[January 27, 2023] Survey report. I actually tried visiting this place about half a year ago, but it was closed for a holiday so I couldn't try the food. So this visit is a rematch for me. Arrived at 11:38 am. At that time, there were 2 people waiting outside. ■ Interior Clean and well-maintained interior. The counter seats have plenty of space between them. ■ Seating Arrangement 1st floor: Counter seats x 5, 4-person table x 1 2nd floor: 4-person low table x 2, shared seating is fine. ■ Operation The owner, who trained for 18 years at Enraku in Shinbashi, and the female manager. We were served after waiting in line for 44 minutes. The ordered items and reviews are as follows: ◆ Tenderloin Cutlet Rice Bowl 1600 yen, rating: 3.9 The tenderloin cutlet is well soaked in a sweet and salty sauce. It is thick and impressive. The meat is tender. The onions underneath are sweet and well cooked, which is delicious. The seasoning is strong, and as you eat more, it becomes too salty, especially towards the end. ◆ Pork Loin Cutlet Set (200g) 2500 yen, rating: 4.2 The thick pork loin cutlet is made from high-quality pork. It has a slightly pink color when you cut into it. First, I sprinkled Himalayan rock salt from the table grinder and tasted it. It was so delicious! The pork loin cutlet, fried slowly in lard, is very juicy and tender. The flavor spreads in your mouth. The fat is sweet and tasty. I also tried the sauce, but salt is the best for a delicious cutlet. The pork miso soup with lots of ingredients is also delicious. The white miso base is great. It's not just a side dish; it stands up to the cutlet. The potato salad has a nostalgic taste. The pickles are a nice palate cleanser. [Overall Review] From looking at reviews, it seems like many people recommend the cutlet bowl or tenderloin cutlet bowl, but for me, the simple pork loin cutlet was delicious.

Today, I was looking for something delicious around Ikegami and stumbled upon a popular tonkatsu restaurant. I arrived around 11:15 and there were still 5 out of 8 counter seats available, so I was able to get in easily. I ordered the tonkatsu lunch set for 1150 yen from the menu. When the food arrived, the miso soup turned out to be tonjiru (pork miso soup). The tonjiru had a gentle flavor with a hint of sweetness from the vegetables. The tonkatsu itself was delicious as well. Recently, with certain chain tonkatsu restaurants offering affordable and tasty options, the overall rating for this place might be a bit critical.

Yokohama → Tokyo direction, stopping by for lunch along the way. Turn right at the intersection of Chidori-cho 1-chome on Route 15 and it's about a 5-minute bike ride away. There are 3 locations in Tokyo, but I don't know much about the history of Tsubame-kan. I saw a post saying that their katsudon in Ikegami is very delicious, so I decided to drop by. The katsudon costs 1200 yen. I visited around 1 pm and it was full, but luckily I was able to secure a seat as it was changing shifts. There seems to be a first floor and a second floor. The first floor has about 8 seats at the counter and one table for 4 people at the back, while the second floor requires you to take off your shoes before entering. This time, I was seated at the 4-person table at the back of the first floor. The quiet sound of frying and the short "ari'ssa!" from the head chef can be heard. His greeting words are quite impressive. The well-maintained atmosphere inside the restaurant is a clean and calming space. After about 10 minutes, a beautifully presented katsudon was served. The golden color of the fried cutlet with the soft and fluffy egg on top blends perfectly. Instead of green onions, thinly sliced onions are used. It's a delicious dish with a caramel-like color from the dashi broth. The cutlet has a good balance of chewiness and crispiness, with a nice aroma of the fried fat. A satisfying type of cutlet! The rich and chewy texture of the cutlet pairs well with the flavorful and balanced soy-based sauce. The balance between the rice and the sauce is perfect, allowing you to taste the richness and sweetness of the rice. The miso soup with thinly sliced daikon radish is a good size and the miso has a strong taste of root vegetables, enhancing the sweetness of the vegetables. The finely chopped kelp and the aroma of burdock are rich! The pickles are crispy and delicious! It was a moment of bliss. Thank you for the meal.

I arrived before 11:30 am on a weekday, but the restaurant was full and I had to wait as the first in line. I ordered the pork cutlet lunch set (90g of pork loin) and the pork cutlet set (90g of pork fillet). Both the loin and fillet, at 90g each, were satisfying in terms of portion size for lunch. However, compared to other tonkatsu restaurants around Kamata Station with a rating of 3.7 or higher on Tabelog, I felt that the fillet lacked juiciness and gave me the impression of being just an average tonkatsu. Since there is no need to line up before opening, I would consider returning if I happen to pass by during lunchtime and there is no queue.

