Wako Donkatsu

absurdly dank. perfectly crispy. yummmy sauces. even the sides were outstanding. highly recommend this spot. best chicken katsu in LA!!! (recommend getting without curry to try the dip sauce) x

Delicious! A little pricey, but since I don't eat a lot, I was able to Mahe two meals out of it. I got the pork cutlet, the wife got the chicken katsu. Hers was double the amount of chicken than my pork.

First time trying this place. I ordered the Pork Katsu with Curry. It was good. The pork was amazingly tender! The curry could have been a touch spicier, but was still enjoyable. The miso soup was above average. My wife got the Katsu Pork combo. She liked it. We also split a cold soba. It was good, but I think we added a bit to much radish to our dipping sauce. Despite that it was tasty. The service was good and they were helpful. Overall, this place was better than we expected. We will be back

We visited this place 2 years since last visit. It was always our togo Donkatsu spot, but what a huge disappointment we had this time. We ordered Donkatsu sets and New York Steak Katsu sets. The meat texture was not pleasant- tasted like they used ground beef and pork. The service was not good as well, the man who seemed to be an owner was busy to talk with another server, explaining her how they could collect good tips. No one cared about our table, the server just tossed us a bill. It was quite empty for weekends and there were enough people to take care of customers. I don’t think we will go back to this place again.

The sauce and crispy pork katsu are incredibly delicious, and I feel alive. If you have to try something new this place is worth your time checking out. 10/10

Good food. We ordered a few different things to give them a shot. Really enjoyed it, the steak was the only thing that was mediocre everything we preferred was really good. Probably make my way back here next time in K-town and try something different.

The chicken cutlet is an absolute monstrosity. Did not even put in effort to try and pound the chicken so it was fried evenly, seems they just tossed random parts of chicken (not the breast) into panko and fried it. flavor was lacking and salad and side dishes were mediocre. Even the pork was not coated in flour prior to frying and the breading was falling off. overall 0/10, do not be fooled by the good reviews.

Been coming to wako since middle school days...like 20+ years. It brings memory every time I come here. Food is great, portion is great, service is also great. My non-Korean friends like it here. There were a few new donkatsu places that opened in Ktown but didn't last long because their food is mediocre and overpriced. Stick to this OG place. I also like their soba noodle combo!

I moved to La when I was 16. My grandma wanted me to live with my mom. She didn't want me anymore, until much later in life. But she's passed now and I miss her dearly. When I first moved to La, my mom would take me to Korean restaurants she enjoyed. This was one of them. It's been over 20 years and I still come here. The food is just so good. Sure a new tonkatsu place will pop up every now and then and I'll give it a try, but I have yet to find a place that is comparable in quality to Wako. I typically get the pork cutlet udon combo, which also comes with shrimp, a potato croquette and the cabbage salad you find at many Korean places. In addition, they give you plenty of little radish square kimchis and enough little pickled jalapeños. Before the meal comes out, you will get a Suribachi, which is a Japanese grinding bowl or mortar, alongside a pestle and in it there will be sesame seeds. As you grind them, you get a sensory experience from the smell of the seeds as they are ground down. Once your meal comes out, your server will pour a sauce over the seeds, which you can mix together to get one of the best dips you'll ever experience for tonkatsu. I really do love this place. The food here is great. It's comforting and the prices haven't really gone up too much after the pandemic. It's still affordable and is definitely quite a satisfying experience. If you want crisp, tender tonkatsu covered in a flaky panko crust, this is the only place you need to go in ktown. My least favorite thing on the menu is the curry but others love it. You can't go wrong with anything you pick here too. Plus if you opt out of the udon or soba combo, you still get a satisfying miso soup. I really like the udon here too. If you really like udon, you might be able to look at this place as a discount udon place because you get a tonkatsu in addition to an udon. Due to that, it makes it hard for me to want to get udon elsewhere because the price difference between an udon elsewhere and a tonkatsu udon combo here is just a few dollars. The service is great. Everyone is attentive. The ambience is nice as well as you get to feel you're somewhere in Asia when you're eating here. It's not decked out, but it does have a good vibe to it. I hope I can keep eating here when I'm in my late stages of life. This is truly one of the staples of KoreaTown.

