It was a weekday. After a quick stop at the office, I thought about having dinner on my way home, so I headed to Harajuku's Harakado, the reception of FAMiRES. This time, I was not visiting FAMiRES but rather PRETTY PORK FACTORY & KATSU Pripo! Is this the second location after the one in Kabukicho? I arrived around 8 PM, and although I didn't have a reservation, I was seated right away. The staff asked if I was there for tonkatsu, and I said yes! I was given a menu along with a sheet that listed the types of pork and cuts available that day. For the evening, there was a one drink policy, so I ordered The Premium Malt's beer. I noticed that they had the Diamond Pork shoulder loin that I'd been wanting to try, so I ordered that for ¥6,400!!! (ΦΘΦ;)!!! I guess the prices here are pretty high, just like at Seizō. Shortly after, my fresh draft beer arrived, along with some pickles as an appetizer. One was pickled cabbage, and the other seemed to be a variety of vegetables in koji seasoning? The taste of the vegetables was rich and conveyed a strong commitment to quality ingredients. After about a 20-minute wait, my Diamond Pork shoulder loin tonkatsu, fresh Shijimi clam soup, and freshly cooked Milky Queen rice arrived. The condiments provided were salt from Shodoshima, a sweet sauce, a spicy sauce made with green chili, Japanese mustard, ponzu sauce with grated onion, and ground sesame. It seemed that the fatty and lean parts of the pork were fried separately. I decided to start with the fattier piece and enjoyed it with salt. Wow! The crust made from Nakaya breadcrumbs was crispy, and the taste of the meat was incredibly delicious! This truly showcased their skill in selecting quality meat. Among the hundred best restaurants, this one stands out! The fat didn’t feel heavy at all. I tried it with other condiments as well, but salt allowed me to taste the meat's flavor most directly, while I enjoyed the spicy sauce as a second option. The shredded cabbage came with two types of dressings. One was a soy sauce honey dressing, and the other used mayonnaise and ketchup. Both were very tasty, but the shredded cabbage itself had a rich flavor and was delicious♪ I was eating it so quickly, but just as I was about to finish the last piece, a staff member approached me, and I decided to try the tonkatsu chazuke. I placed a piece of tonkatsu on rice topped with seaweed soaked in soy sauce, then poured kombu dashi over it. That was also delicious! It went down easily♪ Haha, it was so tasty! The quality of the Diamond Pork was unparalleled. The flavor was worth every yen spent. I heard there's a limited edition katsudon only available at the Harajuku store, which piques my interest, so I plan to visit again soon. It was wonderful! Thank you for the meal!

This is a tonkatsu restaurant located in Harajuku, and it has been selected as one of the top 100 tonkatsu places. It seems they have several locations, and I visited the one in Shinjuku. The food was delicious. There was a wide variety of condiments available, and it was great to receive explanations about them.

Today, we had a birthday lunch with family at "PRETTY PORK FACTORY," which we had been curious about in Harajuku. We made a reservation through Tabelog and opted for the 3,800 yen pork shabu-shabu course, along with the daily special tonkatsu. The shabu-shabu was delicious, especially with the variety of dipping sauces like ponzu, sesame sauce, and sweet spicy miso that allowed for different flavors. Even though the pork belly looked a bit fatty, it was easy to eat when cooked in shabu-shabu style. The tonkatsu was also tasty. We noticed many other customers enjoying the tonkatsu as well. I would love to visit again for the pork shabu-shabu!

Our restaurant strongly promotes the appeal of brand pork from various regions across Japan. We visited during the busy lunch hour on Saturday. The entire restaurant floor of "Harakado" was quite crowded, but since we had made a reservation in advance, we entered with ease. We ordered the "Special Selection Brand Pork Shabu-Shabu Lunch Set," which featured three types of carefully selected tender meats (Bushu Pork, Shimo-furi Herb Pork, and Happiness Hog Saddleback). Each type had a unique character and an abundance of flavor. The finely textured, high-quality fat melted in the mouth without leaving any unpleasant aftertaste, perfectly complemented by the organic vegetables that could be enjoyed cleanly together. The variety of condiments and sauces, including aged ponzu, fragrant sesame dipping sauce, sweet and spicy miso, and sansho pepper salt, allowed us to thoroughly savor the exquisite pork shabu-shabu from multiple taste perspectives. It was indeed a luxurious lunch. However, overall, I would rate the experience lower. While the staff explained the dishes with care, we could overhear some stressful conversations among the staff, and the counter seating was somewhat chaotic as they struggled to keep up with the cleanup. Additionally, they forgot to prepare the towels and tea until we requested them after the food was served, indicating that the operation needed improvement. The food itself was outstanding, so I sincerely hope for some enhancements in the service and atmosphere.