I was planning to visit a new set meal restaurant for lunch, but there was a line outside, so I decided to skip it and went to this tonkatsu restaurant instead. Luckily, there was one seat available at the counter, so I didn't have to wait and sat down. The chef called out to me from the kitchen, and I ordered the katsu lunch. The chef worked efficiently in the kitchen, and my meal was served in about 15 minutes. It didn't feel like I had to wait long at all. The hot pork soup and generous portion of rice were served piping hot. The katsu was crispy, juicy, and the fat was sweet and delicious. I really enjoyed it! I am very satisfied. Thank you for the delicious meal!

I visited during the day, the location and service were the same as usual. I ordered a pork cutlet bowl for 1200 yen. The meat was not too thick or too thin. The breading was thin and crispy, the egg was slightly runny, the onion was thinly sliced, and the rice was firm and delicious. The miso soup with pork had plenty of ingredients and was lightly seasoned. The pickles were lightly seasoned and tasty. Overall, it was an elegant pork cutlet bowl with a small amount of sauce. I wished there was a bit more in terms of quantity, but if you order the loin cutlet, it's too much.

I arrived at the restaurant around 1 pm on a regular day and was seated at the counter right away. Despite it being summer, I was served hot tea (roasted green tea?) in a teacup. I ordered the 90g loin cutlet lunch set (1150 yen). After the rice and miso soup, the cutlet (served with cabbage and potato salad) arrived promptly. I enjoyed the cutlet, which was thick and tender. The cabbage was freshly shredded and fluffy, although the portion was a bit small. The overall portion size was average, so if you're looking for a hearty meal, you might want to get the large rice portion or the regular set (200g). The cutlet bowl seems to be popular, so I'd like to try it next time.

On August 8, 2023, Tuesday at 12:00 PM, the first floor was full so we were seated on the second floor where we had to take off our shoes. The second floor had two tables with shared seating and acrylic panels for preventing droplet transmission. The Katsudon was priced at 1200 yen and was delicious, but it is recommended to try the 200g pork cutlet here.

On August 5, 2023, Saturday at 11:40, there were seats available at the counter with 4 customers already seated. There is also a second-floor seating area. In the kitchen, there was one male and two female staff members, while in the dining area, there was one female staff member. Customers were informed that there might be a wait. The restaurant seemed to attract middle-aged and older male customers. I ordered the 200g pork cutlet set meal for 2500 yen, which came with potato salad and pickles. The potato salad and pickles were served first and tasted delicious. The pork cutlet arrived about 20 minutes after ordering. It was thickly cut, slightly rare, with just the right amount of fat, and the breading was crispy. It was served with rock salt, soy sauce, sauce, and mustard, but the rock salt brought out the flavor of the meat the best. The rice and miso soup were also tasty. It would have been nice if they provided wet towels or placed tissues on the table. The restaurant only accepted cash payments.

Recently, I have been on a tonkatsu craze, and I finally mustered up the courage to visit a restaurant that I used to think was close by when I lived in Ota Ward, but never actually went to. I ordered the 200g pork cutlet set meal for 2500 yen. After about 25 minutes, the dish was served. When I cut into the middle, I could see the juices glistening and a lovely pink color. It looked so appetizing. I sprinkled some salt and took a bite. The meat was tender and juicy, with a delicious umami flavor spreading in my mouth. The breading was thin and crispy, perfectly adhering to the meat. The miso soup was hearty and a bit salty, but still within acceptable limits. The rice was slightly soft. Overall, it was delicious! The pork cutlet used was from Hiraboku Sangen Ton, which is a crossbred pig raised on a contracted farm with Hirata Ranch in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture. They are fed non-genetically modified corn and soybean meal as feed.

Visited a top 100 restaurant No.81 (tonkatsu) in Tokyo Ota-ku for the first time and ordered the katsudon. It was a good choice! The katsudon had a unique crispy coating, I wonder how they make it. I wanted to try both the pork cutlet and shrimp fry, but the mixed option only had shrimp fry and pork fillet, so I ordered the mixed dish and a pork cutlet bowl separately. Unfortunately, I couldn't see them preparing the dishes on the second floor this time, so I would like to watch them from the counter on the first floor someday.

