In December 2022, I visited the popular original "katsumeshi" restaurant called "Kadoten," which is known for its traditional Japanese pub cuisine served by the formidable head chef (nicknamed Haru-chan). While it is considered the original, katsumeshi was actually first served by Haru-chan when he was younger at a different restaurant that no longer exists, so he has carried on the tradition. When I go there, I usually order the 2,000 yen chef's choice meal, but aside from that, the head chef also intuitively serves dishes based on what he thinks I would like, so it's unclear which dishes are part of the set course and which are not this time around (laughs). The dishes included: - Simmered flounder - Sliced flounder - Cod liver stew - Tachi vinegar dish - Sashimi platter - Simmered cod head - Pork cutlet The simmered fish dish here is excellent! The broth has a sweet yet elegant flavor, embodying the essence of traditional Japanese pub cuisine. I praised the simmered dish, so the simmered cod head also made an appearance. By the way, this is not the deep-sea fish love carp (laughs). The sliced flounder had a strong flavor as usual, but perhaps the marinating period was shorter here? It was very easy to eat. The tachi vinegar dish was delicious, and I heard that when they have fresh tachi available, they also serve tachi sashimi, which I would love to try sometime! I also ordered the pork cutlet this time, opting for a thick cut (350g), and it seemed like they changed the origin to Tokachi. The juiciness and sweetness of the fatty meat were exceptional! However, the only downside was that the breadcrumbs used were the fine ones for katsumeshi, so that was a bit disappointing. Nevertheless, the head chef understands this limitation and uses fine breadcrumbs for frying, so it's understandable. Thank you, head chef, for your hospitality this year, and I look forward to seeing what delicious dishes you will treat me to next year!

I wanted to have a quick dinner for 1000 yen and decided to explore the area. I ended up choosing this restaurant in the drinking district of Urakawa. Although all the seafood dishes looked delicious, I opted for the specialty dish, katsumeshi. The master recommended the large portion, which I ordered. The dish arrived relatively quickly, accompanied by miso soup and pickles. The katsumeshi consisted of a generous amount of rice topped with a thin piece and a half of breaded pork cutlet, drizzled with a sweet and savory sauce and sprinkled with nori. While I wish the meat was a bit thicker, I enjoyed the flavors of the dish. The rich sauce made the rice very appetizing, and the nori added a nice touch. It was delicious!

At first, I was looking forward to trying the "Matsukawa tsukedon" at a certain restaurant, but unfortunately they were unable to offer it due to the situation with their ingredients from the market. So, I had to shift my focus to Urahoro's soul food, known as "katsumeshi." That's why I visited this place, known as the original. - Original katsumeshi (¥850) The pork cutlet is thinly sliced, but fried crispy and crunchy. It's already seasoned with a soy sauce-based sauce, making it light and quite delicious! The flavor of the nori sprinkled on the coating is a really nice touch. I ordered the regular size, but I could have easily gone for a large serving... I think even women would enjoy eating this without any problem. ( ᴖ ·̫ ᴖ )

I visited this restaurant when I stayed in Urakawa. It seems to be a popular place, as there were groups of people dining and the staff mentioned that it was full the day before. I highly recommend the set menu, which included sashimi, simmered fish, grilled fish, and side dishes for 2,000 yen. The sake was also delicious. This restaurant is said to be the birthplace of Urakawa's famous katsumeshi. I didn't try it this time, so I would like to challenge it next time.

I arrived in Urakawa town after a few hours on a bus from Sapporo. The journey was quite long but comfortable on the high-speed Pegasus bus. Now, the challenge is finding a place to have dinner for the night. There seem to be several izakayas in town, but with no local knowledge, I asked around for recommendations. I ended up going to this restaurant near my accommodation. I ordered the chef's choice set menu (2000 yen) and a beer. The set menu included simmered dishes, grilled dishes, sashimi, and small side dishes, making it a great deal. The sashimi, grilled fish, and simmered dishes were particularly fresh and delicious. I would definitely want to visit this restaurant again when in Urakawa. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I went to Kado-Ten to try the soul food of Urakawa, "katsumeshi." I arrived around 1:00 with no other customers. I sat at the counter and ordered the katsumeshi (regular), but the owner strongly recommended getting the large portion. I gave in to his persistence and got the large portion. The dish arrived in about 10 minutes. It consisted of sweet and savory sauce over rice with chopped seaweed, crispy katsu on top, and a sprinkle of green laver. The sauce was delicious and the rice was very appetizing. It felt healthier than a katsudon. However, it was a bit too much for me towards the end, about two bites worth. The regular size would have been just fine.

