Tonkatsu: 4 Michelin-Guide Pork Cutlet Restaurants in Tokyo

Tokyo's Top-Ranked Fried Pork Restaurants

Tonkatsu - fried pork cutlet - is a popular dish in Japan. This article recommends four fried pork shops featured in the Michelin Bib Gourmand list, including a century-old store founded by imperial chefs. No matter which store you choose, they will definitely satisfy your craving for delicious fried pork cutlets!

However, hearing about these renowned stores recommended by Michelin Bib Gourmand, do you immediately think of the nightmare of long queues?

Below, we'll introduce the reservation service OMAKASE JapanEatinerary, which allows you to easily book these Michelin and Bib Gourmand restaurants in Japan without waiting in line.

Book Your Table at Michelin Bib Gourmand Restaurants

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OMAKASE JapanEatinerary is the only officially certified reservation platform by Michelin, gathering Japan's Bib Gourmand and Michelin restaurant recommendations.

The restaurant areas cover major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Hokkaido. On the platform, you can find must-eat Japanese cuisines like yakiniku (grilled meat), sushi, fried pork cutlets, eel, and more.

In addition, OMAKASE JapanEatinerary features a Traditional Chinese interface, making it very easy to use. Simply select the region and cuisine type to easily find a list of restaurants you'd like to try. When making a reservation, you only need to enter basic personal information, allowing you to book popular restaurants in Japan effortlessly and enjoy the benefit of avoiding queues!

Reserve restaurants on OMAKASE JapanEatinerary

1. Takadanobaba: Fry-Ya Fried Pork Cutlet Shop

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Located in Tokyo's Takadanobaba neighborhood, the Michelin Bib Gourmand recommended restaurant Fry-ya is operated by Michiyasu Nishiyama, a Japanese chef who has received Michelin star ratings in Japan and Switzerland. His cuisine is highly acclaimed, drawing attention from many well-known programs such as Asahi Television's "The First Recipe" and TBS Television's "Job Tune."

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The restaurant offers various set menus with small portions, allowing customers to choose their preferred ingredients from fresh selections such as pork cutlets, seafood, and vegetables. The chef then creates unique mixed tempura dishes. For lunch, they serve combo set meals, while dinner features a sequence of freshly fried dishes to sample.

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Depending on the ingredients, different types of bread crumbs are used, while the amount of lard and sesame oil is adjusted as needed. Cooking various ingredients at a low temperature is also essential to achieve optimal results.

Book a table at Fry-ya

2. Asakusa Kuramae: Tonkatsu Sugita Fried Pork Cutlet Shop

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Located near Asakusa Kuramae Station, Tonkatsu Sugita is a fried pork cutlet specialty shop with over 30 years of history. It has been continuously recommended by Michelin Bib Gourmand for 10 consecutive years. The restaurant is currently run by the second generation, Mitsuhiro Sato.

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Beloved by gourmets for many years, the restaurant uses carefully selected high-quality pork to bring out the original flavor of the ingredients. The tempura coating on the outside is very thin and crispy, while the meat is juicy, flavorful, and tender.

In addition to fried dishes, they also serve luxurious dishes like pork kidneys and shoulder marinated with Brandy, which perfectly retain the natural sweetness and juices of the meat. These are highly recommended as well.

Book Tonkatsu Sugita now

3. Ueno: Ponta Honke Fried Pork Cutlet Shop

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Founded in 1905, Ponta Honke was established by Shinjiro Shimada, a chef who previously worked in the Imperial Palace kitchen. Currently, it is run by the fourth generation, Yoshihiko Shimada. The restaurant has been recommended by Michelin Bib Gourmand for 10 consecutive years.

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The most popular fried pork cutlet dish in the restaurant was developed by the founding owner. It features Milanese-style seasoning combined with tempura frying. This method has continued to this day and is highly praised by many gourmets.

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A special highlight is that the frying oil used at Ponta Honke is homemade. The restaurant slowly boils down its pork fat to produce a rich lard, which is used to fry the pork cutlet. This results in a deep, sweet oil flavor.

Book Ponta Honke now

4. Shimbashi: Kurobuta Tonkatsu Hori Ichi Fried Pork Cutlet Shop

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Kurobuta Tonkatsu Hori Ichi is a fried pork cutlet specialty shop that opened in 2021. It quickly gained recognition from Michelin Bib Gourmand the following year, making it a shining new star in the fried pork cutlet scene!

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The owner exclusively uses black pork from Kanayama Town and Kirishima City in Kagoshima Prefecture. The fattiness from the former is extremely sweet, while the red meat from the latter displays a robust wild boar-like flavor, with a clear taste difference.

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Regardless of the type of fried pork cutlet, both are bursting with juicy meat and exhibit the delicate, tender texture combined with the perfectly crispy coating. In addition, they offer pickles made with Kagoshima's specialty black vinegar.

Book Kurobuta Tonkatsu Hori Ichi now

Book Your Table at Michelin Restaurants Using OMAKASE JapanEatinerary

Are you feeling hungry after reading the restaurant introductions above? Then quickly use the OMAKASE JapanEatinerary platform to make reservations at your favorite fried pork spots! With no need to queue on-site, it will definitely make your Tokyo gourmet journey even more enjoyable!

Book your restaurant now on OMAKASE JapanEatinerary