Located within the atré Ueno shopping and dining mall directly connected to JR Ueno Station, “Tonkyu Ueno” (referred to hereafter as “Tonkyu”) is a popular restaurant where you can enjoy high-quality tonkatsu at reasonable prices.
From the brand of pork to the condiments and seasonings, everything is infused with Tonkyu’s passion.
Savor the umami of rare black pork tonkatsu
At Tonkyu, you can choose from two types of pork for your tonkatsu. The first is the highly rare Kurobuta (black pork) and the second is Daiginjō pork, which offers a good balance of lean meat umami and fat sweetness.
The restaurant recommends the Kurobuta. Although slightly more expensive than Daiginjo, you’ll understand why it comes so highly recommended once you taste it.
“上ロースかつ定食（黒豚）１２０g,” Pork loin cutlet set meal (Kurobuta) 120 g (4.2 oz) 1,859 JPY (tax included)
Among all pork produced worldwide, only a tiny fraction can be called Kurobuta. This rare meat is in a league of its own in terms of texture, umami, and sweetness compared to ordinary pork.
The meat, coated in crispy breadcrumbs, has a fine texture. It’s easy to bite through while maintaining a nice level of chewiness.
As it’s deep-fried slowly at low temperature, it’s not watery but moist and juicy. When you put it in your mouth while it’s still hot and fresh, the meat juices ooze out!
To enhance the umami and sweetness of the pork, great care is taken with the condiments provided.
In addition to the sesame seeds that come with the tonkatsu set, you can also season your pork with sauce, rock salt, and Japanese karashi mustard provided on the table.
An assortment of condiments
The sesame is provided with a mortar, and customers grind it themselves. The restaurant uses a type of sesame called kingoma (literally “golden sesame”), known for its rich aroma. Grinding it just before eating really brings out its fragrance.
Adding the homemade sauce available at the table table to the ground sesame is the recommended way to eat at Tonkyu.
The sauce is tomato-based, blended with vegetables and fruits, with a fruity taste and mild acidity.
This special sauce, developed to perfectly complement the tonkatsu, is a must-try condiment when visiting the restaurant.
Another unique condiment at Tonkyu is oni oroshi, grated daikon radish mixed with ponzu sauce.
The oni oroshi, coarsely grated to maintain some texture, can be ordered for 110 JPY (tax included).
“鬼おろし,” oni oroshi (grated daikon radish) 110 JPY (tax included)
Coarse grating prevents the daikon from releasing too much moisture, which is why oni oroshi is recommended; it doesn’t dilute the umami and sweetness of the pork.
Putting plenty on your tonkatsu gives it a refreshing aftertaste.
If you want to enjoy the original taste of the pork more simply, try it with rock salt.
Its saltiness is not too strong, making the sweetness of the pork stand out even more.
“岩塩,” rock salt
Tonkyu’s tonkatsu is just as delicious when served as katsu curry
Tonkyu also serves curry with tonkatsu as a topping.
Although it’s a topping, the main focus of Tonkyu’s katsu curry is the tonkatsu. To highlight the tonkatsu, the curry roux contains no additional ingredients.
“かつカレー定食（黒豚）,” Pork cutlet curry set meal 2,079 JPY (tax included)
The curry roux has a refreshing flavor with black pepper providing spice. Much like the sauce available at the restaurant, the curry roux is made to complement the tonkatsu.
The black pepper’s spiciness is mild and does not overpower the taste of the tonkatsu.
Of course, the curry roux also goes perfectly with rice.
The slight spiciness of the curry roux adds another layer to the sweetness and umami, making the dish even more flavorful.
Tonkyu’s dedication to ingredients
Tonkyu takes pride in being able to offer the rare Kurobuta at reasonable prices. They’re able to keep prices down by sourcing through their own channels.
Their pursuit of a taste that leaves diners satisfied, not just low prices, is why Tonkyu is so popular.
From the frying method to the variety of seasonings, everything is carefully considered to enhance the flavor.
Tonkyu, which offers tonkatsu worth far more than its price, is a must-visit in Ueno!
Tonkyu’s exterior
Information
| Store name | とん久 上野 Tonkyu Ueno |
|---|---|
| Address | atré Ueno EAST 2F, 7-1-1 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo
|
| Access |
Ueno Station（UEN） Short-walk from Ueno Station Central Gate
Keisei Ueno Station 4-minute walk from Keisei Ueno Station Main Exit
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| Phone number | 03-5826-5778 |
| Reservations | Not accepted |
| Payment |
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| Service charge/Table charge | None |
| Hours | 11:00-22:30（last order 21:30） |
| Closed | No holidays excluding atré Ueno holidays |
| Seating | 70 table seats |
| Seating | All seats are non-smoking |
| Official website | https://kichiri.jp/tonkyu/ |
| Other information |
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※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of June 2024.
