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How can you tell a good-tasting tonkatsu from those that are prepared meagerly? The best-tasting tonkatsu are made of the highest quality pork and the right cut of meat. They’re flavorful, juicy, and saucy.
In Japanese cuisine, tonkatsu is a dish that consists of a pork cutlet, breaded and then deep-fried. Bread crumbs or panko coat the pork slices before frying them in oil. Kyoto is one of the best places to try tonkatsu. Where to eat the most succulent tonkatsu in this city? Find out here!
1. Kyoto Katsuda
The diners at Kyoto Katsuda are right when they say it’s tonkatsu perfection here. This unassuming restaurant serves affordable Japanese food, including tonkatsu. It is recommended that you order their set meal, which serves various freshly fried cutlets, such as pork, chicken, and beef cutlets. When you are craving more, their Wagyu beef cutlet is also a must-try.
Price: From 1,500 yen
Hours: 11 AM-2:30 PM, 5-9 PM
Contact: +81 75-371-5855
Address: 1-673, Omandokorocho, Shimogyoku-ku, 1F Mine Bldg., Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture 600-8413, Japan
2. Katsukura
Situated downtown, Katsukura will be missed by your eyes if you blink as its façade looks smaller than you think. But they go above and beyond when providing the town’s best tonkatsu. Aside from the tasty pork and homemade sauce, which adds to their magic, this restaurant fries their cutlets in zero-cholesterol veggie oil, perfect for the health-conscious eater. Take advantage of the free refills of shredded cabbage, pickles, soup, and tea. They also have branches across Japan and in Thailand.
Price: From 2,000 yen
Hours: 11 AM-9 PM
Contact: +81 75-212-3581
Address: 16 Ishibashicho, Sanjo-dori Teramachi Higashi-iru, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture 604-8036, Japan
ALSO READ: BEST YOSHOKU IN KYOTO
3. Jukusei Buta Kawamura
This restaurant’s relaxing atmosphere reflects its food. Do you know why? Jukusei Buta Kawamura’s tonkatsu stands out from the rest because it’s fluffy and soft, unlike what you get from Kansa-style tonkatsu. They use only aged pork from the Kagoshima Prefecture, providing their dish with the flavor that the locals and foreigners love. The sauces? To tell you about it is an overstatement, as their ingredients are sourced from Gion, Yakushima, and even from the Andes. Wow.
Price: From 2,000 yen
Hours: 10:45 AM-8 PM
Contact: +81 75-595-0295
Address: 57-1 Takehananishinoguchicho, Yamashina Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture 607-8089, Japan
4. Tonkatsu Satsuma Yodobashi Kyoto
This restaurant is proud of its Tripadvisor seal for the best tonkatsu restaurant in Kyoto in 2024. Serving both Japanese and Japanese fusion dishes, their tonkatsu is big, well-seasoned, and delicious. Customers note how the food smells really good from the ground up.
Price: From 1,000 yen
Hours: 11 AM-10:30 PM
Contact: +81 75-344-2933
Address: 590-2 Higashishiokojicho, Kyoto Yodobashi Building 6F, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture 600-8216, Japan
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5. Tonkatsu Butagorira
Found in central Kyoto, Tonkatsu Butagorira doesn’t sound odd, but for others, the name is unusual. The name actually means “pig gorilla.” Nevertheless, the tonkatsu here is a super juicy pork loin in unbelievably crispy batter. If you’ve just been to Nijo Castle, this is the perfect place to relax through revitalizing food.
Price: From 1,000 yen
Hours: 11 AM-9:30 PM
Contact: +81 75-255-0369
Address: 452-1 Matsugaecho, Kyogoku Building, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture 604-8034, Japan
6. Karasemitei
It isn’t a good move to just eat tonkatsu in Kyoto once since you might say, “Why will I eat tonkatsu again if I tried it already?” This is because tonkatsu in various restaurants here can be distinct. For instance, at Karasemitei, they specialize in hibernation-aged pork, which is treated with the finest panko coating to provide an incredibly thin, crunchy coating, so it’s not all breading, but you can focus on the pork itself. However, the prices here are more expensive.
Price: From 3,000 yen
Hours: 11:30 AM-3 PM, 5-8 PM (closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
Contact: +81 75-802-1313
Address: 600 Ukitacho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture 602-8104, Japan
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7. Ichiran Kyoto Kawaramachi
Ichiran Kyoto Kawaramachi is basically a ramen restaurant with tonkatsu on the side. But, the taste of their tonkatsu here is what’s making people visit here more than their ramen. Tonkatsu ramen in a pork bone broth is also offered. What’s more, they are open 24/7 on Saturdays.
Price: From 1,000 yen
Hours: 24/7 on Saturdays, 12 AM-10 PM on Sundays, 9 AM-12 AM on Fridays, 9 AM-10 PM from Monday to Thursday
Contact: +81 50-1808-9543
Address: 598 Uraderacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture 604-8041, Japan
When enjoying tonkatsu, you can’t get enough. Be sure to pair your meal with the tonkatsu sauce, of course, as well as shredded cabbage, pickles or tsukemono, miso soup, Japanese curry, mashed potatoes, and rice until you’re full.
Looking for a fun food tour in Kyoto? Join us for our Nishiki Market Kyoto Food Tour where we will take you around the best food spots at Nishiki Market and feast on various delicious dishes.
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