I decided to go shopping in Ginza and was unsure about where to have lunch. Should I go for Western cuisine, Japanese cuisine, ethnic food, or something light? Hmm. After much thought, I decided to have the Katsudon at Umebayashi, a place I haven't been to in a while. To my surprise, things have changed in the past 10 years. The building has been rebuilt, and the place has become more popular, with lines forming even before opening. I was skeptical about a tonkatsu restaurant having a line, but considering the time it takes to fry the dishes, the turnover rate of customers is low, so if the reviews were true and there were lines every day, I didn't want to wait under the scorching sun. I was hesitant, but I decided to trust the external information. Back in the day when I used to go often, it was a casual place where you could just walk in and eat. On the day of my visit, I arrived at 11:00. The opening time was 11:30. There were no lines outside the restaurant, and to my surprise, people were lining up on the staircase inside the restaurant that led downstairs. I hurried back to the door and when I reached the staircase, there were already about five groups ahead of me. It was a close call, but I made it in time. Right after that, within just 2-3 minutes, a crowd of people arrived and a line formed all the way outside the restaurant. I was lucky to have come back early. As for the menu, the prices were quite high, with the katsudon sets ranging around 3000 yen and the special set at the top exceeding 4000 yen. It was a bold pricing for tonkatsu dishes, but the popularity must be justified by the taste and service. I ordered the Black Pork Special Katsudon, the Loin Katsu set, and a single piece of Fillet Katsu. I might have ordered a bit too much, but it's good to indulge once in a while. However, I made another mistake. In tonkatsu restaurants, they fry the dishes after receiving the order, so it's important to order early to avoid a significant delay in serving time. I was the last one to order, so it took quite a long time. If I could give advice to future visitors, it would be to arrive early and place your order promptly upon entering. This is crucial. As for the food, the Katsudon was delicious, with a rich and creamy egg sauce using two eggs, perfectly balancing sweetness and saltiness without overpowering the taste of the loin katsu. The fried katsu had a crispy coating, using rough breadcrumbs, maintaining a lightness that doesn't leave you feeling heavy after eating. You can also choose the rice portion from small to large, so it's good to adjust accordingly. Overall, the impression I got was that the place has evolved significantly over the past 10 years, and it's one of the best tonkatsu restaurants I've been to.

I visited this restaurant for lunch with a colleague. We arrived right at 12:00 and there were only 3 people ahead of us in line. We were seated at a table within 12-15 minutes. I ordered the Special Katsudon for ¥2,200. It arrived in about 10 minutes and looked very high-quality. The dish had no off-flavors and was very delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you for the meal.

My husband and I went to a plum forest. We arrived around 19:00 and there were about 10 people in line, but we were able to enter the restaurant in about 10 minutes. The restaurant has an elegant atmosphere with a rating of ★5. There were many foreign customers, creating a multicultural clientele. The inside of the restaurant was not noisy, allowing us to eat in a relaxed manner. We ordered the special set meal (fillet, shrimp fry) and curry rice. We shared the meal and both of us were full. The oil used in the cooking seemed to be good quality, so we didn't feel heavy afterwards. The unlimited cabbage refill was a nice touch. I also noticed that the salt was replaced daily, making me feel confident about the cleanliness of the restaurant.

As someone who loves eggs, the combination was irresistible to me. The egg on top was wonderfully runny and delicious. The sweetness of the katsu don was also very tasty, but the egg topping was quite rich and soaked in, making the flavor intense. I found it delicious, but it didn't leave a special impression, so I don't think I would come back for more.

I went around 4:00 pm so it was not crowded. I ordered the most expensive tonkatsu and katsudon, both were delicious with just the right amount of fat. Personally, I preferred the katsudon, it was my favorite. I think it would be even more delicious with a bit more fat. I recommend it to those who like lean or tenderloin meat.

