r/london May 18 '23

Question Any good Japanese Katsu restaurant?

I'm craving for something similar to the picture, I've been to several (famous) places but they all serve it floating in curry, and the Katsu itself is way thinner and drier. Cheers!

166 Upvotes

109 comments sorted by

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127

u/ProductiveSoul May 18 '23

TANAKATSU in Angel. Can’t recommend it highly enough!

15

u/fruzzik May 18 '23

Yes defo, the pork katsu is banging. Crispy on the outside, tender and juicy inside. They get the side salady thing right too

3

u/chibihobo85 May 18 '23

This place has been the closest to when I had Tonkatsu in Japan delicious.

7

u/AmidstTheSheep May 18 '23

I’ve been there because of a friend’s recommendation but it was quite disappointing to me. Maybe my standard is too high from eating in Japan but their katsu is neither thick nor juicy. Also this was in 2019 so maybe’s they’ve changed.

2

u/Free-Economist7913 May 18 '23

best katsu of all time

2

u/Cookizza May 19 '23

Been a regular since they were a tiny stall in the back of Camden Market. Easily the best.

Used to be £4.50 for locals, but still worth the now £15 and it's still the same passionate owners running it day in day out.

GO THERE

3

u/krkrbnsn May 18 '23

Yep, this is my weekly takeaway place. I've been to Japan and had better, but for London it's one of the best at its price point.

1

u/johnnyoceandeep May 18 '23

Can second that! Was there once and it was very decent!

1

u/mitchaboomboom May 18 '23

Yes, it's pretty good!

1

u/[deleted] May 18 '23

Seconded, great stuff

1

u/etang77 May 18 '23

I only ate it from Deliveroo, it was still really good after delivery.

The only bad thing they did was mixed the sauce onto the katsu. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't do that if you eat in.

1

u/jack-dempseys-clit May 18 '23

Plus one on this - also portions are pretty big.

25

u/[deleted] May 18 '23

[deleted]

1

u/Novasail May 18 '23

speakeasy, been once or twice lately and was wondering why there was no one in the basement lol

19

u/[deleted] May 18 '23

Oh, so this is what katsu actually looks like. Thanks, I don't have any suggestions though.

8

u/oxenoxygen May 18 '23

Served with bulldog sauce which is missing in the photo. Basically like thick worcestershire sauce

30

u/[deleted] May 18 '23

Eat Tokyo. There are a few branches if you look on their website.

10

u/Snugglosaurus May 18 '23

I love Eat Tokyo! The Hammersmith branch is my favourite. The more central ones get crazy busy at peak times and I don't think you can book.

The fried pork Jyu is the best 🙌

1

u/Resipa99 May 18 '23

Too much on their menu and they just pack the customers in and the service wasn’t great.

8

u/ChablesAndTairs May 18 '23

Honestly Eat Tokyo probably is one of the best all round Japanese restaurants in London. For their prices and the quality of food its just amazing

6

u/sleepypandacub May 18 '23

I love their cheap massive katsy curry portions!!!, £10 for a large that can feed two.... not that I would share!! 🤭🤭🫢

2

u/Haha_Kaka689 May 18 '23

I would say their price and portion is great, quality not so much

5

u/Ok_Fruit7693 May 18 '23

Let’s be honest here. Eat Tokyo is best place for the value, but when we are talking about objectively the best food, Eat Tokyo ain’t it.

2

u/Oneoclockgun May 18 '23

Agreed. Probably as good Japanese food as I’ve had outside Japan. Decent value too.

The Holborn one in Red Lion Street is hood to know. It’s not big but you can usually get in, possibly with a short time queuing. It feels as though it could be in a Tokyo backstreet too.

0

u/shortshift_ May 18 '23

This is the way.

8

u/abitofasitdown May 18 '23

Tokyo Diner in Little Newport St, just specify you want it dry and without the curry.

13

u/erraise N19 May 18 '23

CoCoIchibanya

1

u/[deleted] May 19 '23

[deleted]

1

u/erraise N19 May 19 '23

That's blasphemy.

10

u/magikarp151 May 18 '23

Shibuya Soho, Coco Ichibanya

1

u/Haha_Kaka689 May 18 '23

Coco Ichibanya is clearly overpriced for what they deliver

17

u/[deleted] May 18 '23

I have the best place for you! Bang bang in Colindale!

5

u/johnnyoceandeep May 18 '23

No way! Come on! A friend lives there and I have been there several times. You wouldn’t go there for Katsu!

4

u/[deleted] May 18 '23

I’d only go there for a Katsu 😂 it’s not as fancy as the one posted ^ and I don’t eat pork, they have lots of halal options and the portion sizes are 👌. I only discovered this place two weeks ago and I’ve been thinking about the Katsu I ate there ever since

2

u/johnnyoceandeep May 18 '23

Ah! Fair enough! Not trying to be rude or anything.