We both wanted to try donkatsu in Koreatown and enjoyed Wako Donkatsu's curry pork cutlets ($18.95) a lot. The portion was large and had me full for a long time. The curry was flavorful, and it didn't have any peanuts in it. The small side dishes (kimchi radishes and jalapeños) were a nice touch to the savory flavors. There was also a big salad next to the curry, which also tasted good. Fortunately, they had a small free parking lot, and the restaurant wasn't busy when we visited on a late Sunday afternoon. A part of the floor was very slippery near the kitchen and bathroom, so someone moving quickly could've lost their balance. Service here was quick, and there was bell that you can push to contact a server.

Introduced by my boyfriend, we came the other night for dinner. I was interested to see the low star score of the place, but came with an open mind to see why the rating was low. We ordered 2 Pork Katsu plates. We were given a small bowl is white and black sesame seeds to crush and they added a katsu sauce we used to mix. I liked that small detail! The server was friendly. The plates finally arrived and I was impressed that they had a mini cooling rack where the katsu was placed - genius and loved it be side there is nothing worse then getting a fried item that gets soggy underneath. Great detail here and the food was amazing ! The only feedback I have is that our waitress did not offer to refill the small accompanied sides. We will be back soon!

Wako is one of my favorites! I would still visit sometimes even when I was still living in San Diego and Orange County. The chicken cutlet combo always hits the spot and is more than enough food. I ordered it to-go for the first time and it came in a nice, secure box. The udon broth was delicious and the my katsu was perfect.

I don't think for dontaksu and donkatsu set (soba or udon), you can't get any better than here, especially for quality and value. I think the regular donkatsu with soba is my favorite during summer. When the weather gets cooler, I enjoy the katsu set with udon or their curry donkatsu with rice. It comes with plenty of cabbage salad with a tangerine vinegrette, a tempura shrimp and mashed potato ball karage. One of my favorite thing is the Wako sauce with toasted sesame!!! The best is just their katsu method, perfectly crispy without drying out the meat (esp the pork is so juicy) and not oily. The service is always professional and efficient. Been coming here for 2 decades and hope it stays bustling and amazing for decades more to come.

Still the best katsu in koreatown. I've been coming to Wako for 20 years now and they taste the same as when I first tried it. My go to is the chicken katsu but time to time I get the cheese. Wako always hits the spot. 4 stars because the service is always lacking a little and we never get enough side dishes

They have a combo special that's a pretty good deal. Comes with substantial portions! The katsu came with a very buttery potato croquette and a bit of a lackluster shrimp. The salad, dressing, and katsu sauce were good, though. I like how they give you sesame seeds to grind fresh before they pour in the sauce. The soba was ok, but I would pass on the shrimp pops because they were super bready and comprised of smaller shrimp (had one that contained 2 tiny shrimp). The biggest reason I'm giving Wako Donkatsu 4 stars is due to the service. R very attentive and kind wait staff. They also have a parking lot if you drive down 2 driveways.

Solid katsu spot in ktown!! The portions are HUGE - can def share a plate ~ comes with miso soup, rice and side cabbage salad. The shrimp and pork katsu were perfectly fried and crispy, and the sauce is def sweet delicious pairing. Check in on Yelp for free potato ball! Also a major plus that there's a parking lot in ktown :)

We came around 4 pm on a Sunday and were seated at the last open table. They have a private parking lot in the back and there were quite a lot of spaces. My sister and I shared the chicken cutlet since we weren't super hungry and heard the portions were large. And indeed they were! We were stuffed so I can't possibly imagine how one person can finish it! It came with two huge chicken filets. The chicken katsu was thick, juicy and tender and was nicely battered so it was crispy on the outside. I wasn't a super big fan of the katsu dipping sauce since it was sweeter and more tangy than I'm used to. Same goes with the sauce on the cabbage. This spot is unique since they let you grind your own sesame seeds for the dipping sauce. Service was quick and nice.

Came around 4PM on a Saturday and there were a few open spots in their designated parking lot a few doors down. Heard it was a large portion so my sister and I shared the pork cutlet and man was it huge! It was fun grinding our own sesame seeds but I wasn't really a fan of how sweet and tangy the katsu sauce was. The katsu itself was great, very thick and moist! I also wasn't used to the sauce of the cabbage, but the rice and miso soup were good

Best in LA. Better than the new ones that are cropping up everywhere. Doesn't get greasy and overwhelming.

