Hyperlocal Tokyo

A well-known restaurant located in the restaurant district of Haneda Airport Garden. I was tired from traveling and wanted something rich and flavorful, so I stopped by Yaba Ton. It had been over 10 years since I last had it, but the classic miso katsu was delicious as always. The affordable price is also a big plus. This is just my personal opinion, and everyone's taste is different. I'm writing this comment hoping to share the beauty of Japanese culture and help everyone have more happy moments. Let's all gather as many smiles and happy moments as we can in our lives.

I recently went to Nagoya, and for my last night there, I decided to have dinner at Yaba Ton! I was so excited and headed to the Yaba Ton in Nagoya Station, only to find a line as long as a mid-tier attraction at Disneyland. I had no choice but to give up. Out of shame and regret, I went to this location the next day after returning to Tokyo. Even though I wasn't catching a flight... The tables were pretty full, but there were some seats at the counter, so I got in. I got the impression that even on weekdays, you could probably get in without waiting in line. I'm a bit of a trend follower, so I ordered the famous Waraji Tonkatsu set. It was a QR code-based online ordering system. I'm glad because I have a soft voice. You can choose between miso or sauce, or both, so I went with both. Both the miso and the sauce were delicious. It was juicy, but the fat wasn't heavy, which was nice. I was a little worried I wouldn't be able to finish it because I'm a light eater, but I polished it off. Now I have no regrets about my trip to Nagoya! Thank you!

The food was just okay, nothing special. But the staff seemed really overwhelmed. I went in around 2 pm, and there were plates of food left on tables everywhere. The robots weren't doing much, and there just weren't enough staff. It was a bit chaotic. They weren't clearing tables for new customers, so we had to wait at the entrance for a while. The self-checkout system was a good thing, but they really need more staff. The robots weren't doing much either, just standing around at the entrance, which was pretty pointless and actually quite annoying. The food was okay, and the prices weren't too high, so it wasn't a bad experience, but it felt a bit wasteful. Just my objective opinion.

【February 2024】 I had a short overseas business trip that day. Since my flight was in the evening, I decided to visit the "Haneda Airport Garden" which opened in January 2023. Initially, I planned to go to "Hanayama Udon Haneda Airport Garden Store", a branch of a restaurant in Ginza that I enjoyed, but the udon was sold out around 3 pm. I wandered around and ended up here, drawn by the sight of it. "Yaba Ton" was a place I had visited in Nagoya about 20 years ago, before I started using Tabelog. This was my first visit since then, so it was my first post on Tabelog. Looking at the menu, I saw various "tonkatsu" (pork cutlets) in addition to the famous "Miso Katsu" (pork cutlet with miso sauce). As I was happily pondering my choices, I spotted a menu that seemed to anticipate my thoughts: - Yaba Ton Sanmai (2420 yen) This set included "rosu" (loin) and "hire" (fillet) tonkatsu, "mini teppan tonkatsu" (mini iron plate pork cutlet), potato salad, and more, a true "Yaba Ton" all-in-one set. I was drawn to the name and ordered it. You could choose two sauces from four options, and I went for the "secret miso sauce" and "green shiso with grated radish" sauce. I waited, sipping on cold tea, and the rosu and hire tonkatsu and rice arrived first. Then came the "mini teppan tonkatsu", sizzling with sauce poured on right in front of me. I was given a paper apron, which was definitely necessary given the sizzling state. I took a sip of miso soup, a bite of rice, and then enjoyed the "mini teppan tonkatsu". The familiar Nagoya flavor spread in my mouth. I also enjoyed the cabbage underneath. This B-grade feeling is good. After that, I had the "rosu" and "hire" tonkatsu, which were simply delicious tonkatsu, but not particularly special. I also tried the famous "potato salad" and "apple pie", but they were also just average. I'm sure they're a treat for "Yaba Ton" fans. After a long time, I visited "Yaba Ton" again, and I realized that this is a place to enjoy the B-grade feeling. Thank you for the meal.

I went there around 5 PM on Sunday, and while there were hardly any customers, the tables weren't cleared, and the staff seemed exhausted, suggesting they had been busy. They seem to be trying to address the staff shortage with QR code ordering and self-service checkout. The food was delicious, as always, with tender meat. However, when you enter, they ask for your party size and make you wait. They set the table before you're seated, which made me wonder if it wouldn't be better to do that after you're seated.