Best Tonkatsu Restaurant in Singapore

The only Tonkatsu specialty chained restaurant in Singapore, Tonkichi bills itself as a cosy restaurant in reminiscent of the causal eateries in Japan. With the soft yellow lighting, the restaurant is a stark contrast from the nearby brightly-lit Japanese department store, Isetan. From the positive raving reviews about their Original Tonkatsu, I was skeptical about the quality and authentic of their Japanese food. I decided to try for myself to see if it is really one of the best Tonkatsu restaurant in Singapore.

---

All diners are given a bowl of roasted sesame seeds and have the luxury to pound the seeds into fine powder. This releases the aroma of the sesame seeds and enhances the flavour of the Japanese food. I loved pouring the seeds over my rice, soup and Tonkatsu set.

---

 Dashi Maki Tamago - SGD8.00

Japanese Omellete

Delving my chopsticks into Tonkichi's Dashi Maki Tamago reveals a wonderfully savoury taste. It was piqued with a hint of sweetness, and the eggs were so fluffy that it felt like chewing on cotton candy. It was strange how the chef could make the egg thick yet soft at the same time.

---

All Original Tonkatsu Sets are served with Japanese rice and miso soup. They can be called Original because it is truly the most authentic Tonkatsu I have ever eaten.

Kuro Buta Rosu Katsu Set - SGD32.00

Deep fried black pork shoulder loin

Crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, the Kuro Buta (Black pork) was not oily and extremely moist. The shoulder loin was evenly tender, and it could easily go without any sauce or garnishing. Eating it on its own is definitely flavoursome enough.

Other items and prices in the Original Tonkatsu set include:

•  Hire Katsu Set (3 pcs — SGD21.00; 4 pcs — SGD25.00)
• Deep fried pork fillet
• Mentaiko Kasane Katsu Set (SGD28.00)
• Deep fried layered sliced pork loin sandwiched with mentaiko (spicy silver cod roe)
• Cheese Kasane Katsu Set (SGD28.00)
• Deep fried layered sliced pork loin sandwiched with cheese

---

 Rosu Katsu Toji Set - SGD23.00

Deep fried pork loin simmered with egg and special soya sauce served in hot plate

You can find the Rosu Katsu Toji set in typical food courts, but the freshness and tenderness of the meat can never beat Tonkichi's. Served with free flow of Japanese radish, the amalgamation of the eggs and deep fried pork loin provides deeply savoury flavours and melts in your mouth.  

The added garnishing of seaweed also gave natural saltiness to the dish, with a hint of underwater aroma.

While the Rosu Katsu (deep fried pork loin) was slightly tougher to chew as compared to the Kuro Buta Rosu Katsu (Black pork shoulder loin), it soaked in the flavours well and tasted like the well-done version of beef: chewy and requires a tougher grit between your teeth.

After a hearty dinner at this restaurant, I now understood why Tonkichi commands long queues (I waited 40 minutes to be seated).

Tonkichi Outlets:

TAKASHIMAYA
391 Orchard Road
Ngee Ann City, #04-24
Takashimaya S.C.

Daily: 10.30am - 10.30pm
Tel: 6735 7522

ISETAN SCOTTS
350 Orchard Road
Isetan Scotts, level 4
Shaw House

Daily: 11am – 11pm
Tel: 6835 4648

ORCHARD CENTRAL
181 Orchard Road
Orchard Central, #07-06
Daily: 11am - 3pm, 6pm -11pm
Tel: 6238 7976

TAMPINES MALL
4 Tampines Central 5
Tampines Mall, #03-26/27
Tel: 6789 1726

Tweet