While trying to figure out which Tonkatsu store to visit this week, my friend suggested that I try out Tonkatsu Marugo, right around the corner from Akihabara.
With very high ratings on Tabelog as well as a Michelin Bib Gourmand award, I decided to take up on his offer and see what this place is all about. And after about an hour’s wait in line, I finally made it in and ordered my meal. So how was the Tonkatsu here? And is it worth the visit? Let’s get to it. How Good is Tonkatsu Marugo Actually?
–Queueing Up–
–Menu–
–Pork Loin Tonkatsu Set Meal–
–Tonkatsu Cutlet–
–Tonkatsu Sauce–
–Other Sauces–
–Set Contents–
–Verdict–
–Getting There–
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🏠 Queueing Up 🏠
Tonkatsu Marugo is a pretty popular restaurant, so it’s no surprise to see some pretty long lines here. By the time I arrived at the store – 15 minutes before opening – there was already a line of 20+ people waiting outside.
Marugo only seats 10-15 people at a time, so as a result, my total wait time today was 1 hour and 15 minutes. (I recommend you show up much earlier than me, at least 45 mins or so.)
Side Note: As you slowly make your way through the queue, you’ll be greeted with the fragrant aroma of sesame oil coming out from the store. All I have to say is “Have fun with the wait…”
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📋 Menu 📋
Tonkatsu Marugo’s menu is pretty simple – a selection of several Katsu options, with the standard cuts offered in a Teishoku set meal, while the more premium options offered as a standalone dish (+¥550 to upgrade to a set.)
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🍱 Pork Loin Tonkatsu Set Meal (¥2,150) 🍱
For the classic Tonkatsu experience, I decided to grab the Pork Loin Tonkatsu set today.
The presentation is pretty simple, a plate of Katsu served alongside some sliced cabbage, accompanied by a bowl of rice, miso soup, and pickled vegetables.
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🍖 Tonkatsu Cutlet 🍖
The Pork Loin Tonkatsu at Marugo is pretty thickly cut (~2.5cm or so), and upon serving, you’ll notice that the color of the exterior is much lighter than what you’d expect at other katsu stores.
Marugo uses a lower-temperature frying technique, which aside from the extra juicy pork results in a slightly pale-colored outer crumb that’s impressively light and airy – one which maintains its crispiness very well despite the juiciness of the pork.
Now let’s talk about the pork. Fan it out, or grab it with your chopsticks, and you’ll immediately discover just how juicy the thing is!
The lower fry temperature allows for a more controlled cooking environment, resulting in a tender, slightly pink cutlet that showcases all the fresh flavors of pork.
And for a more intense pork flavor, try the Katsu out with some salt! Couple that with the little bits of sweet melty fat from the top of the loin, and it’s just simply a really solid piece of katsu!
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🧂 Tonkatsu Sauce 🧂
You can enjoy the Tonkatsu experience as is, of course, but if you wanna add some extra flavors to the dish, you can find some Tonkatsu Sauce right at the table.
Flavor-wise, it was surprisingly nice!
I’m usually not a big fan of the overly sharp-tasting Tonkatsu sauces, but the slightly mellower profile of Marugo’s sauce adds a nice touch of acidity and sweetness while also complimenting the natural flavors of the pork really well.
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🧂 Other Sauces 🧂
Other than the Tonkatsu sauce, there’s also a couple more options to choose from, including some Karashi hot mustard, Shoyu, Salt, and Umeboshi.
Sauce your Tonkatsu however you like, of course, but for my personal recommendations? Despite being a Tonkatsu + salt person most of the time, the combination of the Tonkatsu and Tonkatsu Sauce here just works wonders together. (The salt really enhances the Pork’s flavor, so if you want to truly experience the natural flavors of the pork, give it a try!)
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🥗 Set Contents 🥗
As a Teishoku set meal, the dish also comes with a few sides, including some sliced cabbage, pickled vegetables, a bowl of rice, and a mushroom miso soup. The cabbage was particularly refreshing, with some sliced Shisho scattered throughout for just a hint of brightness.
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⭐VERDICT⭐
So how good is Tonkatsu Marugo actually? Yeah, it’s very good! Tonkatsu that’s cooked until slightly pink is a completely different experience from your standard Tonkatsu, and if you haven’t tried one out before, this is a good place to change that. The pork was remarkably juicy and full of flavor, and is complimented really well by the light crispiness of the breadcrumbs. I really don’t have much to add, other than it’s just an extremely solid meal with no real complaints – maybe other than the queue times being a bit too long at times.
So, if you’re around the Akihabara area and want to grab some really great tasting Tonkatsu, head on over to Tonkatsu Marugo.
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🚗 GETTING THERE 🚗
Tonkatsu Marugo is located right around Akihabara’s main district, with the closest station being (you guessed it,) Akihabara Station (JR, Hibiya, Tsukuba Express Lines.)
From the JR Lines, head out from the North Exit, and it’s a quick 5 minute walk down a mostly straight line.
From the Hibiya Line, it’s Exit 5, and a slightly longer 10 minute walk.
From Tsukuba Express, it’s Exit A2, and also a 10 minute walk.
Queue times can get pretty long, so make sure to head there early!
Tonkatsu Marugo
🌏 Location 🌏
1 Chome-8-14 Sotokanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0021, Japan
🗺 Map 🗺
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ni99M37Ei8c54S6z5
⏰ Opening Hours ⏰
11:30AM – 2PM & 5PM – 8PM
One comment in this post
💬 Final Words 💬
So my friend actually went to Marugo about a week after my visit, and more or less, he had very similar comments to mine. Really good stuff, just that the lines can be a little long. On the bright side, the shop is crazy close to Akihabara, so if you need to burn off those calories after a satisfying meal, there you go! (Which was exactly what I did for the rest of the morning/afternoon.)