Tonkatsu Restaurants in Japan(19)
SEAT RESERVATIONSharikimon Chawanbu
Some of Japan’s finest pork is fried to perfection here at this Michelin Bib Gourmand Yotsuya-sanchome tonkatsu restaurant, including the rare Meishan variety — of which there are only about 100 pigs in Japan.
COURSE MENUTonkatsu Fujiki Ningyocho
A Ningyocho fixture, Fujiki offers a varied spread of tonkatsu cutlet offerings, but most go for their signature dish: a huge bone-in tomahawk-style pork cutlet that looks just as good as it tastes. It’s great either plain or with the house sauce.
SEAT RESERVATIONTonkatsu Hinata
By sourcing whole pigs, this Michelin-recognized Takadanobaba restaurant offers visitors an almost limitless variety of pork cuts. An optional order of curry lets diners turn the latter half of their meal into an entirely different dish.
SEAT RESERVATIONTonkatsu Narikura
The characteristic white color of the tonkatsu batter at this Minami-Asagaya restaurant comes from a low-temperature frying process that gives the pork maximum juiciness — and a Michelin Bib Gourmand award.
SEAT RESERVATIONKatsuyoshi Nihonbashi Ningyocho
Set in the “Doll Town” of Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district, the chefs behind the dark wooden counter of Katsuyoshi fry up gorgeously fatty, thick cuts of pork and other luxurious ingredients.
SEAT RESERVATIONTonkatsu Enraku
For a hearty meal, look no further than Tonkatsu Enraku, which has been satisfying Tokyo tonkatsu enthusiasts with over 70 years of excellence.
SEAT RESERVATIONPonta Honke
Top class tonkatsu, originally intended for the upper crust of old Japan.
SEAT RESERVATIONKanda Ponchiken
Awarded the Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide for several consecutive years, this Kanda fixture strikes the perfect balance between hand-cut meats, breadcrumbs, oils, and special seasoning to deliver the ultimate tonkatsu experience.
SEAT RESERVATIONTonkatsuya Sato
Shoulder to shoulder with sophisticated eateries in the upscale Jiyugaoka neighborhood, this back-to-basics tonkatsu shop holds its own with a Michelin Bib Gourmand award, just two years after opening.
SEAT RESERVATIONYoshoku Wine Fritts
This Ginza yoshoku restaurant’s menu highlights the best hybrid Japanese and Western comfort dishes. Distinct touches of French inspiration have earned the restaurant a coveted Michelin Bib Gourmand award.
SEAT RESERVATIONFry-ya
Customizeable mixed-fry set meals, a variety of cooking oils and bread crumbs and Michelin Bib-gourmand quality keeps this fried food specialist store in Takadanobaba exciting.
SEAT RESERVATIONTonta
The mouthwatering pork at this Tokyo eatery is a cut(let) above the rest, just a few minutes on the train from Ikebukuro.
SEAT RESERVATIONTonkatsu Manger
This Osaka shop offers the luxury of picking the type of pork meat for your bowl of tonkatsu.
SEAT RESERVATIONGinza Katsukami
Expand your love for fried pork with the first ever course meal restaurant specially for tonkatsu.
SEAT RESERVATIONTonakatsu Yamaichi
Small in space, but big in portion sizes: a good trade off for a tonkatsu restaurant.
SEAT RESERVATIONTsurumi Shokudo
A long running pork cutlet specialty shop, with inventive dishes like the pork cutlet bun!
SEAT RESERVATIONMochibuta Tonkatsu Taiyo
With just six counter seats, there’s always a line outside this Musashi-Koyama tonkatsu restaurant. But regulars assure that the cutlets, made with domestic Waton Mochibuta pork, are definitely worth the wait.
SEAT RESERVATIONTonkatsu Nanaido
A tonkatsu restaurant near the Meiji Jingu shrine, run by a famed yakitori chef. Pork and chicken cutlets vie for the top spot at this Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient, each served on an elegant Imari plate.
SEAT RESERVATIONTonkatsu Tompachitei
Tucked away in a narrow alley in Ueno-Okachimachi, this Michelin Bib Gourmand tonkatsu restaurant may be hard to find, but its crunchy batter and satisfyingly juicy pork cutlets are so worth the search.
Recent Reviews from Guests
This deep-fried Japanese pork cutlet dish is one for lovers of big portions. Many places will let you choose the size of cutlet you want, before breading it in panko crumbs, frying it to perfection, then serving it with shredded cabbage, rice, and a special tonkatsu sauce.
Although it seems distinctly Japanese, tonkatsu actually belongs to a special category called yoshoku— essentially Western imports to Japanese cuisine.
In the century and a half since it came to Japan, the locals have remixed it into all sorts of delicious dishes! There’s tonkatsu curry, katsudon pork and egg rice bowls, and Japanese pork cutlet sandwiches, to name a few. With byFood’s range of the best tonkatsu restaurants in Japan, you’ll get the chance to try all that and more. Just be sure not to underestimate how downright filling (and delicious) this classic dish is!