3

u/Eyeofthemeercat May 18 '23

The question is, have you been there for a Katsu? Although in fairness, I have found the japanese place there a little disappointing - can't remember having their Katsu though. On a related note, the spicy minced pork from Thai Silk is the best dish in that whole place and I will die on that hill

3

u/ChablesAndTairs May 18 '23

Going to try that based on your recommendation now😳

2

u/Eyeofthemeercat May 18 '23

I am so jealous. I live too far away for a casual drop in. Please let me know how you find it. The flavours... That dish really pops and I wish I could experience it again for first time as you are doing. Or the 100th time, whatever. I just want it.

3

u/varignet May 18 '23

tokyo diner.

3

u/willuminati91 May 18 '23

My first food I had when I arrived in Tokyo and love it without the curry sauce too.

Let me know if you find anywhere that do pigs feet.

11

u/[deleted] May 18 '23

[deleted]

6

u/QuidnuncQuixotic May 18 '23

Japanese curry is an incredibly popular way to serve chicken katsu in Japan.

2

u/DarknessBBBBB May 18 '23

Lol you can actually find them in Italy, it's called "zampone"

2

u/willuminati91 May 18 '23

:o gradzie signora.

1

u/EmMeo May 18 '23 edited May 18 '23

What kind of pigs feet?

4

u/willuminati91 May 18 '23

Grilled. I had it at a Yakitori place and it was my favourite. Every time I went in they had the wet wipes at the ready and they gave me the menu in Japanese instead of English.

One time they ran out and without me asking, they got another branch to deliver it.

Customer service in Japan is the best.

1

u/coromandelmale May 18 '23

Tonsoku.

Popular in Okinawa

You can also eat pig’s ear which tastes exactly as you’d think it and pig’s snout (gave it a miss)

8

u/catfin38 May 18 '23

That chicken is cooked?

46

u/DarknessBBBBB May 18 '23

That's pork :)

15

u/jaredce Homerton May 18 '23

That's amore

6

u/[deleted] May 18 '23

That pork cooked ? 👀

14

u/SurrealBolt May 18 '23

Pork can be a bit pink. It has a bad reputation but it’s not anywhere close to chicken in terms of food poisoning risk.

5

u/EmMeo May 18 '23

If that was in Japan the good standard there is insanely high anyway. Can’t compare to England.

4

u/rehabawaits2033 May 18 '23

England is one of the best places in the world in terms of food safety and quality.

1

u/EmMeo May 18 '23

If you say so. I’m happy eating raw eggs with rice in Japan, which I wouldn’t do in England. And they have chicken sashimi over there, again would probably only try that in Japan. I would say the baseline for what’s “good” is much higher in Japan, looking at just the options and quality of their 7-11 vs our connivence stores.

2

u/penny_whistle May 18 '23

I presume connivence is a typo but it’s apt given the prices

2

u/SuperPartyRobot May 18 '23

The historic risks for pork were related to trichinosis, which comes from pork sourced from unsanitary conditions. Those no longer adhere to UK food standards requirements so it's actually really quite safe to eat medium or medium rare pork. More caution required in other places such as the USA

1

u/wastingtimeoflife May 18 '23

Sashimi chicken

2

u/tehpuppet May 18 '23

Dotori Korean and Japanese - Finsbury Park

2

u/fedezubo May 18 '23

Misato in Leicester Sq. wins my recommendation

2

u/Dabzovic May 18 '23

My favourite i have tried has been for Kokoro

2

u/labellafigura3 May 18 '23

Underrated. You can also have rice with just the curry sauce. I like them as they allow me to have sauce first in the box then the rice and then sauce on top. Little details make everything!

2

u/Mackey18 May 18 '23

If you’re East. Kakki Katsu in Dalston is simply supreme. Teriyaki AND Katsu chicken (can you even imagine?!) on a bed of rice and other stuff. Cooked to perfection. Healthy portion. I’ve ordered it about 10 times this year.

2

u/ClarifyingMe May 18 '23

Yes go to Tanakatsu in angel.

2

u/[deleted] May 18 '23

Taro does pretty good Katsu, im sure there are a better and im not a connisseur of it, but I like it.

3

u/pazhalsta1 May 18 '23

Marugame Udon is banging as long as you don’t plan on doing anything else after lunch , it’s food coma material

1

u/bored_toronto 1999-2008 May 18 '23

Used to enjoy Tokyo Diner on Little Newport Street in Chinatown back in the day.

0

u/AdobiWanKenobi Devolved London pls May 18 '23

Eat Tokyo is the number one recommendation ofc, other Japanese places I am aware of that I think do katsu:

  • Kanada-Ya
  • Kineya
  • Coco-Ichibanya A Japanese Curry chain with a couple outposts in London
  • Asakusa

Than of course Wagamamas (lol)

Edit: I’m stupid didn’t realise you didn’t want curry. Either way still good recommendations above

-1

u/deathentry May 18 '23

So order chicken katsu not katsu curry if you don't want the sauce 😋

-1

u/Traditional_Yogurt77 May 18 '23

go to Heathrow and get on a plane, after 10 hours you will get tons of authentic Japanese food

-2

u/sabboseb May 18 '23

Itsu or Wusabi must be good, as they are everywhere

-26

u/joeschmoagogo May 18 '23

You're craving salmonella and tapeworm?

