Tonki

Tonki is a classic tonkatsu spot with a unique batter that is different from any other place. The seating is arranged around the open kitchen, so you can watch every step of the cooking process, which is really fun to see. It can get quite busy, so you might have to wait a little before getting a seat. The food is crispy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. The only downside is that the place gets smoky, so your clothes might smell like oil afterward. Probably not the best idea to go somewhere fancy right after, but it is absolutely worth the visit.

This place has been around for ages serving Katsu - it was my first time and got the pork fillet set (not the biggest fan of too much fat), which comes with rice and pork miso soup (tonjiru). The batter is very different from most commercial tonkatsu, and is crispy. The batter does come off the pork a bit too easily but it’s freshly fried in front of you (if you sit at the counter). The service was great as I put a tad too much mustard on my katsu making me cough (as it went the wrong way), and one of the servers brought me water to help me so I’m very thankful about that. They come to give you extra free lettuce which adds some sweetness to the dish. The only minor point was that my clothes stunk of oil afterwards and I could smell it for ages on me so I would recommend wearing clothes you can wash easily.

Awesome food with lots of seats available (there's second floor too). Miso soup and cabbage is free flow, te aand ice water are also free flow. 💕 The owner uncle gave me 2 sweets to end of this wonderful dinner 😊

I'm told Tonki is a Meguro institution. It's been here forever and one local friend said, "I don't even consider it tonkatsu, it's just Tonki." You can feel it as soon as you walk in. The giant wraparound counter is full and people are sitting at the bench around the outside waiting. I ate upstairs, which is apparently not the best way to experience this place. Everyone tells me to sit downstairs so you can watch the incredible clockwork operation. We ordered the loin and the filet. Both were fantastic. What really stood out was the exceptionally crispy exterior. It stayed crisp, even after it began to cool. This is not the kind of tonkatsu with buttery panko bread crumbs with deep marbled and juicy pork. It's something different. So, if you've had lots of tonkatsu in Japan, and you're expecting more of the same, change your expectations. Here, you get great service and a filling meal, in a very authentic Japanese atmosphere. You'll almost certainly have to wait in line. But the line moves quickly and they'll take your order before you get a table. There are only three things on the menu, they're all good in exactly the same way. The set meal pickles are a perfect accompaniment to the greasy fried pork. The miso soup, with little chunks of fatty pork, was delicious. The cabbage could use some dressing, but I like that they also give you a tomato. The tonkatsu sauce is great. The mustard is hot. I understand why Tonki is a Meguro classic.

I visited because it was a famous tonkatsu restaurant. As rumored, many customers came as soon as it opened at 4 PM. The kitchen was completely open. It was fun to watch the Korean black and white chef program right in front of me. I could feel the hard work of the chefs who took the tonkatsu out of the hot oil and touched it. I ordered both the rosu-katsu and the hire-katsu. After about 30 minutes, the food came out. The rosu katsu tasted okay, but the batter was too hard, and it felt like the batter was separate from the meat (it came off before I could eat it). The hire katsu was - sorry, but it was really bad. The taste itself was too lacking. If you are a fan of the famous "Yeondon" in Korea, you might like it, but if you like the Japanese tonkatsu style, this place is not for you. (It may be because I wasn't feeling well on the day I visited) but one experience is enough.

If you enjoy Asian cuisine and atypical, non-touristy places, this is the spot for you. The atmosphere carries a sense of tradition and values that have remained unchanged for years. For us, it was a powerful experience. It was recommended by a local, and we are very glad that thanks to him we discovered this place.

Every time I come here I feel so good, so nice ambience, so courteous and caring staff and above all the tonkatsu, tastes like heaven. They are the best in town. Tonki never disappoints you. A very must try in Tokyo.

