Katsu Cuisine in Japan: Types of Dishes and Top Restaurants

Try Katsu Dishes in Japan

Katsu is the abbreviated transliteration of the word cutlet in Japanese and is a dish that Japanese people are very familiar with. While it is often made at home, many famous restaurants specialize in katsu.

Read on to learn about the different types of katsu dishes, from chicken katsu to katsudon and katsu curry, and recommended restaurants in Tokyo and Osaka.

Katsu Cuisine Guide

1. What is Katsu?
2. Types of Katsu Dishes
3. Chicken Katsu Restaurants
4. Tonkatsu Restaurants
5. Katsudon Restaurants
6. Katsu Curry Restaurants

What is Katsu?

Katsu is a type of cuisine that has evolved since its creation in the modern times.

It is believed to have originated from the French dish côtelette (meaning cutlet), which consists of bone-in meat coated in breadcrumbs and pan-fried in butter. The term “katsu” is also derived from this word.

Unlike the original French dish, the Japanese version involves coating meats, such as chicken or pork, in flour, beaten eggs, and breadcrumbs, then deep-frying them in oil.

There are various theories about where the dish originated, with Rengatei in Ginza and Ponta Honke in Okachimachi, Ueno, being the most commonly mentioned. Today, it has become one of Japan’s representative dishes.

Types of Katsu Dishes

There are various types of katsu dishes, with different ways to enjoy them through additional preparation and seasoning after frying. Among them, here are the four most representative katsu dishes.

Chicken Katsu

Chicken katsu is a dish made with chicken, coated in breadcrumbs and then deep-fried in a generous amount of oil until golden brown and crispy.

The parts of the chicken typically used are the thigh or breast. Chicken thigh has a juicy, tender texture, while chicken breast has a light flavor.

Tonkatsu

Pork that is deep-fried in oil is called tonkatsu, and like chicken katsu, it is considered a representative example of a katsu dish.

The texture and flavor vary depending on the cut of pork. For example, rosukatsu (pork loin) is fatty and juicy, while hirekatsu (pork tenderloin) has a rich, tender flavor.

There are many restaurants in Japan that specialize in tonkatsu, each offering their own unique take on the dish, which will be introduced later in this article.

Katsudon

Katsudon is a rice bowl dish made by simmering tonkatsu in a small pot of dashi broth, then mixed with eggs and served over rice.

Its charm lies in enjoying both the crispy texture of the freshly fried pork and its tender, dashi-infused flavor, which, when combined with egg and rice, makes the tonkatsu even more delicious.

Depending on the region, tonkatsu may not be folded into eggs. Instead, it may be served as sauce katsudon, where it's coated in a thin, homemade sauce, or tare katsudon, drizzled with a concentrated tare sauce.

Katsu Curry

Katsu curry is a dish where tonkatsu is served on top of curry rice, with the curry acting as a sauce to be eaten with the rice.

This dish is said to have originated when katsuretsu (the former name for tonkatsu) and curry rice, both popular during the Taisho period, were combined. At the time, it was served in a rice bowl.

Today, this dish is commonly served on a flat plate and has become a very popular item at many restaurants.

Recommended Chicken Katsu Restaurants

Next, we'll cover restaurants in Tokyo and Osaka where you can enjoy generous servings of chicken katsu at an affordable price.

Akafudaya Roppongi (Tokyo)

A restaurant located just a minute's walk from Roppongi Station, offering excellent access.

This izakaya (Japanese pub) operates from lunchtime until 8:00 the next morning. Chicken katsu is available during lunch hours (weekdays only).

They offer a variety of generously portioned dishes. The chicken katsu is affordably priced, and the Jumbo Chicken Katsu has a stunning visual, with the chicken filling the entire plate.

It’s an excellent dish that creates an exquisite texture with juicy thigh meat and a crispy coating.

Akafudaya Roppongi
Address: Tokyo, Minato, Roppongi 5-8-2 HEIBON Roppongi Hills 1F
Hours: Mon - Fri and the day before a holiday: 11:00 - 8:00 the next day (lunch is weekdays only)
Sat: 15:00 - 8:00 the next day
Sun and Holidays: 15:00 - 5:00 the next day

Meijiken (Osaka)

An established Western-style restaurant, founded in 1926, located a two-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station. This retro-style eatery offers chicken katsu at an affordable price.

The omurice (omelet rice) set meal deserves special mention. You can choose to pair it with kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers), an Osaka specialty, fried shrimp, or chicken katsu.

Be sure to try the mellow-flavored omurice paired with crispy chicken katsu. Reservations are available for dining.

Meijiken
Address: Osaka, Osaka, Chuo, Shinsaibashisuji 1-5-32
Hours: 11:00 - 20:30 (break time 15:00 - 17:00 / last order at 20:00)
Closed: Wednesdays
Official Website: https://www.meijiken.com/ (Japanese)

Recommended Tonkatsu Restaurants

Next, we introduce famous restaurants in Tokyo and Osaka that specialize in tonkatsu, including the restaurant considered to be the birthplace of katsuretsu.

Ponta Honke (Tokyo)

Established in 1905, this restaurant is considered to be the birthplace of katsuretsu. It is listed among the top three tonkatsu restaurants in Ueno, a competitive area, and continues to use the same recipe from when it first opened to this day.

The restaurant is committed to exclusively using pork loin, with not a single tenderloin dish on the menu. Their tonkatsu is made by using only the lean meat from the center of carefully selected, high-quality loin, which is fried slowly in homemade lard at a low temperature.