PRETTY PORK FACTORY & KATSU Date and Time: Around 12:15 PM Waiting Time: Reservation Ordered Menu: Special Pork Cutlet Omakase Set Feedback: The sauce and dressing were delicious. However, the slow response when I pressed the call button for service was quite concerning, leading to a low rating.

There are various sauces, so you won't get bored eating. There are so many types of pork that it's hard to choose, but the staff was very kind and explained everything well. They spoke fluent English and Korean! That's impressive. The clam soup was rich and nice! The pickles were refreshing and helped cleanse the palate. It's a bit pricey, but I think it's a great choice for a luxurious lunch! It was around 13,000 yen for two people.

I went to the restaurant to eat tonkatsu. Although it seems like shabu-shabu is their main dish, I started with a fresh lemon sour drink. It was unique and quite delightful—definitely a new experience for me. For the main dish, I opted for the recommended tenderloin from a special brand of pork. Normally, I would order the loin cut, but I had no complaints because it was delicious. To finish off the meal, I had it served as a tea rice dish, and the service was great. It's not a place I can visit frequently, but I really enjoy the atmosphere of restaurants like this one.

My friend had the fried pork loin cutlet, and I had something else that I can't quite identify, but the rare center was amazing! The rice was also deliciously glossy and top-notch. Personally, I enjoyed it with a bit of salt! The price was quite high, which made me hesitate, but since it was lunchtime, I gathered the courage to go into the restaurant. It was totally worth the price because it was so delicious! I want to eat it again!

I came here because I really wanted to eat delicious tonkatsu, and it was truly amazing! I saw they had a lunch omakase, but I wanted the diamond pork, so I ordered the tenderloin. There were various ways to change the flavor, including rock salt, broth or dashi with wasabi, and two types of sauce. It was impressive! It might not be enough for men, but the portion was just right for me. By the time I finished with the dashi ochazuke, I was completely full! I will definitely come back again!

I visited PRETTY PORK FACTORY & KATSU Puri Po at 6-31-21 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (near JR Harajuku Station) around 3 PM on Tuesday. You can make a same-day reservation through their app. I ordered the Iwanaka pork loin (payment after dining, PayPay is accepted). It was delicious, and I will visit again. They have been recognized as one of the top 100 restaurants for sukiyaki and shabu-shabu in 2024, with a rating of 3.92.

- I visited the restaurant around 12:30 on a weekday. I had made a reservation on Tabelog, but it seemed like it would have been easy to get in without one. It was quite popular with tourists, as about half of the customers were from abroad. - It’s about a 10-minute walk from Harajuku Station, located on the 5th floor of the Harakado restaurant area. - The interior is designed for a younger crowd, quite flashy. If I hadn't checked the reviews beforehand, I might have hesitated to enter. - After experiencing a heavy stomach from eating pork cutlet at the main location in Shinjuku, I decided to order shabu-shabu this time. The lunch set is 3,800 yen, which is a good deal for 200g of premium pork. The pork comes in three varieties by brand, with three types of dipping sauces available, as well as five kinds of seasonings, ensuring it doesn’t get boring. Personally, I found the spicy miso sauce diluted with broth, especially with added garlic, to be the ultimate rice thief. I highly recommend you all try it. I had a fantastic lunch. Thank you for the meal!

