Shichibei Takadanobaba — Restaurant in Tokyo

nestled in a quiet shopping district in takadanobaba, shichibei is serving some incredibly-tasty, top-quality (and affordable) katsudons. i ordered the thick-cut backfat soy sauce katsudon, and it was insanely delectable. the cutlet’s skin was slightly crispy on the outside (until it softens from the broth), and its meat was so tender and soft, not dry or tough at all. the cut was also generously fatty. combined with the soft, marinated sweet egg, the succulent flavours of the fat and its jelly-like, bouncy — yet not chewy — texture really shone through. the rice, soupy and steeped in the broth, was steaming and stayed warm throughout the entire meal, making it extremely comforting to eat. the backfat soy sauce, which i was expecting to be overly oily and heavy, was actually not too prominent at all — it had a mellow flavour, and the firm jelly-like cubes merely provided a subtle salty undertone to the dish.

my favourite part about this meal (second to the fattiness of the pork) was how many ways you could shake up the flavour, so that you never got flavour fatigue or bored. theres a bottle of sweet, slightly vinegary, tonkatsu sauce on every table, and i think its powerful umami punch makes the perfect complement to the sweet-salty broth and meatiness of the pork. i also got a mustard mayo on the side, and it definitely had a strong tangy mustard flavour, but it was lighter and the aftertaste not so “mustardy” because of the mayo. this added a nice, sharp, acidic note to the otherwise hearty meal.

in my opinion, the (regular) portion is smaller than what i was expecting because of the shallow bowl, but it’s the perfect size if you want to leave feeling not too full. for me, a thick-cut cutlet and regular size rice, with a side of sour, tangy cabbage on the side, makes for a...

My friend and I made our way to this small establishment based on a recommendation on Instagram. It was well worth the trip. I got the tonkotsu bowl with backfat soy sauce and it was amazing. Egg melted into the pork cutlet, on a bed of soft rice with cubes of aspic-like jelly covering the top. There was a well-balanced taste of garlic and soy sauce, and it turned the dish into a soft and comforting bowl of warmth and delicious flavour. There is a machine outside so you can order all your food and drink (there is some English so it's pretty easy to do). The atmosphere is quiet and reserved while the chef and his staff do their work, but all you will want to do is just eat until you are stuffed full. My meal was ¥1000 and was a good size....

There is English on the menu with pictures!

You pay by ordering outside then you go in with your ticket and tell them how big your party is.

You'll then get seated and just wait for your food.

Water is self-serve. You will put your plates and bowls back towards the self-serve water area once you're done.

I got the Pork Cutlet set meal.

I give this a recommendation for those in the area wanting some sort...