We decided to have dinner near Kyoto Railway Station since our accommodation was nearby. Initially, we considered eating at the food court downstairs, but we chose to head up to the 12th floor to explore other options. I eventually decided on Tonkatsu, and we ended up dining at Tonkatsu Wako.

After grabbing a ticket, we waited nearly an hour to get a table. Surprisingly, the wait didn’t feel that long—watching the crowd come and go was so fascinating that time seemed to fly by.

Once seated, I ordered the Wako Pork Loin Cutlet and two fried prawns. The food arrived remarkably quickly. I imagine that with a menu centred around deep-fried pork cutlets, the kitchen can keep frying them in advance to accommodate the steady stream of diners.

I started with the miso soup, which was unexpectedly delightful. It included tiny clams with tender meat, which I scooped out and ate. Then, I moved on to the pork cutlet, dipping it in a sauce that resembled teriyaki but wasn’t quite the same. The flavour was excellent. The crumb on the pork was thin and crisp, while the meat itself was perfectly cooked—so tender that it might have been the best Tonkatsu I’ve ever had. The fried prawns were equally impressive, accompanied by a Japanese-style tartar sauce. The light and crispy crumb on the prawns matched the quality of the pork.

I also enjoyed the thinly sliced cabbage side salad with the house dressing. Although the dressing was lighter and more vinegary than usual, it was still refreshing and delicious.

Overall, it was an excellent dinner. Amusingly, we spent about half an hour in the restaurant after waiting twice as long to get in. The service was impeccable, and the food was outstanding. I highly recommend trying Tonkatsu Wako if you’re in the area!

Website: Tonkatsu Wako

Address: Japan, T 600-8216 Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward, Higashishiokojicho, 901ジェイアール西日本伊勢丹11 F