Tonkatsu Lunch @ Hakata Tori Ichi, Hakata, Fukuoka

 

It is time to have something golden and crunchy. And nothing hits the spot like tonkatsu. During one of my afternoon sojourns near the Hakata Station area, I was able to find a rather quaint shop that serves this deep-fried treat which I think is worth giving a shout out. 

Oh what do we have here?

Hakata Tori Ichi which is located deep in the underground shopping area of the Hakata Station complex, sells this fried pork dish for its lunch patrons. And for those who have a keen eye, Tori means chicken. So, it was a bit of a confusing naming system going on here. But as I was hungry and in deep need of something high in calories, I went right in anyway without asking further questions. Well, the menu with pictures a the front already enticed me. Standing at 1190 yen for a tonkatsu set meal, that price was a serious steal and was the one that made me fully commit to the place. 

What a platter 

Honestly it was quite typical. A deep-fried pork cutlet served with rice is actually rather simple. And it is. But somehow it provided some soft comfort and that is something not every dish can provide. It had a home style feel and is a bit unlike other tonkatsu places. The cutlet had the right thickness, which allows for an easy bite. And the crunch that the outer shell, accompanied by the juicy interior was seriously good eating. 

What a close up

Unpretentious and simple. Granted, this is very no frills so you may not find this place particularly assuming. Having said that, sometimes simple things are what you need and for the price, that is pretty good value I feel. And standing at 1190 yen, that was a decent price considering what was in store. 

Another angle of the front of the house. 

If you are asking me if this is the best tonkatsu that I had, I would probably direct you elsewhere.I am not saying this is not good. Rather, it is just some classic home style food that helps keep you going and being tasty enough for you to come again.  In other words, if you are looking for some good value eats and something that will provide you some classic home style Japanese comfort, then you cannot go wrong here. So do not let the name fool you, despite having chicken on its name, the pork here is really worth your attention. 

So if you fancy a go, then the address is as follows:

〒812-0011 Fukuoka, Hakata Ward, Hakata Ekimae, 2 Chome−1−1 Fukuoka Asahi Building B2