Beef katsu @ Gyukatsu Ichi Ni San, Akibahara, Tokyo.

Tucked behind neon lights and game arcades, lies a hidden food gem, which is actually hidden since its located in a basement. Who says Akihabara is just for nerds and otakus?

I for one, am a self professed fan of anime and video games. Growing up watching Dragon Ball and Ultraman in my early years, Japanese pop culture has been a major part of my childhood. Putting competitive Street Fighter and Pokemon cards later in life, and you get a recipe for disaster. And that disaster decided to revisit Akibahara.

A nerd's dream come true?

Despite the comic books, arcades and maid cafes, there has to be something more substantial to eat over there right? After some researching around, there seem to be this bastion in the basement called Ichi Ni San, which translates to One Two Three. Well despite its name, there is only one item in the menu. And that is fried beef cutlet.

Diving into the bowels of nowhere...

Even though there is only one item there, people actually waited in line about 7pm for this thingamajig. So it has to be good right? And I am not sure if it was the herd mentality but I stood and waited together with the rest of the sorry lot in a hot small stairway into a basement. After a 45 minute wait and closing to the brink of starvation, I was finally let in. Was the wait worth it? Indeed it was. 

Small and pokey. Note that guy with a fan. 

When you enter, the smell of caramelised beef fat greets you with utmost intensity. It was pretty hot inside the establishment. So hot that some patrons brought towels to wipe off their sweat. One even brought in a portable fan. A smart guy indeed. Luckily the corner where I sat was near the air conditioning. 

Hot and cold. Read on to know what that black thing is. 

I ordered a helping of the standard cutlet set with tororo, which is mountain yam which was for ¥1400 As it was sweltering, I ordered as well a fizzy glass of highball to cool down which was for ¥300.  

Dinner is served. 

The rice set that came soon after was simple yet interesting at the same time. You get a good helping of rice, beef, a side salad and some mashed tororo. And no Japanese rice meal is complete without a hot bowl of miso soup.

Deliciously red. 

The meat was cooked in an interesting way and very foreign to me at first. The inside was rare so it was supple and tender. The outer layer was well fried and golden brown. Condiments-wise, you have an array that is given. There is a side of soy sauce, pickled veggies, traditional wasabi and brown mountain wasabi.

Time to add more flavour.

My personal favourite is the brown wasabi, which has a lot of smoky and salty flavour and a flavour profile that the standard wasabi lacks. If you are a fan of mustard for your beef, then classic green wasabi will be right at your alley. In any event, the beef cutlet was delicious on its own and was easy to eat. It was extremely tender and oozes with flavour. 

Burn baby burn!

If you are not really into rare meat and would like your beef to be slightly well done, the place has got you sorted out. Patrons are provided with a sizzling hot stone top grill. Slightly scatter some salt on to the stone grill for some added flavour but more specifically, to prevent the beef from sticking when you are on your way to finish off your meat. And do not get any funny ideas with that previous sentence.

Putting it on before mixing it in. 

The yam provided some interesting texture as it was slimy and congee-like. And the way to eat it is to mix well into the rice given and to be taken together with the beef. 

An intense but pleasant dining experience, Ichi Ni San is one of those hidden spots that despite its location, is able to gain traction and new patrons. I am sure one of them. If you are up for some good quality beef or want to sample Japanese food that is not ramen or sushi, do drop over to this humble establishment. The address is as follows:

Japan, 〒101-0021 Tōkyō-to, 

Chiyoda-ku, 

Sotokanda, 3 Chome−8