• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Time Travel Turtle

A travel blog with stories beyond the brochure

  • HOME
  • ABOUT ME
  • CONTACT ME
  • BY COUNTRY
    • WEST EUROPE
      • Belgium
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Ireland
      • Liechtenstein
      • Luxembourg
      • Netherlands
      • Northern Ireland
      • Scotland
      • Switzerland
      • Wales
    • NORTH EUROPE
      • Estonia
      • Finland
      • Latvia
      • Lithuania
      • Norway
      • Sweden
    • SOUTH EUROPE
      • Cyprus
      • Gibraltar
      • Greece
      • Holy See
      • Italy
      • Malta
      • Portugal
      • San Marino
      • Spain
    • EAST EUROPE
      • Austria
      • Belarus
      • Croatia
      • Czech Republic
      • Hungary
      • Montenegro
      • Poland
      • Serbia
    • NORTH ASIA
      • China
      • Japan
      • Kazakhstan
      • Kyrgyzstan
      • Mongolia
      • North Korea
      • Tajikistan
      • Uzbekistan
    • SOUTH ASIA
      • Cambodia
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Myanmar
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Sri Lanka
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • NORTH AMERICA
      • Antigua & Barbuda
      • Belize
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • USA
    • SOUTH AMERICA
      • Argentina
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Uruguay
    • AFRICA
      • Egypt
      • Morocco
      • Namibia
      • South Africa
    • OCEANIA
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
    • MIDDLE EAST
      • Jordan
      • Turkey
  • MOST POPULAR
    • The world’s oldest backpacker
    • Orangutans in Borneo
    • The need for speed
    • Trying to get out of the slum
    • The lake swamped with tourism
    • Journey into Dreamland
    • The village where life begins again
    • Is Cambodia safe for travellers?
    • Making the perfect gin and tonic
  • UNESCO

Tonkatsu: 30 Days of Japanese Food

December 2, 2018 | Michael Turtle | 7 Comments

JAPANESE FOOD

Day 4: Tonkatsu

So it seems it’s not just the central Europeans who have a claim on the humble schnitzel. The Japanese also have a love of breaded meat and here it comes in the form of a tonkatsu.

Back in the old days, it was mainly beef which was used but since the early 1900s, the meat of choice has been pork.

It’s usually salted, peppered, put in light flour, dipped in egg, coated in breadcrumbs and then fried. And the result has become an extremely popular dish in Japan.

tonkatsu, japanese food, japanese cuisine, japanese dishes

At its simplest, the tonkatsu is served by itself. Normally there are a few condiments that go along with it, though.

The most popular is a Worcestershire-style sauce called (not so imaginatively) tonkatsu sauce. But it’s also normally accompanied by a slice of lemon and sometimes a special mustard called karashi.

Although a tonkatsu on its own can be quite filling, there are normally a few little additions that come with it. Cold shredded cabbage is the most common and at one place I’ve eaten it there were unlimited refills of the cabbage.

The waiter told me it would make me “clear” but I didn’t try to think too hard about what he was referring to. To thicken out the meal, there’s usually a bowl of rice and some miso soup as well.

tonkatsu, japanese food, japanese cuisine, japanese dishes

The tonkatsu can also be eaten in a sandwich, over rice with egg or with a curry. It’s a versatile little thing and it’s not surprising the Japanese find as many things to do with it as possible because it’s delicious.

The meat is thick and juicy, the breadcrumbs crunchy yet oily.

This meal of tonkatsu I had was an experience in itself. It was quite late at night because I’d arrived after dark in the town of Nikko, a few hours north of Tokyo.

There weren’t many restaurants open but this little place still had a light on. It felt like someone’s loungeroom as I sat down shoeless on a tatami mat and the elderly lady pulled herself away from the television to cook my dinner.

I was the only one there but it was a warm and homely feeling.

tonkatsu, japanese food, japanese cuisine, japanese dishes

The tonkatsu with cabbage, some side soba noodles, rice and miso soup cost 1200 yen (US$12.50) and tasted like it was straight from a home kitchen.

>> You can check out the whole list of Japanese food dishes here <<

Reader Interactions

    Comments Cancel reply

  1. melbrackstone |

    April 5, 2013 at 1:12 pm

    Reply

    Yum!

    • Michael Turtle |

      April 16, 2013 at 9:30 pm

      Reply

      Yum indeed. I’ve decided I love tonkatsu!!

  2. Cam @ Traveling Canucks |

    April 6, 2013 at 2:28 pm

    Reply

    Double yum!

    • Michael Turtle |

      April 16, 2013 at 10:26 pm

      Reply

      Ha ha… do I hear a triple yum?? Anyone?

  3. mel brackstone |

    April 16, 2013 at 9:33 pm

    Reply

    you forced me to go buy some pork fillet. 🙂

  4. Alex |

    January 28, 2014 at 11:51 am

    Reply

    Tonkatsu!!! Love the good old days in Japan!! I still seek out to find the best Tonkatsu in LA and have found some great contenders but its never the same!!

    • Michael Turtle |

      January 28, 2014 at 5:27 pm

      Reply

      I’m the same with the ramen. I try so many places around the world but nothing quite compares to the traditional local experience in Japan.

Primary Sidebar

This is the website of travel writer, Michael Turtle. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. This isn't a diary - these are real stories from the world.

Want Occasional Updates?

Sign up to be the first to hear the latest about the adventures of Time Travel Turtle. You'll also get access to special offers and exclusive news.
Thank you! You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter.

Search

  • PRIVACY POLICY