At the new commercial facility "Harakado" in Harajuku, there’s a pork specialty restaurant on the 5th-floor restaurant area. This place has been selected as one of the top 100 for sukiyaki and shabu-shabu in 2024, and the pork shabu-shabu was absolutely delicious, making for a thoroughly satisfying lunch! It’s a different concept from the highly-rated high-end tonkatsu restaurant "Katsu Puripo," offering both pork shabu-shabu and Japanese-style samgyeopsal at "PRETTY PORK FACTORY." The Harajuku branch allows you to enjoy both options. I've heard rumors that Harakado might be quite empty, but on the weekend, it was bustling with customers, including many foreigners. The restaurant itself has 70 seats, and I heard it was surprisingly available, so I decided to drop in without a reservation. However, at around 1 PM on a Sunday, it was full, but I was lucky enough to get seated without much waiting. Given the nature of the dishes, the turnover might be slow on weekends, so I recommend making a reservation. For the lunch set, I opted for the premium designated pork shabu-shabu (tax included 3,800 yen), which includes: - 200g of meat - A variety of vegetables - Rice / Clear soup / Pickles The restaurant has a bright and spacious interior, balancing a pop vibe with cleanliness, creating a comfortable atmosphere. I really appreciated that instead of water, they served cold tea. Initially, I intended to go for the cheapest shabu-shabu course priced at 5,500 yen, but during lunch hours, there was a special offering for 3,800 yen. It didn’t include appetizers, sides, or dessert, but since I was okay with a lighter lunch, I immediately chose this more economical option. I got to taste three types of branded pork: the belly of Aikenkou pork, aged Awase-yuki loin, and Yonezawa shoulder loin. Each pork had its own unique fat content, and I genuinely enjoyed the taste comparison. The portion was 12 pieces total, 4 pieces each of the three types, and each slice was quite large, leaving me feeling full. It was nice to have various condiments and sauces available. I found the combination of the standard sauce with yuzu pepper, garlic, and sansho salt to be quite enjoyable. Despite being in a commercial facility's dining area, this restaurant stands out as a highly-rated place; however, I must say that the service level wasn’t particularly high. The staff seemed busy accommodating foreign customers, and it appeared there were a lot of part-time workers among the students, so this might be understandable.

I finally visited Harakado to try their katsu-don, which is ranked among the top 10 for tonkatsu on Tabelog. I thought about making a reservation, but it was already fully booked. It seems weekends are really tough…＿|￣|○ Since they have continuous service, I thought if I went during a less busy lunch hour, I might be able to get a seat. So with faint hope, I decided to go without a reservation! If it doesn't work out, I could always visit a new restaurant for stamps instead (*´-`). I arrived around 2 PM, and as expected, it was super crowded. But when I asked, I was lucky to find an available corner seat at the counter with no waiting time! (о´∀`о) They also offered free cold barley tea, which was a nice touch. I ordered the pork cutlet rice bowl (katsu-don) for 2888 yen, which came with homemade pickles and clam dashi soup. The volume was impressive, with the rice completely hidden under the toppings! PPF really knows how to present their dishes. It was my first time trying katsu-don with shredded white leek on top. While the usual toppings like mitsuba and green peas add a nice green color, the white leek also made for a beautiful presentation. They also included sesame, shredded nori, and wasabi. PPF certainly doesn't stick to conventional standards. The pork cutlet had a great thickness and was tender with a fine texture, showing no compromise even in a katsu-don. The batter was soft and stewed, which I liked; however, I personally would enjoy a little crunch in certain parts. The silky runny egg that held the bowl together was perfectly executed. As expected, a katsu-don from a famous tonkatsu shop is on a different level. As I continued to eat, I felt reassured by the thickness of the cutlet that just kept on coming… it was incredibly satisfying! The clam dashi soup was tasty as always. It’s rare to find such delicious katsu-don that feels this special. The staff were also consistently attentive and friendly. When they spoke to me in English, it made me realize there are many overseas visitors here. By the way, the samgyeopsal next door looked delicious too…

【Sukiyaki and Shabu-Shabu Top 100 Restaurants 2024】I really love tonkatsu, but I rarely get the chance to visit specialized restaurants. This time, I decided to go for it after a long time. This restaurant, which also serves shabu-shabu, has meticulously crafted tonkatsu. It is located in the newly opened Tokyu Plaza Harajuku. I ordered the special hire-katsu omakase lunch. I was excited to see the beautifully pinkish hue of the fried pork, accompanied by seven different kinds of condiments. The meat comes from Yagoro black pork in Kagoshima, known for its tender texture and lack of odor. The condiments include sweet sauce, spicy sauce, wasabi, garlic ponzu, white soy sauce with wasabi, sesame, and rock salt, making it hard to choose. The texture of the pork was sublime, with a crispy coating that made a delightful sound, and it broke apart beautifully in my mouth. Wow, this is delicious. While I usually enjoy a one-bite hire-katsu from Wakou, this is on a whole different level… Personally, I favored the sweet sauce and the white soy sauce with wasabi. I also ordered an extra shrimp fry. I was pleased to see that the entire shrimp was fried and served, including the shrimp paste! It was delicious with special tartar sauce. The rice is also carefully cooked in a pot. The grains stand out, and the slightly firmer texture is just to my liking. They even serve broth and seaweed, so I was able to turn the leftovers into a rice porridge at the end. Overall, I was extremely satisfied with my lunch. Well, considering that the tonkatsu and shrimp fry came to over 5000 yen, it was quite a pricey lunch, but I believe the satisfaction made it worth it.

