Tonkatsu Tamafuji

The 38 Best Restaurants in Honolulu, Hawai‘i | Eater

"You have to overcome a lot of skepticism to get locals to pay $30 for katsu when they can get it in a plate lunch for about $15. But given how difficult it is to score a reservation at Tonkatsu Tamafuji, it appears a lot of people have bashed through that psychological hurdle. Attention to detail shows in the quality of the pork itself, the house-made panko crumbs that fry up into an ethereally crisp crust, and the accompaniments: a bowl of sesame seeds to grind at the table and then spoon into a plummy tonkatsu sauce. Not even the rice, from Hokkaido, is overlooked. Know before you go: If you can’t get a reservation, you can try for a spot by getting in line before the restaurant opens, and if that doesn’t work, know that the tonkatsu holds up surprisingly well for takeout." - Martha Cheng