A tonkatsu place that uses SPF pork, about one train stop away from what you could really call Akihabara, has been popular lately. Some of you may hear SPF and think of sunscreen ratings.. but no, it means healthy pigs that are free of specific pathogens. Apparently the pig farms have to manage them very strictly. Maruichi in Kamata, a tonkatsu place you line up for, was hugely popular thanks to its SPF pork, and now a rival has finally appeared. And it is far easier to get to. Once I heard the rumor that a good place had opened, I could not not go.
The entrance
From the outside it is a very ordinary neighborhood tonkatsu shop. Nothing much around it either. But word must have gotten out, because the line is huge. Then again, I am one of the people who came because of that word.. Unlike its appearance, the inside is actually clean and spacious.
The menu
It is not cheap, and the prices have gone up since my visit. Still, considering they use SPF pork, it is on the very reasonable side. On weekdays there was even a 1,000 yen lunch menu..
The tokujo rosukatsu teishoku (premium loin cutlet set)
Since I was there, I had to try the tokujo (premium) at least once.
The inside
If you look closely you can see the center is rare. We are usually taught that pork has to be cooked through, but because this is SPF pork, eating it like this is possible.
Zooming in further..
Well.. it is tender and the juices just run out. It deserves to be called the number one tonkatsu in Tokyo. I think this may be the ultimate flavor that tonkatsu is striving for. Of course the other famous places do it well too, but a tonkatsu like this simply cannot be imitated without SPF pork.
That said, the flavor may be perfect, but there is so much fat that these days I find it a bit heavy. Lately, even with sushi, I have stopped ordering otoro and go for chutoro or akami instead.
The rice and miso soup that come with the set
Everything is delicious. At 1,600 yen I thought it was an incredible bargain. But they raised the prices after my visit, so I am not sure how the value for money is now. Even with the slight increase, it seems worth visiting at least once in your life for the experience.
Next time I would like to order the hirekatsu (fillet cutlet). When I am out eating alone, it is such a shame that I cannot order many dishes. In The Solitary Gourmet he orders three portions and eats them all by himself.. I have not reached that level yet..
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