First time trying this place. I ordered the Pork Katsu with Curry. It was good. The pork was amazingly tender! The curry could have been a touch spicier, but was still enjoyable. The miso soup was above average. My wife got the Katsu Pork combo. She liked it. We also split a cold soba. It was good, but I think we added a bit to much radish to our dipping sauce. Despite that it was tasty. The service was good and they were helpful. Overall, this place was better than we expected. We will be back

The katsu was crispy and I got the pork and fish katsu. I like how the combo came with a choice of udon or soba and a shrimp and potato ball. I got the sautéed pork with ginger which was alright. The food adds up and was not too memorable. There is no refill of salad. The service was average as it seemed they were busy serving food.

Wako is a good place for large portions of katsu in Koreatown and thankfully, they have a parking lot just a door down from them. I tried their katsu combo, which comes with a shrimp tempura, potato ball, your choice of cutlet, and your choice of noodle. I opted for the pork katsu and udon. Everything tasted good and I especially enjoyed all the fried items, which were crispy and not too oily. All the fried for is heavy, so I'm not sure I needed the side udon even though I enjoyed it. Before your meal, they bring you a mortar and pestle filled with sesame seeds that you can grind yourself. This makes the sauce feel a bit fresher and is also fun to do.

I grew up eating Wako and they have the best donkatsu for price IMO. I recommend getting their OG pork donkatsu, or one of their set menus if you're really hungry! Their steak katsu & shrimp tempura is also good.

Love it love it love it love it. Please do yourself a favor and get the katsu sandwich, it's to die for! Not to mention their tasty curry and quick, direct and friendly service.

Favorite quick katsu spot in LA. Wako always hits the spot and I just love the casual vibe you get when you walk in here. The servers are always friendly and get straight to the point. Both chicken and pork cutlet Katsus are great (just a matter of preference). Comes with a bowl rice, miso soup, radish Kimchi, and slaw. The katsu is always so crispy and thiccc pieces of meat. If you feeling extra, you can opt for the special that lets you choose soba or udon and also gives you a katsu shrimp and potato ball.

My favorite katsu place! The katsu is so crispy and I love that it comes with either soba or udon. They have parking nearby and it's always my go to place

This place is at the edges of Ktown, away from the chaos of Ktown. With LaSung recently opened up, I wanted to try a different Katsu to compare. We got fresh sesame to grind to mix with the katsu sauce. It was pretty fun and the freshly grinded sesame smelled sooooooo good. The portion size of this was very good! We each ordered an entree and we had same to take home. I got the combo with udon and my partner got the katsu rice. The katsu was fried very well and crispy. And the udon was okay. To be fair, they are not known for udon, so its unfair to be critical and compare them to like Marugame. I think I would come back again!

Good portions, not the most tasty! Ordered a curry katsu and a soba and while the portions were good for the price, the katsu was a bit tough and the meat was too thick. The curry was also pretty standard and imo could have been more tasty if seasoned better. The soba was great but wasn't handmade or anything special. I appreciated that it was cooked to the right texture and the dipping sauce had good flavor. Not my first choice for tonkatsu in ktown but a nice cozy spot with great portions!

Not busy at all on a Friday night, seems to be classic Korean katsu as you already know probably. Got the combo which I didn't realize comes with a Koroke (Croquette, lol at the korean spelling), and a small breaded shrimp both of which were quite a nice addition. Semi-casual place to dine, servers were attentive and parking was in the lot a few stores down, quite convenient. I would imagine there's better choices for the wow factor, but it excels at what it's good at. Parking here is better than at the other location, actually attempted to go to the wilshire one but it was very difficult.

Delicious, friendly staff and a cozy vibe! Loved the cheese katsu, all the flavours were on point. Will definitely be adding this spot into my casual rotation

Chicken curry and the salad always hits the spot for me. The flavor is always consistent no matter what time of day I visit and whenever I visit. Service is good here. The staff checks on us and attentive.

Wow wow wow so impressed. They have a pretty simple menu and may not appreciate it if you need explaining. Just get a katsu combo pick a protein (beef, pork, chicken, cheese). TIP: chicken gives most pieces. They will bring some seeds for you to grind while waiting (cover with one hand if you don't want white flakes flying around). When they bring the combo, they will pour sauce into the grounded sesame and that will be your yummy dipping sauce. To go orders are packaged very well.

Food and portions are good! This is my favorite katsu spot in Ktown and the food is always consistent. The katsu is not too thick, not too thin and it's always perfectly crispy! You can also ask for more dressing on the salad if you'd like but it's also good the way it comes (very fresh!). The udon is also good and standard. A little hard to find parking. The servers are always nice and helpful. There's also a call button if needed but we didn't need it.

