When we arrived in Osaka after a long Shinkansen ride, we were famished! Our hotel was a bit off the beaten path, we had to do a little searching for a possible places for a quick bite. One of the foods we were craving at the moment was tonkatsu – crispy fried pork cutlets – so we did a quick Google Maps search for any nearby haunts. It turns out that we were within a short walk of an amazing, Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognized tonkatsu restaurant: Tonkatsu Daiki (1-6-2 Higashishinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 542-0083, Japan).
We showed up at a somewhat early time for dinner – about 5:45 PM – and were seated at the counter right away. As soon as we sat down, a line began to form outside, which grew ever-larger as we continued to wait for and enjoy our meal. The restaurant itself was extremely tiny with a counter that seated 4, and only a few additional tables (note there are no kids allowed). The main options on the menu were several varieties of tonkatsu with different cuts of pork (though fried shrimp also appeared to be a popular option). M got the classic and L got the leaner pork tenderloin. If you wanted something a bit richer, there were tonkatsu plates with melted cheese, Japanese curry, and even an omelette. The restaurant is cash only, and lunch portions are a bit cheaper than dinner, though you will likely not pay more than 3,000 yen at any time.
Sitting at the counter, we peered intently into the kitchen as the chef prepared everyone’s meals right in front of us, taking extreme care with each step. There was a bit of a wait, but the end result was worth it. The pork was tender and juicy, and you could tell it was of the highest quality. There was absolutely no grease coming from the fried coating – this was the lightest-feeling fried food we had ever had. Alongside the tonkatsu were a few dipping sauces, including spicy mustard and classic tonkatsu BBQ-style sauce, and some shredded cabbage. This was absolutely the best tonkatsu we have ever had, and definitely some of the best pork of any kind.
We chatted a bit with the chef, who knew some English, and he was very friendly, and humbly accepted our heapings of praise. Somehow, we lucked out with our timing, so we would recommend that you also go towards the beginning of either the lunch or dinner service (they are open 11am-2:30pm and 5:30pm-9:30pm, Closed Sunday). However, we would have definitely waited in line to experience this Tonkatsu again!
Eating The World 