The best Tonkatsu restaurant in Tokyo
Have you ever eaten "Tonkatsu"? It is pork chop breaded with flour, egg, and Panko (bread crumbs), then deep-fried. It's typically Japanese food though, you might not hear this. There are a lot of Tonkatsu restaurants in Japan. Here I write about "Tonkatsu in Ikebukuro".
- 1.Wakou Sunshine City Arupa Ikebukuro(和幸 サンシャインシティアルパ池袋店)
- 2.Tonkatsu Daikiti(とんかつ大吉)
- 3.Tonkatsu ha nomimono(とんかつは飲み物)
- 4.○Katsutei Seibuikebukuro(○かつ亭西部池袋店)
- 5.Gyukatsu Kyoto Katugyu(牛カツ京都勝牛 池袋東口店)
- 6.Gyukatsu Iroha(牛かついろは)
- 7.Katsuya Ikebukuronishiguti (かつや池袋西口店)
1.Wakou Sunshine City Arupa Ikebukuro(和幸 サンシャインシティアルパ池袋店)
When it comes to saying "Tonkatsu", Japanese people think "Wakou" which is a large chain type of tonkatsu restaurant around Japan so easy to access when you research it. You can enjoy the menu it depends on the season also the same nice taste wherever Wakou restaurant you go. That will not let you down.
There are 2 Wako restaurants in Ikebukuro. The one is Ikebukuro Station, the other one is sunshine-city. It's both a chain restaurant. You can go directly from the Higashi Ikebukuro station to Sunshine. Also, the other one can go easy from Ikebukuro station. Choose a better one.
Average price:2,000 JPY
Opening hours:11:00~22:00
Address:3-1-1 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-Ku
Ikebukuro Sunshine City Alpa 3F
2.Tonkatsu Daikiti(とんかつ大吉)
It's possible to eat juicy tonkatsu at a reasonable price. Thick pork meat should be full of your hunger and feels. Also, All you can eat rice, cabbage, and miso-soup. There is also fried fish, shrimp, and oyster which is very nice. Usually, the peak time of lunch and dinner need to wait around 10min to in. It's better to take time a little bit if you go.
Average price:1,500JPY
Opening hours:10:00~22:00
Address:1-30 Nishiikebukuro, Toshima-Ku, Tokyo Tobu Hope Center B1F
3.Tonkatsu ha nomimono(とんかつは飲み物)
This Tonkatsu restaurant name means Tonkatsu is drink. I actually don't understand what they want to say. But the name is so unique then people want to go there. The claim to fame this restaurant is there is 10 more variety of Tonkatsu menu. You can choose 3 appetizers for their Tonkatsu platter. This is an amazing reasonable restaurant. You pay 1,000JPY make you full and you are going to back some change.
Average price:900JPY
Opening hours:11:00～16:00、17:30～22:00
Address:2-5-11 Ikebukuro, Toshima-Ku, Tokyo Takaiwa Building 1F
4.○Katsutei Seibuikebukuro(○かつ亭西部池袋店)
Located the Seibuikebukuro department. Look like the same kind of tonkatsu restaurant. But the menu is a little bit high-class of tonkatsu compare to the chain restaurant. Using high-class oil and pork which is black pork. You might think so juicy though you don't worry about a heavy stomach after eating. There is 2 type of rice, you can choose normal rice or 15-grain rice which is all you can eat. It worth trying here one of high-class tonkatsu.
Average price: 2,500JPY
Opening hours: 11:00~23:00
Address: 28-1 Minamiikebukuro, Toshima-Ku, Tokyo
5.Gyukatsu Kyoto Katugyu(牛カツ京都勝牛 池袋東口店)
Actually, this is not tonkatsu. Its meaning doesn't use pork this restaurant. So, what do they use? They use beef which is so fresh one. As you can see the meat portion looks rare. Japanese people like raw food. Gyukatsu is a Japanese dish that consists of breaded, deep-fried beef cutlets. Eating with salt, soy sauce, or special sauce. You can enjoy the taste of beef itself because of simple tasting. Keep in mind your Gyukatsu comes in a set with rice, miso soup, potato salad, tsukemono pickles, and shredded cabbage. It worth visiting!!
Average price:1,200JPY
Opening hours:11:00~22:00
Address:1-6-3 Higashi Ikebukuro, Toshima-Ku, Tokyo Ikebukuro 3rd KU Building 1F
6.Gyukatsu Iroha(牛かついろは)
Gyukatsu Iroha is also one of nice Gyukatsu restaurant. The good point of Gyukatsu feels healthy compare to Tonkatsu. The Gyukatsu provided almost raw inside which is fine. You can enjoy 2 ways. First, eat as provided then you can also eat cook by yourself provided hot pan. There are 3 types of sources there is only wasabi source for me.
Average price:1,500yen
Opening hours:11:00~22:00
Address:1-7-7 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-Ku, Tokyo Tomitsu Building B1F
7.Katsuya Ikebukuronishiguti (かつや池袋西口店)
The last one is the most affordable and reasonable Tonkatsu restaurant I have ever seen. Katsuya is a chain restaurant and you can order by take away order using Uber-eats and Demaekan. Provide very fast and good quality for a reasonable price. So businessman/women often use here to finish eating fast. I often order "Katsudon" which is Tonkatsu wrapped with egg on the rice. So easy to eat and good quality. It is also worth trying.
Average price:700JPY
Opening hours:7:00~3:00
Address:1-19-1 Nishiikebukuro, Toshima-Ku, Tokyo
39 Building 1F
Lastly
There are a lot of things to do in Japan. One of these might eat sushi but the other one of this might eat Tonkatsu and Gyukatsu. Also, Ikebukuro is one of the big city and many places to spend with your friends and yourself. You can choose 2 types of meet juicy or more juicy.
