

The freshly fried pork cutlet with creamy egg and the sweetness of onions are delicious. The kindness of the chef shines through! It's a restaurant that is welcoming for women dining alone.

After several weeks, I revisited the restaurant because I wanted to eat delicious tonkatsu. I had the tonkatsu donburi with tender tonkatsu. I'm not sure when it happened, but all menu items had been raised by 100 yen.