Revisited. Tonkatsu specialty restaurant near Ikegami Station on the Ikegami Line. Among the three Enraku restaurants in Tokyo, this one has the highest ratings. The high ratings are undoubtedly due to the meticulous work of the owner, which directly translates into the high precision of the taste. You can feel this meticulous work directly in the taste of their Katsudon. I was craving a delicious Katsudon. While the trendy "no egg" Katsudon is not bad, my personal preference leans towards a well-made simmered Katsudon. And when it comes to a delicious simmered Katsudon, Enraku is the first place that comes to mind. Seriously, if someone asked me what I would want to eat for my last meal, I would answer "Katsudon from Ikegami Enraku" because I love it that much. I visited during the evening hours. I entered without having to wait in line. Although it can get quite crowded during the day, it's nice that it's not as busy at night. I sat at the counter and ordered the Katsudon (1200 yen) without even looking at the menu. Now, I wait for the dish to arrive while observing the owner's work. The owner still moves naturally and vividly, with no wasted movements. This is the work of a true master. The served Katsudon, visually, is just average. The "no egg" Katsudon does look more appealing, that's a fact. But... the aroma is extraordinary. The sweet and savory aroma unique to well-fried tonkatsu, combined with the scent of the soy-based sauce, stimulates the appetite intensely. I eat. I devour it greedily. It's so delicious! The perfection of this tonkatsu! Even though it's simmered in the sauce, the meat's center is slightly pink, retaining its juiciness remarkably well. The underside of the tonkatsu's coating has absorbed the sauce just right, while the top retains a crispy and pleasant texture, an exquisite simmering level. The texture of the onions, simmered in the sauce to bring out their sweetness while still retaining a slight crunch. The rice, cooked firm, and not drowned in the sauce to preserve its flavor. It's seriously delicious! The harmony between the delicious tonkatsu itself and the sauce-infused coating in the bowl is amazing. A Katsudon reaching this high level of perfection is not something you come across often. The ingredients and recipes used may seem ordinary, but it's the skilled artisan's meticulous and precise execution of each cooking process that elevates this Katsudon to such delicious heights. The master's seriously made simmered Katsudon is here. I still think this is the best Katsudon. I appreciate the old-fashioned type of Katsudon where the tonkatsu is delicious, and the tonkatsu, sauce, and rice blend seamlessly. In other words, this type of Katsudon may not appeal to those who prefer the soba shop style Katsudon. Also, it's important to note that their Katsudon comes with miso soup and pickles. The miso soup here is also delicious! I ate eagerly and finished quickly. It was delicious, but I'm sweating a lot (；´Д｀) I love Katsudon, but eating it in the middle of summer is a bit tough (bitter smile). Also, I prefer the atmosphere of the Enraku restaurants in Chidori-cho. PS: Ikegami Enraku will be taking a solid summer break in August, closed from August 11th to August 22nd. If you were planning to visit, please take note.

Today, it was very hot so I decided to stop by Enraku for some nutrition. I arrived a little after 6 o'clock and was seated right away. I ordered the pork cutlet set meal (90g fillet) with less rice. The fillet was lean and fried without any greasiness, making it easy to eat. Despite the hot weather, the piping hot miso soup was delicious and packed with ingredients.

I have always wanted to visit Tonkatsu Hyakumeiten's Enraku, located near Tokyu Ikegami Line Ikegami Station. They specialize in deep-fried loin cutlets, which are juicy and full of flavor. The meat is tender yet has a good chew to it, and the breading is also delicious. I ordered the Loin Cutlet Set Meal (200g) for 2,500 yen. Despite the long line before opening, I was able to get a seat at the counter as two seats were available. The meal was substantial and the meat was perfectly cooked with a hint of pink, not overly fatty but still flavorful. I would recommend trying it with salt. There is another Tonkatsu restaurant with the same name in Chidori-cho station, but they are not affiliated. Both are highly rated, and it seems they are run by former apprentices of the Enraku restaurant in Onarimon.

I visited the restaurant on a regular night. This was my second time. Last time, I had the pork cutlet (200g), but it was too much and heavy for a girl, so this time I ordered the pork cutlet (90g). It takes a while for them to fry it after ordering, but when it finally came out, the cutlet had a crispy coating and was perfectly pink inside. It was more refreshing and juicy than the pork cutlet, and the portion was just right. I liked this one better. I forgot to take a picture, but the side of potato salad was also delicious. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is chic, and the chef is quiet but seems kind. I will definitely go back.

I heard that there are sometimes long lines in front of the shop, so I went for an early dinner around 6:00 p.m. There were counter seats on the first floor and one table seat, as well as tatami seats on the second floor. Since the first floor seats were almost full, I used the second floor seats. There are 90g and 200g options for the tonkatsu set meal, with the 90g loin being limited to lunch. I ordered the 90g loin set meal and it was quite satisfying! The crispy tonkatsu paired perfectly with the rice. The salad, pickles, and miso soup were also delicious, making the set meal the star of the show.

