Hyperlocal Tokyo

【Weekend Lunch】 I've been to this restaurant a few times. The food is still excellent, but... the manager's attitude was disappointing. He didn't make eye contact with any of the customers waiting and rudely informed them about the wait. What bothered me most was when I asked for a receipt, he tossed it at me. Perhaps they've shifted their focus to inbound tourism, as there were many foreigners, and I can imagine the language barrier could be stressful. However, even so, it's just not acceptable. The food is delicious, and the Japanese and foreign staff are all very polite. But this one incident after the meal significantly impacted my impression of the restaurant. It's simply that.

Katsuyoshi Shibuya, a tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant located on the main street east of Shibuya Station, heading towards Ebisu. It's a renowned establishment with a calming Japanese atmosphere and warm hospitality. The loin cutlet set is highly recommended. The loin cutlet is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, offering a delightful combination of texture and flavor with every bite. The carefully fried cutlet is evenly cooked, incredibly tender, and made with carefully selected pork, showcasing its sweetness and rich flavor. The light and crispy breading adds a satisfying 'crunch' with each bite. The restaurant offers free refills of cabbage and rice, with a choice between white rice and shiso rice. The shiso rice is a refreshing option after the rich cutlet. If possible, I highly recommend trying the ebi fry (deep-fried shrimp). The enormous ebi fry was incredibly thick and juicy, a truly satisfying experience. The dishes at Katsuyoshi Shibuya are a testament to the quality of the ingredients and the meticulous preparation, creating an unforgettable dining experience. I will definitely be returning!

The food and atmosphere were both fantastic! We ordered the plum course for two, and while it featured pork cutlet, we also enjoyed a variety of other fried dishes like chicken cutlet, shrimp tempura, and eggplant cutlet. The interior is incredibly detailed, creating a unique and traditional Japanese space that feels far from the underground location. It was a wonderful experience. They have English menus and the staff is accustomed to serving foreign guests, making it perfect for bringing international friends. I definitely plan to visit again!

【While eyeing the cold breaded pork cutlet bowl…】 Customers continued to stream into the restaurant. At 12:30, there was a line of a few people, a testament to its popularity. There were also many foreign tourists. One salaryman exclaimed, "Wow, the 'cold breaded pork cutlet bowl' is already available!" He was overjoyed. This dish is a popular menu item that has sold over 230,000 servings. It was a hot day, so I was tempted to order it. However, my friend and I, both shrimp lovers, had our sights set on the "Natural Extra-Large Shrimp Fry Set with 2 Shrimp (¥5,200 including tax)" featuring fresh, whole shrimp. We could choose between white rice or rice with perilla leaves for our meal, and both were refillable. The set also came with pickles and miso soup. A heaping pile of shredded cabbage arrived at our table. Sesame dressing and yuzu dressing were available on the table, so I opted for the yuzu dressing. I munched on the salad while we waited for 15 minutes. It took a while for the shrimp to arrive. Perhaps it was because they were deep-fried at a low temperature, or maybe it was because the shrimp were so large. It wasn't a problem since we were chatting. Finally, after 25 minutes, the thick, plump shrimp arrived. I wonder what kind of shrimp it was? The batter was also quite thick, but that was okay. I tried dipping the shrimp in the accompanying tartar sauce, as well as mustard and tonkatsu sauce, to see which combination tasted best. In the end, I found that combining all three was the most delicious. The shrimp itself was quite large, so it was a bit bland. I guess that's to be expected with such a large shrimp. The rice with perilla leaves was also delicious, and the miso soup was plentiful and flavorful, with a generous amount of natto.

A renowned tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant I've always wanted to try! The upscale exterior builds anticipation. I visited on a Saturday at 4 PM, and the restaurant was about 70% full. The interior has a great atmosphere and is very nice. I ordered the 150g loin cutlet set. The meat itself is packed with flavor and sweetness, and it's delicious even without sauce. Two types of pickles are available for free refills. For rice, you can choose between plain white rice and rice with perilla leaves. Since this option isn't available at other locations, I went with the perilla rice. It has a subtle perilla flavor that pairs well with the tonkatsu!