Freshly fried tonkatsu, still steaming hot is quickly sliced by the master chef. What’s truly impressive happens at another counter, where a batter-and-breadcrumb master showcases astonishing skill. While most would press the breadcrumbs tightly onto the meat, this artisan finishes the process in just two lightning-fast moves—right hand, then left—so gracefully it’s like catching a butterfly. Then, without hesitation, the cutlet is tossed straight into the hot oil. I’ve tried all kinds of tonkatsu and I’m familiar with frozen raw breadcrumbs too—but the coating here is unlike anything else in this world. I’ve never tasted anything so good. It’s not just about having sharp, spiky breadcrumbs. And it’s not about glueing them tightly to the meat either. Everything comes down to the skill of the artisan. This is a different world—70 years of perfecting the craft of tonkatsu. You’re welcomed with a cheerful “Irasshaimase!” and sent off with a sincere “Arigatou gozaimashita.” By the end, you’re not just full—you’re completely satisfied and happy.

Brief Summary: - The restaurant has the first and second floor (my food experience was on the first floor) - Order ahead, wait until you're seated and the staff remembers your order - Payment method: card is accepted here - Warm inside - Fried batter falls off the meat This is one of the pork cutlet places that appeared on a social media post, so my friend and I decided to go. This restaurant has two floors. I was fine going upstairs to eat, but most of the photos from the restaurant and in social media posts were on the first floor, so my friend preferred to sit there for the experience. Ordering was done as soon as we entered, even if the seats were full. I forgot which one I chose, but I recall ordering the first one on the list, and my friend chose the one the staff recommended and considered to be popular. There are chairs along the restaurant walls, so we sat on one of those and waited until a seat opened and a staff ushered us to it. This took some time, probably 20 minutes or more. Once we sat down the food arrived in less than 5 minutes. I don't know how the staff memorized who came in what order and the menu name, but they got it right and I am still impressed with their memorization skills. The meal comes with rice, thinly sliced cabbage and miso soup. I recall when I was nearing my plate but I still had some pork cutlet left, the staff member came by and asked if we wanted more cabbages. The cabbage slices cut here were string like thin, very soft texture. Me, considering how I don't eat that much rice, I didn't request for seconds. Generally, felt a little disappointed when the batter slid off the meat, and the fried batter itself wasn't as crispy, crunchy as I had hoped to eat with the pork. The pork was good, but it wasn't the juiciest meat. In all, the food experience was great, but based on my personal tastes, I would look for a different pork cutlet restaurant.

Great spot! Friendly staff, excellent fried pork cutlet and plenty of seating! Felt more local than touristy!

The batter separates from the pork. There is no salad dressing for the cabbage, only Tonkatsu sauce. The tonkatsu was ok. Service was good but difficult if you don't speak Japanese. Restaurant very noisy. I prefer Maisen Tonkatsu! It cost more but well worth it!

If you are looking for the ultimate tonkatsu eating experience Tonki Meguro is at the top of its game. The entire center of the restaurant is an open kitchen with an army of cooks individually stationed performing specific tasks like fine-tuned machine with the master chef's at the wheel. They are so good at what they do that you literally only have three options, fatty, lean, or skewered. I opted to order the fatty rohsu-katsu or loin tonkatsu which is Y1900 but if you're not a fan of fatty meat I would recommend getting the tenderloin or hire-katsu. The tonkatsu is fried to golden brown perfection while still retaining its juicy tender center. The meal comes with a side of minced cabbage as well as a bowl of rice and miso soup with fatty pork pieces in it. The menu is very simple but you will not be disappointed with the quality of food you receive. Overall the restaurant is a definite must for any tonkatsu lover, and average wait time is around 30 mins to an hour but the line is literally the entire wall surrounding the inside of the restaurant where they have seats and coat hangers lined up for customers.

Juicy Tonkatsu with shiny rice:)) I wanna go back there again soon! Taste: Simply good! Simply juicy and tender, Price: Higher... Customer service: More than excellent! Atmosphere: Clean casual. Location: Near Meguro station.

Best tonkatsu you can get on a low budget. But the line is a bit long, waited one hour, it's worth it.

Talk about popular, this place was packed on a random Wednesday night. All bar seats, and they have a system that moves people through remarkably quickly despite the long lines. Bar faces the open kitchen so you see everything being prepared right in front of you, and boy do they have the pattern down to a science. Food was good, plenty of extras, with free refills on cabbage, soup, etc. staff was attentive and friendly despite have no tons of customers. While I liked Agefuku a little better for the tenderness of the loin, I was very happy with this place.

