I went to a tonkatsu restaurant called Kawabata, located about a 3-minute walk from Nishi-Hachioji Station South Exit, and had lunch for the first time in a while to coincide with the 11:30 am opening. I quickly decided to order the Katsudon for 800 yen, but I also wanted something to go with their delicious black sauce, so I chose the Menchikatsu for 350 yen. The Katsudon was served in about 10 minutes, and soon after, the Menchikatsu was also served. In these times, the Katsudon was not only cost-effective but also delicious, but the Menchikatsu was surprisingly delicious with its juicy meat filling, truly exquisite. From now on, I must have their Menchikatsu. The outstanding Menchikatsu and delicious Katsudon were a treat. Thank you for the meal.

I visited the famous restaurant Tonjinkan, run by a nearly 90-year-old owner, only to find it closed. I then went to a nearby tonkatsu restaurant called Kawabata, which is a small, family-owned establishment known for its original menu items like mountain pepper grilled dishes. I ordered the tonkatsu set for 950 yen and a bottled beer for 500 yen. The complimentary appetizer was a homemade spicy salad, which paired well with the beer. The tonkatsu was about 120g of pork loin with two types of homemade sauce - a sweet one in a measuring cup and a spicy one in a separate container. The tonkatsu was fried perfectly, with a crispy coating and a delicious lard aroma. It was served without mayo, soy sauce, or salt, but it was still very tasty. I paid in cash and walked back to Nishi-Hachioji Station.

We visited around early afternoon with two people. The restaurant was empty with only one regular customer. The two staff members, who seemed to be a couple or siblings, were running the place. There was a TV in the corner which added a nostalgic touch. I ordered the pork cutlet bowl, while my friend had the pork loin bowl. We were served a small appetizer-like dish first. The main dishes arrived in about 20 minutes. They also came with miso soup and another side dish. Everything was delicious! We ended up quite full after the meal!

I visited a famous tonkatsu restaurant called Kawabata next to the well-known ramen shop Kumahachi at around 11:30 as usual at the south exit of Nishi-Hachioji Station. Two groups of customers also visited after me. It is a traditional tonkatsu restaurant run by a married couple. They served tea, wet towels, and chopsticks. I ordered the tonkatsu set meal for 950 yen including tax. I could hear the sound of pork loin being pounded right away, followed by the sizzling sound. A plate filled with a mountain of cabbage was placed on the counter almost immediately. It was served in about 10 minutes. The set included a glass bottle of sweet sauce, a ceramic container of spicy sauce, mustard, the tonkatsu, rice, miso soup, macaroni salad, and pickles. As usual, I took a photo, prepared the mustard, and poured the sauce from the right side. I used the spicy sauce for the first half. The flavorful tonkatsu with a hint of fat and the light sauce tasted delicious. For the second half, I poured a generous amount of black sweet sauce on the left side. It was quite thick. Judging from the taste, it seemed to contain apple. The harmony between this black sweet sauce and the tonkatsu was very tasty, and I enjoyed it with rice. The tonkatsu itself was decent, but it was elevated to a whole new level of satisfaction with this black sweet sauce. I also poured the black sauce over the cabbage and enjoyed it until the end. I felt a bit sad seeing the shutter closed at the nearby Tonchin Kan, where I used to frequent, but I hope Kawabata's delicious tonkatsu will continue to thrive. I wish they would sell this sauce as well.

After finishing at Ogawa, I headed to this place as originally planned. The exterior had a traditional Japanese look, giving off a vibe of a local establishment. I arrived at 12:55. Oh, is it full? A regular customer who seemed relaxed kindly offered me a seat!! Oh!! I'm sorry(＞人＜;) I was planning to have the pork cutlet bowl here, but then I realized I already had eggs at the previous restaurant. So, I ordered the "Sauce Cutlet Bowl with Pork Loin (850 yen)" and looked around the restaurant. Perhaps due to COVID-19 measures, there was an empty seat between customers at the counter. There was also a solo customer at a 4-person table, so maybe they don't seat people together? The air conditioning was working well, making it nice and coolヽ(´▽｀)/ (This review is from mid-July 2020) The customers were all men, mostly older, but there were also families with children, maybe because it was a Sunday. The background music was from a comedy show. The food took a bit of time, maybe because there were a few people waiting, but it was ready in 15 minutes. The portion seemed not too big. The cutlet was covered in sauce, and the crispy coating had a nice crunch to it. It seemed like they dipped it in sauce after cutting it. The meat was tender, and the fat was trimmed nicely. The sauce had a balanced flavor with a hint of sweetness and acidity. The cabbage was not too finely shredded and was soft. The rice was cooked well. The potato salad was delicious. The miso soup had cabbage, bean sprouts, fried tofu, and chopped green onions. It was light and flavorful. The pickled radish was just right. Overall, it was a satisfying meal with a well-balanced taste. The portion was a bit small, but fried food fills you up, so I stopped there. The sauce had a mild acidity, leaning more towards a sauce cutlet rather than a strong sauce flavor. The attention to detail in the cabbage and meat's tenderness was evident. It seemed like a place for locals to visit regularly rather than a destination restaurant. After this, I headed to Takao for a visit to the grave...but...the shuttle bus was suspended due to COVID-19(￣◇￣;)...Oh no(；´Д｀) I climbed up the endless slope, sweating profusely. I cleaned the grave, then sat down in the resting area, gazing into the distance for about an hour. That was how my day went.