Visited Urakawa Town in the Hidaka area of ​​Hokkaido for the first time. The restaurant is said to be the birthplace of "katsumeshi," which is considered the soul food of Urakawa Town. When I heard "katsumeshi," I imagined dishes like the Demi-glace & Cabbage from Kakogawa or the "sauce katsu-don" from Fukui or Gunma Prefecture, but it seems different from those, so I made time to visit. I arrived at 11:50 on a weekday and there were 2 customers already there and 4 more came in later. The exterior of the restaurant is a traditional Japanese house and the atmosphere inside is like a casual Japanese pub. They have a variety of local fish dishes on the menu and also offer takeout. The interior has a wooden counter and a raised seating area. The owner was running the place alone. I ordered the "original katsumeshi (850 yen)." They don't allow photos of the menu due to past issues. While waiting, I was surprised by the size of the grilled hokke fish ordered by the person next to me for the daily lunch special, and after about 15 minutes, my katsumeshi arrived. It consisted of thinly fried pork cutlets on rice, topped with a slightly sweet soy-based sauce and nori seaweed. There was chopped seaweed between the cutlets and rice. The bowl is shallow. The cutlets were crispy and tasty. However, honestly, it didn't feel particularly special, and I felt like once was enough. The miso soup with butterbur sprouts and seaweed was delicious. Soul food is often like that, special to locals but just ordinary to others. That's common. It was the case this time. But I do enjoy trying soul food in different places. I believe there are still many soul foods out there that I haven't tried, so I want to continue enjoying them in each place I visit.

I work in Urakawa town! I usually finish work in the morning in Urakawa and then move to Shizunai (Shinhidaka) to have lunch. But recently, I have been working in Urakawa until just past 11 am more often. I used to rush to Shizunai for lunch, but then I realized that it's the same whether I eat lunch in Urakawa or not! So, I decided to have lunch in Urakawa from now on. That's why I chose "Kadoten" restaurant. It seems like an izakaya at night. I chose this place to try the local specialty of Urakawa, "Katsumeshi." I didn't know about this local specialty until I searched on Tabelog. It seems like thinly sliced pork cutlet served with soy sauce-based sauce on rice. I'm not a big fan of pork cutlet with soy sauce, so I opted for "Torikatsumeshi" which is made with chicken, as I love chicken dishes. I ordered a regular size as I thought a large size might be too much. It was ready in about 10 minutes. The dish looked like a snack with crispy chicken and soy sauce-based sauce. The rice portion was not large. I felt it was delicious, but not something I would crave for again. Maybe I'll try a set meal next time!

Upon entering Hokkaido, I had lunch at a place serving katsudon, but unlike the famous Kakogawa katsudon, this one had a soy sauce base with a touch of nori. It was a soy sauce katsudon, a flavor I had never tried before but now find myself craving. The taste was reminiscent of a high-quality, free-range racehorse. Each dish had its own charm, much like an abandoned railway line.

I extended my journey a little further from Sanseki to Urakawa. I had been curious about katsumeshi for a while, so I decided to try it. The aroma of tonkatsu and nori was delightful. The crispy coating of the pork cutlet was excellent. It paired well with the soy-based sauce. It was delicious to try a local specialty dish after a long time.

