Tonkatsu Taro
『Suzuki fresh fishAfter drinking beer and sake in the morning, we finished the meal with a meal.
『Suzuki fresh fish” located a few minutes walk from ``Tonkatsu Taro”.
Niigata's specialty ``Sauce cutlet bowl” is the birthplace of this restaurant, and has also won the Michelin Bib Gourmand.
I think it's common to have katsudon topped with egg, but tarekatsudon is a type of katsudon without egg, where the cutlet is dipped in a thin soy sauce-based sauce.
It is also different from Komagane's famous sauce cutlet bowl in Nagano Prefecture, where a cutlet soaked in sauce is placed on top of rice and cabbage.
The store opens at 11:30, so I arrived just around 11:30.
The place was full with first-round customers who had lined up before the store opened, and we had to wait about 20 minutes to enter.
4 pieces cutlet bowl
A regular katsudon has 5 cutlets and 250g of rice, which is quite large.
This time, there are 4 cutlets and 180g of rice, which is a little smaller.4 pieces cutlet bowl” I asked.
If you're a woman and plan on eating while walking, you may want to go for a mini cutlet bowl with three cutlets and 140g of rice, which is slightly smaller.
It was served in about 10 minutes.
cutlet
There is still some crispy texture left in the batter.
Since it is made from thigh meat, it has a light taste.
Since it's lean meat, it may seem tough, but the cutlet is so thin that it's not hard to bite into, and it goes through your teeth easily.
As you chew, you can really feel the flavor of the meat.
The sweet and spicy soy sauce goes well with the cutlet and rice.
rice
The rice itself is cooked fluffy and soft.
It goes well with the sauce, but I think the quality of the rice itself is also high.
Pickled radish
By the way, pickled radish is placed on the seat when you are guided into the store.
It's just regular takuan, but it's perfect for resting your chopsticks.
Impressions
It's been a while since I ate tarekatsudon, and it was still delicious.
I don't eat katsudon very often, but I think it's good to eat tarekatsudon once in a while.
I'm from Niigata, but to be honest, I personally prefer katsudon topped with egg. .
It doesn't really bother Niigata residents (maybe it's just me!?), but surprisingly many people from outside the prefecture do.
This time I visited the store in Furumachi, but it's about a 30 minute walk or bus ride from Niigata Station, so I can't say it's easily accessible.
However, the second Tonkatsu Taro store opened in Niigata Station on April 24, 2024, so you can now enjoy Tare Katsudon without visiting Furumachi.
Speaking of sauce cutlet bowl restaurants, besides Tonkatsu Taro, there is Tonkatsu Masa-chan, and near Niigata Station there isTonkatsu Masa-chan Niigata Station Store” is there.
It's a little different depending on the store, so I think it's interesting to try and compare, although the portions are large.
You can also take it out, so I think it would be a good idea to eat it on the Shinkansen on your way home instead of an ekiben.
When you visit Niigata, if you have the stomach, please try it.