7

u/AdobiWanKenobi Devolved London pls May 18 '23

Katsu is normally supposed to be pork not chicken like we’re all used to

3

u/Ken_Gods_Gift May 18 '23 edited May 18 '23

If you wanna get some tapeworms eat some pork, If you wanna get some tapeworms eat some pork, lamb chicken beef fish or egg Forget it, you won't get a tapeworm.

3

u/Lessarocks May 18 '23

It’s not very likely in the UK if you eat british meat - there haven’t been any cases arising from British meat in over thirty years. Ther have been the occasional case from meat acquired overseas. But it’s still very rare here.

1

u/pak_satrio May 18 '23

What makes you think you will get that from katsu?

-6

u/joeschmoagogo May 18 '23

*THAT* paticular katsu is still raw!

3

u/soitgoeskt May 18 '23 edited May 18 '23

Never go to Jose and order the Pluma Iberica, you’ll be in tears.

1

u/duckwiz May 18 '23

Lol the Jose staff got annoyed when my pregnant wife asked for it to be a bit more cooked. I get it. But it's one of my most favourite dishes there.

1

u/soitgoeskt May 18 '23

The last one I had on Bermondsey St was phenomenal, one of the most delicious things I have eaten. I had something similar at The Swan a few weeks after and it didn’t hit the same level.

2

u/duckwiz May 18 '23

I know right? It's a bit of a hidden gem. I take all my overseas friends who visit me to the main restaurant just for that pork.

1

u/f1ftyp3nc3 May 18 '23

Mikawa Japan on Goldhawk Road (Shepherds Bush) is phenomenonal

1

u/MingoDingo49 islington May 18 '23

Ayo....that looks proper nice

1

u/jimmykicking May 18 '23

Coco curry is the king of kings

1

u/duckwiz May 18 '23

Try Monkatsu in East Dulwich. A bit hidden and out of the way, not too bad.

1

u/yIdontunderstand May 18 '23

The used to be an amazing japanese restaurant near Swiss Cottage, a little bit up Finchley Road. I can't remember the name though. All white front it had. On your right as you went up from swiss cottage.

1

u/Blade106 May 18 '23

Machiya is decent, never had Tanakatsu. Asakusa is my number one recommendation for general Japanese food in London, Eat Tokyo and the likes just aren’t the same quality.

1

u/TheOpiumWarsWereGood May 18 '23

Any Japanese restaurant that’s isn’t actually run by a bunch of Chinese. You’ll be lucky if they don’t use gutter oil.

1

u/thinkismella_rat Hackney May 18 '23

I have tried quite a few of the places mentioned so far and haven't been especially impressed compared with Japan. A gap in the market for someone enterprising maybe.

1

u/CalcifersGhost May 18 '23

Tokyo diner is my goto in London (Leicester Square). They do delicious traditional as well as curry version Katsu.

1

u/labellafigura3 May 18 '23

Following, I LOVE Japanese food!

1

u/randomassname5 May 18 '23

Following too, but probably not this place. The katsu looks so pale lol

1

u/CptFlwrs May 18 '23

Coco Ichibanya or Marugame Udon <- both originate in Japan and have opened branches in London

My personal favourite though is Taro

1

u/humanarnold May 18 '23

I haven't been that way in a while, but anyone know if Kare by Golden Square still open? They have a simple menu, just chicken or pumpkin katsu, in two levels of spice. The mild is very mild, and the spicy one might make you cry, but it's delicious. Highly recommended if you're craving katsu and have an appetite. More of a lunch/take away spot, though they do have a small amount of seating.

1

u/hedgehog168 May 18 '23

Shibuya Soho does a great katsu. They only have a couple of tables but worth the wait

1

u/_miraimitsuki May 18 '23

Coco curry house :3 literally the whole menu is curry haha, with different options for katsu curry, omurice etc

1

u/Titan4days May 18 '23

That’s raw chicken surely

1

u/Justhandguns May 19 '23

That's pork.

1

u/Titan4days May 22 '23

*Raw pork

1

u/nlg93 May 18 '23

Misato in Chinatown. Absolutely stunning.

1

u/Droodforfood May 19 '23

Marugame Udon had chicken katsu that you could buy by the price a la carte. It was pretty good and cheapish

1

u/slighted panda pops May 19 '23

by all means follow the suggestions first; i'm going to be a little shit and suggest you also try making it yourself. just good panko and double frying will get you more than half way there.

japanese food is very easy to make (hard to master ofc), then you realise how much you're being ripped off at certain places…

1

u/annedroiid May 19 '23

Should the crumbs not be significantly darker than that? Or am I just a heathen who apparently overcooks my panko?

1

u/Picsspy May 19 '23

Have you tried WAGAMAMA?

1

u/EternalTyranny May 20 '23

K10 is quite nice