Coated in egg and panko breadcrumbs and deep-fried to golden perfection, a good tonkatsu, served with Japanese rice and shredded cabbage, is one of the simplest pleasures in life and it sure hits the spot every time.

Here is our guide to the best tonkatsu restaurants and eateries in Singapore that everyone should check out when you are craving for tonkatsu.

GINZA ANZU

Ginza Anzu—a farm-to-table concept eatery from Kyushu—is a tonkatsu specialist which features a remarkable range of katsu offerings on their menu.

We’ve been to Ginza Anzu many times over the last few years since they opened in Singapore, and truth to be told, we thought that Ginza Anzu’s regular pork loin katsu was too dry and lean and it lacked fats. Only their special Ginjo Pork Fatty Loin Katsu was outstanding. However, at S$38, it is not something that most people will order on a regular basis.

But on our latest visit, we had the Pork Loin Katsu Set (S$24 for medium) and the tender, moist and succulent pork loin katsu was sublime with the perfect fat to meat ratio.

1 Kim Seng Promenade, #01-113/114
Singapore 237994
Tel: +65 6977 9815

TONKATSU BY MA MAISON

As far as real-deal Japanese tonkatsu is concerned, Tonkatsu by Ma Maison over at Mandarin Gallery is one of the best, if not the best, tonkatsu restaurants in Singapore.

Besides the usual crispy-breaded-pork-with-rice combination, they also have a vast repertoire of innovative tonkatsu dishes such as their Mille Feuille Truffle Katsu that sees a massive cult following.

Tonkatsu by Ma Maison’s Kurobuta Rosu Katsu set (S$33.80) is our top pick and you will never go wrong with it.

333A Orchard Road, #02-35 & #02-36
Mandarin Gallery,
Singapore 238897
Tel: +65 6733 4541

TAMPOPO

The OG tonkatsu restaurant in Singapore, Tampopo sets the standard for tonkatsu in Singapore with its Japanese Kurobuta Pork and USA pork cutlets. This is our go-to place whenever we want a solid tonkatsu and you will never go wrong with their Top Grade BP Tonkatsu (S$31.80).

Tampopo’s thick, juicy, fatty and crispy pork loin lives up to all the hype. For something healthier, you can get the Less Fat BP Loin Cutlet Set. But hey, what’s the point of that?

391 Orchard Road, #B2-33,
Ngee Ann City
Singapore 238872
Tel: +65 6235 2318
Nearest Station: Orchard

HAJIME TONKATSU & RAMEN

Hajime Tonkatsu & Ramen over at myVillage in Serangoon Gardens is opened by Chef Tan-San, a seasoned tonkatsu specialist with over two decades of experience and the very same man that started Tampopo.

They have increased their prices, but it still remains reasonable for the quality of the katsu. Go for their premium Pork Loin (S$24.9) and you will not be disappointed.

Other katsu options include Nagoya Miso Fillet (S$21.5), Ebi Fry (S$20.5) and Chicken Katsu (S$18.9)

1 Maju Avenue, #02-07/8/9
myVillage @ Serangoon Garden,
Singapore 556679
Tel: +65 6509 9952

KATSUYA

Nestled in the food-driven enclave of East Coast Road, Katsuya is a hole-in-the-wall eatery where you can find top-notch tonkatsu offerings at affordable prices.

Here, diners can choose between pork loin (rosu) or pork fillet (hire) or seafood such as shrimp, oysters (kaki) or fish. Every order is made fresh so be prepared to wait but make no mistake that the wait will definitely be worth it.

85 East Coast Road
Singapore 428787
Tel: +65 6344 8183

KIMUKATSU

Kimukatsu—Japan’s Famous Mille-Feuille tonkatsu restaurant with outlets in Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Sendai—has opened in Singapore at Takashimaya basement 2 food hall.

Kimukatsu is known for its tonkatsu which is made up of many thin layers of pork; think of it as a pork mille-feuille. Unlike the usual tonkatsu, Kimukatsu uses thinly-sliced pork and they are stacked into 25 layers. The layered cutlet is covered with fresh breadcrumbs and fried slowly in low temperature for 8 minutes.

In addition to the original tonkatsu, the other flavours are cheese, black pepper, Ume Shiso, garlic and Yuzu Kosho.

Kimukatsu
391A Orchard Rd, B2 Food Hall Takashimaya
Singapore 238873

MARUHACHI

Opened in November 2020, Maruhachi Donburi & Curry is a hawker stall that offers restaurant-quality tonkatsu at very affordable prices.