You can enjoy a comparison of three types of moist pork. The various flavors of ponzu, yuzu pepper, and sesame sauce keep it interesting and prevent boredom. The juicy meat transforms into a tender, refreshing dish through the shabu-shabu process, making it delicious without being overly rich. The appearance caters to a younger crowd, but the taste is reliable. I’m looking forward to trying the tonkatsu next!

I made a reservation for lunch on Saturday and visited the restaurant. I was really excited to go because I had previously been amazed by the delicious Diamond Pork at their other location in Shinjuku. This time, I was heading to their restaurant on the 5th floor of Harakado in Harajuku, a place I had never visited before. In fact, it's been a long time since I went to Harajuku. My reservation was for 11:00 AM, but I found out that Harakado opens at the same time, so I had to wait in a long line before entering. I finally got into the building at 11:05 AM. When I rushed up to the 5th floor and approached the restaurant, I seemed to be the very first customer, as a female staff member remarked on how early I was. I laughed and took my seat. Though I was tempted by the pork shabu, I decided to go with tonkatsu again. As I browsed the menu, I was uncertain about which brand of pork to choose when the same female staff member came over to explain all the different kinds of pork and mentioned a special recommendation for the day. She told me about Iwate's Iwachu pork, which is aged and quite rare to find, so I decided to go with that. She also strongly recommended the shrimp tempura, and I found myself unable to refuse. I think that staff member was quite a persuasive salesperson! The tonkatsu takes about 20 minutes to fry at a low temperature, so I was told to enjoy some seasonal vegetables and pickled cabbage while waiting. Next, a mortar filled with sesame seeds was brought to me, with the mildly punny remark, "Please grind the sesame seeds and wait." I actually don’t dislike these kinds of puns! First, the shrimp tempura arrived, giving off a delicious aroma. It looked really good. The shrimp was juicy and the head was perfectly crispy, pairing well with the homemade tartar sauce. I devoured it quickly—it was that good! I was glad I listened to her recommendation. Then the main dish arrived: the aged Iwachu pork tonkatsu, along with rice cooked in a earthen pot and clam soup. The staff member unleashed another round of puns, but I couldn't remember what she said due to the nonstop humor! I started by tasting the fatty parts of the pork. The coating was crispy, and the fat had a sweetness to it with a delightful melt-in-your-mouth texture. There were regular sauce, spicy sauce, mustard, and Japanese ponzu provided for the tonkatsu, but I enjoyed the fatty portions with some salt on a separate plate—it was incredibly delicious. The frying was perfect, and the beautiful pink meat was equally amazing. I took my time to enjoy various flavors until I finished my meal. I even ordered a second helping of rice, adding some seaweed and wasabi on top, and poured the clam broth over everything to finish it off. Once again, the tonkatsu at PriPo is in a league of its own. With the lovely atmosphere of the restaurant and the staff's humor, I had an exceptionally luxurious and delightful meal. Many walk-in customers were turned away, so I definitely recommend making a reservation before visiting. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. Thank you for the delicious experience!

