Weekend shopping in Shinjuku with my partner. Before that, we stopped by Yotsuya for lunch. One winter treat that I must have at least once a year is the oyster butter grill here. We arrived at 10 am this year, earlier than last year, but we were still 14th in line. Oh no! The restaurant only has 13 seats, so we knew we would have to wait for a second round. While waiting in line, we placed our order, and the restaurant opened at 11 am. After waiting for 25 minutes, we were finally seated at a table. - Oyster butter grill set (extra oysters, extra rice): This year, the oysters were smaller than last year, with 7 pieces. The plump oysters were juicy and filled with a milky flavor. The combination with butter soy sauce was excellent, and the balance was outstanding. It was as delicious as ever. - Oyster fry set: This set had 4 large oysters. They were cooked thoroughly but still juicy, and the size of the oysters was impressive. When eaten with salt, you could taste the rich flavor of the oysters. Then, with tartar sauce, it was also delicious. My partner and I shared 2 each, so we didn't use the sauce, but the intense flavor of the oysters was satisfying enough. - Crab cream croquette: Not as high-quality as those from a Western-style restaurant, but the white sauce and crab flavor were rich. Eating it without tartar sauce was the best way to enjoy its deliciousness, as the sauce could interfere with the flavor. The price had increased slightly from last year, but the taste remained just as good. It was a very satisfying lunch. When we left, the bells of the Ignatius Church were ringing, and it was exactly 12 pm. There were still over 30 people waiting in line, showing the restaurant's popularity.

I had been out of touch for a while, but I visited Katsuretsu Yotsuya Takeda to relive the memories of the old Elise era, where the taste of Beef Tomato is back for a limited time. When I arrived around 5:30, there was no line and I was able to enter smoothly. The place was almost full inside. I ordered a glass of red wine and the Beef Tomato set meal. The chilled red wine arrived first, refreshing and easy to drink, I finished it in one go. Soon after, the rice, miso soup, and Beef Tomato arrived. I drizzled a little sesame dressing on the cabbage. The combination of cabbage, potato salad, sesame dressing, and Beef Tomato was delicious. The flavors of the tomato, beef, and sauce were amazing. The meat was tender! I couldn't stop eating! I thought the rice was a bit soft, but it was just right. When I had some miso soup in between, the broth was flavorful and delicious. Everything was bursting with umami. The total came to 1500 yen, with the glass of wine maybe being 300 yen. I expect it will be very crowded during the oyster season, so I plan to come back for salmon or something once the hype dies down.

This time, I was debating between choosing Kanikoro or Hirekaki. I always get excited whenever I visit this place, even though I have been here multiple times. To avoid the lunch rush, I visited at 12:30. There were about 5 groups waiting, but I was able to enter after a 30-minute wait. The line didn't die down until around 2:00, even during non-oyster season. I found out that for a limited time, they were serving the revival menu from the old Western-style restaurant Elise. After much thought, I chose the beef cutlet. I usually don't have the opportunity to eat rare meat and have a bit of a complex about it, but it was delicious! It was juicy yet tender, and it had the crispy coating that I love from Takeda-san. The oil wasn't heavy at all. I always leave in a good mood. Next month, it will be all about oysters, oysters, oysters. Looking forward to it! Thank you for the wonderful meal.

Visiting hours ▶︎ Weekdays at 5 pm (30% full) ■ Hamburg Curry ¥1200 I visited this place 2-3 years ago and the delicious taste left a lasting impression on me. This time, I decided to try a different menu. The predecessor of this shop was the well-known "Elise." I have visited several branches of the predecessor, each with its own unique points, which I found interesting. [Hamburg Curry] The curry is fruity and not spicy. The combination of rice and hamburger is perfect, and if the curry had various spices mixed in, it would throw off the balance with the hamburger. The hamburger is made with a good amount of meat, rich in flavor, and has a solid texture rather than being fluffy. It's this hamburger that pairs well with other dishes. [Overall Impression] Just like I felt when I visited before, it's rare to find a restaurant that doesn't have overpowering, standout dishes but instead focuses on complementing each dish. This place is one of the top Western-style restaurants in Tokyo.

