Tonkatsuya Sato

Embark on a culinary adventure in the charming streets of Jiyugaoka, where a hidden treasure awaits in Tonkatsuya Sato, a small yet cozy haven for connoisseurs of tonkatsu, the famous panko-crusted Japanese comfort food. With its unassuming facade nestled among the bustling cityscape, Sato has earned its place in the Michelin Guide with a Bib Gourmand, a testament to its commitment to delivering exceptional tonkatsu at reasonable prices. The menu is refreshingly uncomplicated, focusing only on the essentials of tonkatsu. Visitors can choose from a selection of premium pork cuts or chicken katsu, which can be ordered either as a set or a la carte. Accompanying the katsu in each set are rice, miso soup, and a generous mound of fresh cabbage. In typical fashion, guests have the freedom of pairing the katsu with various condiments with salt, soy sauce, or the classic tonkatsu sauce, which resembles a thicker, sweeter Worcestershire. Tonkatsuya Sato doesn’t do much to shake up the formula, but it’s notable for getting the fundamentals very right. Tonkatsu aficionados will handily agree that there are few — if any — tonkatsu experiences as authentic and soul-satisfying as Sato’s, even for a restaurant that only started operations in 2021. Michelin Guide: 2023 - Bib Gourmand