[Nearest Station] JR Harajuku Station → About a 3-minute walk. Located on the 5th floor of Tokyu Plaza Harajuku "Harakado," "PRETTY PORK FACTORY & KATSU Puri-Po," abbreviated as "PPF," is the second store, with the main store situated in Shinjuku Kabukicho. This restaurant offers dishes made with rare and high-quality branded pork, featuring a variety of menu items centered around tonkatsu, including "Samgyeopsal" and "shabu-shabu." The atmosphere is modern and elegant, having just opened in April 2024, providing a casual yet luxurious space where you can savor the renewed appeal of pork dishes. Today, I chose "shabu-shabu," but I'm definitely curious about the "tonkatsu" as well! I’ll have to try that next time! ^_^ [Today's Order] *Prices include tax **Special Selection Branded Pork Shabu-Shabu Course** ¥7,700- ◉ Appetizer Plate ▶︎▶︎▶︎ I remember the pork belly being delicious, but I don’t recall much else, haha. I was a bit disappointed that the plate didn't exceed my expectations. ◉ Special Selection Branded Pork Shabu-Shabu 200g (Yonezawa Pork, Happiness Pork Saddleback, Aged Iwanaka Pork) + ◉ Assorted Vegetables and Condiments ▶︎▶︎▶︎ Visually impressive! This dish truly allows you to fully enjoy the "individuality and depth of the pork." The "Yonezawa Pork" features a finely grained texture and moderate sweetness, leaving a refreshing aftertaste that stands out. It enhances the flavor even more as it absorbs the broth. The "Happiness Pork Saddleback" boasts rich umami and a tender texture that is exceptional, making every bite confirm its name’s promise of “happiness.” Its fat is delicately sweet and elegantly prepared. The "Aged Iwanaka Pork" showcases richness and depth due to the aging process, with a powerful flavor that expands with each chew. Having the three types of pork side by side highlights each one’s unique characteristics and impresses upon you the quality of the ingredients. Especially, the moments when each meat harmonizes with the broth in your mouth are pure bliss. Thanks to the simplicity of shabu-shabu, the high quality of the pork really stands out, leaving a feeling of satisfaction coupled with lightness after the meal. ◉ Finale (Noodles or Rice) ▶︎▶︎▶︎ I chose Handa Somen for the finale. The unique thickness and texture of Handa Somen effectively absorbs the delicate yet robust flavor of the broth, keeping it exciting until the last bite. It’s a simple noodle dish, but it provides a satisfying conclusion to enjoy the lingering taste of the shabu-shabu. ◉ Dessert <Drink> ◉ The Premium Malt’s ¥750- ◉ Kido ¥1,100- Thank you for the meal! Phew~! ▷ Posting Score (3.92) ▷ Number of Reviews (252 people) If you found this review helpful, please hit the "Like" button and the "Save this restaurant" button below, and definitely consider visiting!

In Harajuku, the casual restaurant known as Pretty Pork Factory, or "Puri-Po," has opened, focusing exclusively on premium pork varieties. The owner, a true pork enthusiast, has handpicked over 150 types of pork to offer delicious dishes. You can enjoy your pork in your favorite styles: tonkatsu, pork shabu-shabu, or samgyeopsal. On this day, I ordered the pork shabu-shabu course for ¥5,500 and added a hirekatsu (pork fillet cutlet). The pork for the shabu-shabu included: - Bushu pork shoulder loin - Aged Iwakuni pork loin - Yonezawa pork belly The pork is cooked in a kombu dashi mixed with bonito powder, resulting in a light yet flavorful broth. The dipping sauces include ponzu, sesame sauce, Korean-style sauce, and seaweed salt, all rich and delicious! I also added chili oil to experiment with different flavors. The vegetables served were organic and of good quality, but I wished there were more. The hirekatsu I added was impressively tender, with a light and crispy texture, and juicy as well. I recommend pairing it with wasabi and salt! Though I ordered a basic set and course, you can also order individual items like hirekatsu, prawn tempura, scallop tempura, and menchi-katsu. For the ending course, I chose handa somen (thin noodles). It was delicious. The dessert was a salt milk ice cream, which was really tasty. Given its location, the restaurant was quite popular, with many foreign tourists enjoying the dining experience. It’s a fun place to casually enjoy authentic premium pork in Harajuku. #Harajuku #PorkDishes #Tonkatsu #ShabuShabu #Samgyeopsal #PremiumPork #PuriPo #PrettyPorkFactory

The restaurant on the 5th floor of the Jingumae intersection offers a choice of shabu-shabu, samgyeopsal, and tonkatsu. They have a wide selection of wines and sake, allowing you to enjoy a leisurely meal while drinking. This time, I opted for the shabu-shabu short course. It included garlic soy sauce marinated pork belly, shabu-shabu, vegetable porridge, and ice cream. Despite being a short course, the portions were generous and delicious. They had a good assortment of sauces and condiments, and the staff were nice, which made for a great experience.

