Katsukura: Golden Brown, Delicious, and Juicy Japanese Pork Cutlet

Pork is such a hard protein to get right. If its slightly underdone, you have to put it back on the pan. If you overcook it, it becomes dryer than leather. The seasoning on pork has to be just right to avoid the awful scent of pork fat while preserving the rich and meaty flavor. So what's the solution? At Katsukura, its Tonkatsu or fried Japanese pork cutlets.

The restaurant setting reminds you of a traditional ryokan (basically a Japanese inn). With white wall paint and white chairs contrasted with cozy wooden tables, the restaurant's design is minimalistic. The interior is simple yet appealing and very welcoming.

Sauce containers, menus, and the different types of cutlery fits perfectly with the interior color scheme - giving off that same traditional feel.

The restaurant has its own custom, encouraging guests to try making their own dipping sauce. A server will usually hand you a bowl with sesame seeds, which you grind with a mortar and pestle. Then, you pour a combination of two liquids to create a luxurious dip for your pork cutlet. Don't mess the order up (It really doesn't taste good if you do: I tried it).

Dishes:

Complementary Rice - 0 rmb

The restaurant serves you a bowl of rice in preparation for your meal, which you can tell is probably Japanese by the short grain. Don't hesitate to ask for refills because it's free!

Japanese Pork Tenderloin with Soft-scrambled Eggs - 90 rmb

As a big fan of runny egg yolk, this dish was fabulous. The eggs are flavored with a Japanese Men Tsuyu sauce, which is a combination of mirin, sugar, and a list of other ingredients. A umami buttery-ness from the eggs are complemented by the crispy and crunchy battered-pork tenderloin. Definitely try it out.

Shrimp and Pork Sirloin Tempura (Set Menu) - 140 rmb

Surf and Turf, Japanese Style? The dish gives a little more diversity to the restaurant's menu that mainly consists of pork tenderloin and sirloin options. While I appreciated the crunchy batter on both the tenderloin and the shrimp, I personally felt that the pairing was quite strange. The richness of the pork counteracts the balance of the shrimp. The tartar sauce was still great - very light and not too acidic.

Sirloin Tonkatsu with Sliced Cabbage (Small size) - 75 rmb

The sirloin Tonkatsu is a classic option. If you're not sure what to get, pick either the tenderloin Tonkatsu or this option. The sliced cabbage might startle you a little, but treat it as a regular salad, add some vinegar dressing, and have some in between the bites of pork. The Tonkatsu was Golden Brown & Delicious, and I was left pondering whether I should've ordered a larger portion.

Overall Summary

The restaurant is very solid if you're looking for a hearty meal with some fried options. A delicious batter coupled with high quality pork makes Tonkatsu so much better. The casual and simplistic yet cozy atmosphere of the restaurant is also very relaxing. I'm sure it isn't the best Tonkatsu spot in Shanghai, but it's still very worth visiting. Try Katsukura out if you're passionate about Japanese food, but tired of sushi and unagi.

Address - Lalaport Plaza Pudong, 4th floor