Skipping breakfast, I decided to try the tonkatsu (pork cutlet) at Tonkatsu Kawabata in Nishi-Hachioji for lunch during the consecutive holidays. I ordered the sauce katsu-don (pork cutlet rice bowl) with loin, and although it definitely had a sauce flavor, it also had a hint of grated apple which added a slightly salty and sour taste, similar to soy sauce. It was quite delicious and I finished it all in one go. It's great to know there are still places like this nearby.

It was cheap, delicious, and amazing! This time I had katsudon, and I want to go back to try their set meals!

Located about a 4-minute walk from Nishi-Hachioji Station South Exit, this old-fashioned tonkatsu restaurant is easy to spot with its cute red curtain. On this day, I ordered the Hirekatsu Don. The crispy coating and flavorful cutlet made the rice disappear in no time. You can enjoy your meal in a quiet and calm atmosphere. They also offer delivery service, and I recommend the Katsu Assortment Set Meal.

It's just average... kind of rambling.

Today, I was in Nishi-Hachioji and decided to search for a place for lunch on Tabelog. I came across a place called "Butachin Ase" with over 50 years of history. The exterior of the restaurant was a bit unassuming and hard to notice. Usually, I would just go in without hesitation, but this time I hesitated. Instead, I found a tonkatsu restaurant nearby and decided to go in. There were no other customers inside. The tonkatsu set was 950 yen, while the katsudon was 700 yen. They also had options like hirekatsu don for 850 yen and ebi don for 850 yen. I ended up choosing the katsudon. Katsudon can often cost over 800 yen or even up to 1000 yen at some places, so I didn't have high expectations. However, it turned out to be surprisingly delicious. The egg was cooked just right, and the texture of the tonkatsu was well-preserved. The breading wasn't falling off easily, showing that it was well-done. It was a proper tonkatsu restaurant's katsudon. Considering the quality, 700 yen was a great value. Although this wasn't my first choice, the service was excellent. It's the type of place that would be convenient to have in the neighborhood.

"Tonkatsu Kawabata" is a tonkatsu restaurant located near Nishi-Hachioji Station on the Chuo Line. I visited this restaurant while attending the high school baseball West Tokyo Tournament qualifiers. Upon entering after 1:00 PM, there were two other customers already seated. I was able to find a table for myself. When I looked at the menu, I couldn't find the pork cutlet (rosu katsu). So, I decided to order the "hirekatsu teishoku" that was listed above the "tonkatsu teishoku". While waiting for the tonkatsu to be ready, I had no intention of drinking beer, but seeing the jockeys being carried to other customers, I couldn't resist and ended up ordering a "beer (medium)" as well. The beer and a complimentary potato salad were brought to me. Just the tonkatsu set and beer didn't add up correctly when it came time to pay, so I estimated that the potato salad, not listed on the menu, was only 50 yen. It was a perfect drink after being under the scorching sun in the stands. Just as I finished my beer, the tonkatsu set was ready! It was cut into easy-to-eat pieces, and upon examining the cross-section, I could tell that the meat quality wasn't great. My expectations were met as the meat was a bit rough, but for a tonkatsu under 1,000 yen, it was what you might expect from a local tonkatsu restaurant. However, they offered both spicy and sweet sauce options, and seeing bits of ingredients grated on the rim of the sweet sauce container gave it a homemade feel, making the restaurant somewhat endearing. It was a nice little place. ^^