Katsuretsu (tonkatsu) is priced at 3,850 yen and reservations are available for parties of two or more.

Ponta Honke
Address: Tokyo, Taito, Ueno 3-23-3
Hours:
Lunch
Tues - Sun, the day before a holiday, and holidays: 11:00 - 14:00 (last order at 13:45)
Dinner
Tues - Sat and the day before a holiday: 16:30 - 20:20 (last order at 19:45)
Sun and Holidays: 16:00 - 20:20 (last order at 19:45)
Closed: Mondays (open if a holiday), and during summer vacation, etc.
Official Website: https://g608200.gorp.jp/

Tonkatsu Idomatsu (Osaka)

A restaurant that specializes in using Kinako Pork, a premium pork brand from Miyagi Prefecture.

Their most popular item is the rosukatsu set meal, which is uniquely served with salt. They take great care in selecting their salt, offering a daily variety such as French rock salts, sun-dried salt, and more.

Their tonkatsu, served with salt, showcases their confidence in using premium cuts that bring out the natural flavors of the meat.

The sauce is an original blend made in-house, so you can compare the different flavors by trying it with either salt or sauce.

Tonkatsu Idomatsu
Address: Osaka, Osaka, Chuo, Kawaramachi 4-5-4
Hours: 11:15 - 15:00, 18:00 - 22:00 (Open only for lunch on Sat and holidays)
Closed: Sundays

Recommended Katsudon Restaurants

Katsudon is a dish with long-lasting popularity among rice bowl dishes. If you want to enjoy katsudon to the fullest, we recommend these restaurants!

Ginza Bairin (Tokyo)

A specialty tonkatsu restaurant established in Ginza in 1927. It is known as the birthplace of hitokuchi katsu, bite-sized pieces of pork fried after being cut, and the famous tonkatsu sauce, a sweet sauce specifically made to pair with tonkatsu.

The regular katsudon is priced around 1,000 yen, the thick-cut special katsudon around 2,000 yen, and the special Berkshire katsudon around 3,000 yen.

The katsudon tare is typically made with bonito dashi stock, but this restaurant uses a special broth made from pork and onions instead. Enjoy a flavor that sets it apart from other katsudons!

Ginza Bairin
Address: Tokyo, Chuo, Ginza 7-8-1 Ginza Bairin Building B1F
Hours: 11:30 - 20:00
Closed: January 1 (New Year’s Day)
Official Website: https://www.ginzabairin.com/en/index.php

KATSUDON Hozenji Yokocho (Osaka)

A specialty katsudon restaurant located in Hozenji Yokocho, not far from Namba Station.

Being a specialty katsudon restaurant is already somewhat unusual, but the restaurant’s standout feature is that, despite being called a “rice bowl dish,” the rice and tonkatsu with egg are served separately.

They also have unique flavors, serving various types of katsudon in addition to the classic, such as cheese, grated daikon, and kimchi.

The prices are also reasonable at around 1,000 yen, with a counter-only setting that creates a casual atmosphere, making it easy to drop in.

KATSUDON Hozenji Yokocho
Address: Osaka, Osaka, Chuo, Namba 1-1-18
Hours: 11:00 - 19:00
Closed: Mondays

Recommended Katsu Curry Restaurants

These popular restaurants in Tokyo and Osaka offer a strong focus on both katsu and curry, allowing you to enjoy the best of both.

Ippe Coppe by Tonkatsu Aoki Shinjuku Gyoen (Tokyo)

A katsu curry restaurant operated by Tonkatsu Aoki, a specialty tonkatsu restaurant in Kamata.

They use a premium brand of pork known for its tender meat and sweet fat. The curry roux, developed specifically for katsu curry to complement the meat, is a curry that enhances the flavor of tonkatsu.

By tempering the spices, the flavors of the tonkatsu, curry, and rice are enhanced, resulting in the perfect katsu curry.

The menu options are based on the cut and quantity of meat, with prices ranging from 1,200 yen for rosukatsu curry to 3,200 yen for rib rosukatsu curry.

Ippe Coppe by Tonkatsu Aoki Shinjuku Gyoen
Address: Tokyo, Shinjuku, Tomihisacho 17-1
Hours: 11:00 - 14:30, 17:30 - 21:00
Closed: Irregular
Official Website: https://ippe-coppe-shinjuku.com/ (Japanese)

Watanabe Curry Umeda (Osaka)

A renowned spiced curry restaurant that has been awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand.

They’re popular for their signature curry, which combines sea bream and chicken stock with authentic Sri Lankan curry spices.

They also offer katsu curry for 1,450 yen, with a generous 150g serving of meat.

The batter is a blend of original spices and cheese, which pairs exceptionally well with their signature spiced curry.

Watanabe Curry Umeda
Address: Osaka, Osaka, Kita, Sonezakishinchi 2-2-5 3rd Shinko Building 3F
Hours:
Weekdays: 11:30 - 14:30 / 18:00 - 21:00
Sun and Holidays: 11:30 - 16:00
Closed: Saturdays
Official Website: http://www.watanabecurry.com/ (Japanese)

Enjoy Delicious Katsu in Japan

Katsu dishes are popular across all generations, with many specialty restaurants in large metropolitan areas such as Tokyo and Osaka.

What we’ve introduced here is just a small selection, as each restaurant takes pride in offering innovative menus and unique cooking techniques to serve their katsu dishes. Be sure to try these delightful katsu dishes at various restaurants!

Written by Cakutama editorial team