I came here with a friend and got their curry katsu! It was one of the best I ever had and I'm usually not a curry person. I would reccomend to get the curry sauce on the side so the katsu is still crispy. Portions are very filling and the service was great. Would definitely return when I'm in the mood for katsu-- one of the best places for katsu that I have tried!

처음 식당 안으로 들어가 놀랐다 서버들은 무표정으로 영혼 없이 손님을 대했다 그래서 오히려 내가 큰 소리로 인사를 하였고 서빙 해 줄 때마다 고맙다고 큰 소리로 응대했다 서버들의 무표정한 서비스는 정말 불쾌했다 그러나 서버들의 부적절한 손님 응대의 불쾌감은 그리 오래가지 않았다 왜냐하면 나중에 돈까스가 나왔고 그 돈까스의 황홀한 맛이 나의 모든 부정적 생각을 모두 해체해 버렸기 때문이다 와코의 돈까스 맛은 정말 최고의 돈까스 맛이었고 나중에 아내가 남긴 것까지 모두 다 먹었다 정말 훌륭한 돈까스였다 When I first entered the restaurant, I was surprised. The servers treated the customers with expressionless faces and no soul. So instead, I greeted them loudly and thanked them loudly whenever they served me. The servers' expressionless service was really unpleasant. However, the unpleasantness of the servers' inappropriate customer service did not last long. Because later, Tonkatsu came out and the ecstatic taste of that Tonkatsu dismantled all my negative thoughts. Wako's Tonkatsu tasted really the best Tonkatsu, and I even ate all of the ones my wife had left. It was really great Tonkatsu.

This Wilshire location is closed. Go to their Olympic location. Free parking there. Yelp wants me to say more....

My go-to comfort food! I recently visited their new location and was impressed by the ample space and seating. The food remains delicious, with generous serving portions. Service is prompt and the servers are consistently polite and friendly. Look at these feast!

if you're looking for a good and cheap katsu spot in Ktown def check out Wako 2 locations: - Olympic + Fedora (free parking lot next to the restaurant) - Wilshire (inside the Boiling Crab plaza) What we ordered: - Cheese pork cutlet - Chicken cutlet + udon combo - Yakisoba (chicken and pork included) Personally, I would choose their chicken katsu over their pork katsu because it's more tender, juicy and they give you sooo much more than the pork--no joke, the portion is huge! The salad that comes with the meal is so good because of the yummy dressing and their donkatsu sauce is really good too As much as I like dining in, I also enjoy getting it for togo because I love their takeout boxes! It comes in this cute organized togo box which is packaged so well FYI, just know that miso soup isn't included for togo orders... not sure why

PROS: - Some damn good katsu. It comes out nice and crispy with good portions. - The side dishes i.e. salad, radish kimchi, and pickled jalapeno works so well with the katsu. - The prices are decent. CONS: - Parking is virtually non existent here during peak hours. - The employees here don't seem to care much about their customers. They never came by to ask if we needed anything during the meal. There was maybe 2 other parties inside. FINAL THOUGHTS: - The food is delicious but train your employees.

Most delicious Tom katsu Definitely. Returning again. Just like the reviews mentioned the service. Servers definitely need training on what customer service is all about Here's a really good tip for your establishment Customer service is everything. At least. Train your servers to say hello. And have them come around to the customers in a timely manner And ask if they're ready to order or if they have any questions Simple thing like that could make a world of a difference

Amazing beef culture and eel rice! Amazing service. Free Parking available too!! Had udon soup and it is delicious!

Wako is a reliably great Katsu place with many meals large enough for two people to share. The cutlet in the Katsudon is added on top of the eggs and onions instead of being poached with them so it stays very crisp. Be sure to try the classic Tonkatsu options, it's so satisfying to grind your own sesame seeds with the little mortar and pestle:) Service even during weekend dinner was fast and friendly.

Second time coming to this place and didn't disappoint. Love the katsu with udon soup. Great portion for sharing. My hubby enjoyed his chicken curry too. Will be back!

Ordered pork cutlet called Donkatsu. Food was good, and I liked the marinated/pickled jalapeños. You get a small bowl of sesame seeds to grind and they pour the katsu sauce on it. Server was attentive. Overall it was good.

