Katsukura Shijo Teramachi — Restaurant in Kyoto

Came here on a rainy day for lunch with the wife. There was a bit of a wait as everyone was trying to find something to eat since the rain was unceasing that day. Nothing too long, though, perhaps 10 minutes before we were seated downstairs at the basement floor. Be advised that there are several stores and this one was locates at the end of the shopping street (meitengai) - probably why it was busy as people were coming off the main street with their umbrellas.

I love the tactile involvement of needing to grind your own sesame seeds with the traditional Japanese mortar and pestle. There are also detailed explanations of the different sauces. I ordered the most expensive (and largest) pork loin cut on the menu and it was simply divine. Fried to perfection, without an oily crust, and with the multitude of dipping sauces, hot mustard, and the ground sesame seed mixed in with your sauces, you can get a variety of tastes with each bite.

Rice (gohan), miso soup (misoshiru), and cabbage (kyabetsu) are all replenishable just by requesting (just say sumimasen and catch the eye of a passing server and ask for what you want.) Don't worry too much about not knowing the Japanese terms. Kyoto deals with quite a lot of tourists so their English, although not always fluent, is passable, and things like rice and cabbage are easily understood.

Worth coming back here again for the meal and free WiFi is provided for your Instagram...

I stopped by this little tonkatsu spot, and honestly, it might be one of the best meals I’ve had in Japan. The pork cutlet was perfectly crisp on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside — you could literally hear the crunch with every bite. The balance between the golden breading and the rich, flavorful meat was spot on.

Their homemade tonkatsu sauce had just the right mix of sweetness and tang, and when paired with the warm rice and finely shredded cabbage, it was absolute harmony. Even the miso soup tasted like it came straight out of someone’s home kitchen — comforting and full of flavor.

The staff were incredibly kind and attentive without being overbearing, and the cozy atmosphere made the whole experience feel authentic and relaxed.

If you love tonkatsu, this place is a must-visit. Come hungry — you’ll want to finish everything...

It's a small and crowded restaurant with quite the wait during peak hours, but their pork cutlet was worth the wait. But they have a basement with more tables that I didn't see. I opted to get the take-away so I could have my dinner more peacefully in my room. Had a bit of trouble trying to notify the staff that I was there to pick-up my takeaway (ordered through uber), not in line to dine it. But in the end I managed. Very well packaged. The food was very well prepared and still crispy and warm when I arrived at my hotel. With came with a delicious side of rice, salad and some pickles. The sauce came in packets so nothing was soggy. The croquette was also very good. Great place for a great pork cutlet and rice! Will come back...