Copy Link
X
Facebook
LINE
LinkedIn
Pinterest
WhatsApp
KakaoTalk
NAVER
Weibo
WeChat
Mail
"OSAKA Mania Exploration" delves into the charms of Osaka with guests who are passionate about what they love. Osaka is home to many famous local specialties, but tonkatsu is currently gaining popularity among foreign tourists! So, this time, we went to eat all kinds of tonkatsu together with MADEinARISA, a katsu curry enthusiast!
Golden fried batter, juicy meat inside, and plenty of sauce... Just like Osaka's famous kushikatsu, tonkatsu, a combination of batter and sauce, is a gourmet dish that Osakans can't help but respond to.
Osaka is currently experiencing a neo-tonkatsu boom, with a wide variety of genres, including hearty cuts, high-end dishes using high-quality meat, and katsu curry, as the country is known for its curry.
To introduce tonkatsu, which is a delight to both look at and eat, we'll be introducing eight carefully selected restaurants, from the latest hits to classic, long-established tonkatsu restaurants, in collaboration with MADEinARISA, a katsu curry enthusiast.
Guide
He is the owner of "THE MOTiVATiON SHOP" a curry restaurant in Nishitenma, Osaka. He loves katsu curry so much that he has traveled around the country eating katsu curry and has even published his own original zine, "Katsu Curry Encyclopedia." He has appeared on TV and in the media many times. He loves not only katsu curry but also tonkatsu.
01. Osaka Tonkatsu (formerly Chiyomatsu)
Overwhelming volume and visuals!
A 5cm thick, non-stick katsudon invented by a former sumo wrestler
Osaka Tonkatsu is an extremely popular restaurant known for its 5cm thick katsudon, the thickest in Japan, invented by the previous owner, Chiyomatsu, a former sumo wrestler. This overwhelmingly thick dish is achieved by cooking the pork at low temperature for 24 hours, and the idea of placing an egg underneath the pork cutlet, leaving it unsealed, is also great, in order to maintain the texture and satisfying taste of the batter. Another unique feature of this restaurant is the use of sticky barley rice to balance the volume and punch of the tonkatsu. There are also a number of flavor-changing items on the table, and pickles as a garnish...it's a great way to eat a dish this large in volume, yet still be able to eat it all in one go.
The sight of large pieces of pork flying around in the frying area and kitchen is impressive! And what's even more refreshing is that the crispy texture is filled with low-temperature cooked pork. Because it's cooked at low temperature, it's juicy with plenty of moisture, and because it has a texture similar to ham, it's surprisingly easier on the stomach than regular cutlets, even if you eat a lot! It's a new food experience that you should definitely try!
02. New Babe
You can easily enjoy brand pork!
Another appealing feature is the ability to choose the brand and cut of meat.
This popular restaurant has further accelerated Osaka's high-end tonkatsu boom. This brand-name pork specialty restaurant directly procures carefully selected pork, and even though the pork is extremely thick and cooked at low temperature, it's not at all greasy. They offer a wide variety of brand-name pork, including Hayashi SPF, a pioneer of SPF pork; Saddleback, a legendary pork cutlet in Europe; and Mangalitsa pork, the only edible national treasure in the world. Ten types of condiments are included, including mustard on the table, and they also offer free refills of rice, pork soup, and lettuce or cabbage. If you want to enjoy a set meal of brand-name pork and still feel full, this is a must-see restaurant for you.
It's always packed with tonkatsu lovers. It's fun to be able to choose from a variety of pork brands, and you can also choose the size, so even those with small appetites can rest assured! There are 10 different flavor-changing items, so I carefully tried a little at a time. No matter what arrangement you choose, the pork stands out, and this is truly a famous restaurant!
03. Manger
We have everything from brand name pork to creative variations!
The top of Osaka gourmet tonkatsu
Manger is the undisputed number one tonkatsu restaurant in the Kansai region on Tabelog's ranking of the best tonkatsu restaurants. Even gourmets are quick to point out that their tonkatsu is incredibly fresh and juicy. If it's your first time, be sure to try the fillet cutlet and experience its juiciness. For your main tonkatsu, you can choose from six different types of branded pork. The lineup includes Hashiributa (running pork), TOKYO-X, Nanshu Kurobuta (black pork), Super Golden Pork, Himuro Pork, and Aji Pork. You can choose between rib roast and fillet. What's more, you can even choose half and half, combining brands and cuts, for added flexibility.
Everyone knows Manger as a charismatic figure in the tonkatsu world. Their pork is of the highest quality, so no matter what brand or cut you choose, you'll be impressed. Not only the tonkatsu, but the accompanying salads, pickles, miso soup, and rice are all top-notch. Numbered tickets are distributed from 8:30 a.m. onwards. It's recommended to visit first thing in the morning and then return when your turn arrives.
04. Abeno Katsu Sandwich Parlor Romantei
Enjoy a delicious cutlet sandwich at the parlor!
The cutlet sandwich for breakfast is also recommended!
This is a katsu sandwich specialty shop run by Romantei, famous for its beefsteak bento. The popular katsu sandwich is a masterpiece made with perfectly seasoned meat that is slowly deep-fried to bring out its flavor and lock in all the juices. What's more, this katsu sandwich can also be enjoyed for breakfast, making it even more appealing. The interior is a parlor-style reminiscent of the Taisho era, creating a nostalgic atmosphere. The mille-feuille egg sandwich, made with layers of thin bread and egg, is also excellent, so we recommend ordering half and half.
