Hajime Tonkatsu & Ramen has quietly opened its third outlet, this time at Dunearn Village along Bukit Timah Road.

It’s a natural next step for the brand — after building a loyal following at myVillage in Serangoon Gardens since 2016, then expanding to Thomson Plaza in 2019, Bukit Timah residents now have their own neighbourhood spot to get Chef Tan-San’s tonkatsu.

For the uninitiated, Chef Tan-San is widely recognised as Singapore’s first tonkatsu chef. He trained in Japan, returned in the 1990s to head the kitchen at the original Tonkichi, and later became the pioneer chef behind Tampopo.

The signatures Hajime Tonkatsu & Ramen remain the draw here. The Pork Loin Tonkatsu Set and Pork Fillet Tonkatsu Set both come with free-flow rice and cabbage, alongside miso soup, homemade pickles, and roasted sesame seeds for grinding tableside.

Other than their signature tonkatsu, Hajime also offers ramen and okayo donburi on its menu. If you are staying in the West of Singapore, do drop by their latest outlet at Dunearn Village to try their tonkatsu.

Hajime Tonkatsu & Ramen (Dunearn Village)
896 Dunearn Road, #01-35, Singapore 589472
Open daily, 11.30am–9.00pm

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

Opened in November 2020, Maruhachi Donburi & Curry is a hawker stall which started at Edgefield Plains in Punggol which offers restaurant-quality tonkatsu at very affordable prices. It has since expanded and there are 5 outlets across in Singapore.

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. Now, you know what that means?

You must try his tonkatsu.

Most of the katsu dishes on Maruhachi’s menu are priced between S$9.80 to S$14.80. They may not be cheap by “hawker standards”, but the quality of the food is very close to what you would get at most of the tonkatsu restaurants in Singapore.

Some of the dishes on Maruhachi’s menu include:

• Pork Katsu Don (S$9.8)
• Oyako Don (S$6.8)
• Tonkatsu Set (S$11.8)
• Black Pig Katsu Set (S$14.8)
• Tonkatsu Curry (S$9.8)

Maruhachi uses premium ingredients including thick-cut tenderloin and fillets of pork from the USA and Canada, while the katsu is breaded in fresh white bread crumbs that are imported from Japan.

With such quality, one would wonder if he is even making money with that kind of prices he is charging!

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.

The Pork Katsu Donburi (S$9.80) is also an option to love. With a generous slab of tonkatsu sitting atop a bed of Japanese pearl rice, sweet egg and onions, this donburi is a comforting bowl of happiness that we would enjoy any day of the week.

For the price point, Maruhachi is definitely one tonkatsu place you have to try soon.

It is advisable to go earlier when they open at 11am for lunch and 5pm for dinner to avoid the long queues. The average waiting time during peak hours is at least 30-45 minutes.

Maruhachi Donburi & Curry
671 Edgefield Plains
51 Havelock Road
373 Bukit Batok
429 Jurong West
365 Sembawang Crescent

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.

What’s not to love about Japanese tonkatsu? It may not be the healthiest food option around but it sure hits the spot every time. We simply adore tonkatsu whether it’s stuffed with melty cheese, drenched in Japanese curry or simply on its own.

For the uninitiated, Tonkatsu is a Japanese dish which consists of meat that is breaded, deep-fried to golden perfection and usually served with rice and shredded cabbage. The most common tonkatsu is pork tonkatsu, with the fillet and the loin being popular cuts to choose from.

For the love of all things breaded and fried, that boasts a crunch and succulence like no other, here is our list of 10 best tonkatsu restaurants in Singapore.

HAJIME TONKATSU & RAMEN 

Opened by Chef Tan-San, a seasoned tonkatsu specialist with over two decades of experience and the very same man that helmed the highly acclaimed Tampopo, Hajime Tonkatsu & Ramen over at myVillage in Serangoon Gardens is where you can find authentic Japanese cuisine at really affordable prices.

Their ramen is decent by most standards, but the real star of the show is their tonkatsu that comes in a variety of options—be it pork, fish, ebi (prawn) and more!

1 Maju Avenue, #02-07/8/9
myVillage @ Serangoon Garden,
Singapore 556679
Tel: +65 6509 9952
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

KATSUYA

Nestled in the food-driven enclave of East Coast Road, Katsuya is a small and cosy restaurant where you can find topnotch tonkatsu offerings.

Here, diners can choose between pork loin (rosu) or pork fillet (hire) or seafood such as shrimp, oysters (kaki) or fish. Rosu is a fattier cut of pork that is considerably more flavourful and texturally divine. 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
(Closed on Mondays)
Tue to Fri: 6pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Eunos

KATSUDON HANAKATSU

Katsudon Hanakatsu at Suntec City is opened by the same team behind the popular Tendon Kohaku. They specialise in Katsu Don and you can choose between the spicy and non-spicy alternatives.

The original HA-NA Katsudon features a generous portion of two types of meat—pork and chicken. Diners get well-marinated meat with a subtle taste of shoyu on top of warm Japanese rice. Those who prefer your dish with a spicy kick can opt for the HA-NA Katsudon Spicy Flavour instead that sees a generous sprinkling of chilli flakes.

#03-10 Suntec City
3 Temasek Boulevard
Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 6333 4386
Daily: 11.30am – 3.30pm, 5pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Promenade / Esplanade

MONSTER CURRY 

Popular for its affordable, colossal-sized plates of katsu, rice and Japanese curry, Monster Curry is a hot favourite among the younger crowd.

Choose from a selection of combos that come with either chicken katsu, pork katsu, pork shabu-shabu, shrimp tempura or all of them together.

Let’s be clear: Monster Curry’s tonkatsu is nothing special. But it is something that we enjoy when we want a simple and fuss-free meal.

