Honolulu, HI
Established in Tokyo in 1927, Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu in Waikiki is their first location outside of Japan. They use premium Black Line and Berkshire pork, original breadcrumbs, and tonkatsu sauce specially formulated by their founder.
The location is off of a beach walk and has a modest exterior featuring their purple branding. Their interior is also lowkey and casual.
A visit to Ginza Bairin Tonkatsu was on our list specifically to compare to Katsu San in Canada. Their offerings didn’t disappoint.
The “Specialty Kurobuta Pork Loin Katsu” was some of the most tender pork katsu we’ve ever had. The piece of meat was thick, but buttery soft and easily bit into. The breadcrumbs were light, crunchy, and fried to perfection.
I also really enjoyed the shrimp katsu plate that featured some of the largest shrimp I’ve eaten.
A unique experience is that they initially give you a small bowl with a pestle to grind roasted sesame seeds to which their house made tonkatsu sauce is added. The sauce is tangy and delicious.
I highly recommend making reservations. We made reservations upon their opening time and the restaurant fills up with tourists and locals working in the area.
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Katsu San – Canada
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