浜勝西新宿店

I love Tonkatsu. There definitely is something different about it. Texture wise, it’s crispy and crunchy. Taste wise, it’s just chewy deliciousness. That is, until I arrived in Japan and visited Hamakatsu. The tonkatsu here were airy, not dense. It is crispy and definitely not chewy. I could probably eat 5 of these easily but I would be very poor aftewards.
I do have to note, this review goes way back in 2007 when I was here so it might not reflect this specific location. During that time, the cost for a plate of Tonkatsu with all you can eat rice was about $ 20 USD. You get your usual tonkatsu, gohan, some tsukemono, some sesame, and some shredded cabbage. Something like this would cost maybe ½ the price (and still is) in the US. However, you would never get anything texure wise like this in the US. (Well, maybe except when you’re in Hawaii and go to Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin)
The location I visited was on the lowel level of a shop. This might not be the exact location due to time but both shops are in the Shinjuku area.
It’s funny when we checked into our hotel, we asked the bellboy where he could recommend a tonkatsu restaurant and he modestly told us that he couldn’t afford tonkatsu. Yes, it’s on the expensive side but it’s an experience that all should try when you’re from the states.