Tonkichi: Confession of a non-Jap food lover

February 24, 2009 | 19 Comments

Confession of a non-Japanese food lover. Right, I admit. I’m not the biggest fan of Jap food, while others rave about the freshness of the sashimi, I stared at them and wondered why they like to eat raw seafood. When others sipped and finished their bowl of ramen, I’m quietly thinking of my wanton mee. But, I can’t stop myself eating Tonkatsu, whenever I enter a Japanese restaurant.

The inevitable thing happened when I stepped into Tonkichi, thoughts of the excellent Kurobuta pork cutlet that I had at Tampopo, flowed into my mind. And of course, the visit here was because friends have always recommended Tonkichi for their famous tonkatsu. The interior is very simple, smaller than what I expected from the outside, with a comprehensive menu to showcase their speciality.

And this is where the main difference between Tonkichi and Tampopo lies. The latter offers a wide range of Japanese food, with Katsu and ramen as their signatures, the former does what they’re best in, Tonkatsu. They have the hire and rosu katsu of course, but there are also other set combinations to try their prawn, oyster, crab with their katsu.

Eggs are my favourite, and fried eggs with white rice can satisfied me. I’m a simple person with a simple taste bud, really. But somehow I do not fancy the Chawanmushi ($3.50). I guess the problem is steamed eggs and I simply do not get along. Nonetheless, my friend enjoyed the starter, and finished it fast enough.

Somebody once told me that Japanese potato salad ($3.50) is very good. It surely represented what an appetiser was about, light and simple, something to get your engines, or rather stomach going.

We were expecting the tonkatsu to be the star since Tonkichi is famous for it. But instead, we found ourselves falling in love with this instead. Man, the simmered pork belly was just so, so good! Well it tasted akin to our Chinese braised pork belly, everything was perfect. My friend was contemplating to order another serving, but we decided to come back to Tonkichi again, just for the divine Buta Kakuni ($6.50).

I was somewhat disappointed by the supposedly signature dish, Rosu Katsu ($20). There was the option of going for the premium tonkatsu set, but since I tried the normal grade pork loin at Tampopo last time, I wanted to give them a equal footing for the comparison. Sadly to say, I felt that the rosu katsu here didn’t quite match up to the one I had before. While there was a layer of fats underneath the crispy exterior, but the katsu somehow just lacked the oomph factor.

Adding a few more bucks, gets you the Oyster & Rosu Katsu set ($24.50). The same goes for the rosu katsu, while my friend who is a big fan of oyster dutifully chomped down both oysters while leaving the katsu unfinished.

Total bill was $68.25 for two person. The conclusion was quite clear-cut, I’ll like to think that Tampopo serves a meaner and better Tonkatsu, well the best I ever tried so far. But I’ll certainly come back to Tonkichi, just for their Buta Kakuni.

Tonkichi
391 Orchard road
#04-24 Ngee Ann City
Tel: 67357522

Comments

19 Responses to “Tonkichi: Confession of a non-Jap food lover”

Kara
February 24th, 2009 @ 12:53 am

It’s 12:53am and your post is making me very hungry!!!!!!!!!!

Karas last blog post..On the fly!
adel
February 24th, 2009 @ 5:33 am

hey,i know how u feel abt Japanese food.For me,it was an acquired taste really,only started liking it in the past two years. I didn’t know Tonkichi was serving fried food when I stepped in with my friend.The seafood set (Prawn and oysters) was really good! Fresh and juicy! Chicken set was surprisingly nice too. Free flow of shredded lettuec was a plus point. Chawanmushi good too

adels last blog post..Spicy Lasagna
His Food Blog
February 24th, 2009 @ 9:58 am

Yep. While Tonkichi’s Rosu Katsu is good, it is nowhere near Tampopo. Tampopo’s Tonkatsu is unrivaled IMHO!
keropokman
February 24th, 2009 @ 10:20 am

it’s been a long time since I came to this place
June
February 24th, 2009 @ 12:45 pm

Pls help little charmaine @ http://ourfeistyprincess.blogspot.com/.

My friend Cynthia’s daughter Charmaine is suffering from cancer neuroblastoma & is currently in the 4th stage.

I think they are trying to raise some funds so if you want to help, pls refer to the above blog link. Thanks

And let’s pray hard together!

Junes last blog post..Let Us All Pray Hard For Charmaine!
pammiez
February 24th, 2009 @ 2:57 pm

Have you tried Tampopo’s top grade katsu? Its really goooood! If you found the normal grade good, the top grade is way way better =)
chewbb
February 25th, 2009 @ 3:56 pm

i missed their dessert that was made of coffee…
Nate
February 26th, 2009 @ 5:41 am

It doesn’t look like they put any tonkatsu sauce on their cutlets. Was it served with sauce?

Nates last blog post..Our Favorite Layer Cake Recipe
ladyironchef
February 26th, 2009 @ 9:14 pm

kara: hahahaha yay! reading my blog late at night isn’t very advisable. lol!

adel: lol! Actually okay la, i’m not that against Jap food, just that i’m not those type that rave abt it too. haha. yeah there’s the free flow of lettuce, but the given portion is already so much, we didn’t take extra.

hfb: yeah agreed. haha

keropokman: hahaha i like tampopo compared to this place

pammies: No man. that’s my only regret when i went to tampopo that time. Got to go back and try the top grade. haha

chewbb: oh? Which dessert is it?

nate: yeah there wasn’t any tonkatsu sauce served. I didn’t notice it until you mentioned. anyway i don’t like the tonkatsu sauce. haha
Amsie
February 27th, 2009 @ 4:34 pm

This is one of my favourite Japanese places…besides Wasabi Tei at Far East Plaza, yum!

Amsies last blog post..Taipei’s Shilin Night Market.
ladyironchef
February 28th, 2009 @ 8:15 pm

amsie: yeah! i heard good things about wasabi tei, need to go there soon : )
email2me
March 5th, 2009 @ 7:04 pm

The last time I went there, they gimme a sesame seed for you to grind before start the meal. It is meant to be mixed with their special sauce for the tonkatsu dip.

email2mes last blog post..Food POI Is A Twitter Enabled Food Blog
ladyironchef
March 5th, 2009 @ 9:58 pm

email2me: yeah they still give the sesame seed thingy, just that i didn’t show the photograph. haha! very fragrant!
June
March 9th, 2009 @ 2:05 pm

I’ve tried the Buta Kakuni before & i agree it’s good! =) I simply love such fatty kind of meat. Hee

As for Tonkatsu, i think the ones @ Tom Ton or Tampopo seems to be better! Just had my meal @ Tom Ton recently & i’m missing it already

Junes last blog post..Great Lunch @ Tom Ton & Vocal Recital Concert @ ACJC
ladyironchef
March 9th, 2009 @ 2:25 pm

june: yeah the buta kakuni is omg. haha! agreed with you on that, personally i felt tampopo one is better than tonkichi.
Am.
March 12th, 2009 @ 10:07 am

Um, wow. I really hope that this is just ignorance on your part. “Jap” is considered a really offensive term with a lot of negative historical connotations.
ladyironchef
March 12th, 2009 @ 10:41 am

Am.: I meant no offence. I’m just writing it in short form instead of Japanese : )
loop
March 16th, 2009 @ 3:48 pm

Tampopo at Liang Court has cheaper sets.
ladyironchef
March 16th, 2009 @ 10:09 pm

loop: yeah i know, i prefer tampopo to tonkichi too!