I visit Wako every few years, and they always deliver. The katsu is juicy and fried just right; this means the breading is not too hard and the meat is not a jerky. I want the say the salad dressing looks different, but it still taste nice and refreshing. The potato ball was just a ball of delight~ If you check in, I believe this spot give you a free potato ball ;) I used to get the udon with the katsu, but I felt adventurous this year and went with the soba. Very refreshing and delightful with the broth that's served on the side. Usually, you want to eat soba pretty quickly because the noodles might stick to each other, but the soba noodles were still loose enough throughout the entire meal. Service was quick and prompt. The servers and waiters are making consistent rounds and the restaurant is designed to make it easy for them to make laps. Personally, I think the restaurant design was well thought out and promotes better service than your typical restaurant. A lot of the aesthetics are made out of wood. During the day, you can tell it attracts a lot of light and helps you appreciate the sun. At night, I can already tell it can give an authentic or an even slightly romantic vibe.

If you face the building, there should be parking on the left side or right next to a shop called Moe Moe alternation. I love coming here for my solo dates, it's a nice place to eat at because the ambiance is so relaxing and satisfying. I feel safe eating here alone ((-: My friend ordered that chicken Katsu and his portions were huge !! I was happy with my pork Katsu still :D the prices make my bank account happy !! Thank you for the barely teas The service is pleasant

Wako Donkatsu has a very charming interior and plenty of seating inside. It's not too loud inside so you can enjoy a relaxing meal without much distraction. There is free parking in a nearby lot to the left of the restaurant, if you're facing the entrance. Follow the small sign! Service was prompt and courteous. I ordered the Combination Cutlet (Pork and Soba Noodle combo) and was surprised at how big the portions were! They also give you a bowl of sesame seeds that you grind down and later they fill with katsu sauce. The sauce is delicious! The combo came with pork katsu, potato croquette, fried shrimp , and side of salad along with the soba noodles. The pork katsu was crunchy outside, juicy inside, and not too thin. I really enjoyed the meal and will come back to try other items soon!

This place was so amazing! The portions are huge and the service is great, the overall vibe of the interior is nice as well. Definitely recommend if you like Tonkatsu/Donkatsu. This location (and the other one too!) are in convenient parts of Ktown where there's many markets/ cafes nearby. Came here for lunch on a Sunday and was seated immediately, I shared a Cheese Tonkatsu with a friend, and my other two friends ordered the Tonkatsu + Udon set. You're first given some sesame seeds in a mini grater to make your own sauce! The Cheese Tonkatsu was crispy on the outside and decadent on the inside, the salad with a citrusy dressing was great to cut some of the heaviness. I love that the orders came with a little banchan as well. For the Katsu + Udon set, you can a few different kinds of fried meats (shrimp, croquette, pork I believe) and udon, which I thought was a great deal! The portions were huge here, you can probably make 2 meals out of your order-- even though I shared with my friend, I was so full and satisfied leaving the restaurant.

4.5/5 - Super comforting Korean-run Japanese katsu / cutlet curry restaurant. Solid food, kind service, a must-try. You can tell this is a long-standing establishment given the (well-worn) well-loved cushions many butts have sat upon. Temper the expectations and you'd enjoy the charm of their decor. Food is tasty and portions are generous: - Pork Cutlet Sandwich $16.95 - Curry Chicken Cutlet $18.95 The miso soup was probably made with doenjang (Korean soybean paste) versus miso paste so some may not like it as much. The pork katsu was good, tender, but the sweet and sour sauce on it was slightly too reminiscent of ketchup for me. The chicken cutlet was very good (perhaps better than the pork) and you get two pieces for the entree. The curry sauce was the right vicsocity, packed with flavor (including mushrooms!) I was slightly disappointed by how soggy the cutlets were given they smothered in sauce--definitely will ask for them separately next time. They share the parking lot with other businesses slightly east on Olympic.

The moment we swung the door open my friends and I instantly knew that we came to the right place. The servers greeted us with such grace and accommodated our large party without complaint. The decor and the overall placement of every item seemed so meticulous and intentional. We were also served some tasty flavored water that I couldn't get enough of!! The feng shui of the room and the flavored water immediately put me in the mood for some tasty donkasu. I was quite famished after a morning of praising the lord, so I ordered the udon combo with chicken cutlet. I expected it to be at least enough food to feed a pair of growing twins, but when they brought the food I was absolutely blown away!! The portion was so big it could definitely feed triplets at least!!! Everything was super delicious and cooked to perfection! Overall, great experience and will be back again!! Kamsahamnida!!

