10 Best Tonkatsu Restaurant in Tokyo

What is tonkatsu?

Tonkatsu and tonkotsu are completely different dishes.

In English, tonkatsu and tonkotsu differ by just one letter, so they are often mistaken for the same food. However, they are entirely different types of cuisine. Tonkotsu is a milky white broth made by simmering pork bones for a long time. Tonkatsu, on the other hand, is a dish made by breading and deep-frying pork cutlets.

A popular dish made by breading and deep-frying pork

Tonkatsu typically uses thick cuts of pork tenderloin or loin which is similar to a cutlet. It is often enjoyed with a sauce that has a mildly sweet flavor with subtle acidity and spiciness or with salt. It is commonly served as a set meal with cabbage, miso soup, and rice.

There are many reasonably priced Bib Gourmand Tonkatsu restaurants.

At casual tonkatsu spots, you can enjoy a meal for around 1,000 to 2,000 yen. Additionally, more restaurants are offering special tonkatsu made with premium brand pork.

Restaurants listed in the Japanese Michelin Guide's Bib Gourmand section tend to be more expensive than those in other countries, often requiring a budget of around 10,000 yen. However, many tonkatsu restaurants in this category offer casual dining experiences for around 4,000 yen, making it a must-try during your trip to Japan. Since walk-in customers often face long lines, it's recommended to choose restaurants that allow online reservations for easier scheduling.

10 Tonkatsu Restaurants in Tokyo

1. Fry-ya (Fry家) / Shinjuku

Fry-ya is a deep-fry specialty restaurant featured in the Michelin Guide. The chef, who has earned Michelin stars in both Switzerland and Japan, offers a range of deep-fried dishes, including tonkatsu. The restaurant is known for its prix fixe course, where you can sample a variety of deep-fried items such as pork loin, tenderloin, vegetables, and seafood, with the option to add your favorite à la carte dishes to complete your meal. The frying method is customized for each ingredient, allowing you to experience the unique texture of each item.

2. Kurobuta Tonkatsu Horiichi (黒豚とんかつ ほり壱) / Ginza,Nihonbashi

This Bib Gourmand-approved tonkatsu spot uses Kagoshima Berkshire pork, renowned for its rich flavor and sweet fat. Enjoy crispy tonkatsu alongside fluffy shredded cabbage, served with two types of sauce: a homemade tonkatsu sauce made from 18 ingredients and a miso sauce that combines this homemade sauce with Hatcho miso. In addition to the exceptional tonkatsu, the menu features a delightful pork soup where the sweetness of the vegetables and pork blend perfectly, as well as refreshing pickles to cleanse your palate.

3. Ponta Honke (ぽん多 本家) / Asakusa, Ueno

This restaurant is a venerable spot for deep-fried food with over a century of tradition and has earned a Bib Gourmand. Their cutlets are meticulously deep-fried for over 10 minutes in homemade lard at a low temperature, pairing perfectly with their house-made spicy Worcestershire sauce. They also offer a variety of seafood fritters, including conger eel, whiting, squid, and tiger prawn.

The drink menu is extensive, featuring beers, sake, and a fine selection of wines and whiskeys that complement Western dishes. The restaurant's cozy and welcoming atmosphere makes you feel like you're dining with family.

4. Sugita (すぎ田) / Asakusa, Ueno

Sugita is a renowned Tonkatsu restaurant with over 40 years of experience and a Bib Gourmand award. They use pork from Chiba Prefecture for their Tonkatsu, selecting high-quality ingredients based on their current condition rather than adhering to a specific source. This approach results in a lighter, more delicate Tonkatsu due to the meticulous removal of excess fat. The restaurant is also popular for its Western-style dishes, such as oversized shrimp fritters and omelet rice, which consistently receive enthusiastic praise.