I was researching what to eat when I came to Urugawa, and I was attracted to the high ratings and the unfamiliar menu item called "Katsumeshi." I decided to order without hesitation. It arrived in about 15 minutes. The appearance is not very appealing, as it is just rice topped with a thin cutlet. The cutlet is so thin that it almost looks like a snack (sorry about that). It is sprinkled with green seaweed on top, and there is nori seaweed underneath the cutlet. The cutlet is already seasoned with sauce, so you don't need to add any additional sauce. I took a bite with mixed feelings about whether it would be delicious or not. The crispy cutlet and flavorful sauce make the rice taste delicious! The double aroma of green seaweed and nori is rich, truly a cutlet rice dish from a port town! The rice is also seasoned with sauce and combined with the aroma of nori, it is delicious on its own. This cutlet rice dish, with its thin crispy cutlet and salty sauce, was a delicious dish that I couldn't quite understand but enjoyed. It was a prime example of B-class gourmet with its simplicity and unique taste. The master had a tough-looking face and a slightly intimidating atmosphere. However, the service was polite, so rest assured. Since it was just after opening and there were few customers, the master was chatting with regular customers about golf. It was a heartwarming scene when a ball on the green passed by, "Stop, stop, stop~!" "It stopped, but..." It was a delightful sight.

I went to eat katsumeshi, which is said to be the soul food of Urakawa. When I sat at the counter, a chubby guy greeted me energetically. I ordered katsumeshi, and the owner asked if I wanted it in a large portion, but I wasn't confident so I asked for a regular portion. The owner seemed a bit disappointed. Later, other customers who came in ordered the large portion, and the owner seemed really happy. I wonder how much he wants people to eat. The taste was as I expected. The oil from the katsu started to get spicy halfway through. There's apparently a large portion for the katsu too, but I could never finish it. But it was delicious in a regular portion.

Lunch at Urakawa Work - I usually tend to go to a certain ramen shop for lunch, but this time I decided to try something different. I came across Urakawa's soul food and knew I had to try it! I arrived at 11:30 am and was the second customer, with two women in front of me. More customers kept coming in, and the chef seemed to be handling everything alone and looked very busy. I ordered the katsumeshi and had to wait about 20 minutes since they had just opened. Finally, it was time to eat. First, I tried the miso soup, which was delicious. Now, onto the katsumeshi... Wow! It was light and not overpowering. The soy-based sweet and savory sauce on top made it easy to eat. The rice was firm, and the overall dish was not too heavy. I decided to sprinkle some shichimi (Japanese seven-spice) on top halfway through, and it was not the store-bought kind but had a strong sansho pepper flavor, which I really liked. It paired well with the dish. Before I knew it, I had finished every last bite. It was so delicious! The restaurant also had raised seating, making it suitable for families with children. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

JR Urakawa Station is a 13-minute walk away. There is a shop in a small alley near Hotel East. The interior is a Japanese-style izakaya with counter seats and raised tatami seating. I visited for lunch on a weekday. I arrived before 12 o'clock and there were already 3 groups of 4 customers. More customers arrived afterwards. On this day, I ordered the soul food of Urakawa-cho, "katsudon" for 850 yen. It looks like a katsudon without the egg topping, but the breading also has flavor, creating a great synergy with the pork. The chopped seaweed is a nice accent. The katsu portion is also very generous. Looking at the menu, it seems even better for dinner. I would like to visit again!

My spouse and I had lunch at "Kado Ten" in Urakawa during our sightseeing trip in the Hidaka region. This place is said to be the origin of Urakawa's B-grade gourmet dish called "katsumeshi". You can park in the empty lot behind the restaurant. The exterior and interior give off a pub-like vibe. We arrived around 11:30 am on a weekday, so we were the first customers. While the set meals looked tempting, I decided to order the "katsumeshi" for 850 yen. It took about 10 to 15 minutes for them to fry it after ordering. The dish consisted of thin pork cutlets on rice, topped with a soy sauce-based sauce and sprinkled with seaweed. The sweet sauce, pork cutlets, and rice complemented each other well, making it easy to keep eating. It came with miso soup and pickles. The pork cutlets were not greasy, making it appealing to female customers as well. For 850 yen, the quality was great. I felt it was a good value for money. Thank you for the meal.