The small portion size is great. With this size, you can eat it even after lunch, and the fact that they also serve breakfast is amazing. By the way, they don't just have sauce flavor, they also have curry and cheese flavors, which I'm curious about. I'll definitely get the curry flavor next time!
05.Our Oretachi no Curry ya
The ultimate classic European-style cutlet curry!
A taste that makes you say, "This is what I wanted to eat!"
Oretachi no Curry ya, located in Nipponbashi, Osaka, is the most popular curry shop among foreign tourists. Their particularly popular katsu curry is a masterpiece, topped with a crispy fried cutlet in a sweet European-style roux, making it a truly exemplary dish. The cutlet is cut lengthwise and crosswise into bite-sized pieces so that it's easy to eat with a spoon, and it's topped with a rich roux, rice, and fukujinzuke pickles. When you bite into it all at once, the classic flavor spreads throughout your mouth, making you instantly feel overwhelmed with happiness, and you'll be convinced that this is the katsu curry you've always wanted to try!
I had heard a lot about "Oretachi no Curry ya." I had heard that it was incredibly popular among foreigners, but when I got there I was surprised to find that all the customers except for us were foreigners. Their katsu curry is the classic Japanese katsu curry, and it's so popular with foreigners too! It was quite moving to think that. They also have curry for Muslims, and a unique dish called curry ramen. I was also impressed by the variety of options!
06. Stand Curry Watanabe
You can enjoy authentic food quickly!
The second label of a Michelin-starred restaurant
A sister restaurant of the famous Watanabe Curry, which has been awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand for three consecutive years, Stand Curry Watanabe opened in 2023 as a new, convenient, and speedy stand-up restaurant (with seating) on the B1F of Osaka Station Building 1, a hot lunch spot for office workers in the Umeda area. Their generously-prepared rib-eye pork cutlet curry is just 1,000 yen (tax included)! For an additional 250 yen, you can get two cutlets! Compared to the main store, the pork cutlet is thinner, and the runny curry roux, packed with the flavors of meat and vegetables, is a perfect match. The second half of the meal is enhanced with a tomato chutney for a different flavor. Another attraction is the highly creative monthly changing curry.
I'm a big fan of classic European-style katsu curry, but this place is in a league of its own. The runny roux feels almost like a sauce. The katsu curry is easy to drink. It's great to be able to enjoy the taste of Watanabe Curry so easily. The time you spend waiting, excited by the sound of the oil frying right in front of you, is bliss. The sauteed mushroom topping is also recommended. If you're feeling good, you can even have an extra katsu!
07. Tontei
A popular restaurant where you can eat classic tonkatsu!
If you order a mixed set meal, you can also get other delicious fried foods.
If you want to eat classic, delicious pork cutlets, this is the place to go! After deciding on a main dish such as fillet pork cutlet or loin pork cutlet, the most popular menu item is a mix of two dishes to choose from, either fried shrimp or cream croquette. Dip the crispy, classic pork cutlet in one of two sauces and stuff it with rice, and you're sure to be in for a treat. Enjoy the crunchy cabbage as a palate cleanser, and occasionally sip on some red miso soup seasoned with Japanese pepper for even more delight...
For me, the best pork cutlet is one that is thin and crispy. Tontei's pork cutlet is the best cutlet I have ever had! The sauce is made with a combination of seasonings and spices similar to curry, so Tontei's cutlet is sure to go well with curry! I hope they do a cutlet curry one day! There will inevitably be a line from the time it opens, so it's best to visit with a little extra time to spare.
08. Tonkatsu Tachibana
The secret demi-glace sauce goes perfectly with rice!
A long-established pork cutlet restaurant with a hint of Western influences
It's about an eight-minute walk from Sakai-Higashi Station. This famous tonkatsu restaurant lurks in a quiet residential area. While tonkatsu served with sauce is the standard, the demi-glace sauce at Tachibana is the key. The crispy, fragrant, authentic tonkatsu is generously topped with demi-glace sauce, which, contrary to its appearance, is surprisingly light. However, the moderate saltiness goes perfectly with the rice, and as you continue to eat, you'll find yourself running out of rice. The small bowls of kelp tsukudani (simmered in soy sauce) and red miso soup, which are typical Japanese set meal accompaniments, also go perfectly with the rice! It's definitely worth the trip all the way to Sakai-Higashi to try it.
Although it is a well-established tonkatsu restaurant, I was struck by the unbalanced sophistication of the demi-glace sauce on the cutlet! The food is of course delicious, but the staff are very homely and the atmosphere is wonderful. The CEO Tonkatsu Set (2,200 yen) on the top left of the menu is a set meal that comes with sashimi and coffee. I would like to try this next time! And the cutlet curry too!
Osaka's tonkatsu is diverse and interesting!
What do you think? We've compiled a list of 8 restaurants, from the most innovative and impressive to the high-end and classic, as well as famous cutlet sandwich and cutlet curry restaurants!
Although it is simply called tonkatsu, just like the city and people of Osaka, it has undergone many changes and continues to evolve.
Of course, the tonkatsu restaurants introduced here are just a few of Osaka's famous restaurants, and there are many more tonkatsu that you should try. Osaka's tonkatsu continues to evolve and diversify, so be sure to give it a try!
*This article was migrated from “Shittonka Osaka.” The information provided is current as of February 2025 and may differ from current conditions. Please check the official websites of each store or facility for the latest operating hours and details.
Photo：Roman Naya
Edit：Rie Tomimoto
Direction：NINGEN Editorial Department（NINGEN Inc.）