The chef-owner is Indonesian-born Singaporean PR August Wijaya, 38 who used to be the head chef of the now-defunct Ginza Bairin—the famous Tokyo-based tonkatsu restaurant at ION Orchard—for almost nine years.

The Tonkatsu set (S$11.80) comes with a pretty huge slab of tenderloin that is evenly breaded with panko and deep-fried to a beautiful golden brown. Premium Japanese rice is also used, and there is also a side of freshly-shredded cabbage. Honestly, we have nothing to pick on this straight-forward classic Tonkatsu set. And we would go back for it again and again.

They have opened 8 outlets across Singapore over the past two years and you can easily find a stall near your neighbourhood.

Maruhachi Donburi & Curry
671 Edgefield Plains, Singapore 821673
Tel: 9176 5750

SABOTEN

With more than 500 outlets worldwide, Saboten is a popular tonkatsu chain that uses only selected grain and barley fed pigs.

Be spoilt for choice with their menu that features all sorts of breaded goodies from their signature Pork Loin Katsu Gozen to their Grated Radish Loin Katsu.

9 Raffles Boulevard, #02-14 Millenia Walk
Singapore039596
Tel: 6837 3432

TONKICHI

One of the more well-known tonkatsu restaurants in Singapore, Tonkichi has garnered many supporters over the years.

We have dined at Tonkichi over the years and the standards have dropped significantly. The basic tonkatsu sets are just run-of-the-mill and nothing to shout about. The Premium Rosu Katsu (S$32), on the other hand, still deserves a special mention. We had the Miyazaki Rosu Katsu which was juicy and tender, with the right proportion of fats.

Simply put, there are much better tonkatsu restaurants in Singapore unless you are willing to splurge on the premium cuts. Nonetheless, we have included Tonkichi in our guide to tonkatsu restaurants in Singapore because there are many people who still patronise Tonkichi and swear by their tonkatsu.

350 Orchard Road
4F Shaw House
Tel: +65 6835 4648

Kimukatsu—Japan’s Famous Mille-Feuille Tonkatsu—is here in Singapore at Takashimaya basement 2 food hall. Kimukatsu is known for its tonkatsu which is made up of many thin layers of pork; think of it as a pork mille-feuille.

We’ve tried Kimukatsu’s Mille-Feuille Tonkatsu in Osaka and Tokyo years ago and we’ve been a fan of the brand ever since.

Unlike the usual tonkatsu, Kimukatsu uses thinly-sliced pork and they are stacked into 25 layers. The layered cutlet is covered with fresh breadcrumbs and fried slowly in low temperature for 8 minutes.

In addition to the original tonkatsu, they also have other flavours like cheese, black pepper, Ume Shiso, garlic and Yuzu Kosho.

If we had to pick one flavour from Kimukatsu’s menu—other than the Original Tonkatsu, of course—it would be Kimukatsu’s Cheese Tonkatsu. It is super satisfying with cheese oozing out of the superbly fried tonkatsu.

Kimukatsu
Takashimaya basement 2 food hall

Read our guide to the best tonkatsu restaurants in Singapore.

A good tonkatsu is one that is deep-fried to golden brown, and texturised with crumbs, with the layers of meat intricate yet not overly oily, and is so good on its own that you might have forgotten it has other accompanying sauces like mustard and the sweet tonkatsu sauce. The meal is completed with miso soup, pickles, a huge pile of cabbage, and hot steaming rice.

Besides tonkatsu, there are variations such as Katsudon, pork cutlet with egg and onions on rice; Katsu Sandon, a tonkatsu sandwich; and Katsu-Kare, tonkatsu drizzled with Japanese curry. No matter which version, tonkatsu ranks as one of Japan’s favourite comfort food.

Which is the best tonkatsu in Tokyo? This is a constant debate among travellers and locals as the city has no shortage of good tonkatsuya. When we were in Tokyo recently, we went on a quest to find our favourite tonkatsu, and this is a list of the best Tonkatsu Restaurants in Tokyo.

Butagumi

This tonkatsu specialist has one of the most comprehensive tonkatsu menus—with at least a dozen varieties of pork—but the daily offerings depend on the availability of the meat. The evergreen options are Ryuuka-ton (¥1,900) from Okinawa, and Nattouku-ton (¥2,300) from Gifu. You can also find other premium meats such as Golden Boar Pork (¥3,000) from Hyougo, Nakijin-agoo-buta (¥4,500) from Okinaa, and the famed Iberico Pork (¥4,800) from Spain.