My favorite tonkatsu restaurant in the entire world and one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Tonki tonkatsu is an experience that I reserve for my closest friends and a meal I reserve as my final dinner before leave Tokyo. The uniqueness of this restaurant comes from it's brutal simplicity and efficiency. All of the food is made right in front on your eyes, quite literally this time as I was seated in from of the person in charge of dipping the raw pork in flour and eggs. There are only two items on the menu and you choose before you sit down. The old man who runs the operations takes your order and directs you to your seat from the line. You can choose either lean tonkatsu or tonkatsu with a little fat. I would recommend the one with a little bit of fat as it brings out the flavor so much more. Slice of pork dipped in flour, dunked in egg, back into the flour and then back into the egg before walked over and placed into one of the 5 giant fryers behind him. From there, the next chef takes the still hot tonkatsu from the fryer and places it on the cutting board, cutting the meat into smaller pieces. After that, the same chef plates the tonkatsu on a plate where someone has already plated the cabbage, tomato and garnish and then a bit of spicy mustard is added to complete the plate. Everything besides the tonkatsu itself are free refills including the cabbage and miso soup which makes this meal well worth the price. I cannot recommend Tonki Tonkatsu highly enough and it's a must try if you're ever in the area.

Still on a mission to try all the best tonkatsu restaurants in Tokyo, Tonki has been on my list ever since a friend mentioned we had to try it out. On our last visit, we decided to come here for dinner with a group of 6 of us. After a brief 5 minute wait, we were seated at the long U shaped bar which gave us a spectacular show. Each person inside the "kitchen" has a specific job and ONLY that job. According to our friends, nothing has changed over the past 20 years. It appeared that the most senior chef had the task of inspecting, cutting, and plating the perfectly fried piece of pork. It was crazy how red his hands were and he never once grimaced in pain as he sliced each super hot piece of pork. Since I was pretty hungry, I opted to add the spring onion and pork skewer along with the regular tonkatsu plate. It certainly was a lot of food for and if I remember correctly the meal was around $25 USD with a few beers. Tonki serves a different tonkatsu where they do not use panko bread crumbs. I can't put to words as I write this review on how to describe the crust but it was delicious. Only complaint I did have was that the crust seemed to get a tad bit soggy as I was finishing the last pieces of pork. Unlike Maisen, you only have two choices on your tonkatsu, either the loin or filet. I of course chose the loin which didn't seem fatty at all. Served along with the perfectly fried pork are pickled vegetables, a huge mound of shredded cabbage, rice and a pork miso soup. Everything was outstanding and would recommend Tonki to anyone.

If sushi is to Jiro, I think Tonkatsu is to Tonki. Well.. This analogy may not be accurate since this joint is lot cheap by 1 digit then slash in half, about 10 men silently working with serious look on their face sure reminded me of serious sushi chef who takes his/her cuisine as aesthetic craft art. Their confidence is shown in 2 items menu - Tonkatsu, fillet or loin. There breading is sure tasted better than other McTonkatsu place I regularly eat as well as juicy meat. Considering rice and miso soup are refilling free, it definitely makes these ¥1000+ dish steal deal. Worth it, taste it, you won't regret it.

とんかつが食べたい！ 衣はさくっと薄め お肉はジューシーです。 １Ｆはカウンターのみ。 ひとりでも気兼ねなく味わえます。 お店に行くとわかりますが 混雑していても 順番を間違えずに 案内してくれるのは 見事です。 定食メニューは３品。 ロース ヒレ 串カツ この３品。 とんかつのお味も お店の雰囲気も 満足させてくれる 老舗のとんかつ！

One of the top famous Tonkatsu restaurants in Meguro Station area. There will be huge lines of customers especially at night time but the line move quite fast so you won't wait hours to get you served. There are mainly three types of Tonkatsu served in this restaurant Ro-su Katsu (Loin), Hire Katsu (Fillet), Kushi Katsu (Katsu with Skewers). All of them are good but I personally recommend Ro-su Katsu. Unfortunately there is no English menu so If you are not a Japanese speaker, I would recommend to go with a person who could read and speak Japanese.

