Katsudon-ya Zuicho

Had been waiting to visit this place for a while, so expectations were high. Arrived at exactly 14h47 on a Friday. The guy managing the queue (who was a darling. Thank you! ✨) told me the earliest they could welcome me would be at 16h. I agreed, he wrote down my name and order (the katsu with an omelette and a beer) and told me to be back at 15h55. I came back at the agreed time and waited for 5 minutes, more or less, until he came back to call me. The restaurant is very small, as others have stated, and the seats are very close to one another. So I understand they have to make a quick turnaround to make a profit. But everything happens VERY fast, and the constantly telling us to give back the lids, put the soup bowls back on the counter, and whatnot made it feel like a military drill. I felt so rushed I pretty much had to inhale my food. The food is good, but honestly overhyped. While the soup was surprisingly tasty, the meat was a bit too oily (and thinner than I imagined). Very tasty, but greasy. I’d also recommend getting the big rice portion, as I thought it was a bit small. All in all, knowing how long the wait is and how fast you end up eating, I’d say there are better options out there. An alright experience, but not worth coming back for.

I was hopeful, eager even as I patiently wait in line. However, from my experience, this store may appear to be overly hyped. I went there at 10:50am and luckily 7th in queue. The store can accommodate 8 at a time, which means I was part of the first batch to sit. They started calling us in by 11:20am, which means total wait time is 30 minutes. The food paled compared to what I expected. The katsu was thin, although crisp and rightly flavored. The sauce was savory sweet with hint of smokiness, but the egg failed to complement it. Perhaps it was the saltiness of it, and overly fried texture that contrasted with the already crispy meat. Flavors and textures lack harmony. I tasted simpler less hyped stores that served better katsudon. Overall, it’s still pretty decent. However, with its price and hype, I’m not sure whether to give it a recommendation. If you have luxury of time and money, still give it a try!

Ayyyyy. Special thanks to the hard working team for this amazing meal. Absolutely the best katsu don we had during our trip to Tokyo. We also felt we got lucky as there was no line when we went in, maybe because it was raining. It is a one meal restaurant. Small place. The only seats available are by the serving bar. Definitely a bang for your buck. It is special, tucked away places like this that make your trip unforgettable.

Waited in a line for 30-45 minutes, the inside sits like 8 people and very tight together, the guy running the line sits in the doorway. It’s very get in get out feel, only one dish….The katsu was pretty thin and the flavor was sweet like maple syrup involved with sauce. I thought it was really pretty average and would skip, because of the line and overall situation. I thought I was about to eat something excellent. Nice people just giving my honest opinion :)

SO DAMN GOOD from start to finish. Arguably the best meal I’ve had in Japan on this trip (and I’ve had quite a number of S-tier experiences). Humbly run by an senior couple, it feels like there’s a dedication to their food and craft as they could definitely expand given the demand, but keeping the store small probably ensures quality and allows them to be hands-on with every bowl they serve. Respect!

Really delicious meal! Yes, it was the best katsu don I’ve ever had, but the meal feels rushed so I give it 4 stars instead of 5. If you want a sit down dinner for 1+ hours then go somewhere else. If you want to taste something really delicious and don’t mind being in & out in less than 20 minutes then come here. There’s only 1 food item on the menu (katsu don), they take your order on the line so it’s ready when you take a seat. It’s served with delicious broth soup and a small tea. The staff is very nice and it has about 8 seats in the restaurant. You sit in front of the kitchen and watch them cook while you eat. It’s about $10 USD per person if you get the base meal.

Hole in the wall find! They do one thing, and do it right. Rice, size of your choosing with no additional costs, egg, and tonkotsu pork. Topped with a light sweet curry sauce, simply delicious. bottom of the pork got a bit soggy though because of the egg below. What an experience, highly recommend! We arrived at around 12:00 and got a reservation for 13:45.

Good food, but you do feel like you have to eat fast since there are 8 seats and there is always a line outside. Cash only is quite a drawback. Service is friendly and the customizations to your food is taken in the line already, so when you sit you get your food immediately. Worth checking it out.

The more I travel the more I get humbled. I had no idea what Katsudon was before this Japan trip. The more I see, the less I know. Japanese cuisine is so versatile it's insane. Katsudonya-Zuicho is the only place I ate at twice on my 2 week trip. For the unitiated, Katsudon is essentially just pork cutlet with egg over rice. So simple, yet true genius lies in perfecting simplicity. This place is slanging the best Katsudon in the country... I mean I tried 4 different Katsudon places on my trip, so I think I'm qualified to speak on this. Katsudonya-Zuicho is an 8 seat counter top, where you are able to see the 2 employees chef up everything right in front of you. Katsudon is the only thing on the menu, you only specifiy how much rice you want and if you want an extra egg or not. The only catch, is you need to wait in a line. The line, while formidable at first glance, moves extremely fast. They are dialed in. I got in line at 11:20am, got my food at 11:28, and was out of there by 11:36. The katsu is placed on the egg as it's still a bit runny, so the egg kind of sticks to it but the katsu is still crispy. The perfect meal. IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov_reviews