On this day off, I met up with a former colleague who works in Urakawa to have lunch together. Since I had been tasked by SR400 to review the famous Urakawa katsumeshi, we decided to visit the original store, Kakutensan. We arrived just before noon and there were no other customers. We were seated at the counter and ordered the katsumeshi (large portion). The kitchen in front of us was busy preparing the pork cutlets, coating them in batter, and frying them, while another staff member was busy plating the rice, pouring sauce over it, and adding nori on top. The cutlets were placed on top of the rice, drizzled with more sauce, and served to us. Other customers who came in after us also ordered the katsumeshi, and I noticed that each dish was meticulously prepared to look exactly the same. The cutlets were thin and tender, without being too chewy, and paired perfectly with the batter and sauce. The rice, lightly coated with sauce, complemented the dish well, and the miso soup that arrived a bit later added to the experience. The finely chopped nori added a nice touch to the overall flavor. While my friend wished for a bit more sauce, I personally found the dish to be just right. Urakawa katsumeshi, while similar in concept to tonkatsu with soy-based sauce, had its own unique variations at each store. It was interesting to see the differences in approach and flavors. Urakawa katsumeshi is also available in Kunashifu, and I've heard of a collaboration with a famous convenience store. Perhaps Urakawa katsumeshi should participate in the local gourmet grand prix! SR400, this is what the original store looks like. You should definitely come and try it out! ♬

Urahoro Town in Hokkaido. I had a certain business to attend to and visited after a long time. I took a bath at Misaki Onsen and then went to this restaurant. Have you heard of "katsumeshi"? It's not a katsudon with egg or sauce, but my encounter with "katsumeshi" was inspired by a review from a follower named Henasan. I thought it was delicious and wanted to try it at the original shop someday, but Urahoro Town is far away so I couldn't go there easily. However, this time the timing was right and I went. The atmosphere of the restaurant is like a drinking place with a counter (it operates as an izakaya at night). I asked the owner if I could park in the gravel area next to the restaurant, and he said it was okay. There are two entrances, one with a curtain and one without. I entered through the one without a curtain. The restaurant is run by the owner and an apprentice (if he's not an apprentice, I apologize!). I sat at the counter and looked at the menu. I saw the words "original" katsumeshi. "Original" sounds good, doesn't it? When I asked the owner, he said at first only his shop served it, but after it appeared on TV and in magazines, other shops copied it. I mentioned eating katsumeshi at Harubetsu in Zenibako, and he said, "You took katsumeshi there! When we were doing it here, we only had 'soba and tsubuken'." ... The conversation continued. My companion ordered the daily special (you can choose between meat or fish), which costs 1,100 yen. I ordered the "original" katsumeshi for 850 yen. The cooking process was clearly visible, with the apprentice coating the meat with batter and frying it. The owner confirmed the cooking, cut it crisply, and served it on rice with the secret sauce for katsumeshi. Then he sprinkled seaweed on top and it was done. What a combination. It was fun to watch. The miso soup that comes with it is not shown in the photos. I tried the meat first. It had a crispy texture, and the meat was on the thinner side. The rice with sauce was not too salty and was easy to eat. Maybe I should have ordered a large portion. Is this the taste of the original? Originally, katsumeshi was served as a "staff meal" at an izakaya in Urahoro Town because it was delicious, and it became a menu item due to the request of regular customers who came to the izakaya. And it seems that the owner here worked at that shop. It was not so much that it was delicious, but more like, I could eat this endlessly! The meat was not too strong, easy to eat. It wasn't heavy, and the taste made me keep eating. Ah, that's why it's called a "staff meal"! I was oddly convinced. This was the first time I had eaten it somewhere other than Harubetsu in Otaru, but I guess other shops probably add their own accents to it? It's delicious, but making it the original and the best is probably the key. I'm really glad I came to eat here. However, what was amazing about this restaurant was the daily special ordered by my companion (grilled fish) - salmon smoked belly. Not to say anything bad, but the menu items other than katsumeshi are expensive!! (There must be a reason for this) My companion was not in the mood for katsumeshi, and was hesitating about what to eat. When he asked the owner what the daily special was, he was told that there was meat and fish, and the fish was a salmon smoked belly that cost 850 yen for a single item at night, but here you get it with rice and miso soup and a side dish (namako vinegar) for 1,100 yen. It's a great deal! And that's why he ordered it. The reason my companion, who is not good with salmon, decided to order it was because the owner explained that they had thoroughly processed it to reduce the fishy smell to the utmost and made it a delicious smoked belly. The owner himself is not good with the fishy smell of salmon, so he said that he made sure to process it thoroughly so that even those who are not good with it could eat it. I apologize for the long introduction, but when I tasted it, I thought, "Oh, this is delicious." It's an exquisite dish that can be enjoyed as a side dish for sake or rice. The fishy smell was almost gone due to the processing, and the fatty part had an elegant aroma, which was really good.