Today, I went to "Katsuretsu Yotsuya Takeda" in Yotsuya with a friend. In the fall, they offer autumn flavors like oyster butter, so it tends to get quite crowded. I arrived at 13:25 and there were about 7 people in line, but we were able to get in after waiting for about 20 minutes. While waiting, we enjoyed some cold water. The "Beef Katsuretsu" was delicious with salt, lemon, and soy sauce all complementing it well, and it was incredibly juicy. The slightly firm rice went well with it. It was delicious until the very end. Thank you for the meal.

During the day on a regular weekday. I've been here many times, but I just realized that even though the restaurant's name is "Katsuretsu," I've only been eating the grilled oysters with butter. I visited in September because the grilled oysters with butter will be available from October and the line will be crazy. The line was sufficient, as expected for a famous restaurant. There were not many groups, and the turnover was fast. I ordered the beef cutlet set meal. It's supposed to be a limited-time offer, but it seems to always be available haha. The cutlet was big. Quite rare! They recommended eating it with rock salt and lemon. Hmm. It's nice that it's thick, but it's hard to chew. I enjoyed changing the taste with sauce or soy sauce. It's delicious, but now I understand the purpose of the thinness of the beef cutlets at chain restaurants. This place seems to be good for grilled oysters with butter.

Located on Shinmichi Street in front of Yotsuya Station, this popular restaurant is known for its limited-time oyster butter grilled set meal available from October to April. Many celebrities and athletes visit this place. The turnover rate is relatively fast, so even during lunchtime on weekdays, you can line up and enjoy your meal. Recommended dish: Pork Cutlet Set Meal for 1,430 yen.

I had the aged pork cutlet set meal. It was seriously delicious. Probably the best way to eat pork is right here. They first tell you to try it with salt. When you eat it with salt, the sweetness of the meat overflows with the meat juices. I was able to feel the sweetness of the meat more with the salt. I should have gotten extra rice... I will definitely go back!

When I arrived around 12:30, there were 5 or 6 people lined up. Luckily, I only had to wait about 15 minutes before getting a table. Maybe they have good turnover. I ordered the Crab and Pork Cutlet Mix Set for 1200 yen. I also got an extra Pork Cutlet for 330 yen. Both were freshly fried and tasted pretty good for the price. I think that's why it's so popular.

I arrived right at 7:00 pm on a regular day. There were two people in front of me, but I was able to get in after about 5 minutes of waiting as people were coming and going. I placed my order as soon as I was seated. They had a limited-time revival menu featuring Western-style cuisine, so I chose the Hamburg steak set meal (with less rice) for 1,150 yen! The food was served to me in about 10 minutes. The shiny demi-glace sauce looked beautiful, and the Hamburg steak was cooked perfectly! The meat was juicy and flavorful. When I cut into it, the juices flowed out, and it tasted amazing when mixed with the sauce. The sunny-side-up egg had a runny yolk! The potato salad was also delicious with a hint of sweetness! Overall, I was very satisfied!! (The miso soup was a bit strong)

This is a Western-style restaurant that I have visited many times. The popular menu from the predecessor of Katsuretsu Yotsuya Takeda, "Elise," has been revived for a limited time! So, I headed to Yotsuya. Since there is always a long line on Saturday afternoons, I went at 2:00 pm to avoid the crowd. There were about 4-5 groups ahead of us, so we were able to enter the restaurant in about 15 minutes. For those who don't like waiting, I recommend going at a different time. The limited-time menu includes beef tomato set meal, omurice, hamburger set meal, beef cutlet, and more, all of which are very appealing. (Order) ◻️ Hamburger set meal ¥1150 ◻️ Curry on the side ¥150 The Demiglace Hamburger. The taste is not a hearty and solid hamburger, but a juicy and fluffy one with plenty of meat juice. It has the gentle flavor that everyone loves at a Western-style restaurant. The right amount of meatiness and juiciness bring out the deliciousness of the meat. The combination of hamburger and demiglace sauce is the best! I could easily eat 4-5 pieces of this. I added a side of curry to the rice (¥150). Adding curry was the right choice. It's so delicious. The curry is simple but has a deep flavor. You can't go wrong with anything you order. I love this Western-style restaurant.

