572357 Fri Nov 14 16:31:44 -0800 2008 26 45 Japan 0 4174724 Serving different varieties of pork including premium Spanish Iberico pork Anyone been? Anyone interesting in going? http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fg20070601rs.html Fri Nov 14 16:31:44 -0800 2008 234190 BaronDestructo 1 4178822 I read about this place quite awhile ago and have been interested ever since, but haven't managed to make the plans yet. I hope to make it there someday soon. Sun Nov 16 19:33:59 -0800 2008 4174724 101545 lost squirrel 2 4897595 Better late than never. I did end up going. My report: "I had lunch at Butagumi, a restaurant that specializes in tonkatsu – deep fried pork (by the way, kudos to my cab driver who ended up negotiating an impossibly narrow side street to get me there). The menu consists of some 20 different varieties of pork, each with its own little write-up. For instance, there’s the Nakijin-Agoo-buta from Okinawa that was at one time an endangered species, the Eishow-ton fromm Kanagawa in central Japan whose ancestry can be traced back to China and is 80% sweet fat, and, of course, the Bimei-ton which is described as light-tasting. But I was there for the heavy hitter, Spain’s famed Iberico pork. Like Kobe beef, the meat practically melted in my mouth. Of course, like Kobe beef, the meat was incredibly well-marbled." By the way, they have an English menu. Tue Jul 28 12:27:00 -0700 2009 4178822 234190 BaronDestructo 3 4899006 Thanks Baron, I still haven't made it myself. Maybe sometime this summer I'll manage. Do you recommend the Iberico? Tue Jul 28 20:34:38 -0700 2009 4897595 101545 lost squirrel 4 4899049 Yes, the Iberico was excellent. If I dig up the menu, I'll post it. Tue Jul 28 21:01:19 -0700 2009 4899006 234190 BaronDestructo 1 4899531 Well, after reading about this restaurant in a number of places, decided to go for dinner. It was very good. Basically takes the humble tonkatsu and all the trimmings (sauce, mustard, cabbage, soup, rice) and elevates them to the next level of craft food. We had the sampler set, which comes with five kinds of tonkatsu. Each of the pieces was noticeably different, although if you were to ask me which one I would order as a full meal, I really couldn't tell you. More expensive that the regular places, but at the price point of a kurobuta dinner at Maisen, so reasonable for the quality and quantity. Service was very good, and seems to be a family-run place, which is a positive. I still think Tonki is the baseline by which all other tonkatsu needs to be evaluated, and it is hard to tell (very different in every way), but superior to both Hirata Bokujo and Maisen. Wed Jul 29 06:22:34 -0700 2009 4174724 161889 Uncle Yabai 2 4899721 I also tried Maisen while I was strolling through Shibuya and enjoyed it as well, although I preferred Butagmi (looking back, I think the homier outside also added to my overall enjoyment although I did take advantage of Maisen's more flexible hours to make a return visit there). Didn't try Tonki but will certainly put it on my "To Get To" list for this winter's trip. Along with the 45 other restaurants I've narrowed it down to from my original 96. Wed Jul 29 07:17:42 -0700 2009 4899531 234190 BaronDestructo 2 4902498 Does anyone have thoughts on Kimukatsu? I liked it the couple times I've been. If you're going to talk about fancy tonkatsu, their mille-feuille katsu fully qualifies. They take thinly layered pork, sandwich some savory filling in it (garlic, pepper, yuzu kosho, cheese...), and there's your tonkatsu. http://www.kimukatsu.com/index.html Thu Jul 30 04:02:31 -0700 2009 4899531 1097852 baroo 3 4902862 Arrrgh! You guys are killing me! I'm only in town for two weeks this winter and am struggling to trim down my list of places to eat. But ever time I eliminate one restaurant, you guys come up with two more intriguing finds. The least you could do is help me eat my way through them all when I get there. Thu Jul 30 07:18:13 -0700 2009 4902498 234190 BaronDestructo 3 4905431 waah waah weeh wooh, looks nice! http://www.kimukatsu.com/kimukatsu_menu.html Thu Jul 30 21:52:20 -0700 2009 4902498 101545 lost squirrel 3 4929232 It was OK the couple times I tried it. Don't know which branch you are talking about but the one in Ebisu sells their katsu as sandwiches and bentos out of a little window next to the entrance. Someone who wants just a taste could just