Tontei

When choosing what to pair with tonkatsu, a mixed set meal offers plenty of possibilities. At Tontei, you can combine a main cut, such as fillet or loin, with two items from options including fried prawns, crab croquettes and seasonal fried dishes. The loin cutlet mixed set comes with rice, red miso soup and pickles. Choose fried prawns and fried oysters for a seafood pairing, or add a crab croquette for a change of texture and flavour; first pick the cutlet at the heart of the meal, then decide on the combination.

Diners have described the loin cutlet as an old-fashioned style, with a crisp, light coating and a thorough fry. You can coat each bite in tonkatsu sauce and eat it with rice, or switch to tangy grated daikon with ponzu for a different finish. One diner who ordered the fillet mixed set paired its tender fillet cutlet with fried prawns and a crab croquette, and singled out the creamy croquette as especially memorable.

The winter fried-oyster set comes with six oysters, rice, red miso soup and pickles. A diner who ordered it described a crisp coating of coarse breadcrumbs and the oysters’ milky flavour, enjoying them with either tartar sauce or grated daikon with ponzu. Another comment noted that the red miso soup had a pronounced sansho pepper flavour—a distinctive accompaniment between bites of fried food.

The counter makes dining solo comfortable. Tontei serves both lunch and dinner, but does not accept reservations. Payment is cash only, so come prepared.