Great experience. There is a long line but moves quickly. The seating arrangement is super cool! It is U-shaped surrounding the kitchen as they prepare everything from the meat, frying, cabbage, and rice right in front of you! There are two items on the menu, loin and filet, and we got one of each. The tonkatsu itself was very special. It is cooked and prepared differently than a typical tonkatsu so the breading on the outside is a bit different. Still it was very good. The meat was juicy and tender. Also unlimited rice and cabbage! The price is also very reasonable as well. Roughly around 18 USD. P.S. the miso soup is CLUTCH. It is filled with chunks of pork and tofu! So good.

How could I have missed this place? Just a short 5 min from my office too! You. The inviting smell of the delicious aroma of something fried wafts toward you at the entrance. You slide open the door and a large open room full of bustling staff in pristine white uniform greets you. Everyone sits at the counter and you place your order and wait for them to call you to a seat at the counter. How they remember who ordered what is a mystery to me. The pork cutlet is moist and crispy on the outside. You can have unlimited servings of cabbage. The accompanying soup has generous bits of pork and tofu. The staff of 10 move about their duties effortless with one taking over another's tasks without any apparent conversations.

I've been coming to Tonki for over 10 years, it's easily at the top of my list for tonkatsu and places to eat at in Tokyo. They offer a lean and roast (fattier), both are great. The plate is served with refills on cabbage, soup, and rice. It's almost guaranteed to be a queue of people waiting. Easier for singles and doubles, but bigger parties are fine too, just expect to wait longer to be seated.

Great Katsu and perhaps unique japanese dining experience. I l enjoyed the U shaped counter seating arrangement where you get to view the assembly line precision of time tested katsu perfection. I got the fatty cut and it was delicious, pork just tasted better than what we have in the US.

mmmm pork chops, you get to watch them make it in front of you. The queue system makes sense even though i understood zero japanese. You basically musical chair yourself to the front, and then once its your turn, they assign a table. Will come back

I never knew a man could have such a love affair with plain, shredded cabbage as the torrent of passion I shared with such a plate of Tonki's frayed greens during a cold March night in the year 2010. Oh! And there was also the most amazing tonkatsu hanging around as well. I came here with the intent of eating what had been hyped to me as the greatest tonkatsu made in the world. The seating is primarily a u-shaped counter in which the kitchen area is directly in the middle. This means that, even though you are waiting a while for your meal to come out, you get to enjoy the pleasure of watching these cooks prepare everything from chopping cabbage to breading the pork loins in full plain view. This meal? One of the best meals I've ever had. The tonkatsu was cooked perfectly, had tons of fatty flavor, the breading was crispy but not overpowering, the pork was juicy and everything melded well together with their sauce(s). The surprise on the plate was the shredded cabbage. I don't remember how they prepared this, but I found myself eating more shredded cabbage than I can remember. The best part? You have unlimited cabbage and rice--and I made sure to eat at least three helpfuls of this magical cabbage. I even took a plate of take-away for my mistress who was waiting for me at the hotel and even though it was not quite as fresh as straight off the counter, she had the exact same opinions as me as it related to the katsu and cabbage. What a combination! What a delight! What an extraordinary xylophone! If you're in Tokyo and love tonkatsu, this is a must-visit.

Tonki is the bomb dot com. You walk in and have to sit on a bench and wait, and when the guy in the middle points at you, it feels like YOU ARE THE CHOSEN ONE and it feels so good. Waiting is a huge part of the experience, so don't shy away from having a quick sit on the bench. There are only two dishes (pork loin and filet) and they'll ask which you want before directing you to your seats. The atmosphere is really cool - a big, light space where all the seats are at a bar surrounding the kitchen so you can see the food being prepared. Everyone has one job, so it's pretty cool to see the expertise and skill applied to the cooking! It's fun to see giant chopsticks used as cooking utensils, too. Everyone there is a master of their craft. When you sit down, you get green tea. Your pork comes with shredded cabbage and a VERY spicy wasabi mustard. You also have a few tasty condiments, and I highly recommend some sake to accompany this meal! Leave the lid on your miso soup and save it for last. In Japan, it is a digestif saved for the end of a meal.

AMAZING PLACE AND I RECOMMEND!!! I wish I can give 10 stars. Very unique recipes and you can't get this Tonkatsu anywhere else. DON'T MISS IT!

