Butasho ぶたしょう

A cozy little joint run by what I assume is a husband-and-wife team (at least, that’s the vibe I got, haha). Butasho ぶたしょう specialise in tonkatsu, and the place only accommodates a handful of diners. Inside, the atmosphere is minimalistic and simple — clean and peaceful. The cooking action is all tucked away behind the counter. I couldn’t see much, but the chef’s movements exude elegance. Even though they don’t speak English fluently, they went the extra mile to explain the menu to me and made sure I had a delightful time.

Now, here’s the scoop on Butasho’s tonkatsu. It takes roughly 30 minutes for it to land on your table since they slow-cook it upon ordering (Chow tip: you can call Butasho ぶたしょう in advance to pre-order to cut down the wait time for an impatient Hong Konger like me!). I went for the half-half menu with Matsuzaka tenderloin and Tokyo-X sirloin. Let me tell you, the tenderloin was a revelation — so juicy, tender, and packed with flavour. In Japan, I’m all in for a bit of pink in my pork. Now, the sirloin, oh boy, the flavour was out of this world, and it practically melted in my mouth. Take notes, don’t miss the minced pork cutlet — it’s like a symphony in your mouth, seriously orgasmic.

Now, a little confession time: Japanese characters and I aren’t exactly best friends, and my attempt to decipher the menu hit a minor snag. Yup, I can’t read Japanese, and that’s where the accidental adventure comes into play. I unintentionally found myself in the realm of “lost in translation,” and I ended up ordering what I can only assume was some form of fried chicken breast. Oops!

Address: Japan, 〒662-0051 Hyogo, Nishinomiya, Hagoromocho, 4−23 夙川羽衣町パークハイム104