During a recent trip to Japan, I stumbled across Hirata Bokujo, a small restaurant that served the most delicious tonkatsu I’ve ever had in my life. Tonkatsu is a breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet, often served with shredded cabbage and a sauce to dip the cutlet in. You can’t go wrong with anything you order on the menu because it all tastes so fresh and is guaranteed to be filling. With only 19 seats total (2 tables and bar seating), Hirata Bokujo is quiet and relaxing, with jazz music softly playing in the background to create an ambiance that easily beats out many American restaurants with the Top 50 hits blasting.

With hot tea to start, customers make their own tonkatsu dipping sauce by grinding sesame seeds against a textured bowl and adding a sauce of their choice. I’ve always loved tonkatsu with sauce, so making my own exactly to my liking only further enhanced the meal. Complete with miso soup and a steaming bowl of white rice, this lunch ranks high on my list. Blending in with the other restaurants lining the street, keep an eye out for the big red sign in the front.

{Photos by Lauren}