A minute walk from Meguro sta. I went in at 6pm Monday but the place was already packed. The 1st floor has one gigantic counter. Wide space inside the counter, you can see the magic happening. The sight itself is worth a visit, I think. Ordered the \1,900 pork loin "roasu" (not the pork fillet) cutlet combo and \350 extra pickles. The pork loin had almost no fat in it. The meat was extra soft and tender. The coating was extra thin. It was delicious but coating easy came off which was a bit disappointing to me. You can have multiple servings of rice, lettuce and pork miso soup. The pork miso soup was superb. The service was excellent in a Japanese way. I personally prefer Akihabara's Marugo but this place is not bad at all. 月曜日６時来店だが、既に込み合っていた。1階はでっかいカウンターのみ。2階に普通の席もあるとのこと。広々としたカウンターの中とその奥で料理をしているのが見学できる。両側の方々がお新香盛合せ(\350)をオーダー。おいしそうだったので、私もオーダー。 ロースかつ定食(\1,900)を注文。ヒレかつのようなロースで、ほぼ脂肪がなかった。肉は柔らかく、衣は薄く、上手い。が、なんとなく一体感がない。衣が剝がれてしまうから。。。個人的には秋葉原の丸五の方が好き。ごはん、キャベツ、豚汁はお代わりし放題。豚汁は絶品です。お代わりしておけばよかった。接客もいい。

To me this is a must in Tokyo, on the surface its just Tonkatsu but when you go and sit at the bar you appreciate it so much more. The pride the entire kitchen takes in their craft is amazing to see and the result is the best piece of tonkatsu you will ever have. It's amazing how they make such a heavy high fat dish feel so light and airy. Tip: go with the lean cut has plenty of flavor you wont sacrafice anything.

I had high expectations based on the Yelp reviews, limited menu, wait time and price point. I've had better tonkatsu in SoCal. The meat is juicy, but I felt that the flavor was fairly normal. The wasabi mustard was good, but the gravy was slightly watery. At almost 2000 yen it's quite pricey too

An institution for tonkatsu. You can tell that the owner and the staff here take pride in their traditional way of making such a simple dish so delicious. The long wait from people all around the world all come to savor the juicy crispy delicious pork cutlet confirms that this place is a fan favorite. Immediately when you walk in, you will most likely run into a line of people patiently waiting for their cutlet. The staff quickly will greet you and ask what would you like. Rosu (fatty juicy) or Hire (lean) cutlet. After what seems to be torture, excitement builds as you watch the staff orchestrate everything to perfection. From the arrangement of the cabbage to the tomato slice. The breeding and deep frying station to the older gentleman that slices up your pork whole popping hot. What a great treat if you are in the mood for some pork! Bravo.

Horrible, humiliating and inferior service. I took my wife here because I used to go to it frequently as a teen. This was our last night in Japan after three weeks in Japan and years of COVID closure the Japanese government imposed. She doesn't care for fried food but agreed to go on our last night. After traveling all over Japan for over three weeks we've never had service this bad. The man who served us, a 70 year old, was extremely rude. He threw the menus at us and demanded we choose one of the three items on the list immediately. He didn't even allow time for me to make a recommendation to my wife who was not familiar with menu. There were only three items, but since she wasn't familiar she wanted to know the difference. Meanwhile to the Japanese customers -- he had all the patience. I don't know if he thought we couldn't speak Japanese (we speak and understand fluently) or not but he treated us with so much disrespect -- like -- foreigner get out of my restaurant, I don't need your business. Advice: stay away from the 70 year old man as your server. Could he be the owner?? The area he serves is at the front bar. Their food is always good, but was disappointed he treated my wife like a third-class citizen. His language was rude and cutting; service was so subpar -- could it be possible he's not aware that in this era of smartphones and social communication, he's getting what he deserves -- a poor review. Zero stars to him!! The rest of the staff was nice and respectful. Unfortunately no way to document that in Yelp.

One of my favorite restaurants of all time. The only item on the menu is tonkatsu, you just get to pick the type of pork cut you want. From there the waiters will give you unlimited miso soup, cabbage, rice, and sauce. With the seating arrangement you can watch all the food being prepared because you're seated along the counter overlooking the kitchen. This is a must try when you are in Japan even if it's a little out of the way!

