Tonkatsu @ Tonkatsu Marugo, Akihabara, Tokyo

 

Akihabara is not really well known for its culinary prowess. Known for being the hotbed of anime culture, food is not something that comes to mind. But today it is time to show the exception to the norm. And this exception, is something that is pretty noteworthy.

This line on a weekday? I hope its worth it

Marugo is a tonkatsu pork cutlet restaurant located in the hub of otaku culture and at the time, I only went there because the seem to be a decent line and I was around the area. But while waiting I looked online about what they have offered and it seems that they were also featured in the 2016 Tokyo Michelin guide. So by sheer accident I found a serious gold mine. Although I am not a person that deliberately hunts down Michelin acclaimed restaurants, it definitely made me more motivated to wait in line a little longer. 

Oh my goodness...

Lucky my wait was not unreasonable and after 20 minutes, I was guided to my seat. Being a tonkatsu place, getting a pork cutlet is out of the question and I ordered their classic lunch set standing at 2100 yen. This is definitely one of the most expensive pork cutlet meals I have ever had, but as I am already here, I have to commit to the cause. Fortunately for everyone involved, or rather mainly me, this was worth it. 

A glorious close up

The food came by relatively fast and the chunk of pork they gave me was gigantic. Each bite felt hefty and substantial, with juices from the porky just flowing easily. The outer crust had a light golden huem proof that it was expertly fried. Truly a fast of the eyes. 

Witness the thickness!

There was a decent crunch and has a nice nutty aroma without being too oily. What I liked is that the pork chop provided was actually rather thick. However, the entire chunk of meat was evenly cooked and as such no tough bits at the sides or burnt parts to ruin your experience. This needs some serious skill. A true mark of a craftsman. 

Pot of liquid gold.

However, pork alone is not what a tonkatsu meal is made of. Their in house tonkatsu sauce was also pretty good and very noteworthy. It was fruity, slightly acidic and yet has a nice kick to it. I did restrain myself from it becoming a giant flood. With regard to other companions, the cabbage was some standard stuff you would expect, although the dressing was quite nice. Definitely not some low cost supermarket stuff. 

Oh wow, the line got even longer!

Is this a very good spot? indeed it is. Was it the best tonkatsu I ever had? That is debatable. You can look at many past posts with tonkatsu on the menu and all of them seem very competitive. Tokyo wise, I think Bairan in Ginza has better value (click here to read more). However, this easily is one of the better ones I had in recent memory. Just note that the price is slightly steep and there may be a wait on your end. 

Thank you Akiba. Till we meet again

Also,  I waited on a Wednesday afternoon. I cannot imagine how things would be like on a weekend. But if you are willing to weather the storm, or the wait, then you would be handsomely rewarded. If you fancy a go, the address is as follows:

1 Chome-8-14 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0021