While tonkatsu is the star at Butagumi, it is not the only reason why you should dine here. The feel of taking off your shoes, and stepping into a typical Japanese wooden booth, having a handbell to ring for service, a table lined with floral-printed China, and a fuss-free Japanese menu (with English option available)—all these little touches complete the experience of dining in a true blue ryotei.

2-24-9 Nishiazabu, Minato
Tokyo, Japan
Tel: +81 3 5466 6775
Tue to Sun: 11.30am – 2pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Roppongi

Katsukura

Katsukura is a tonkatsu restaurant chain from Kyoto, and besides pork cutlet, it also offers other options like fried prawns, chicken cutlet, and crab meat croquette.

Among the numerous tonkatsu restaurants in Tokyo, what sets Katsukura apart is their consistency. Even though It has many branches around the city, the tonkatsu is always consistently good and reliable. Most importantly, it is also the kind of place you can return to again and again because you do not have to spend a bomb to dine here. The standard Sirloin Cutlet starts from ¥1,350 for 90g, while the Fillet Cutlet is ¥1,480 for 90g.

Shibuya-ku, Sendagaya 5-24-2
Shinjuku Times Square Building 14th Floor
Tokyo, Japan
Tel: +81 3 5361 1878
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Shinjuku

Kimukatsu

Another tonkatsu restaurant in Tokyo that we really liked was Kimukatsu in Ebisu. The tonkatsu here, made up of many thin layers of pork, is really good – think of it as a pork mille-feuille. In addition to the original tonkatsu, they also have other flavours like cheese, black pepper, green onion, garlic, sour plum and yuzu pepper.

We ordered the cheese version, and it was super satisfying with cheese oozing out of the superbly fried tonkatsu. A tonkatsu set is ¥1,930. Alternatively, you can opt for the Kimukatsu Value Combo—choose any two tonkatsu flavours at ¥2,500 (for 1 pax), or three flavours at ¥3,980 (for 2 pax).

Tonkatsu is comfort food, and it is meant to be hearty and comforting. Our meal at Kimukatsu was exactly like that. It is not a fanciful place with a diverse menu, but what they do—they do very well. It is a place where locals go to for a good meal.

4-9-5, Ebisu, Shibuya-ku
Tokyo, Japan
Tel: +81 3 5420 2929
Mon to Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11.30pm
Nearest Station: Ebisu

Maisen Tonkatsu

There are many famous tonkatsu restaurants in Tokyo, but the place that everyone seems to agree is the best place to head to is Maisen Tonkatsu. They have many outlets in Tokyo, but go to the main shop in Aoyama – just a few blocks behind Omotesando Hills. The restaurant is located in a former World War II public bathhouse, which adds to the whole feel of dining there.

There are many options on the menu, but if you are there, you must go for the best—the famed Okita Kurobuta Fried Pork Loin meal (¥3,780).

The tonkatsu, like the reviews that we have read, was really good. In fact, it was one of the best we have ever had in my life. The pork cutlet was extremely juicy and crispy, yet not greasy at all. Topped with their special tonkatsu sauce, and served with a bowl of rice and a large stack of cabbage, it was unbeatable.

4-8-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku
Tokyo, Japan
Tel: +81 3 3470 0071
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Omotesando

Tonki

Tonki opens at 4pm every day, and such is the popularity of their tonkatsu, that the restaurant is almost filled even before dinner time.

Unlike some tonkatsu restaurants which offer all sorts of cuts and variations, Tonki is simple and straight to the point—either rosu or fillet, in other words, you choose the lean or the slightly fatty option. Both are priced at ¥1,800 for teishoku with rice, miso soup and pickles, or ¥1,250 for an ala carte portion.

Tonki’s version is very different from the usual tonkatsu that we are familiar with. It is not as crispy, nor is it crumbly. The slow-cooking process means that the meat inside is not as juicy or tender as the typical tonkatsu. It has a very real and unpretentious taste which is probably why regulars go back to this 70 years old house for a good and solid tonkatsu. Most of the customers at Tonki are in fact middle-aged Japanese, who most probably grew up eating the tonkatsu here.

1-1-2 Shimo-Meguro, Meguro-ku
Tokyo, Japan
Tel: +81 3 3491 9928
Daily (except Tue): 4pm – 10.45pm
Nearest Station: Meguro

For more recommendations, read our guide to the best tonkatsu in Singapore