The pork is the best I ever had, done by an old chef, he has to be at least 75 years old, you watch him take the pork out of the fryer then use his bare hands to hold it and cut it, homeboy has skills. I are at the first floor bar, the process is very manufacturing oriented, one guy dips the pork chops in bread crumbs, one guy times it over the deep fryer, one guy lines the plates and the senior chef does the final step. Great price point as one person pays around $20 usd for a meal and a drink. The set meal also comes with rice, bowl of miso soup and ofcourse the soup also has pork inside.

This place was so fantastic that 4 hrs after leaving, we're already talking about going back later this week. The pork was juicy and the crispy outside was so I could've eaten by itself. The miso, cabbage, and rice were all very tasty as well. You dine at one long bar while you watch them cook all the food. It was very entertaining. You walk in and the older guy takes your order and you hang out and wait till he has a spot for you. They have an English menu, but there are only a couple choices. We had to wait about 35-45 min for seats at the bar. It wasn't a bad wait though. We had seats and could watch all of the cooking and such. The old guy has an amazing memory and remembers the order of all the people that are in line, regardless of how many times people move around. Overall, so much fun and delicious food!

Tonki is one of my favorite, very Japanese place in Tokyo. THAT, and I have a love affair with pork. Go figure! :) At the beginning, you would think that it's just a touristy spot. But the food is awesome!!! Expect the long queue I've been to the place several times. The presentation is just amazing!!! It's like watching a perfected performance. Super cool! The staff would take your order as soon as you enter and would ask you to wait. We waited for maybe 40 mins before we were seated. There were about at least 50 people at the time, and the staff could remember each person's order. Even if there's only 2 on the menu, that's still pretty wicked! The pork was delicious! The soup was mind-blowing!!!

Best Tonkatsu experience in Tokyo. 100% genuine and very local. Be prepared to wait in line but absolutely woth it!

If you want to experience the absolute best Tonkatsu in the world...go here. We would often get several crews together and go here. I sorely miss it since I retired.

We found this place on yelp. A lot of places were closed around 9. We took a cab from our Hyatt Regency and got here almost close to 10:15pm. 15 minutes to closing and the restaurant was still packed. It's bar seating with an open prep area in the middle. We didn't know how to speak Japanese so they sat us down and gave us a menu with pretty much 2 choices (Lean or a little bit of fat)- we went for the tonkatsu with a little bit of fat. Waiters were really friendly and neat. We really enjoyed the Katsu. While we had better at Ometsando, the batter was a bit too thick. We prefer the Panko style batter. Service: I thought they were really attentive with refilling cabbage, rice and handing out towels multiple times. However they could work on refilling the green tea a bit more. We only had one filling and had nothing to drink till they came back near the end of our meal. One more thing that's good was they let multiple parties that came in late after they closed.

If you want the full authentic feel of eating high quality Tonkatsu in Japan, this is it. The precision, care, and quality food let alone service you receive here is unbelievable. I make it a priority to eat here every trip I take from California to Tokyo. I love sitting at the bar top and watching everyone do their jobs while preparing every customers dish. You get two choices, lean or fatty Tonkatsu. They both are delicious. Unlimited rice and salad as well. 11/10 recommend everyone come here and eat whether they have had it or not. The vibe is worth it itself.

We love this tonkatsu place and take guests here whenever we can. It's around 1900 yen for the tonkatsu mean which comes with the pork, shredded cabbage, rice, miso soup, and pickled vegetables. I've tried both the port loin and filet. Personally I like the filet better. Also, we've always eaten upstairs. If the line is only a few steps up, then you'll have to wait probably 20 minutes. It goes fast and we've never regretted waiting. Finally, the staff here is super nice!

I can not recommend this place enough. Go early, and line up at 3:20 and get a bar seat to watch the action. The tonkatsu is amazing and affordable. For 4 people our meal with drinks was $100. It's the best dining experience i had in Tokyo.

HUMANS OF TONKI I was told to come here by my boss who grew up in Meguro. He has been eating here since he was six. My friend's mother says this is her favorite katsu place and has been eating here since her teens. She is now in her 60's and living in Kanagawa. A friend who is a native of Roppongi took us here as a must go to spot. He asked me if i wanted the fatty cut or the lean cut. I got the fatty. This place is one of those things where the "simplest" task is done with great attention to detail and care. I will definitely be back again.