pick up the sandoichi for 600 yen or so. Sat Aug 08 15:21:08 -0700 2009 4902498 110812 kamiosaki 3 4931120 I like Kimukatsu, but I see it as a different animal from tonkatsu. Kimukatsu's katsudon really rocks! But I think it's only available at lunch (at least it was the last time I was there--a couple of years ago). Sun Aug 09 13:51:19 -0700 2009 4902498 55178 prasantrin 4 4932226 The post on "Butagumi" is very tempting... If they serve it with "akamiso shiru", I will defenitely go, I like the matching of taste. Perhaps this month, I will try it and come back on the post Mon Aug 10 00:47:07 -0700 2009 4931120 1082452 Ninisix 5 4932593 They do, actually. Akamiso shiru is what is served. Mon Aug 10 07:05:19 -0700 2009 4932226 161889 Uncle Yabai 6 4948236 Uncle Yabai, thank-you. I went there for lunch and it was amazing to eat 5 piece of Tonkatsu and want for some more, even in full summer. The staff, in fact the "chef" explanation, with the atmosphere of the place is very charming. The menu was served with "aka miso", rice, sliced cabbage with fruits ponsu sauce and the 3 pieces of pork loin including the "iberico" and 2 pieces of filet. An extreme of "tonkatsu" and the definition of enjoyment of it are joined in this place. Sat Aug 15 01:28:19 -0700 2009 4932593 1082452 Ninisix 2 4978632 Well, figured it was time for another round. This time, I was basically blown away. Had Eishoo-ton from Kanagawa, which was 80% fat, but not chewy at all, almost like slurping very tasty noodles. But the real winner was an Iberico ham menchikatsu. This thing was out of this world. Who could have thought that a ground up deep-fried pork burger patty could taste so heavenly? Wed Aug 26 05:32:14 -0700 2009 4899531 161889 Uncle Yabai 3 4979233 Hi Uncle Yabai, Kuyashii~! (^_^) Thanks for the great report back. I'm so jealous that I can't be there right now trying it. Sound delicious. :) So would you say ichiban wa Butagumi, niban wa Tonki, sanban wa Maisen? Thanks. Wed Aug 26 08:54:32 -0700 2009 4978632 113442 exilekiss 4 4979347 I'd say so, but the issue is that Butagumi is a different animal from the other two. Its kind of comparing the 11 Madison Park hot dog cart to the usual offerings... Wed Aug 26 09:25:12 -0700 2009 4979233 161889 Uncle Yabai 3 4981594 Where was my phone call? I'm there next time for sure. Wed Aug 26 22:03:59 -0700 2009 4978632 101545 lost squirrel 4 4981799 Ar! Sorry about that, lah. Shall we set up a date? Let's bring Asomaniac along, he's been MIA too long. On Tuesday went to the food truck around 1:00 PM, but the damn chicken dude was already out. But the Banh Mi dude still had sandos. Go figure. Thu Aug 27 03:40:37 -0700 2009 4981594 161889 Uncle Yabai 5 4982843 What? Banh Mi dude? Where, please? Thu Aug 27 10:06:16 -0700 2009 4981799 12676 Robb S 6 4984190 Near our respective offices, there are a few lunch trucks that show up. One is the Chiyoda Platform Village in Kanda and the other is behind the Sankei Building (?) in Otemachi. On Tuesdays in Otemachi, you can get pretty good rotisserie chicken with herbed rice or roasted potatoes or both. Also on Tuesday is a truck called Elephant Box, which has 400yen bahn mi sandos along with pho and other thai specialties. The 'vietnam sandwiches' are pretty good for 400yen, although a little light on ingredients. EDIT:: Elephant Box is at the Forum neo-stall village on Thursdays as well: http://www.w-tokyodo.com/neostall/shop/index.html Thu Aug 27 17:13:28 -0700 2009 4982843 101545 lost squirrel 7 4984896 Ah, thanks. I guess I'm not in Otemachi very often at lunchtime.... Fri Aug 28 02:05:11 -0700 2009 4984190 12676 Robb S 1 4979360 Is a reservation 2-3 days in advance is enough? Or have to be long before that? BTW, here are Kimukatsu pictures. What I like about them is that they are very juicyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. Yum =D~~~ Wed Aug 26 09:28:01 -0700 2009 4174724 260284 CPMK 2 4981801 I usually just show up, place fills up, but have yet to wait for more than a few minutes. Thu Aug 27 03:42:04 -0700 2009 4979360 161889 Uncle Yabai 3 4982744 Thanks, Yabai jisan. Will go there in Late Sept. Can not wait. ( >_< ) Thu Aug 27 09:34:54 -0700 2009 4981801 260284 CPMK 4 4984195 Butagumi was just mentioned in this WSJ article yesterday: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125134699586862865.html Thu Aug 27 17:14:22 -0700 2009 4982744 101545 lost squirrel