After doing a bit of research, I discovered that Yabaton is a must-try when visiting Nagoya, as it’s famous for a local specialty dish. Essentially, it’s a pork cutlet served with a rich miso-based sauce. With that in mind, I looked into it further and found a Yabaton location conveniently located inside the train station.

I went fairly early for dinner, around 5:30 pm, but there was already a line forming outside. Fortunately, the wait was only about 15 minutes, which wasn’t too bad. I decided to order the cutlet served two ways — one with the signature miso sauce and the other with their standard “sauce.”

When the dish arrived, I was surprised by how generous the portion was. There was a large amount of shredded cabbage, which was a nice touch. Once everything was placed on the table, the staff poured the miso sauce directly over part of the pork cutlet. The set also came with miso soup, rice, and pickled lotus root.

To be honest, I couldn’t clearly tell the difference between the two sauces. They may have mixed slightly on the plate, making it harder to distinguish, but if anything, the miso sauce seemed a bit saltier and more umami-forward. The flavour difference wasn’t dramatic, though both tasted good. The pork cutlet itself was cooked beautifully — tender, juicy, and enjoyable with either sauce.

I can definitely see why Yabaton is so popular. The food is excellent, and the service was also very good and efficient. The cutlets do take a little time to prepare, which is understandable, and it’s worth noting that they also offer other options besides pork, including beef and chicken. Overall, it’s a great place to eat and a solid way to experience a classic Nagoya specialty.

Website: Yabaton

Address: 〒450-0002 Aichi, Nagoya, Nakamura Ward, Meieki, 1 Chome−2−1 9階