They do one thing and they do it very well. Came here on our first night in Tokyo and were not disappointed. Got the lean tonkatsu (you can get lean or more fatty) and it was fabulous. Great experience. Would definitely come again.

I don't really care for Katsu, but my boyfriend is a big fan so I made it a mission to eat at least one good meal of Katsu on our recent trip to Japan. Tonki Meguro is conveniently located 3 mins walk away from a JR. We arrived at around 9:45 pm on a weekday night and it was still full house! The last call they take is at 10:45 pm. The menu is short and simple with only two options. I can't read Japanese so we ordered one of each. My boyfriend noticed how there wasn't any timers in the process of cooking. They are literally so good at what they do they just know when it is ready. I really enjoyed watching them work together as we were eating. It is so interesting to see how everyone is good at that one job of frying the katsu, cutting the katsu, or even just placing the cabbages on the side. You can really see the love and care they put into the food! The pricing was fair 1,900 yen per dish including rice (soft fluffy rice), miso soup, ayce cabbage, and katsu. THEY TAKE CARD BTW. Tonki Meguro, you have officially converted me to a fan of katsu. If I had to choose a favorite meal in Tokyo, this would be it.

I've been going to Tonki since 1986 and it is one of my never-miss-while-in-Tokyo eateries (along with Iseya Yakitori (Kichijoji), Midori Sushi (Umegaoka), and Moti (Roppongi). I always order the rosu-katsu teishoku. I'm pretty sure this is the best tonkatsu in the world. If you go there once, I promise you will go there every time you're in Tokyo.

Stopped by here through a recommendation from my boyfriend. Was expecting the more common type of tonkatso which generally consists of a crispy outer layer. However the tonkatsu here is more traditional, the skin or outer layer tends to just peel off as you pick it up. This whole place is dedicated to just tonkatsu itself. You have the option of choosing the leaner type of meat or fatty cut. I went with the fatty cut and it reminded me of bacon. Easy to order as they break down their menu in 3 options. Free refills on the cabbage salad, so load up on the fiber! Usually very busy, so try to get there early or be prepared to wait! Great service!

Accidentally found this place specializes in tonkatsu! The chefs make the fried pork cutlets in front of you and service is awesome that.. by the time you realize you need refills for your rice or shredded cabbage or soup, the servant is already here for you.

Tonki is amaaaazing. The best tonkatsu I've ever had. It was so good that we had to go back the very next day to eat it again. It's crowded, but the wait goes fast and is so worth it. When you walk in, a worker acknowledges you. There's no sign in or no line. This guy remembers who came in and in what order. Its ridiculously amazing. I tried to see if he messed up, and he didn't. I wonder if he ever has. It's crazy. I can't even explain how intrigued I was by his memory. He must take a lot of Gingko Baloba. Anyways, you sit down and wait and then are seated at the counter. I guess you can make reservations in advance? I didn't even know that was an option. The counter is such an experience. You get to see them making your food and it's such an intricate process. It really makes it taste that much better, because you can see how much work is really put into making your plate of food. When the food arrives, it looks amazing, smells amazing, is amazing. You get all you can eat cabbage salad. When I first heard that I was like -.- cabbage salad? hooray! It's not what you think. It is so delicious! And, the meat..don't even get me started. It is so soft on the inside, crunchy on the outside. It's made so that the outside even separates from the inside and I can't even explain how exquisite the taste is. I am salivating thinking about it. Just know that you need to go there, and you need to go there ASAP. And you need to prepare yourself for the amazingness that is Tonki

Probably the best tonkatsu I've ever had! This place has quickly become my favorite place for katsu. The breading of the outside doesn't stick to the meat on the inside and it definitely doesn't overwhelm the taste of the pork, so you can really enjoy the pork tenderloin that's on the inside. Would highly recommend sitting at the first floor bar so you can watch the process of how they prepare the katsu prior to serving. The miso is also very good (and they come with free refills). The quality of the pork is fantastic and the service is wonderful. Watching the chefs and crew work as a unit is also quite an enjoyable sight! Definitely can't wait for my next trip back!!

