Tonkichi

Met up with Yan and MJ over the weekend to do some coverage of the ongoing Great Singapore Sale downtown. We ended up doing more shopping though and before long, we had to stop for dinner. All the walking had built up quite an appetite. Yan suggested dinner over at Tonkichi, which he patrons frequently. It’s a chain of casual restaurants by the Pokka Corporation that specializes in tonkatsu.

We were early for dinner so there was no queue to be found outside. MJ and I were easily convinced by the welcoming atmosphere and attractive display at the Takashimaya branch.

Busy.

With this.

For this.

Apart from the standard pork cutlets, the restaurant also serves seafood, chicken and fusion variations of the breaded, deep fried meats. Most orders come as part of a set, with rice, soup and fruits. Notably, rice and salad come free flow. The staff are diligent in refilling your plate and we never saw the bottom of our tea cups either.

MJ and I ordered the Hire (fillet) and Rosu (loin) sets, a combination of lean and fatty pork. The plump cutlets were fried to a crisp and the servings, more than generous. Yan ordered a similar Rosu set that was served with thick miso sauce.

Hire and Rosu Katsu set.

Closer.

Nagoya Rosa Miso Katsu set.

Close up.

After having had multiple bad katsu experiences in the past, I tend to stay away from the dish. Our dinner at Tonkichi turned out to be a pleasant and gratifying encounter.

Orders at Tonkichi tend to be a little on the pricier side. Those expecting charges similar to more commercial outlets will be disappointed. After service charges and tax, our bill amounted to about $30 each. A fair price to pay for the meal though.

In addition to Ngee Ann City, Tonkichi restaurants can be found at the other roaming grounds of the local Japanese population such as Isetan Scotts and Orchard Central. There are also outlets at Suntec City and Tampines Mall.

For more information and an online menu, check out their official website here.