Katsudon is a breaded pork cutlet simmered with onion and beaten egg, served over rice. The crisp cutlet half-melts into the sweet-savory egg — comfort food at full volume.
What it means
Because katsu sounds like "to win," katsudon is the classic meal before an exam or a big day — and famously the dish detectives offer suspects in TV dramas. It carries a wink of good luck.
Why it's wonderful
The contrast of crunchy and soft, savory cutlet and silky egg over rice is irresistibly homey. A bowl that feels like a hug.
What to order
Classic katsudon
Sauce-katsudon (Fukui style)
With miso soup & pickles
Hire (fillet) for leaner
FAQ
What is Katsudon?
Pork cutlet and egg over rice — a winner's bowl.
Is Katsudon vegetarian, vegan, halal or gluten-free?
Pork, wheat and egg. A hearty classic, not for pork-free or gluten-free diets.
💬Recipes and preparation vary by restaurant, so this is a general guide. If you're ever unsure, please confirm directly with the venue before you order — they'll appreciate the heads-up.
Where to try it — and book a table
Editor-picked spots for this dish. Each opens the listing we verified it against — hours, photos and how to get in touch.
A 1939 Meguro institution where white-clad chefs fry plump pork cutlets in a theatrical open kitchen, plating them with endless free refills of cabbage and rice.
The 1947 Ginza institution that invented katsu curry itself, plating a crisp pork cutlet over rich Western-style curry at the very spot where the dish was born.
★ Beef kushikatsu with the house communal dipping sauce
The Shinsekai flagship of the kushikatsu lineage traced to 1929, beneath Tsutenkaku Tower and iconic for its shared dipping sauce and famous 'no double-dipping' rule. It offers no dietary accommodations: a shared deep fryer means heavy cross-contamination, the batter contains wheat, and the communal sauce is shared by all diners.
★ 'White tonkatsu' — pork slow-fried at low temperature with pale breadcrumbs
A reservation-only destination tonkatsu shop in Suginami selected for Tabelog's Tonkatsu Top-100 (2021-2026) and a Tabelog Award Bronze winner, famous for its pale, low-temperature 'white tonkatsu' using premium pork such as TOKYO X. Booking ahead is required and walk-ins are generally not accepted.