Tonkatsu Umehayashi now has branches in various areas, with the Ginza location being the main store. Thanks to the inbound effect, this popular restaurant always has a long line of customers. When I visited, the line was not too long, and I was able to get a seat in about 30 minutes. The interior has a calm atmosphere with counter and table seating, but it's not recommended for large groups due to limited seating. While Tonkatsu is their specialty, don't underestimate their Katsudon. I tried the Black Pork Special Katsudon (2800 yen) this time, and it was worth it. The set includes Katsudon, miso soup, and pickles, which may seem expensive at first glance, but when you open the bowl, you'll be surprised to see a half-cooked fried egg on top of the pork cutlet. The pork cutlet was thick and flavorful, seasoned with a refined broth. Breaking the egg over the cutlet and rice made it even more delicious. The rice was from Yamagata Prefecture, and it was top-notch. The portion of meat in the Special Katsudon is quite generous, cleverly arranged to fit perfectly in the bowl. It was a fantastic and satisfying meal. If you're looking for a good Tonkatsu in Ginza, this place is a safe bet.

I went to Slow Lunch for the first time. There were people waiting, but since I was alone, I didn't have to wait long to be seated. The food was served quickly, they made sure I had tea, and they checked on me multiple times, which I appreciated. The food was delicious as well. I will definitely go back! ✨

There are many foreign customers, so it must be listed in English guidebooks. Even after 2 o'clock, there was still a line. I had the Black Pork Special Katsu Don for 2800 yen. It's expensive. However, the cheapest katsu don was in the 1000 yen range, so not all the menu items are expensive. The sauce is quite sweet. The yolk was rich and delicious.

Black pork special katsudon. I think it is a very elegant and well-crafted katsudon. I visited during my business trip to Tokyo. As someone from Kagoshima, I have never felt the desire to repeat when eating tonkatsu in Tokyo, even though it is delicious. But the katsudon here is delicious! (Although expensive... haha) I would like to come back again. From now on, when I eat tonkatsu, I will prioritize searching for restaurants that serve katsudon.

It's Ginza at night. A famous tonkatsu restaurant known for its delicious katsudon. I decided to try it out based on the information. Unexpectedly, there was a long line. It was hot in the staircase leading to the basement. Most of the people in line were foreigners. The atmosphere was like a traditional Japanese restaurant. I ordered the Black Pork Special Katsudon. While waiting, I sipped on their original craft beer. The tonkatsu was served with a light side dish of pickles. The katsudon had a generous portion size. I'm glad I didn't choose the large serving. I love the moment when you lift the lid of the dish. The tonkatsu was moist and tender, a rare find. The meat was cooked perfectly. The sauce was rich and flavorful. It felt like being treated by a detective in an interrogation room. When I pierced the plump egg on top with my chopsticks, the yolk oozed out. It added an extra layer of deliciousness. While the trend may be katsudon without egg, this traditional style is also great. I wonder if the well-cooked meat is more appealing to foreign tourists.

I ordered the Hirekatsu set meal (3,200 yen). The freshly fried cutlets were delicious. The set came with 4 cutlets, so it was quite filling. They were attentive in providing extra cabbage and refilling water promptly. The restaurant was clean and about half of the customers were foreigners.

Before the relocation, I had come to eat the pork cutlet set meal and had taken out the pork cutlet sandwich, but upon hearing the recommendation from my mentor, I revisited for the pork cutlet bowl. The new location of the restaurant is in the heart of Ginza, underground. The mobile phone signal was strong. Looking at the restaurant, I wondered if the increase in inbound customers was due to good business. The recommended pork cutlet bowl had a sweet and savory flavor, and it felt like the kind of dish that would go well with rice, just like my mentor loves. I also love dishes with sweet and savory flavors that go well with rice. It didn't feel like a "high-end restaurant's pork cutlet bowl," but more like a "home-cooked pork cutlet bowl" made with good ingredients, so I recommend it to those who enjoy that kind of dish.

Arrived at the shop 20 minutes before opening on Sunday. There were already enough people lined up to barely fit inside, but managed to get in on the first round. They had tonkatsu and katsudon, but this time I ordered the special black pork katsudon (2800 yen) which I don't remember seeing before. Normally tonkatsu uses fillet, but this one uses loin. You can choose a large serving, but I opted for a small portion of rice. It took about 10 minutes for the food to arrive after ordering. The set included tonkatsu, miso soup, and pickles. The tonkatsu had a tempting aroma. The meat itself was flavorful and I couldn't stop eating the rice. I felt that I could taste the meat more with the loin compared to the fillet. If you choose a large serving, even an adult male might find it a bit too much. Payment was convenient as they accepted credit cards and electronic money like iD.

