Katsukura Tonkatsu Sanjo Main Store — Restaurant in Kyoto

This place was highly recommended by our Supera tour guide to try during our free time for dinner. No reservations. You must stand and wait. It's next door to the Lipton Tea House.

The passageway to the restaurant is probably 40" wide maximum. And the passageway is the only way in and out for guests. At 645pm, the line already started. It took us 45 minutes, with about 15-20 people ahead of us, to get a table for 5. The German couple behind us were hangry and left after waiting 15 min and hardly moving. So be patient. Afterall, the best places always have lines, right?

The manager will pass out laminated menus for you to peruse and then take your order. As soon as you are seated, they'll want you out as soon as possible. It's very efficient for such a tiny place. I tried to count the maximum capacity: I estimated 40 to 45 people max.

The restaurant was nicely designed. It had an understated elegance.

FOOD: First they server gives the table a laminated instructions on what to do:

1. crush/grind the fresh sesame using their ceramic bowl and wood mortar and pestle. Then add 1 of 2 tonkatsu sauces (original or spicy.) The 3rd sauce is a tasty ponzu vinegarette for the shredded vegetable (cabbage) that comes the tonkatsu. We ordered the most popular: Japanese Kurobuta (pork) which comes with 3 sizes: small, medium, large (pick one.) The meal comes with miso soup and AYCE rice and salad. The pork was tender and fatty, and the batter was perfectly cooked: Not too thick, not too thin, and super crunchy. We had beers to wash down the deep fried pork. The salad with ponzu dressing, and rice, also offsets the heavy pork and hand-made sesamensnd...

Place looked great based on TripAdvisor and Google reviews so I decided to bite. The restaurant was advertised as the best katsu with an English menu. After walking by the place due to no English signs outside we backtracked to a katsu food display we saw on the way to find the restaurant hiding behind it.

The food was okay, a bit dry and tasted like your basic katsu you could find in the states. The only thing about it was the fact that the made you crush your own sesame to add to the sauce.

The one star review, however, comes from the service. It was easily the worst service I've ever received in Japan. We ordered waters from our waiter, who had accidentally spilled them on his walk over to the table. Instead of replacing the cups, he handed the one half splilled cup to us and disappeared.

After 10 minutes of waiting, I had to ask another waiter to get the waters for us. The same waiter was asked to deliver and practically threw the waters in our faces to get away from us. This happenes a few iterations with the miso soup refills and pickled cabbage refill that were advertised on the menu.

But the thing that really got us was when we noticed how he was treating other gaijin (foreigners)...Clearly we were not welcome there.

In summary: Food - 3 stars Bang for your buck - 1 star Service - 0 stars Overall...

Hands down the best tonkatsu spot we've ever been to. Our visit was nothing short of extraordinary. From the first bite, the tenderness of the tonkatsu exceeded our expectations, creating a culinary delight that lingered on the palate. The menu showcased various choices of pork, I highly recommend Hiraboku Kinkaton Pork. All choices comes with unlimited rice and soup.

What truly elevated our evening was the enchanting ambiance – a perfect blend of warmth and coziness. Soft lighting, tasteful decor, and an inviting atmosphere set the stage for a memorable dining experience. It felt like a culinary haven, where every detail was thoughtfully curated to enhance our enjoyment.

Equally impressive was the impeccable service we received. The staff was attentive, friendly, and went above and beyond to ensure our satisfaction. We have our little one with us and they made sure he was comfortable. The kods meal also comes with a toy, kept my boys entertained while we wait for our food. The unique experience of grinding sesame seeds for the tonkatsu sauce, enhanced our overall culinary journey. From the melt-in-your-mouth pork to the inviting ambience and stellar service, each element harmonized to create an unforgettable evening. We look forward to returning and savoring more moments at this...