[CASH ONLY] I'm not a big fan of katsudon because the combination of runny egg and katsu generally result in a texture that I don't really like too much (soggy, breaded katsu), but this small and cozy restaurant ran a tight ship and delivered an above-average katsudon experience. The katsu I got was fried to order, and the marriage of the egg and katsu with the sauce didn't result in the usual sogginess that I don't really like (even with the extra egg that I ordered). Overall a good, no frills katsudon specialty restaurant with a friendly and efficient staff. 【現金のみ】普段、私はカツ丼があまり好きではありません。半熟卵とカツの組み合わせで衣がしっとりしてしまうのが苦手だからです。でも、この小さくて居心地の良いお店はとても丁寧な仕事をしていて、期待以上のカツ丼を提供してくれました。カツは注文を受けてから揚げられていて、卵やタレと一緒になっても、普段気になるような衣のしっとり感がほとんどありませんでした（追加で卵を頼んだのに！）。全体的にシンプルで飾り気のないカツ丼専門店で、スタッフも親切で手際が良かったです。

The hype is real. On social media, I saw a reel where the narrator gave high marks to Katsudonya Zuicho (KZ). He mentioned this establishment serves only one dish and that they do a good job at it. Nothing fancy but just good food. At my part time job I see katsu all the time so I have no desire to eat it. However, at KZ they serve it with scrambled eggs which intrigued me which made me want to try them. Located in Shibuya, KZ indeed is a small stall which has a total of 8 counter seats where there are 4 seats on each side. I know how long lines can get in Japan so I made my way over early and arrived at 1045am, 45min before opening. Lo and behold, there was a young couple from LA already waiting so after I snapped a few photos, I queued in line. We exchanged words on how we found out about KZ - - social media. As time went by, more and more people joined the line and at 1120am I counted a little over 20 people behind me. Impressive. A young male came out to ask how many people in the group, if you wanted to add an extra egg for ¥100, rice portion (S M L) and if you wanted to order beer. I asked for an extra egg and had to pay ¥100 immediately. I later found out that the restaurant seats customers according to their party size to maximize all 8 seats in a sitting. I was 3rd in line but was escorted after 2 couples were escorted to the restaurant. Indeed KZ is a small, cozy restaurant with no frills. A simple counter and I sat on the left hand side so I witnessed the staff cooking our food as it's made to order. A young girl was cracking and whipping eggs for the main chef, who was multitasking - - he breaded the pork cutlets and deep fried them 4 at a time. He then had another burner with a frying pan that cooked the eggs. After he allowed the pork to drain and cool down, he cut them up and placed them on the egg and then topped it over a bowl of rice in the amount you requested. After snapping a few photos, it was time to dig in. The tonkatsu had a nice crunch and it was piping hot. The eggs were fluffy but I had a hard time eating with chopsticks so I grabbed a spoon. The rice was also hot and seasoned well. The meal came with suimono (bowl of clear broth) and ice roasted tea. This operation is well thought out and executed for efficiency - - minimizing customer wait time and maximizing foot traffic for higher sales. Overall, a great first experience at KZ where I'd be game for a return visit, especially if I'm craving for comfort food of katsudon. NOTE: Cash only.

There's always a place for katsudon in my agenda and luckily I found this place to curb my cravings. I'm fully satisfied with the ready made/take-out katsudons from a konbini (7-11, FamilyMart, etc) or any grocery store for that matter. This time around, I had the time to venture off and find a sit-down, specialty katsudon restaurant where literally it is the only dish on the menu. And time was definitely needed since I arrived at 1135am and had to put my name on the waiting list and was asked to return around 130pm (they open at 11am). While putting my name on the waiting list, I was asked what I wanted to order which the lady asked three things: An extra egg? What size rice? And do I want a beer? I roamed around Shibuya to pass time and when I arrived back at 130pm, I was promptly greeted, asked to come inside and showed my seat. There is only bar seating and there's only about 8 seats available hence the really long wait. Upon seating, my order arrived within 2 minutes and sure enough, my extra egg, medium rice and beer came through. The Katsudon was so delicious. The pork cutlet was thick and the batter was crispy and not overly battered. The savory flavor of the cutlet was balanced out by the rice and pillowy soft eggs. As soon as I finished my bowl, I stayed for another 5 min to enjoy what was left of my beer while soaking in that entire experience. I realize there was still a long line out front so I didnt want to linger too long so off I went as soon as I was done.

