Katsukura

Quick Facts

What it is

Meidai Tonkatsu Katsukura (名代とんかつ かつくら), born on Sanjo Street in Kyoto, is one of Japan's most refined and beloved artisan pork cutlet institutions. Setting the gold standard for healthy Japanese frying, Katsukura fries its carefully selected heritage pork exclusively in 100% zero-cholesterol pure vegetable oil, hand-dredging each piece in specially baked coarse fresh breadcrumbs (Nama Panko) for an airy, greaseless golden crunch. Diners take part in the traditional tableside sesame grinding ritual—crushing fragrant roasted white sesame seeds in a grooved ceramic mortar (Suribachi) before blending in house-blended fruit-and-red-wine tonkatsu sauce. Set meals served with rice, the kitchen's miso soup, and shredded cabbage dressed in signature yuzu dressing include unlimited free refills of all three.

How to order

Dining at Katsukura is tranquil, refined, and interactive:

1. Enter and take a seat: Walk inside. Staff will welcome you and guide your party into a serene Kyoto-style dining room featuring dark natural woods, pottery, and Japanese flower arrangements.
2. NO Otoshi cover charge: Enjoy honest dining—Katsukura charges zero table fee and zero cover charge (¥0).
3. Review the English photo menu: Browse the menu featuring clear English explanations of pork cuts (Loin vs. Tenderloin) and gram weights (80g, 120g, 160g).
4. Choose your cutlet set:
   • Hire Katsu (Tenderloin Fillet): The #1 bestseller. Incredibly tender, lean medallions with zero sinew or heavy fat.
   • Rosu Katsu (Pork Loin): Juicy, flavorful cut bordered by a sweet strip of rich pork fat.
   • Seasonal Fair Cutlets: Kurobuta black pork, oyster cutlets (Kaki Fry), or shrimp cutlets.
5. Grind your sesame seeds: Staff will bring a small ceramic mortar (Suribachi) with roasted white sesame seeds and a wooden pestle. Grind the seeds in circles until they release a rich, nutty aroma, then ladle Katsukura's thick tonkatsu sauce directly into the mortar.
6. Savor the feast: Your meal arrives on a beautiful ceramic plate. Dip your cutlet into the freshly ground sesame sauce. Pour Katsukura's famous non-oil Yuzu Dressing over your mountain of shredded cabbage.
7. Ask for unlimited refills (Okawari): Finished your bowl? Simply tell the server "Okawari kudasai"—rice, finely shaved cabbage, and miso soup are 100% free and unlimited on set meals served with them.
8. Pay at the cashier: Take your check slip to the front cashier desk to complete payment.

What to order first

Dishes below reflect core brand staples officially featured on the Katsukura Official Website:

• Signature Kyoto Tenderloin Cutlet Set (Meidai Hire Katsu Zen - ヒレかつ膳): Katsukura's flagship masterwork; incredibly tender pork tenderloin fried in zero-cholesterol oil, served with rice, miso soup, and cabbage (~¥1,800–¥2,800 depending on gram weight, tax-included).
• Kyoto Loin Cutlet Set (Rosu Katsu Zen): Juicy, marbled pork loin encased in airy fresh breadcrumbs with sweet pork fat.
• Complimentary Unlimited Refills (Okawari Muryo): Set meals served with rice, miso soup and cabbage include free, unlimited refills of all three — just ask your server. The soup is the kitchen's miso soup rather than a fixed red aka-dashi, and menus and refill details can vary by store.
• Signature Yuzu Dressing: A refreshing, non-oil citrus dressing made with Japanese yuzu that makes mounds of cabbage taste light and delicious.
• Jumbo Tiger Prawn Cutlet (O-Ebi Fry): Giant breaded tiger prawn fried crisp and served with house-made egg tartar sauce.

Payment & practical info

Prices and details checked: September 2026.

Practical dining and payment guidance based on official Fukunaga policies (consult the Official Store Locator for branch locations):

• Accepted Payment Methods: Accepts cash, international credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UnionPay), Japanese transit IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA, etc.), electronic money, and smartphone QR code apps.
• Prime Department Store Locations: Prominently located atop premier department stores and transit centers (Shinjuku Takashimaya 14F in Tokyo, Kyoto Station Building The Cube 11F, Kyoto Sanjo Main Store), offering pristine English service and barrier-free access.
• Zero-Cholesterol Frying: Because the frying oil is 100% pure plant-based and low-temperature managed, diners never experience the heavy, oily stomach fatigue common at cheap fried food shops.
• Wi-Fi & Power Outlets: Connected to host department store Wi-Fi; dining tables generally do not provide customer charging outlets.
• Tax-Free Status: Not eligible for tax-free shopping. Restaurant dining is domestic consumption.

Good to know / Common mistakes

• Grinding the sesame seeds properly: Take your time grinding the seeds with the wooden pestle until about half the seeds are crushed into a fragrant powder before pouring the sauce in. The aroma is incredible.
• Pouring sauce over the meat: Never pour tonkatsu sauce directly over the cutlet. Dip each piece into your sesame-sauce mortar right before biting to preserve the shatteringly crisp breading.
• Drinking the miso soup: The soup is the kitchen's miso soup rather than a fixed red aka-dashi, and what is served varies — for example, tonjiru fairs swap it for a pork soup. Remember, soup refills are free on set meals served with it.
• Tipping: Tipping is not customary in Japan, so there is no need to leave a tip. Settle your exact bill total at the front cashier desk.

Sources

• Katsukura Official Website: https://www.katsukura.jp/ (Verified: 2026-09-30)