5. Tonkatsu Narikura (とんかつ 成蔵) / Minami-Asagaya

1. MICHELIN (2017 - 24): Bib Gourmand

This Bib Gourmand restaurant is renowned among Tonkatsu lovers for its distinctive "white Tonkatsu." Made with low-sugar breadcrumbs and deep-fried at a low temperature, the Tonkatsu has minimal color change and a thin, delicate coating, making it light and easy to enjoy in generous portions. The meat used is from the cut equivalent to Chateaubriand in beef, with options to sample other cuts such as loin and rib roast. While the restaurant operates on a reservation-only basis, it offers a casual and inviting atmosphere.

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6. Ginza Katsukami (ぎんざ かつかみ) / Ginza

1. MICHELIN (2023,24): Bib Gourmand

Ginza Katsukami is Japan's first restaurant specializing in course-based tonkatsu and has earned a Bib Gourmand award. Their signature pork, Maeda Biton, is prized for its finely marbled fat, resulting in an exceptionally juicy and flavorful cutlet. The menu also features courses showcasing other top-tier pork varieties. Each dish is accompanied by Himalayan rock salt and two types of sauces. They use a unique rice called Tsuranuki, cultivated from Hokkaido's Yumepirika rice using a special method. For dinner, they also offer a distinctive balsamic vinegar-based sauce that perfectly complements their dishes and pairs well with drinks.

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7. Tonkatsu Hinata (とんかつ ひなた) / Takadanobaba

1. MICHELIN (2018 - 24): Bib Gourmand

Recognized as a Bib Gourmand restaurant, Tonkatsu Hinata opened its doors in 2017 in Takadanobaba, a neighborhood renowned for its fierce tonkatsu competition. With a sleek, sushi-bar-like interior, the restaurant offers a popular lunch special featuring a premium loin cutlet set. The meat is encased in a delicate, thin crust that perfectly balances fat and lean, resulting in a tender, flavorful cut with a beautifully pale pink center.

After 3 PM, Hinata offers a reservation-only tasting course for groups of four or more. By purchasing whole pigs, the restaurant allows guests to sample and compare a variety of pork cuts, including rib loin, loin, tenderloin, eye of round, neck, and rump, ranging from classic to rare selections, all served in small portions. A curated selection of sake is also available to enhance the meat's flavor.

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8. Tonkatsu Nanaido (とんかつ 七井戸) / Aoyama

1. MICHELIN (2020 - 24): Bib Gourmand

This Bib Gourmand-listed restaurant offers a selection of premium pork varieties. The menu features classic dishes such as thick-cut fillet cutlet sets, along with regular, premium, and special loin cutlet sets. The owner, who originally specialized in grilled chicken skewers known as yakitori, also serves a popular chicken cutlet. The subtle fat in the meat provides a perfect balance of sweetness and umami. The pairing of tonkatsu with rice cooked in an earthenware pot is exceptional. The restaurant's interior is stylish and relaxed, with a café-like atmosphere that creates a welcoming space for everyone.

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9. Sharikimon Chawambu (車力門 ちゃわんぶ) / Yotsuya

1. MICHELIN (2021 - 24): Bib Gourmand

This renowned restaurant, featured in the Bib Gourmand and highly rated across various review sites, is a must-visit. They use rice bran oil for deep-frying, which gives the pork a light and crispy coating. The combination of the crispy pork and the hot, sweet sauce is simply outstanding. Their signature dish is the special pork loin cutlet set, where you can choose between thick or thin cuts of pork. The restaurant’s elegant interior adds a touch of luxury, making it the perfect place to enjoy tonkatsu in a special atmosphere.

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10. maisen (まい泉) / Chain Restaurant

Maisen is a renowned tonkatsu restaurant franchise with over 50 years of history. Known for its sit-down dining and convenient takeout options available at department stores and station buildings, it is celebrated for its "tonkatsu so tender you can cut it with chopsticks." The restaurant uses tender pork from around the world, coated in unique breadcrumbs, and deep-fried to a perfect crisp in specially ordered oil. Maisen also offers four original sauces: sweet, spicy, sandwich, and black pork. The main branch is located in Aoyama, Tokyo, where you can enjoy a relaxed atmosphere while savoring their delicious pork dishes.

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