Katsu pork is a popular Japanese dish that consists of a breaded and deep-fried katsu pork cutlet. The word “katsu” is derived from the Japanese word “katsuretsu,” which means “cutlet.” To make katsu pork, a boneless pork chop is pounded to a thin, even thickness to allow the meat fibers to relax and make the Japanese-style pork cutlet more tender, then coated with flour, egg, and panko breadcrumbs before being deep-fried until golden brown and crispy. The end result is a delicately tender and juicy pork cutlet with a crunchy exterior. Look below for just how amazing this Taiwan pork cutlet was from Katsu 富士豬排 (Facebook page linked here).
What is Katsu pork cutlet?
Katsu pork cutlet is a Japanese dish made from a thin pork cutlet that is breaded and deep-fried until crispy. It is typically served with rice, shredded cabbage, and a sweet and savory sauce.
What type of pork is used for Katsu pork cutlet?
Katsu pork cutlet is typically made with pork loin or pork tenderloin, which are both lean and tender cuts of meat that are well-suited for breading and frying.
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We all know how good Taiwan is for Japanese cuisine. You can pretty much find any type of Japanese food craving that you might be having, right here in Taipei. Whether that is some ramen, sushi, BBQ, or this amazing Katsu at Katsu 富士豬排 とんかつ富士.
Located just north of Taipei Arena MRT station, this Japanese-style pork cutlet is going to really impress you.
Katsu 富士豬排 とんかつ富士’s Menu
The menu is helpful in the sense that the pictures are really clear. Sometimes with Japanese cuisine in restaurants, you’ll find the menu to have a really complex translation of the Japanese in Chinese, which makes for a bit of a head-scratcher. Alas, not here.
Anything entitled 豬排 zhū pái is related to their Katsu pork Japanese-style pork cutlet.
Anything that says 炸蝦 zhà xiā is related to their deep-fried shrimp
The rest of the menu is fairly straightforward here. You’ll find deep-fried deliciousness, you’ll also find some braised pork cutlet, and also some pork cutlet that has been deep fried and then left to bubble away on a cast iron bowl plate then topped with egg.
How to order
So when you are ready to order, scan the QR code and follow the on-screen ordering system. It is also identical to the menu above, and it automatically registers your table number. As soon as you have put your order in, one of the staff will confirm the order with you, and then you can wait in anticipation for your meal to be deep-fried to goodness.
On the table you will find some of the pork cutlet sauce (left), and then your choice of either a fruity vinegar-based sauce in the middle or a sesame-based sauce on the right. Those 2 sauces are for your thinly shredded cabbage that will come with your meal – I always go for the sesame-based sauce, personally.
If you have ordered the deep-fried Japanese-style pork cutlet, then you’ll get a bowl of sesame seeds and a wooden stirrer. Start by grinding up the sesame seeds and add as much of the pork cutlet sauce as you like for the consistency you are looking for. I go more on the thicker side as I want it to coat the pork, not run off by being too thin.
富士豬排套餐 House special deep-fried Katsu Pork $289
So this is how the set arrives at your table: rice, miso soup, 2 sides, and the incredibly delicate deep-fried pork cutlet. It took me quite a lot to not just dig in right away. But – the camera eats first, I guess….
Look at how juicy the pork is right there. How good is that? Notice the crunchy skin of the batter and how it sticks to the pink pork? Wow. Paired with that sauce, it really just works on every, single level.
Everything about this was awesome. I often have a few bites of deep-fried food like this and then get fed up pretty quickly as all I can taste is the oil and grease, which puts me off. But, not here. The crispy batter surrounding the pork is perfect, and barely greasy at all. Any excess grease or oil that could have been there immediately falls through the grates of the metal stand that it is on – great news!
腰内肉豬排煮套餐 Deep-fried pork cutlet cooked with egg $339
The same sides as above, it comes smelling awesome and slightly bubbling, too!
I was initially a little disappointed with how it looked when comparing it to the Katsu pork from above, but in flavour it was matching the Katsu punch for punch. The delicate flavour of the pork still comes through even though it has been deep-fried and left to bubble away in this slightly sweet, yet slightly salty sauce. The juicy pork and the soggy yet weirdly crunchy batter work wonderfully with the runny egg and sauce mixture and have this umami taste in your mouth that just makes you go back for more and more.
I usually don’t really go in for soup, but occasionally I get surprised by a rather bland-looking soup – this was one of those times. I would have gladly taken a second bowl of this! Deep miso flavours contained sweet onions and delicate chunks of potato. Delicious.
The bottom line
Is it worth it? It is, yes. It’s slightly on the pricier side compared to some others in the area, but it is absolutely worth it.
Do you recommend anywhere else for a good Taiwan pork cutlet? Saboten near SYS is pretty good, and it’s all-you-can-eat shredded cabbage, too!