Delicious! There is a long wait outside of the restaurant so just be aware before going. We got there an hour after opening and waited about an hour and a half. They'll take your order in the line and seat you when there is space. There's only about 8 seats but people eat at a good pace I felt like. The menu is simple- Katsudonya with rice and an egg, green tea, and a small soup. There's three sizes- small, medium, and large and that's for rice size only. Everything else is the same. I went because it was viral and don't get me wrong, it was good but I don't think it was wait an hour and a half good. I'd go again with no line or a shorter one but I wouldn't go out if my way. But I am glad that I tried it once!

When I saw that this place didn't take reservations, I thought cool we will just show up and wait - but NO you definitely need to go in person the DAY OF and put your name in for a reservation that day. The chef saw how dejected we were and said that they could fit us in towards the end of the night, and we were sooo thankful. We waited around and were basically the last people to eat there but man was it worth it! This meal is just so comforting, the pork is juicy and cripsy and the sauce just highlights it perfectly. I dream about this meal still!

I don't know what the hype about this place. The meat is thin, not very tender & too-sweet sauce was too much on the rice. If you like the regular katsu-don, go elsewhere. This is the place for people who never had a decent katsudon in Japan. This is like the horrible katsudon you have in the States. Will never forget back again. Waste of money & time

Really amazing katsu and rice bowl. I really wish I had gotten more rice though because the sauce is absolutely amazing. The line was pretty long and we waited at least 30 minutes the inside is really small and cramped too but that's basically any good food spot in Japan so might as well.

one of the best meals i had in tokyo. no cappp i could prolly eat a katsudon everyday like the chicken is cooked to perfection and don't get me started on the eggs. what do they put in these pasteurized eggs. yes i added extra egg for like $1 lol long wait mebbe an hour or more depending on the time of the day you go! and p smol indoors but it's like a bar style and you can see the chefs cooking!

What I ordered: 6/10: Medium Katsudon w/ Extra Egg - ¥1500 + ¥100 - my katsu was very soggy, not sure if its because it had been sitting before i was seated or from the extra egg? - the pork was also on the drier side - rice was delicious and perfectly cooked! - did not stand out much in terms of flavor Katsudonya Zuicho is tucked away in one of Shibuya's small streets. We arrived around 11am in the rain and waited in line to make a reservation. They kindly offered us umbrellas and allowed us to come back at 12:30pm. We visited a cafe nearby while waiting for the reservation time. The restaurant itself only has 8 seats! It's cash only and you pay for the extra egg beforehand. Considering all the great things I've heard about Katsudonya Zuicho, I was a bit disappointed in my katsudon. The lack in flavor and sogginess of the katsu was underwhelming. While it may not be the best katsudon I've ever had, it was a solid bowl and the service was friendly. However, I do not think it is worth the 1.5+ hour wait. Food: 6/10 Service: 8/10 Total: 7/10

I can't stop thinking about this place! Although the line was a bit long, this katsu was so worth it. The restaurant only holds around 5 people at a time, but it goes very quickly since they only serve one thing on the menu. The Katsu was the perfect crispiness and the soy sauce with egg combination was unbeatable. Such a simple yet flavorful dish!

After waiting for 20 minutes, we get rushed in the seat and quickly eat the food so we can be out for the next people. I don't know why a lot of people gave 5 stars for this place. To me, the food is not so good and service is bad. Please don't waste your time to wait in the long line and think this is a good restaurant. Food is not cheap either. A little bowl for 1600 yen

Best gyukatsudon I've had served to you in a cute small 5-10 seat restaurant. It gets busy so sometimes there's a line outside. If you're in Tokyo GO. RUN.

It's hard to put into words how delicious this katsudon is. My expectations were high going in, and I was not disappointed. The katsu is perfectly cooked; it has light, crispy breading and the meat melts in your mouth. I had heard that the restaurant only has eight seats and always has a line, so I made sure to arrive 30 minutes before it opened. There was a short line when I arrived but I was able to get seated pretty quickly. By the time I had finished, the line outside had grown exponentially and wrapped around the block--so coming early was the right move. I will always recommend this place to anyone traveling to Tokyo!

Delicious! Our 1st day in Tokyo and found this gem by our hotel. Just how I wanted to start for Tokyo vacation. Perfect katsu in a little side restaurant. Felt part of the neighborhood.

The best katsudon I've ever had!! I got there at 12 and next reservation was 2:50 pm. So be sure to plan ahead! You're able to step away and come back which is exactly what I did. The place is small but still cozy. Definitely worth the line and wait, I plan on coming back again. Also I highly reccomend a second egg, it's absolutely divine.