I am an admitted tonkatsu fanatic, so perhaps I am biased, but this was one of the best meals we had in Japan. Certainly the best tonkatsu ever. It was cool sitting at the counter watching the chefs work - everyone has their own little station and specific task to perform perfectly. The food was great, with plenty of cabbage refills. The beer was ice cold, which hit the spot on a hot Tokyo summer day and went great with the delicious spicy mustard served on the side of your plate. My wife is usually not a big tonkatsu fan but she came along for me, and even she was really impressed. Just three things on the menu: lean or fatty tonkatsu, or kushikatsu (skewered) style. Awesome. Very close to Meguro Station and a pleasant 15-ish minute walk if you're staying in the Ebisu area, such as at the Westin. We went at 5 pm on a weekday and did not have to wait.

First time trying this place! Pretty good! We walked in and the first floor and they directed is to go up to second floor. We were confused but went up and the second floor was a dining area that served the same food just not with a view of them making the food. Pretty good fried pork...you can get it lean or with the fat. Comes with a side of pickled veggies, rice, shredded cabbage and miso soup. Rice and cabbage are bottomless. Would definitely come back here if we had more time.

Whether you're visiting on holiday or have been here for years, when it comes to good old-fashioned, quality deep-fried pork cutlets (or katsu, as they're commonly referred to), you won't get a more family oriented approach in Tokyo than Tonki. Although the current iteration of the restaurant has been open since 1967, Tonki has a history that stretches back to 1939, and upon walking in, you can't help but feel that perhaps not much has changed. A long wooden counter looks over the main workspace, which is broken up into an assembly line of white uniforms and katsu construction - watching this over a shared bottle of beer is the reason most people prefer the counter to the booths and tables upstairs. The two main meals, the fillet cutlet (hire-katsu) and the loin cutlet (rosu-katsu), will set you back around 1,900 yen, and come together with rice, sliced cabbage, and pork soup - all of which are free for second helpings while you eat. The katsu itself comes of a color and texture unique to Tonki - and they have a just-right mix of gentle outside crunch and juicy inside tenderness. The soup too, filled with small tofu cubes and fatty pieces of pork, is a great addition to an already filling meal. But a word of warning - Tonki doesn't do lunch, and at peak dining times, be ready to wait around 30 minutes for a seat. It's worth the wait, but it's a hot spot for locals and tourists alike between the hours of 7:00 and 9:00. Enjoy!

Tonki, all time classic of the tonkatsu. Found in 1939, this place has been in business for over 73 years. It is the old fashion ritual where many old generation Japanese adults come to eat. Its like eating a high end sushi keiseki but with just one menu but still as serious as ever. Only two thing on the menu Hire katsu (leaner soft cut) or 2. Rose katsu (fatty juicy cut). It is trademark of modern day donkatsu and simple yet complex. It taste so simple and stupid but there is very deep essence and spirit in the taste. Definitely one of the best katsu ive had yet.

Do yourself a favor and eat here! Don't be intimidated by the line, it goes quick! Walked 30 minutes just to get here, waited for about 20 minutes, and was in heaven for 20 minutes while I chowed down the best pork I've ever had! Very cool seeing the whole process in front of you as you sit at the bar like seating on the bottom floor. The atmosphere was great, and the staff was on point about every aspect of the dining experience! If ever back in the area, I will definitely come back. Ahhh just left and I already want more!

This is a very traditional Tonkatsu (Pork Cutlet) place and may be pretty interesting to most of you, not food-wise but culture-wise. It's a traditional-Japanese-house-style place and got a long history -- Seems to have been loved by lots of neighbors and enthusiastic fans for long years. Most of the staff members are pretty senior (even several over-60-looking ones), which is pretty rare among restaurants in Tokyo. It sort of feels good to see those people working passionately while waiting for the food to come :) The place is big with a long counter with many seats. Tables for groups of people seem to be placed upstairs. I personally didn't feel anything special about their Tonkatsu dish but one thing I did notice was their Tonkatsu was almost over-cooked by the present standard/trend so the meat wasn't as tender/juicy as I expected, but that's probably what they have been offering for several decades and it's why all the fans keep coming up. I guess I should respect it ;)