Tonkatsu Daiki

Knowing Tonkatsu Daiki's fame from Michelin guide, I came prepared with cash. They open at 11am and I arrived at 10.32, I was already the 6th person in line. The doors open at exactly 11.00 and we were ushered in to our designated seats and given the menus. The place was quite small and I was lucky that I made it into the first round of customers to get in. There was no English menu, but it's nothing a translation app can't solve. Additionally, the staff speaks English well and is very helpful. I got the no. 2 hire katsu (tenderloin pork cutlet) set and chose the 120g size, due to my preference for leaner cuts in pork and sometimes eating a large amount of fried food could cause me headaches. The order was made at 11.05 and was delivered 30 minutes later. The gorgeous thick cuts of meat came with refillable rice, salad, and soup. They also provided some condiments such as tonkatsu sauce, mustard, and salt. I was blown away from the first bite as it was the cleanest tasting tonkatsu I've ever had. It had none of those annoying odor when pork was not prepared well. Texture was tender but firm, it was lean but supple and easy to chew. Until the last bite, it was not greasy at all. My favorite combination was of the meat and dipping salt with a little of their salad. To answer all your FAQs: Yes, it's worth the wait. Yes, 120g size is fulfilling enough, but I would indulge myself and get the 180g size next time. No, I didn't know I'd still dream about it until today.

Sublime tonkatsu. We visited back in January and queued around 15 minutes before it opened, and was able to be a part of the first sitting. We ordered both the number 1 and number 2 sets and both were amazing. My personal favourite was number 2. The pork was extremely tender and juicy and had a nice porky flavour. The breading had a nice crisp to it. All sauces and salts accompanying the tonkatsu, helped to the elevate the meat. The rest of the set tasted quite fresh and helped to balance the oiliness of the meat. 5/5. The number one tonkatsu was also very good. This one was a little bit more chewier and fattier, but still tender and juicy. 4.5-5/5.

It has a great reputation and it delivers! Really solid food, tasty home-cooked style. The frying is soft and flavoursome, the cuts of pork are spot on. It’s about as good as you’d expect from a place like this. Does it exceed my expectations? No. But it’s definitely worth coming to. They do a “full-house” style service where the new group of clients all sit together and they don’t let new people in until the place is cleared. This can mean an hour wait for every 10-12 people in the queue. I waited for an hour and it was worth it.

Worth the queuing for the juicy & tender tonkatsu particularly the curry flavour is just good & not Salty. The Chef offered a personal service to engage the guests. Thumb-up !

This was the best tonkatsu I’ve ever had! The No. 2 cut was incredible—even without fat, it was unbelievably tender and just melted in my mouth. The first time we visited, we waited three hours, but it was absolutely worth it. Every time we’re in Osaka, this is a must-visit spot. If you want to avoid long lines, weekdays are your best bet!

Worth the wait! It's cash only and NO KIDS. The chef and attendant are very nice. The food is the star of the show and very worth the wait! I appreciate that we were able to wait in a queue.

Tonkatsu Daiki is an insanely popular tonkatsu restaurant that usually has a line in front of the store. We stood in line 30 min before opening and we were able to be seated in the first round. The tonkatsu was insanely delicious. The pork was tender and flavorfull and super crispy. I also really enjoyed their pickles!

Amazing Tonkatsu. Came here two days in a row it was that good. The fatty loin set is so delicious and tender, and the Tonkatsu curry is amazing 😍😍😍. I would come to Osaka just to eat here. It’s worth the wait.