Arrived at the store around 2:00 pm on Saturday and there were 4 people waiting in front of the store. Waited for about 20 minutes to enter, and it only took 5 minutes for the food to arrive. The oysters were delicious, but it was not enough at all. It's a mix of excitement and complicated feelings... Today I had chicken salsa with a little curry. The change in atmospheric pressure from the typhoon was making me feel uneasy, but the salsa blew it all away. It was delicious again today. Thank you for the meal!

Tonight's dinner! It's been a while since I visited Taketa-san! The line was short since it was before the oyster season! Today, I had the retro beef cutlet from the Elise era❣️ It was delicious with salt, lemon, and chili❣️ Ah, this is truly Japanese Western-style cuisine❣️ And I also had my favorite fluffy kiss fry❣️ The homemade tartar sauce is the best♪ Taketa-san is still as good as ever! It was a satisfying dinner with a happy and healthy face! #KatsuretsuTakeda #BeefCutlet #KissFry #JapaneseWesternCuisine

I was about to order omurice, but when I saw the fried dish next to me, I immediately said, "Can I have the crab croquette mix, please?" The allure of fried food is amazing. It had kiss fry, shrimp fry, and crab cream croquette on top, which felt like a great deal. I made the right choice after all. I decided to try the beef tomato next time and left the restaurant.

I visited around 1:30 pm on a holiday. There is usually a long line, but I was lucky to be able to enter after waiting for just one person. I was torn between menu options, but this time I had the pork cutlet. The tender meat with a crispy coating was delicious. I am curious about other menu items, especially the oysters, so I will visit again!

Friday at 7pm with 4 people waiting. You can still eat with this level of line before Kaki Butter starts. Customers are mainly salarymen, but there are also solo female customers. Inbound customers are not often seen. It takes about 10 minutes to enter. The counter seats are small, and although not as crowded as during the peak of the pandemic, the close proximity to the next seat and the conversations are still quite stressful. Pictures of the Japan team from the Rugby World Cup Japan are displayed around, featuring players like Tamura, Fukuoka, and Horie. I ordered the "Pork Cutlet Set Meal for 1,430 yen" with toppings of "Shrimp Fry (1 piece) for 380 yen + Curry for 150 yen" *The set meal comes with rice and miso soup. Due to a significant amount of takeout orders, it took about 20 minutes for the food to be served. The cutlet batter is not too fine or too coarse, just average. The deep-fried color is dark and rich in flavor, possibly due to the sugar content. When combined with the devilishly delicious demi-glace sauce, it creates a strong and unforgettable taste. The sauce has a nostalgic flavor with a subtle and mellow acidity and sweetness. The pork is flavorful without any distinct taste, and the meat is juicy with a firm texture. The fat content is moderate, making it very easy to eat. The cutlet with this demi-glace sauce goes extremely well with the slightly firm-cooked rice. I dipped the cutlet generously in the demi-glace sauce. The shrimp fry batter is coarser compared to the cutlet, with a lighter color and texture. The ratio of batter to meat is about 3:7. The shrimp is plump and delicious even without any sauce. However, the homemade tartar sauce is also delicious, so I ended up alternating between the two. The crunchy texture of the white meat in the tartar sauce is excellent, and the sauce does not feel greasy. The price of 380 yen is incredibly reasonable. The curry tastes like a delicious home-cooked curry, but considering it only costs 150 yen, I am satisfied. If you order the curry, you should opt for a large portion of rice. The Kaki Butter is exquisite, but this demi-glace pork cutlet is also addictive, and I find myself craving it regularly. They also have other menu items like the Beef Butter Set Meal, which is a decadent delight that hits your LDL cholesterol levels. The popularity of Kaki Butter has caused long queues of 20-30 people, which is a bit of a concern. I plan to visit a few more times before the season ends.