On Monday at 1:05 pm, I waited for 5 minutes and then joined the line at a popular restaurant with many foreign tourists. I ordered the pork cutlet set meal, which came with four heavy pork cutlets totaling 45 grams. The taste was not greasy, but I did notice a slight smell when I took a bite. The sauce was sweet and thin, not spicy like Japanese mustard but more like regular mustard. The cabbage was plain, and even though they brought dressing later when I asked, there was none on the table. I started by squeezing lemon on salt. I couldn't help but compare it to my favorite tonkatsu place - the pork wasn't as sweet and it was difficult to cut, making it hard to eat without dropping pieces. My companion's pork loin was tough, which was disappointing. Despite hearing good things, I found it a bit underwhelming. Perhaps it's a good place for foreign tourists trying tonkatsu for the first time, but I won't be visiting again.

It's been a while since my last visit. I ordered the special black pork cutlet rice bowl and a side of ginger pork. I asked for extra rice. Despite its appearance, the dishes had a light flavor that didn't make me feel heavy. The cutlet and ginger pork were thick, tender, and easy to chew. I managed to finish everything, but next time I think I'll stick to a regular portion of rice. I had a happy time dining there.

I was looking for a katsudon and was drawn to this place by the photos. The interior of the restaurant was beautiful. The counter seats were not cramped, so you don't have to worry about the person next to you. And finally, the katsudon arrived. The presentation was amazing. It may sound gross, but I couldn't stop salivating the moment it arrived. I tried to hold back my desire to eat it quickly and took some photos first. Then, I finally tasted it. The rich yolk of the onsen tamago, separate from the fried egg, combined perfectly with the katsu. The taste of the katsudon itself was spot on. It was a restaurant where the visual appeal and taste were so good that you almost feel guilty eating it. I will definitely be coming back for the special black pork katsudon priced at ¥2500.

Long time no visit. It's my second time here since they moved. Whenever I come here, I always order the "Special Katsudon." I think I first heard about it because Takahashi Minami from AKB48 liked it. The moment when you break the egg yolk on top is fun (laughs). The taste is also amazing, and I want to visit again soon.

The nearest station is Ginza Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, a 4-minute walk away. I suddenly felt like having katsudon and was considering going to Akebono, but decided to visit this place for the first time. It was lunchtime, so I waited in line for about 20 minutes. Once seated, I ordered the Black Pork Special Katsudon (2,800 yen) with a normal serving of rice. The dish arrived in about 10 minutes. The Black Pork Special Katsudon came with katsudon, miso soup, and pickles. The half-cooked egg on top was a bit messy and not very visually appealing. The balance of white and yellow on top could have been better. The broth was quite sweet. The batter had absorbed a lot of the broth, so the texture wasn't great. The pork was thickly sliced with 6 pieces. It had a solid meaty taste and was easy to eat with a good bite. The sweetness of the fat in the loin was also prominent and delicious. Breaking the half-cooked egg on top spread the yolk, balancing out the sweetness. The service was very polite and attentive, leaving a good impression. The prices are a bit high, but considering that you can enjoy a famous old-established restaurant in Ginza, it's worth it. Thank you for the meal.

I'm sorry, but it was just a regular katsudon... I wonder why there's such a long line. Maybe the other katsu set meals are tastier than the katsudon. The miso soup was really delicious. Also, the large portion is so huge that it might make your stomach explode, so be careful.

This was my first time visiting. There is always a long line. The interior of the restaurant is very clean and neat. I was indecisive and ended up ordering the pork cutlet bowl. The meat was tender and incredibly delicious. The sauce was just the right amount of sweetness and the rice was also very tasty. I will definitely want to eat here regularly.

I went to a plum forest to relieve stress after working on my day off. I waited in line for about 15 minutes before entering. It was a good time to choose from the menu. Honestly, when I saw the prices, I thought they were high, but since I don't come often, I chose the Black Pork Special Pork Cutlet Bowl. They offered to give me extra rice, but I asked for less, which surprised them, haha. In the photo, you might not be able to tell, but the bowl was packed with meat. The first bite was fatty, which I usually don't like, but it melted sweetly and smoothly, making me think that this is what they mean by sweet fat. It may be late to mention, but there was a layer of sweet onion between the rice and cutlet, which was delicious in a classic way. When I broke the half-cooked egg on top and took a bite with a bit more rice, it was absolutely delicious. The red miso soup was also a long time coming, and it went well with the cutlet bowl, including the side dishes. It was truly delicious, a top-notch restaurant.