Revisited. A tonkatsu specialty store near Ikuno Station on the Ikegami Line. It is a branch of the same name store in Onarimon, but now this one has higher ratings. It's strange that you can easily get in at night. Rumor has it that this is a store that refuses interviews. I wanted to eat delicious tonkatsu, so I went to Enraku. I entered smoothly just after the start of the evening business. I landed at the counter seat safely. The counter has been expanded from 5 seats to 6 seats, with the corona shields removed. ... It's almost the same (bitter smile). I ordered the hirekatsu set meal (2500 yen) and a medium bottle of beer (600 yen). I usually prefer loin, but lately I've been starting to enjoy hirekatsu a bit, and it's scary?! First, the potato salad and pickles that come with the set meal are served, so I drink beer while waiting. Yummy (≧▽≦) It's so good. The potato salad and pickles here are already delicious, but they taste even better with beer. If only the beer glass was ice cold... But they don't seem to care much about the beer despite paying attention to every detail of the set meal (cries). The hirekatsu takes a while to cook slowly, but it's not a problem. Just watching the work of the owner is like a healing sound. He fries the cutlets without using a timer, carefully watching the pot. The cutlet is cut crisply and served after being preheated. The plate is always beautiful. The cutlet is quite thick, but the meat is not dry, with just enough heat in the center. The thin coating adheres tightly to the meat, preventing the meat juice from leaking. The coating is crispy with a light texture and has a slightly sweet and fragrant taste. It's irresistible when you sprinkle a little salt on it before eating. The sauce is also good, but salt suits it better. Although it lacks the sweetness of the fat in loin, the meat itself is delicious, and the coating is outstanding. You can't experience this kind of coating with the trendy white cutlets. The rice is cooked firm with a good aroma and texture. The meticulousness of cooking rice several times during business hours contributes to the taste of the rice. The shredded cabbage is artistically finished, possibly the best in Japan. There is no dressing for the cabbage, but with such delicious cabbage, dressing is unnecessary. The miso soup is pork soup with plenty of vegetables, not only delicious but also nutritious. It was another wonderful tonkatsu set meal this time. Here, not only the tonkatsu is delicious, but also the attention to detail in the side dishes is good. That's how a set meal should be. But next time, I might try the katsudon.

On this rare weekday afternoon when I had some free time, I decided to finally visit "Tonkatsu Enraku," a place I had somehow never been to before. As someone who enjoys gourmet dining, I make it a point to visit all the well-known restaurants, but there are always some that slip through the cracks, so I like to go back and try them out. Luckily, I arrived before 12 o'clock, so there was almost no wait to get in. I ordered the Hirekatsu Don (pork cutlet bowl) for 1600 yen. The pork cutlet was incredibly tender with no gristle, and the frying was done perfectly without being too hard. The pickles were delicious as well, possibly homemade. I can see why this place is so popular. I'd like to come back and try their traditional tonkatsu next time.

Lately, I think the tonkatsu restaurant nearby is the number one place. The portion size and taste are just right for me, and the rice and tonjiru (pork miso soup) are delicious. Plus, it comes with potato salad. The tonkatsu is 90 grams with three bite-sized pieces, which is just the right amount, and I like that it's made with lean meat and not greasy.

I received a lunch set for 1,150 yen. The regular tonkatsu set is around 2,500 yen, so it's quite a good deal. However, I was impressed by the thick cut of pork that I didn't even feel the price difference! In my opinion, it was the best cost performance among tonkatsu restaurants in Tokyo!

【2022 Tonkatsu Top 100 Restaurants】【2023 Michelin Bib Gourmand】"Ikegami Enraku" is a tonkatsu specialty restaurant located near Ikegami Station, where the chef trained for 18 years at "Shinbashi Enraku" before opening his own place. The restaurant has a cozy, homey atmosphere with counter and table seating on the first floor, and tatami seating on the second floor. Customers line up along the guardrail before opening, with the second group arriving 30 minutes before opening time at 11 am, resulting in a 15-person wait. The kitchen in front of the seating area is clean and well-maintained, with a shiny cooking station. The "Katsu Don" dish priced at ¥1200 features pork from Yamagata's Hirata Ranch, homemade breadcrumbs, and valuable lard extracted from the mesentery. The crispy breading, with a delicate texture and a pleasant crunch, adheres well to the juicy, perfectly cooked meat. The katsu pairs perfectly with the subtly sweet sauce. The two-tone katsu don features three variations of katsu: the normal katsu on the right, the katsu with egg yolk in the middle, and the katsu with half-cooked egg white on the left. Each katsu offers a different experience. The simmered onions maintain a firm texture and a sweet flavor. The slightly firm rice and the hearty pork soup also showcase the chef's dedication to quality. I thoroughly enjoyed the meticulously crafted katsu don. Bon appétit!