TL;DR: The best Katsudon I ever had. The hype is real. The food is incredible. Make sure you go early to make reservations and they accept cash only. So through our research, fumbling through vacation vlogs, and the kids watching TikToks we independently all found this one place we wanted to try. Turns out a lot of people talk about it. Shibuya is already a crowded area and this being near Shibuya Park and Mega Don Quixote, it's a few steps from the heart of all the action but in a small street/alley so as you wait it's not the crazy traffic elsewhere nearby. We showed up at 5 on a Friday night and got in line but were told they have all their spots for the rest of the day taken. So no luck. Note: you have to put your name down and it depends on which day how many they can seat. No katsudon for us that day. On Monday morning I headed out to Shibuya again at around 11am just to put our name down. As they were still taking reservations I put my name down for four at 5:30pm. Last seating on a Monday was 5:45pm. They stop serving at 6 so got a good dinner time. When we came back for dinner there was a line of about 12 people at 5:20pm. Sheesh are they going to sit everyone by 6? Even though you have a reservation time, you still get in line until they try to find you by name and time. So their system is similar to a lot of popular restaurants. As you wait in line and are almost next, they take your order so when you sit down you get your food within minutes. Really nice not have to wait much. Tragically, many of the people in line ahead were asked after waiting what their name was and time. Six people ahead of us and two behind us didn't have reservations. They thought like we did before where you just get in line. So if you really want to eat here, come during the day to get a reservation time. After we sat down, it's such a tiny cramped space with 8 seats total. So my family took half the restaurant which made sense that times get booked quick. The kitchen didn't look much bigger than the counter seats area. In fact they area stuck behind the counter and they have to squeeze through an opening on the side to get out as one of the cooks did and two of us had to get up to let him out. It's actually a funny thing. The food is every bit as expected. It was so good it was probably the best meal of our two weeks in Japan. At least top three as Japan has a lot of good places to eat. But the hype is real and it was excellent! How good? My son took a bite with rice a little soup meat and eggs and he let out a "Oh my god" My daughter, who is really picky, did the same. I had to laugh because they said the same thing. For good measure there couple that was seated next to us also just got their food and the wife gave an "Oh my god" too. The chicken is fried perfectly and the soup at the bottom is the kicker. Food was excellent. It looks like a family operation. Just guessing but maybe dad and son cooks, mom preps, and daughter seats and controls line. Just an observation. Since they were closing they talked to us a little. Really nice people. This is the definition of hole-in-the-wall, mom and pop, using grandmas secret recipe that we all love. Definitely try this place if you can. Oh and they take cash only. We relied on Suica our whole trip and had to scrape together coins to make sure we had enough. Highly recommended!

One of the best meals I had in Japan, the sauce truly is unlike anything I've had and definitely worth the wait! Arrived shortly before opening and after waiting in line for ~30 minutes was given a reservation to return a few hours later. Easy enough, and no struggle to kill time in Shibuya while waiting. Definitely pay the 100 yen for an extra egg!!

I usually despise waiting in line for food, especially in a city with so many different places to visit. But this place, definitely worth the wait! We waited about 30 minutes. The restaurant only has about 8 seats so this was actually shorter than the usual wait so count us as lucky! While in line they come out to learn your party size and take your order, only one delicious thing is served here so ordering is very simple. Small, medium or large and do you want extra egg? (The answer is yes you do want extra egg) they also have beer available for ¥500. Now down to the good stuff. The Katsu was crunchy and tender, very flavorful. The egg was so good, cooked just how I like it, omelet style with a little big runny. The rice and sauce were great, the perfect amount to compliment the Katsu and egg. They also give a little cup of tea and soup to compliment the meal. Overall, 10/10 and would recommend to my friends. I will also be back when I'm in Tokyo again!

Simply fantastic katsudon with their soup. I didnt know what to expect heading in, and it blew me away. The flavors of the sauces were simply phenomenal. The portion was good and best of all, it was affordable for a michelin star. I would recommend going early and getting a reservation because it's about an hour to an hour and a half wait for seating. I will definitely be coming back before I leave Japan. Highly recommend stopping by here to get a nice katsudon fix.

Wowee, one of the most delicious meals I ever had! They do katsudon to perfection! If I could give them 6 stars, I would. In a residential area just outside of Shibuya shopping, totally walkable, we came across a line. It was a 45 minutes wait, but totally worth it. A woman comes out and asks for your order and party size. While they only serve katsudon, it comes in small, medium, or large size. With only 8 seats inside, they have their timing down. When we sat down, we had soup and a cold glass of barley tea waiting for us. The soup was smoky and refreshing and a great start. The barley tea helped cool us down and served as a nice cleanser. The katsudon was ready a minute later. It was so good we didn't talk and just chowed it down. Meat was tender, juicy, and flavorful. I don't think I ever ate a katsudon that moist. Line moves pretty quickly. Unfortunately, pictures are not allowed inside. A definite must visit!

We got there 25min before opening and it was sooo good! Very worth the wait! There is only one dish you can order and only 8 seats in the whole restaurant. But it's a definite hole in the wall experience. My favorite place during our whole stay.

Delicious! Waited for about half an hr during a workday lunch time. There's only one thing on the menu. I got a medium size rice but should have gotten the large!

