Located in Shinjuku’s Kabukichō, one of Japan’s most famous entertainment districts, is the long-established restaurant “Suzuya Shinjukuhonten” (referred to hereafter as “Suzuya”), beloved by many.
This restaurant is famous for turning one of Japan’s most popular dishes, tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet), into a unique ochazuke (a dish where green tea or dashi is poured over rice).
“とんかつ茶づけ,” Tonkatsu Chazuke 1,690 JPY (tax included)
Their specialty is “Tonkatsu Chazuke,” but this iconic restaurant also offers an enticing variety of other dishes.
Enjoying tonkatsu in a variety of ways
The Tonkatsu Chazuke uses pork tenderloin cutlet and is served on a hot iron plate, topped with generous amounts of cabbage and nori seaweed. The presentation alone is impressive, setting it apart from other tonkatsu dishes.
You can choose from four different sauces to pair with your tonkatsu: the “Classic Soy Sauce,” the spicy “Karashi Soy Sauce,” the bold “Garlic Ginger Soy Sauce,” or the fiery “Tōgarashi Chili Pepper Soy Sauce.” Each sauce perfectly complements the tonkatsu, allowing you to enjoy a range of flavors.
(from left to right) Karashi Soy Sauce, Garlic Ginger Soy Sauce, Togarashi Chili Pepper Soy Sauce, Classic Soy Sauce
As a recommended way to eat it, first, savor the tonkatsu on its own. The batter is crispy, and the meat is tender, releasing flavorful juices with each bite.
Even with just the cutlet and rice, it’s more than enough to satisfy!
Next, enjoy the tonkatsu with cabbage and seaweed. You’ll be surprised by the unique flavor that you won’t find in other tonkatsu dishes!
Traditionally, tonkatsu is served with raw shredded cabbage, but at Suzuya the cabbage is steamed and stir-fried.
The sweetness of the cabbage is brought out, making it tender and perfectly complementary to the tonkatsu, enhanced by the aroma of the seaweed.
When the tonkatsu is down to about three pieces, it’s time to enjoy Tonkatsu Chazuke!
Place the tonkatsu and cabbage over the remaining rice and pour the tea over it. The tea is bancha from Shizuoka. This slightly bitter tea transforms the texture and flavor of the tonkatsu.
There are also pickled vegetables like takana (mustard leaf), which are recommended to add on top for an extra kick.
This ochazuke dish is light and refreshing, yet allows you to fully enjoy the taste of the meat. The joy of discovering a different side of tonkatsu is the essence of Tonkatsu Chazuke.
Easy-to-follow instructions on how to eat the Tonkatsu Chazuke are included in the menu, so you can rest assured even if it’s your first visit.
As this restaurant is popular among international diners in Shinjuku, there is also a sheet explaining the dishes in English with illustrations.
So just how did Tonkatsu Chazuke come to be? It dates back to the 1950s when Suzuya was a delicatessen. The cooks at the restaurant found that the tonkatsu they ate as staff meals was always cold.
In an era without microwaves, their craving for a way to eat warm tonkatsu was how the idea of pouring tea over it originated.
This eventually spread among regular customers as a hidden menu item, and it grew to become Suzuya’s signature dish!
The other dishes are just as exquisite as the Tonkatsu Chazuke
It’s no doubt that most customers who visit Suzuya do so to try the Tonkatsu Chazuke. However, the restaurant also offers a wide selection of other delightful dishes.
The “Deep-Fried Prawns Mix Plate” is a gorgeous dish featuring three, large 17cm (6.7 inch) shrimps. They’re fried to satisfying perfection in a crispy batter.
“海老フライ定食,” Deep-Fried Prawns Mix Plate 2,050 JPY (tax included)
The condiments served with the deep-fried shrimps include three types: sauce, tartar sauce, and salt. The shrimp are delicious even on their own, but a touch of salt brings out their sweetness even more.
When dipped in sauce, the shrimp make an excellent pairing with rice.
The tartar sauce has such a rich flavor, you could savor it on its own, and adds a feeling of luxury to the meal. Since the shrimp are so large, you can try various ways to enjoy them.
The “Thick and Juicy 100% Beef Hamburger Steak”, which had previously been discontinued, was revived to commemorate the opening of the new building housing the restaurant.
『細切りビーフ１００％のハンバーグステーキ』 Thick and Juicy 100% Beef Hamburger Steak 2,220 JPY (tax included)
Typically, ground beef is used for hamburger steaks in Japan, but Suzuya uses a generous serving of shredded beef instead. This gives the hamburger steak an incredibly juicy and satisfying texture.
You can really savor the taste of the meat more than you might expect. The green onions on top provide an exciting flavor accent that stands out against the shredded beef.
Besides these, the restaurant also serves salads, appetizers, menchi katsu (minced meat cutlets), and pork skewers. With both Japanese and English menus available, you can easily decide on the dish you’d like to try.
A beloved Kabukicho establishment
Located on the fifth floor of a building at the entrance of Kabukicho, Suzuya offers a rare vantage point where you can watch the bustling crowds below as you dine.
Dining while looking over this world-famous entertainment district is a unique experience at this restaurant.
Inside the restaurant, you’ll also notice several striking pieces of artwork, including prints by renowned Japanese woodblock print artist and painter Shikō Munakata. These works were created after Munakata, who lived near the founder of Suzuya, was introduced to the restaurant by a mutual friend. Over time, the restaurant became a popular spot for many famous artists and figures.
Dining at Suzuya is not only a culinary experience but also an opportunity to reflect on its rich history as you admire the artwork and the view of Kabukicho.
Information
| Store name | すずや 新宿本店 Suzuya Shinjukuhonten |
|---|---|
| Address | SUZUYA Building 5F, 1-23-15 Kabukichō, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
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| Access |
Seibu-Shinjuku Station 2-minute walk from Seibu-Shinjuku Station Main Exit
Shinjuku Station（SJK） 3-minute walk from Shinjuku Station East Exit
Shinjuku-Sanchōme Station 5-minute walk from Exit B9
|
| Phone number | 03-3209-4480 |
| Reservations | Not accepted |
| Payment |
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| Service charge/Table charge | None |
| Hours | 11:00-23:00（last order 22:30） |
| Closed | No holidays |
| Seating | 43 seats 7 counter seats, 36 table seats |
| Smoking | All seats are non-smoking |
| Official website | https://www.toncya-suzuya.co.jp/index.html |
| Other information |
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※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of October 2024.