Within walking distance from Yotsuya Station. I finished work in Kojimachi and walked over, arriving just in time for the 11 o'clock opening. I ordered the Pork Cutlet for 1480 yen. The dish was carefully prepared, but when it comes to pork cutlet, it's just your typical tonkatsu. I chose the demi-glace sauce, which was better than expected, and the meat was indeed delicious, but a bit watery, and the breading was falling off. The restaurant has a counter and tables for two. I sat at a table near the entrance, which felt cramped. The staff were polite, but it's not great that they only accept cash payments. As I was leaving, I noticed a line forming outside.

I always used to watch from a distance as there was always a line, but on this day, it was a holiday and the time was late, so there was only one person in line. This was my chance, so I decided to line up. The cutlet was very delicious. The demi-glace sauce was amazingly tasty!

On my way back home, the Chuo Line was delayed so I decided to stop by "Katsuretsu Yotsuya Takeda" restaurant. I am a man with no sense of adventure who always orders the same dishes when I come here. From April to October, I always order the Pork Ginger Set Meal and the Crab Cream Croquette. The thick-cut pork sautéed in a small iron skillet is a simple yet deep dish. The original ginger sauce has a sweetness followed by a strong ginger flavor. It's delicious when mixed with the sautéed pork. I am always impressed by the fact that this popular restaurant consistently delivers the same quality of dishes every time. I am already looking forward to the Oyster Butter Set Meal that starts in November. This restaurant is always wonderful whenever I visit. It was very delicious.

The popular "Katsuretsutakeda" is not crowded because it's not oyster butter season. I ordered chicken katsu curry instead of tonkatsu because tonkatsu makes me feel bloated. The chicken katsu is softer than any other tonkatsu place, truly amazing. I would love to go there every day if I can avoid the crowds.

『Working Day Gourmet Log 100 Famous Restaurants Tour IN Yotsuya』【No.1】Today, I came to "Yotsuya Station" for a business trip✨ Probably my first time getting off at Yotsuya Station in my life. About 1 hour until work starts. A precious lunch break. I visited "Katsuretsu Yotsuya Takeda," a "100 Famous Restaurants" known for its set meals. I had researched in advance and knew it would be crowded. I also knew about the winter season specialty dish, "Oyster Butter Yaki." But I wanted to try the set meal from one of the 100 famous restaurants! So, I ordered the "Katsuretsu" as the name of the restaurant suggests!【Nearest Station/Location】◇ About a 1-minute walk from "Yotsuya Station." It's right across the main street✨ As soon as you turn into the alley, you'll see it. You'll probably recognize it by the line outside!【Seating】◇ The small interior has about 4 table seats and 3 counter seats, and it seemed to be constantly full!【Visit Time/Day】◇ I arrived around 12:30 on Saturday. There were 4 groups of 8 people waiting. The line grew quickly after I joined, with over 10 people waiting. After about 20 minutes, I finally got inside✨【Order】◇ I ordered the "Pork Cutlet Set Meal for 1430 yen including tax." While waiting in line, a female staff member asked for my order, and the food arrived about 5 minutes after entering! The set meal includes rice, cut cabbage, potato salad, and miso soup.【Food Impressions】◇ The cut cabbage was fluffy with air and the dressing on the table was delicious! The potato salad with chunky potatoes was also tasty✨ And the main pork cutlet had a "Demiglace Sauce‼️" The mild demiglace sauce paired perfectly with the fried dish without being overwhelming✨ The cutlet was topped with cheese, and there might even be cheese in the breading! The cutlet was incredibly fragrant✨ It was over 2 cm thick, but the "softness" that made it easy to chew with your teeth was exquisite, making it the best cutlet✨【Special Notes】◇ Please note that they only accept "cash" for payment.◇ The prices vary widely, with items like Mixed Fry around 1200 yen, while the Chicken Cutlet is around 1000 yen, offering great value! The Pork Cutlet I had this time was 1400 yen, while the Beef Cutlet was 1800 yen, making it a bit pricey for daily lunch.◇ To enjoy the taste of a famous restaurant, I highly recommend visiting at least once✨ It's fun to see the bustling atmosphere of the long-standing popular restaurant, as well as the teamwork of the kitchen staff!