The best katsudon in Tokyo? So far, it's found at Katsudonya Zuichou in Shibuya, Tokyo. The meaning of the restaurant name says it all: katsudon (breaded pork cutlet and egg over rice with sauce), and zuicho (auspicious sign). I will rave about this katsudon because it was THAT good and have never tasted anything better than this. That is my last meal on earth right now! We had just viewed Shibuya Crossing on the second floor of Starbucks, just outside the Shibuya train station. This is the busiest intersection in Japan and possibly in the world, with up to 3,000 people crossing the street from all directions during peak time. We were behind schedule and needed to get a really late lunch or an early dinner. Accessing Yelp to find restaurants nearby, we saw a restaurant specializing in katsudon and had a perfect 5-star rating with 24 reviews. We turned on the Yelp directions, which noted a 10-minute walk and off we went. The directions took us away from the people-crazed madness of loud noise and neon lights to quieter side streets and a long alleyway used by the locals. According to our cellphone, we arrived at Katsudonya Zuichon. But where is it? There was no restaurant that we could see. There was a door to a reddish-brown brick building with an English sign that stated that no katusdon was served there. Was that the restaurant and was it closed? There were two deliverymen that went into that door and came out a few minutes; we asked them about the restaurant, and they said they didn't know. We stood there, wondering whether Yelp was correct, as we walked around the surrounding area without seeing any restaurant. We began to think about looking for another restaurant when we walked through a dark hallway in that same building and lo and behold, there was the restaurant, behind the front wall of the building. Afterwards, we realized that there was a Japanese restaurant sign in the front, but because we're unable to read Japanese.... Katsudonya Zuichou was such a small restaurant with only 8 counter seats. There was another couple that was waiting for seats and fortunately, they spoke English and confirmed that this indeed was the restaurant. The couple told us that the food is excellent here, and that there are lines that form out to the street during peak hours. Okay, we're in our two counter seats where we can see the friendly and personable mother and daughter cooking and preparing the meals. No problem that we don't speak Japanese, as there is no varied menu dishes; they serve only one dish here - katsudon with a clear hot broth with a few somen noodles and fish cake, cold jasmine tea (with refills), tsukemono, and beer if you want. We just had to choose whether we wanted regular size or large size, both at the same price of 1000 yen, the difference being the amount of rice. The katsudon is made to order, so you can watch your dish being freshly prepared. The preparation of this dish, I think, is the secret to its excellence. The steaming, sweet and fluffy rice was topped with a thin semi-cooked egg that resembled a crepe, with a delicious sweet and savory sauce. We saw the pork cutlet being pounded to tenderize it prior to breading it with panko, then frying it and dipped into a special sauce before placing it onto the egg-rice combination. Aha, that's the secret to ensure a crispy katsu instead of cooking all together, which would result in a soggy katsu (which is how it's done in HNL). The flavors were astounding! The perfect combination of the crispy pork, fluffy egg and rice, and the tasty sweet and savory sauce was simply orgasmic! Yes, the best katsudon that we've had! You could tell it was good, as all 8 people were gulping down their katsudon without saying a word! Oishii! Frequented by locals, this popular small family restaurant is open from 11:30 am to 8:00 pm Mon. to Sat., closed Sun. and holidays. Shibuya Station, exit 3. Literally, a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, and I give credit to the Japanese in using every available space that they have for amazing businesses like this. Katsudonya Zuichou is now a must-go restaurant for our future trips to Tokyo. Thank you, Yelp, for sending us there!

This restaurant is what yelp dreams are made of. It is an absolute gem that makes you feel like you are rubbing elbows with the locals. My friends and I waited for a short amount of time before being seated at three of the eight stools available. The owner had even shuffled one of the patrons down a seat in order to accommodate us. The setting is super small, super intimate, and makes you feel like you are right in the kitchen. They only serve one dish and after you order you can see them make it in front of your eyes. The dish is so simple yet so delicious. Katsu over rice and egg with sauce drizzled on top. I don't really know what else to say but this place is a must try if you like katsu and omurice. We were in and out in 20 minutes and I wish we had went back again but they were closed on Sunday. This will be a staple for Shibuya.

