Katsuzen

At Katsuzen, coarse breadcrumbs give the pork cutlet a crisp coating that contrasts with tender meat. Diners who have tried the loin cutlet have also remarked on the sweetness of the fat and its light feel. The menu listing shows the loin cutlet set at 130g for ¥1,600, served with salad, miso soup, rice and pickles. Try a bite without seasoning first, then add salt if you feel like changing things up.

For weekday lunch, the listed options include an A Lunch with 100g of loin cutlet and a B Lunch with 3 pieces of fillet cutlet and 1 whiting fry; both are ¥1,400. If you would rather sample a few kinds of fried food, there is also a mixed-fry set with fillet, prawn and whiting. The menu lists it at ¥1,900, with salad, miso soup, rice and pickles. Diners who ordered it have singled out the tender fillet and the whiting, making it an appealing alternative to the loin cutlet.

The restaurant in the Kitayama area is described as quiet and suitable for dining alone. You can take your time over a set meal at the counter for lunch, or choose a fried dish to have with beer in the evening. The menu lets you start with the kind of cutlet you are in the mood for.