This is a tonkatsu restaurant located about a 5-minute walk from Nishi-Hachioji Station on the JR Chuo Line. It is right next to "Ramen Kumahachi". I finally had the chance to visit for lunch on a weekday. The restaurant has counter seats and table seats, and it was relatively quiet when I went. There was a regular customer at a table, chatting with the owner while drinking alcohol in the daytime. It seemed like a place where regulars have been coming for years. The menu mainly consists of tonkatsu, with a few side dishes available. There were also detailed menu items written on a whiteboard, indicating that it may transform into an izakaya-style place at night. The tonkatsu set meal (950 yen) came with potato salad, pickles, rice, miso soup, and the main tonkatsu. The tonkatsu was thick and generously sized, making it easy to eat in bite-sized pieces. The pork loin tonkatsu had a good crunch and juicy flavor, with a moderate amount of fat. Two types of sauce were provided, sweet and spicy. Surprisingly, the sweet sauce in a long bottle was more delicious than the spicy one. It seemed to contain grated apple, giving it a fruity and rounded flavor that complemented the meat well. The cabbage was plentiful, topped with shredded daikon and carrot for a refreshing touch. The miso soup was rich and flavorful, making for a satisfying meal. Overall, the tonkatsu was made with quality pork and had a good balance of flavors. The portion size was also satisfying, making it a good value for the price. Although I don't often visit Nishi-Hachioji, I would like to come back again in the future.

<Ordering Method> At a table, to the staff <Time from Ordering to Serving> Quick and efficient <Ordered Dish> Tonkatsu set meal <Atmosphere/Ambiance> Average <Menu Items of Interest Besides the Ordered Dish> Sansho-yaki <BGM> ? <Parking/Access by Car> - Unfortunately, it seems that there is no parking available... - Access by car is good <Visit Food Log Ranking> Score 3.07 / 4 reviews <Other> - Continuous delivery orders... A local tonkatsu restaurant...

Mother's Day. My friend went to visit his parents, so I had dinner alone. I didn't feel like going far, so I chose a nearby restaurant I hadn't been to in over 20 years. There was no parking, so I parked at a nearby coin parking lot. The inside of the restaurant was dimly lit, perhaps to save energy, and there was a slight smell of oil. There were about 12 seats at the counter and two tables for four people. The restaurant was run by a middle-aged couple. There were two regular customers at the counter who seemed to be in a good mood. It seemed like the restaurant had a pub-like atmosphere at night, but I couldn't remember. The husband seemed to enjoy chatting with customers. The menu on the table had dishes priced around 1,000 yen each. There were no "special" or "premium" options listed. However, I found "special loin cutlet" (1,000 yen) on the menu posted in the restaurant. By the way, the "special fillet cutlet" was 1,200 yen? I ordered the "special loin cutlet" set from the wife, and she brought out a bottle of shochu with a sweet sauce and a white container with a spicy sauce. It was served in about 10 minutes. The portion looked to be around 170g. It reminded me of the tonkatsu at Takadanobaba's "Tonkyu" in terms of appearance. However, do not underestimate the 1,000 yen price tag. The meat was tender and somewhat juicy, with a good amount of fat and sweetness. The coating was crispy and not too greasy. It had a texture that was between crispy and crunchy. The coating had minimal peeling despite the cut on the side. The seasoning was light, so additional seasoning was needed, but there was no salt or soy sauce provided. I tried it with both sauces, but I couldn't really tell the difference between the sweet and spicy ones. Perhaps the sweet sauce had grated apple mixed into the spicy one? It lacked fruity and sweet flavors. However, the spaghetti salad, rice, and miso soup on the side were delicious. The "special loin cutlet" came with separate cabbage. The "set meal set" was 400 yen. So, the total for the "special loin cutlet set" was 1,400 yen. Most other set meals were around 1,000 yen. I think it's a great place for casual dining. There was also a board with appetizer menu items listed. I look forward to going back with my friend to try more dishes and drinks next time.

Affordable tonkatsu restaurant. The loin cutlet set is 950 yen and the fillet cutlet set is 1050 yen. It's convenient to have a menu list outside the restaurant so you can decide quickly. The menu is not extensive, but the few options give a sense of quality. The restaurant has a few counter seats and table seats, creating a relaxed atmosphere for enjoying your meal. The tonkatsu sauce comes in slightly spicy and sweet varieties, allowing you to enjoy two different flavors. The breading is crispy and goes well with the rice.

It was a shop that I often saw on the way. It's a small shop with a homely atmosphere, where you can enjoy a decent pork cutlet set meal at a reasonable price. The interior of the shop is small, with three table seats and counter seats. The layout reminds me of a small countryside diner, giving off a nostalgic feeling. Besides us, there was another couple in the shop who were talking loudly to the owner, and we could hear their conversation clearly. Even though we didn't join in the conversation, there was a subtle sense of unity. The service was provided by the owner and probably his wife. As it is their own business, they were attentive to customers. The menu consisted of various fried dishes, all priced within 1000 yen for a set meal. The pork cutlets we had, both the pork cutlet and mixed cutlet set, were quite tasty. They had a traditional homemade feel to them. While the quality of the meat wasn't exceptional, it was decent enough.