I had this review sitting in my drafts from two years ago, and I had wanted to follow through on it because I'm so happy I was recommended this spot. While I was studying in Tokyo, my roommate had recommended me this place once I told them that one of my favorite Japanese dishes was katsudon. After class one day, I decided to see if I could find it! Please note that I am writing this as a visitor from America and maybe it will help those that are interested from my background as well! To start, the place is a little difficult to find. It's tucked away on the lower open level of a building, and Google Maps will probably misdirect you to it (I remember walking around that area at least two times trying to find it). It's a very tiny shop too, seems like a lot of locals come in. I unfortunately know the bare minimum of Japanese, so I didn't know what to expect since I wasn't able to communicate. This isn't wrong to the place by any means, but it's just something to be aware if you are a foreigner visiting. I still got my katsudon haha! But they kind of just hand it to you without question, after a bowl of miso! This did make me nervous because I only had about 40 or so yen in my wallet at the time and didn't know how much I was going to pay for the whole meal (if they just kept handing me food ). Once I got the katsudon, I was able to ask (butchered) how much everything was, and they responded 10¥ (~$10) I said, "for the katsudon?" No, it was for the whole meal.... shocked over how cheap it was!!! Especially for being tucked away in Shibuya! Now for the katsudon, I can see why my roommate suggested it! It was delicious! The pork was crunchy and tasty! I personally don't care for runny eggs (I'm in the minority, I know) so that was my only dislike about it, but it's not that it wasn't good! And you can't beat the price! So I give it 4/5, only for the unclear directions shown on Google! Otherwise, I definitely recommend checking this place out when you visit Shibuya!

I can't say enough about this place, it's perfect. It only sits 8 people so while it causes a long line, it creates an intimate, homey feel with very personal care and attention. With that said, definitely come early and avoid prime meal hours. But even if you don't and you're forced to wait in line, I would recommend to stay anyway - it's definitely worth the wait. There is no menu - everyone is served tea, soup, and chicken katsu and egg over rice. The only thing they'll ask you is what size you want. The only difference in the sizes is the amount of rice, and it's all the same price (1000 yen). The food itself is incredible. The katsu is so tender and juicy with a perfectly crispy skin. It's lightly dressed with a sauce that adds flavor, while not making the katsu soggy at all. The katsu sits on a warm bed of soft and creamy egg that hugs a mound of rice. This way, each bite has a perfect combination of rice, egg, and katsu. Perfect. I would go to Shibuya just for this place.

First thing we ate in Tokyo and it blew us away! They only serve katsudon which is a piece of pork cooked into an egg on top of rice with katsu sauce (thin Asian bbq sauce). I normally am very neutral about katsudon but this was by far one of the best meals I've had in tokyo. I will definitely be back for another bowl before I leave. We got there after checking into our place. I picked this because it was the closest restaurant I had booked marked to my apartment. My boyfriend loves katsudon so we ventured to find this little shop. It's in a big red/brown building with flags on the outside. Go into the building, find the shop with about 8-9 seats. Ordered a katsudon; they serve either a large or regular size, both for ¥1000 ($10). The chef will give you a bowl of miso soup and some barley tea. If you need refills, just ask for more tea. After eating the amazing katsudon, place whatever dishes you're done with on the ledge the chef serves you on. Pay and leave. The chef speaks enough english for you to get exactly what you want. I highly recommend this place. We will be heading back to this restaurant within the week. 5/5 would recommend!

This restaurant serves one dish--Katsudonya--and it's my favorite Japanese meal so far: it's a bowl of rice topped with a fried egg and something like Schnitzel on top (breaded, tenderized chicken), all covered in a savory sauce. We left fantastically-busy-sensory-overload Shibuya Crossing and headed for this place for dinner around 5:30pm on a Friday night. As we approached, the street got more and more quiet and narrow. Finally, the blue dot on maps said we had arrived, so we ducked into the alley on the right and found this quaint, cozy, teeny-tiny restaurant that seats maybe 8 people (there is no English sign. Look at the attached photos for help locating). Two people who might be father/daughter were bustling about running the place. A pink boom-box perched atop a stack of supply boxes in the corner, playing something pleasant. It's clean and warm inside, and they serve tea and an excellent clear soup to start. The food was ready quite fast, and when we were finished we paid $20 and left. Don't miss this place when you're in the Shibuya area!

I am so happy that I decided to satisfy my cravings for Katsu-don here! If you've never had Katsu-don no need to fear. It is a very simple dish: with a breaded pork or sometimes chicken cutlet deep fried then topped with a beaten egg that cooks in seconds in the hot oil and becomes the gooey rich delicious goodness that holds the whole thing together! Served atop a bed of rice (you can choose between a small, medium, or large portion of rice with no variation on price). Finally a sweet and savory brown sauce is drizzled over the Katsu-don completing this bowl of perfection. I arrived at 11:30 right as they opened and it was already full with a small line of 6 people ahead of me. Good thing I arrived when I did cause it got even longer. The restaurant has only 8 seats so you'll have to be patient, but once you are seated the food arrives within minutes! Love this place and would definitely come back!