Been coming here for years at least 10? I used to dine in before covid and occasionally do from time to time but usually to go the order. I recommend the udon katsu combo to get the extra shrimp and potato ball tempura and udon which is a nice break for your palate to eat with your katsu. Their sauce is really delicious, tangy and sweet, and their katsu is always delicious. I've tried their fish, pork, chicken katsu but will always recommend their pork one, just a classic. The katsu here is delicious for their breading and sauce more than the meat itself in my opinion. Also ask for extra pickled jalapeno sooo good, cuts the grease a bit. Service is speedy and the times I've dined here they were pleasant. Restaurant itself is on the older side since it's been around for over a decade. Clean, lots of seating.

It's been awhile since I had some good chicken cutlet. I was staying at the hotel Aventura next door this was very convenient and worth it. Get it with the curry on the side and dip as needed. The breading is very good here so enjoy that!

The fried pork cutlets are delicious. I hadnt been here for years and I was glad to see that the taste and quality is still really good. The breading is so crispy and the portions are very big. My favorite part is making the dipping sauce starting with grinding the sesame seeds in a mortar and pestle. It's fun to do while you wait for our meal. The meal is heavy since it's deep fried, so you may want some tea or soup to balance it out.

The inside was really cute and clean. The waiter was attentive towards us. There are a good amount of options on their menu depending on how hungry you are. We got the pork cutlet combo with soba noodles and that was SO good. The pork cutlet was perfectly crispy and not overcooked/dry at all. They also give you some sesame seeds in a small bowl to crush and when it's all crushed up, then come to fill it with the brown katsu sauce! Parking: there's a small (free!) parking lot that's detached about 1-2 stores over. Just follow the arrow on the restaurant storefront. Drive slowly though, otherwise you'll miss it.

Been here a few times. This is our go-to restaurant when we want to have some pork katsu! Parking is also convenient around the corner.

My favorite katsu place in ktown! I always order chicken katsu and it is so good and large in portion as well. Wako never disappointments me. Ive been coming to this place since college and the taste hasn't changed. I prefer this olympic location much more than the one on wilshire as this location has free parking space.

When my Koreatown-native friend took me to this unassuming location with an almost grungy-seeming exterior, my expectations were low until he mentioned it was one of the best and most dependable katsu places in LA. After that, I was excited to see what lay within. Stepping inside, the bustling streets of Ktown faded behind me as I was immersed in a cozy and warm Japanese-inspired interior with bustling waiters and the hum of satisfied guests. We sat ourselves at a table where my friend promptly told me that the cold soba with their katsu- pork or chicken- was his go-to, and so I went with his suggestion, with pork being my preference, along with a bowl of rice. While we waited for the food, we were served a pitcher of refreshingly cold roasted barley tea, known as boricha. Light and with sweet nutty notes, it was a perfect contrast to the fried food we were about to eat. They waiter also gave each of us a small ceramic bowl with ridge on the side, filled with sesame seeds and a small wooden grinder. My friend told me to grind the sesame seeds as to release the flavor of freshly toasted seeds, as the waiter would soon come around to pour katsu sauce into the bowls. It was a unique and interactive experience as we waited! The food came in no time at all, and my eyes were met by a feast. The katsu itself was hot, lightly breaded, and didn't have my katsu pet peeve of batter hanging off the meat. The pork itself was tender and the katsu sauce + crushed sesame combo offered a sweeter taste than I was accustomed to with katsu (I compared it to a refined, more complex ketchup), but the flavors worked well. The batter was perfectly crisp, and remained so for the entire meal. Despite being accompanying fried elements, the shrimp and potato ball were and well-seasoned delicious in their own right as well. The rice and shredded cabbage were great complements to the katsu throughout the meal. Despite katsu having a reputation for being a very heavy meal, the accompanying components to the meal helped lighten the overall dining experience. Beyond the barley tea and sweet katsu sauce, the soba noodles were a perfect reprieve from the fried katsu. Cold, perfectly cooked, and to be dipped in a mild ponzu sauce before eating, it contrasted the hot katsu perfectly. The radish kimchi offered an extra layer of palate cleansing, and the pickled peppers were a tasty treat for spicy food lovers. Notes for first-time eaters: - dip each bite of soba noodles into the ponzu sauce before consuming - the katsu is served on a small metal rack to preserve its crispyness - do NOT fade the barley tea - make sure to mix the ground sesame seeds in with the katsu to incorporate its nuttiness into the sweeter katsu sauce Overall, great dining experience, with excellent food, massive portions (all of the above cost only ~$25 and was a belly-bustingly large meal), and nice ambiance. I will definitely be returning and recommending this place to friends!