This tonkatsu restaurant was featured in the Michelin Guide, so I decided to give it a try since it was close to my accommodation. It’s a tiny eatery with fewer than ten seats, but I was lucky—there was no line when I arrived, and a few seats were open at the bar facing the kitchen. As the night went on, more people tried to come in, but there were no seats left.

I ordered their three-pork option, which lets you sample three different cuts along with rice, thinly sliced cabbage, and, later, ice cream. The food took a little while to arrive, but the server explained the different dressings available for the cabbage and mentioned that both the rice and cabbage were unlimited, which helped set the tone for the meal.

When my tonkatsu arrived, the server told me where each piece of pork had been sourced from. The first piece (on the right) was Hayashi SPF from Chiba Prefecture. The second (in the middle) was Awayuki Pork from Gunma Prefecture. The third (on the left) was premium Diamond Pork, also from Chiba. Each cut had its own texture and subtle flavour differences. My favourites were definitely the two from Chiba, especially the premium Diamond Pork.

After I finished, I was served some green tea and offered a selection of ice creams. I chose the yuzu flavour, which was tart, refreshing, and a perfect finish to the meal.

This was such a wonderful place to eat. The service was excellent, and it was lovely interacting with the chef, even though he spoke limited English. The server was great too, and I found myself wondering if it might be a family-run restaurant. I’d love to return someday—next time I’ll go straight for the premium pork.

Website: Tonkatsu KATSU Hana

Address: 2 Chome-2-11 Kitakyuhojimachi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 541-0057

Map and Directions