We arrive at 1126am and was the 1st line before they open cheeehuuu !! Shortly 1 minuet after there was 6 other ppl that lined up before us. Lucky !! There is about 8 seats and I really wanted to make sure we had the fresh oil bc for katsu or anything fried it makes a big difference if food was fried in old oil or fresh batch . Once we seated we were given cold " what I call charcoal tea " but maybe it's barley either way I love those charcoal tea ! And a little pickled daikon dish . Then we were asked small medium or large . We both picked medium rice since we tryna watch our waistlines ya know ! Who we kidding we just wanted to make ourselves feel like we was skinny . But we eat like 5 x s day . Make sure you select seats to the far left as the AC blows right over your heads if you sit on the far right (lesson learned ) and you will be sweatingGGGG! Their katsudon was good but not worth making out of your way all the way to Shibuya good . We were already coming to the area for shopping so I wanted to check this off my list . This is def a two step up from your major chain katsudon but not worth waiting more than 15 minute for katsudon . I could have skipped this meal of my trip and not missed a thing! I found their shoyu sauce a bit too sweet for me . It was like shoyu sugar drizzled all over . I could have done without that as well .

like the rest of the reviews previously posted, Katsudonya Zuicho is an amazing restaurant. They have 1 item on the menu and it comes in 2 sizes, both priced the same, 1000 Yen or $10USD. It's tucked in a small area and seats about 6 at the counter. if you're walking down a small and quaint alleyway in Shibuya, don't worry, you're going in the right direction. Like most in Japan, they do the 1 thing very, very well. the pork was amazingly crispy and savory, your meal is also accompanied with a bowl of miso soup, and the shining star shortly comes after. This restaurant is cash only. No vending machines, no meal tickets. Come early, or wait in line, its If visiting tokyo, this is a must on the stop list.

Hella tiny spot, but big on flavor. Crispy fatty breaded pork and egg and ricE anD sauce and damnnn

Delicious katsu don! Come here early as there is only 8 seats in this small restaurant. This is a family business, when I same the mom and daughter duo were handling everything from cooking, prepping, serving and payment. There's only one thing you can order so no menu available. You only choose between a medium bowl or large bowl. The only difference between the two sizes is how much rice you receive. Katsu is crispy and flavorful over a bed of egg and rice.

Best Katsudon I've ever had - must try. Small, medium, large all priced same $10 each. Crispy meat and yolky egg on rice divine! Large is recommended! Recommendation: they only serve Katsudon and EXCEL at it. well worth to travel for and for 15 minute wait in line to eat. Eating here made my day. Busier around lunchtime as there's only 8 seats.

The best katsudon I've ever had in my life! I can eat this everyday. The pork is juicy and tender. Egg and rice just perfection. There are only 8 seats so be prepared to wait in line and probably not great for toddlers to sit at the counter or large groups. Owner is super nice. I am missing it.

If you're going to Shibuya, you MUST try this place before leaving. Best Katsu-don I've ever had! Only 8 seats so there is a wait, but TOTALLY worth it. Only one item on the menu for 1000 yen.

This is, without a doubt, the best katsudon I have ever eaten. The difference between the katsudon at the tiny (10 seat) family owned shop in Shibuya from the rest are the steps to create this crispy porky goodness. The egg and pork cutlet are cooked independently, allowing for an ultra crispy pork cutlet adorned on a sweet seasoned omelet. The sauce added last as to not upset the crispiness. There are no choices other than how much rice you would like in your bowl. That's it. You can opt for a beer or sake, you'll receive some pickled items and a crystal clear soup to start, then the katsudon. I was with several Japanese friends, all of them raving over how great this katsudon was after we had finished. They were almost completely silent up until then. I think that basically says it all.

My favorite katsudon place in Tokyo! It's easy to miss so just look out for the restaurant banner. There's only 10 seats in the whole place so the place can fill up pretty quick. We were lucky enough to get seated right away around 4pm and just missed the wait! Don't be surprised that there's no menu because they only make katsudon! The only thing you have to choose is if you want a large or regular portion of rice. Either way it's only 1000 yen ($10)! What I love about it is that it has just the right amount of dashi, not too salty and the katsu is still crunchy, not soggy. Food comes out quick too. My boyfriend loved it so much he ate two bowls!

Thank you yelpers for helping us find this place. This was one of the best meals we had our entire stay- definitely has ruined all American versions of it forever for us. The owner/cook is very kind and even let my husband and I share a bowl (which we then regretted because we gobbled it in 2 minutes and wanted more). If you're in shibuya, walk away from the crowds and find this little gem of a place. Absolutely delicious. 1,000 yen. Cash only.

