Yabu: House of Katsu might be the popular favorite for the best katsu in town but I digress, having tasted what might topple it off: Tonkatsu by Terazawa.
Located in Greenbelt 2, Tonkatsu by Terazawa is first in the Philippines from Nagoya, Japan. Just like their straight to the point yummy katsu, the restaurant was simply named after its owner Akinori Terazawa.
Terazawa's Tonkatsu is perfectly crisp and just like an mm's it heavenly melts in the mouth. Thanks to nama panko, a kind of breading that they use to make it oh-so perfect. Not to mention too that it's less greasy. That we have to take credit from their imported oil from Germany.
When dipped of course in a tonkatsu sauce, the experience almost complete. Unlike in Yabu where they'll give you a wooden mortar with sesame and a pestle, in Terazawa, you're left to enjoy how to make your best sauce with the aid of their info-graphics.
So well now, how to best enjoy it according to the expert?
Every tonkatsu is provided with a salt in the sidedish plate, grind it and pour two to three (yes, just like how they say it in Yabu) spoonfuls of tonkatsu sauce-- although right estimation comes in handy as it's served in something like an oriental teapot. To add the aroma we loved in Yabu, sprinkle it with grounded sesame seeds. Then hoola, you're just about to taste the dream of Mr. Terazawa: to provide the best katsu in town.
Here's what I first tried in Tonkatsu by Terazawa: Cheese Hire (lean pork without fat) Katsu at Php 485.
I enjoyed the menchi of my friend back in Yabu, that's why.
The cheese was just mild and half of the tonkatsu can still be enjoyed with its sauce. Aside from the tonkatsu that I love, their cabbage and its sauce is exceptional too! I have to get back again to relish that burst of flavor! Just like in Yabu too, rice and cabbage are refillable. But with its inclusion of tonjiru (special miso), side dish of tsukemono or pickled vegetable, corn and mustard, it's already too hearty for my appetite to ask for more of their yummy cabbage.
Tonkatsu by Terazawa is so good I want to try it again. Although it's a but expensive than Yabu. But then again, with their comfortable ambience and their relatively fast service, it's every penny's worth.
I bow.
Rating: 5
Tonkatsu by Terazawa is located at:
Greenbelt 2,
Makati City
