Katsukura - Kyoto Porta — Restaurant in Kyoto

Note: This place has an English menu.

Where can you find some really great tonkatsu in Kyoto? Look no further than Nadai Tonkotsu Katsukura located within the large cavernous Kyoto Station.

We got twisted and turned around a few times trying to find our way to the 11th floor of this partially open-air train hub. Once you find the long escalator ride, you’re on easy street up to the 11th floor.

This place is highly rated and popular with locals and tourists alike. It’s well worth the wait! They do have some seats outside along the hallway and you can take the time to browse through the menu so you know what you want beforehand. It really helps speed up the service and the food getting to your mouth. Haha.

I decided on the classic tonkotsu cutlet meal set which comes with unlimited cabbage, rice, and miso soup. The miso soup was filled with lots of veggies including lotus root slices and I could’ve drank that all day. It was very hearty and soothing to enjoy before the tonkotsu arrived. I also really enjoyed the finely sliced cabbage that helps tone down the richness of the sesame dipping sauce that we got grind ourselves. Just don’t grind the seeds too much or else it will just get stuck into a grooves of the bowl.

This tonkotsu is so on point. It’s got this golden deep-fried outside that is light and crispy. It doesn’t have a drop of oil dripping off of it. The pork inside was one of thee juiciest and most tender that I have ever experienced in tonkotsu. I don’t know if there is anything comparable found at home.

It’s a party in your mouth when you dip the tonkotsu in the sauce, pile some cabbage on top, and then take a bite of rice afterwards. It’s a very satisfying feeling with all the texture and flavours.

This is absolutely worth the wait when you are craving...

Dined on Sunday 10/6/2024 for dinner. Had to wait a bit but they will take your order while you wait when busy which helped keep things moving. They also have some wait seating once near the entry. I also felt understood if I needed to speak English.

There isn’t private dining more table meal setup. I got the smallest pork portion and was still very full. I didn’t even do a free “refill” on the cabbage, miso soup, or rice. I got the “basic” pork. Though the fried batter and sauce was fresh and good. The pork itself was fine but nothing special. Maybe go for the higher end pork options if you’re interested in that.

The meal comes with hot tea, sesame seeds (grind yourself and use with the original or spicy sauce), rice, pickled cabbage/cucumbers, cabbage salad (dressing on table), and miso soup.

I really liked the miso soup and the pickled cabbage and cucumbers. I thought the grinding sesame seeds was a cool and unique experience. They have a handy how to guide in English. The sake was also good. Note the spicy sauce is not really spicy in my opinion.

Overall good experience and nice service. You shouldn’t...

Sorry to say but this place is overrated & too expensive. Ordered the highest quality pork katsu (Hiraboku Kinkaton rosu - from Yamagata). That is their recommendation. Definitely far below my expectation as I have tasted much better tonkatsu in Ikkebukuro, Tokyo (I will not name the restaurant here as it is not a good etiquette). Price wise is $$$$. Not worth the price for what you paid for. You can get much better quality tonkatsu & bigger portion (more than 300 grams of organic pork) at the one I ate in Ikkebukuro. Beware, trust me before you dine in here. But if you do want to dine. Go through Isetan building, take elevator to 11F then walk across the opposite building through the bridge platform connecting both building.

To be fair, the taste wise is just so so, standard, no WOW factor. I won't say it taste bad, but just standard tonkatsu.

See the inconsistent layer of pork in the photos. I believe they should only served layered fat pieces of pork for this high price (comparing to what I have tasted before).

P.S. I am only expressing my personal food review according to my palate. You may either...