Let me put this review into perspective for you. When I came home from Japan, after having eaten here, and went to Santouka in the Mitsuwa Marketplace and ordered a bowl of Katsudon, upon my first bite I almost cried ugly tears of sincere regret and sadness for my order. Katsudonya Zuichou has ruined katsudon for me for anywhere but there. It was our first experience with food in Japan - we touched down incredibly late when most restaurants were closed, and we bought a few onigiri at Lawson's to satiate our appetite until the morning. After walking around the Meiji Temple gardens, we came here for lunch. I had zero idea of what to expect from Japanese food - what would it be like? How good would it taste? Would it live up to the expectations of everything I'd read up until this point? Yes. At least, with this meal. The katsu was so perfectly fried, breaded. The meat was succulent. The rice was expertly made, and the egg was perfectly cooked. The sauce, as well, paired wonderfully. Plus they served it with cold jasmine tea and a delicious bowl of clear miso broth. I must have had about ten cups of the tea, as I was suffering from serious dehydration (August in Japan is dangerous and feels like Florida). I tried to make katsu when I came home because I missed this place. Failed miserably. I hope that anyone who reads this will be compelled to eat here, but one piece of advice: once you've had a bite of the apple and gain the knowledge that food like this could exist, be prepared for the fallout of intense disappointment when you have a craving halfway around the world and must settle for anything else.

They only do one thing but they do it really well. So, if you want katsudon this is an excellent choice. I thought my pork cutlet was a bit over done or the oil was a bit old, but the overall flavor was still very good and a great value at JPY 1000. Just be warned the place is small, with only 7 or 8 counter seats - so no big groups and be prepared to wait a few minutes during peak times.

Found this small shop on Yelp and I was very surprised at how good the food was for such a small shop. They only sell one thing which is katsudon and they do a superb job. The shop is located on the first floor of the building directly to the left as you enter the hallway. They offer the katsudon in a small, medium, or large and the price of the three is exactly 1,000 yen. The only difference between the sizes is the amount of rice they give you. I felt that the medium size was the perfect amount of rice. The katsudon was easily one of the best I ever had. Everything, from the egg to katsu, was cooked to perfection. They also included a bowl of soup and some iced tea along with it which was nice. Although the size of the shop was pretty small (it sits around 8 at the counter), our group was able to find seats relatively quick. The time it took for our meals to arrive was very fast as well. All in all, I would highly recommend this shop to anyone who is looking for a nice "home cooked feel" meal.

Just go. If you've never had katsudon or if you are a seasoned pro this spot is worth a visit. We went on a rainy day and found the alley easily, finding the door without understanding Japanese was a little bit trickier. Luckily three teenage students who we spotted ducking in were a good sign of comfort food. There is no menu so ordering is a cinch and food is ready in a matter of minutes. The fluffy rice was topped with tender pork cutlet perfect fried and then covered with a sunny side egg and sweet brown sauce. Sooooo good. During a two week visit and many, many, many great meals, this might have been the best!

This is exactly what I was looking for when I came to Tokyo on my first trip to Japan. Almost literally a hole in the wall, this 7x18 room with a bar and 10 stools was at first intimidatingly intimate for someone with very very limited Japanese skills but because yelp let us know that there is only one dish served there, the host did all the work for us. We let them know we let them know we wanted two small as we sat down and before our butts hit the stools there were two pork cutlets in the oil. In seconds we had some cold jasmine tea in front of us and minutes later it was joined by our food. And the food was just as simple as the rest of the establishment but was still easily one of the more memorable dishes we've had since we've been here. Would definitely recommend and come here again. 1000 ¥ per bowl, very very worth it.

This is the best Katsudon I've ever had. My wife and I found this restaurant by accident while we were exploring Shibuya two years ago. They only offered one item (Katsudon), so the only choice you have is either getting the large or the small one. Before we had their katsudon, we were surprised with how good their soup tastes, then we were even more surprised when our katsudon arrived. They boiled their eggs separately from the chicken, so they don't overcook, and they also soaked their rice with something so that it smells so much better. The overall texture was so good, that I can still remember how good it tastes even from now. I will be visiting this place again in a few month, and I definitely recommend people to eat lunch here.

Delicious! Found this place on Yelp and luckily it was only a few buildings down from my AirBnB. I waited in line for about 7 minutes on a Saturday at 3pm. The katsu was crispy and complemented by the egg and rice, topped with a salty/sweet sauce. Stand in line, wait to be called in, and order by saying small, medium or large. As others mentioned, you'll receive cold tea, clear broth/soup, some tsukemono (pickled veggies) and your chicken/egg/rice katsudon. Pay 1000¥ at the end, regardless of size. So glad I stopped in!

Zuicho is a place for Katsudon -- There's nothing else on menu at the place so you only go there for Katsudon. What's different about their Katsudon is thier pork cutlet staying crispy in the dish. Usually, pork cutlet in Katsudon is no longer crispy as it's boiled with eggs and soup, which some people don't really like. So, they keep the pork cutlet dry and crispy on purpose for those who really care about it. I'm personally fine either way. Their Dashi soup might be a bit too salty/sweat for some Japanese people, but should actually be appropriate for non-Japanese people, so I'd be pretty comfortable recommending this place to non-Japanese people. Not hesitation. It may even be the best Katsudon you've ever had in your life.

Small but great spot with limited options, but very good food. Customers choose between small, medium, and large. Luckily they were able to make a vegetarian egg option for me!