On this day, I unusually went to Omotesando with my wife for an errand on the weekend. There were stylish people walking around, and the age group seemed quite young! Even though it was already past 3 PM and we hadn’t had lunch yet, we decided to check out Harakado since we were in the area. By the way, this was my first visit to Harakado (^◇^;). The restaurant is located on the 4th to 6th floors, so as we rode the escalator up, I thought to myself, “I’m probably the oldest person in this building right now,” a rather trivial certainty. We arrived at this vibrant and pop-looking restaurant, which was dazzlingly colorful(^^;;). The place was quite empty, and we were seated in what felt like a family restaurant-style booth. Interestingly, these booths feel quite relaxing. After a moment of staring at the menu, I was amazed at how extensive it was. First, you get to choose from three main options: pork shabu-shabu, samgyeopsal, or tonkatsu. The shabu-shabu and samgyeopsal come as part of a course menu, where you can select between premium or rare cuts or a mix of both, making it relatively easy to choose. I wanted pork shabu-shabu, while my wife preferred samgyeopsal, so we ordered the short courses mixed (each costing 7500 yen). Then I felt I also had to try the tonkatsu; however, the options for pork were extremely varied! There were many types such as Amagi black pork, Yamano Hana pork, Diamond pork, Ai health pork, Tohoku garlic pork, marbled herb pork, Yonezawa pork, Melty pork, TOKYO X, Saddleback, Iwachu pork, and Mangalitsa, among others—over ten types of premium pork! Each kind was further divided into different cuts like fillet, shoulder loin, loin, and rib loin, each with different prices. Choosing was quite overwhelming! Just when I thought I might give up, I saw the “Special Tonkatsu Omakase Set (3300 yen),” so I went with that instead(^◇^;). This led to a particularly luxurious late lunch, and I ended up super full! The taste was indeed impressive; everything was delicious! If I had to rank them, I would say tonkatsu > pork shabu-shabu > samgyeopsal. The tonkatsu was surprisingly delicious! Moreover, the white rice, made with organic Melky Queen, was incredibly tasty, as were the homemade pickles, which came in jars and were so good that I finished them all! Every detail, from the cabbage to the dressing, sauce, seaweed marinated in soy sauce, sesame, and miso soup, showed meticulous attention! It's no wonder it was delicious! The pork shabu-shabu and samgyeopsal were also good, but I think next time I might just go for tonkatsu alone since the side dishes were so fantastic. Not to mention, the white rice, exceptional pickles, and cabbage are all available for seconds (the rice only once)! (By the way, I couldn’t finish the rice cooked in a pot that came with the short course, so I took it to go, and it was also incredibly delicious!) Overall, the taste was excellent, but the service felt a bit unsteady. It wasn’t particularly problematic, though. The cost-performance ratio is a bit tricky to assess. Considering it as a course meal, we spent just over 10,000 yen for two (with 2-3 drinks each), which feels like a decent value. However, when thinking about it as à la carte, the cheapest items are over 3000 yen per person, and the short courses were at 7500 yen, which is quite pricey. In any case, it was delicious! Thank you for the meal! (Visit rating: 3.92)

●On November 17, 2024 (Sunday) around 1 PM, I made my first visit. ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍●Order Details: ▷Diamond Pork Fillet (2 pieces) 4,800 yen ▷14-Day Aged Iwanaka Pork Shoulder 4,800 yen ▷Heiwa Craft Sansho Golden Ale 1,030 yen Total Bill for 2 people: ¥10,630 / ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍●Review: I was lucky to get in without waiting during lunchtime. The interior, featuring neon and pink tones, seems aimed at a younger crowd, but the price of the tonkatsu is quite steep. With many options available, I decided to try these two dishes, avoiding those I'd already had based on positive reviews. The Diamond Pork (Fillet) was incredibly tender and moist, just as I had imagined. The Iwanaka Pork (Shoulder) had more chewiness than I expected, and its fat was rich yet not overwhelming, making it easy to eat. The sweet sauce was sweeter than I had imagined. The ponzu sauce had a flavor that I found difficult to describe, but it was something I had never tasted before. The white rice was beautifully cooked and delicious. Just before finishing my meal, I was given broth for ochazuke (rice soup), but I thought it would have been helpful to have this information earlier, as I could have adjusted my rice portion accordingly. The white rice is unlimited, so for those who can eat a lot, it might be nice to turn the 2nd or 3rd bowl into ochazuke. ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ╍ ===========