This is my third visit to this restaurant. I tried the famous dish of Urakawa, katsumeshi. When I first tried it, it just seemed like a soy sauce version of sauce katsudon, but every time I come nearby, I feel like eating it again. It's a mysterious menu that everyone loves, with fried meat, rice, seaweed, and sweet and salty sauce all mixed together! The pork is thinly sliced and lightly fried with a crispy coating, seasoned lightly with salt and easy to eat. I wonder if it's made from Hidaka whey-fed pork? It's a small bowl, but there's quite a bit of rice in it. I opted for the large portion. The price is 850 yen for a regular size, 950 yen for a large size. The chicken katsumeshi is priced the same, but the meat is about twice as thick! The photos and signatures of athletes like Ohtani from his time as a pitcher and wrestler, and Daisuke Miyagawa, were satisfying to see. The soup was a nice touch too. Thank you for the meal! The miso soup was hot though. I will come back again.

In recent years, the tourism team of Urakawa Town has been aggressively promoting the local specialty dish called "katsumeshi" both domestically and internationally. We heard that this place is the original, so our family decided to visit. Of course, we ordered the katsumeshi. There was also a large serving option, but at 35, it was too much for us. Now, the moment of truth, trying the original katsumeshi for the first time, my heart was pounding. It was said to be a tearjerker, but I found myself laughing. When it was brought to our table, I was amazed. The cutlet was sitting on top of the rice! So that's what "katsumeshi" means, cutlet on rice. The mystery was solved. As soon as I took a bite of the cutlet, the seven colors of meat juices trapped inside sparkled like diamonds as they spread in my mouth, the juiciest experience of the 21st century. The meticulously calculated umami flavor felt like the chef was taking control of my taste buds in a fantasy world. The waves of crispy and juicy sensations kept coming, and before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face. I want to go back again.

I went to Urakawa for some reason. Even though I had pork bowl for lunch in Obihiro, I decided to try the local specialty, katsumeshi, in Urakawa. When I looked at the menu, they had pork chops! I was tempted to order them but unfortunately they were sold out, so I ordered the katsumeshi (large portion) for 1600 yen as planned. The visual presentation was as shown in the photo, with two thin pork cutlets. The cutlets were topped with green seaweed. Nori was sprinkled between the cutlets and the rice. It looked like a typical sauce katsu donburi, but the sauce itself was not too thick, not too sweet, and on the lighter side. The amount of rice was extraordinary, and although I managed to finish it, it was quite a challenge. Since the pork chops were sold out, I ordered the chicken chops, which had a similar seasoning. The flavor was not as strong as it looked, with the acidity being well balanced, making it easy to eat and delicious. I would definitely like to try the pork chops next time.

When visiting a town on the Pacific side in 2020, don't you feel like eating seafood? I can't help but want to eat it!! But, well, this time's mission on the journey to Obihiro via the Tenma Kaido was something that couldn't be missed. That is to eat the "katsumeshi" in Urakawa, the soul food there. So, it's "Kadoten" restaurant. It is said to be the birthplace of "katsumeshi". Lunch is until 1:30 pm. I had bread, took a bath, bought yokan, and wandered around, so I ended up being late. I entered the restaurant after 1 pm, and they kindly took my order. Of course, I ordered the "katsumeshi". I had it in a large portion because I heard that the regular portion is a bit small. The "katsumeshi" (large portion) costs 950 yen. The thinly fried cutlet and soy sauce-based sauce go perfectly together! Oh, I see. If the cutlet is not thin, it would ruin the texture. And the seaweed on top of the rice is essential. It adds a nice accent. Urakawa's "katsumeshi" is so delicious!