2 Orchard Turn
#B4-52 ION Orchard
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6509 4555
Daily: 11am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

SABOTEN

Where quality tonkatsu is concerned—the popular tonkatsu chain uses only selected grain and barley fed pigs—Saboten serves as a prime example that delicious tonkatsu need not necessarily come at a high price.

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

80 Airport Boulevard, #031-004
Changi Airport Terminal 1,
Singapore 918146
Tel: +65 6214 9504
Daily: 10.30am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Changi Airport

TAMPOPO 

One of the first few tonkatsu joints to introduce Kurobuta (black pig) in their tonkatsu, Tampopo sets the standard for not only tonkatsu but Japanese fare as a whole.

Here is where diners can tuck into their signature Black Pig Tonkatsu and it ranges from Top Grade BP Tonkatsu (a la carte – S$27.90, set – S$31.80) to BP Loin Tonkatsu Set (a la carte – S$22.80, set – S$26.90) and Less Fat BP Loin Cutlet (a la carte – S$22.80, set – S$26.80).

391 Orchard Road, #B2-33,
Ngee Ann City
Singapore 238872
Tel: +65 6235 2318
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

GINZA ANZU 

Ginza Anzu—a farm-to-table concept eatery from Kyushu—is famous for their authentic Tonkatsu. Be prepared to stuff yourselves silly with their incredible range of tonkatsu offerings.

You have to try their Thick Pork Loin Katsu that features strips of tender, succulent pork that boast an unbelievable crunch.

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 hands down, one of 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 (S$26++) that sees a massive cult following.

333A Orchard Road, #02-35 & #02-36
Mandarin Gallery,
Singapore 238897
Tel: +65 6733 4541
Mon to Fri: 11am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

#10 TONKICHI

Tonkichi is one of the more well-known tonkatsu restaurants in Singapore and it has garnered many supporters over the years.

We’ve been dining at Tonkichi over the years and we felt that the standards have dropped quite a bit. 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, was quite something else. We had the MIyazaki Rosu Katsu which was juicy and tender, with the right proportion of fats.

In our opinion, 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
Mon to Thu: 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

While there are many things about Japanese cuisine that we love, few are able to satisfy our cravings for crispy, greasy delight as well as a hearty tonkatsu. Be it in the form of meat, poultry or seafood—anything coated in egg and panko breadcrumbs and fried to golden perfection warrants our attention.

Anzu—a popular tonkatsu restaurant from Japan—at Wisma Atria’s Japan Food Town specialises in tonkatsu and it features a remarkable range of katsu offerings on their menu.

Tonkatsu joints may be in abundance in Singapore, but if you are someone who values great service on top of delicious food, then Anzu is a place you have to pay a visit to.

THICK PORK LOIN KATSU SET

Fat is flavour as far as meat is concerned and more importantly, it keeps the tonkatsu itself incredibly moist. We loved every bit of Thick Pork Loin Katsu (S$25++) from the crunch of the breaded exterior to the pork juices that come spilling out all over our tongue with each bite.

Every katsu set comes with free-flow portions of rice and salad, chawanmushi as well as your choice of either seaweed or clam soup.

PORK LOIN KATSU SET

Considerably easier to manage given that it is not as huge as its thicker counterpart, we enjoyed this version in the sense that we could really taste the porky goodness erupt the moment we bit into it.

Our only issue was that, due to the lack of delicious fat, this tonkatsu option (S$20++) was quite dry—to the extent that we had to rely heavily on the sauce and soup to balance it out.

We must say that we were impressed by how every component was executed properly from the pork katsu to even the accompanying side dishes right down to the house-pickled carrot and cucumber served on the side.

Anzu
435 Orchard Road
4F Wisma Atria
Singapore 238877
Tel: +65 6262 3408
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

For the love of all things, breaded, fried and golden, few come close to the taste and textural satisfaction we get from Japanese tonkatsu. What’s to hate? It’s everything you could ever want on a plate from the crispiness of its breaded exterior to the moist, meaty flavour that hides within.

While East Coast Road may seem a tad far off for tonkatsu—given that you can easily find it everywhere nowadays—Katsuya is one tonkatsu-focused restaurant worth making a trip down for.

The restaurant—helmed by Chef Kervin who has several years of experience cooking Japanese cuisine and even a Japan-issued chef license to boot—ensures that everything is done properly. They do not use MSG and lard in their cooking and the sheer deliciousness of their food is solely dependant on the technique and freshness of each individual ingredient.

On their menu, diners can expect to find a wide range of katsu offerings spanning the classic pork katsu, beef katsu and even lamb katsu. Sashimi, sake and other small plates are also available for those looking for a quick snack and tipple after work.

As far as pork is concerned, having a good amount of fat almost always guarantees exceptional flavour, which is why we did not hesitate to opt for the Rosu (pork with fat) Tonkatsu (S$23++).

The layer of fat was moist, full of porky flavour and provided a somewhat buttery element to the dish. Having gotten the set, we were also treated to refillable cabbage and rice!

While there was nothing wrong with the Chicken Katsu Curry (S$23++), we felt that it lacked a certain flair to it. The chicken was succulent and deep-fried to golden perfection, however, the curry sauce—as flavourful as it was—seemed like any other Japanese curry sauce.

The dish was well balanced from the pickles and the shredded cabbage that do well to cut through the intense richness of the curry and is, without a doubt, a good option to consider if you ever find yourself craving Japanese curry—our only gripe was that it seemed a tad too ordinary considering its price point.

Katsuya
85 East Coast Road,
Singapore 428787
Tel: +65 6344 8183
(Closed on Mondays)
Tue to Fri: 6pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Eunos