Misokatsu Yabaton: Best pork cutlet in Nagoya, Japan

Waraji Tonkatsu Set, Misokatsu Yabaton, Nagoya, Japan

If you’re a fan of Japanese cuisine, you’re likely familiar with tonkatsu, a flavorful dish consisting of breaded and deep-fried pork loin or fillet. It is one of my favorite foods to eat on my trips to Japan. In the city of Nagoya, you can find a unique variation of tonkatsu known as miso katsu. This local specialty is made with a deep-fried pork loin drenched in a rich and salty miso sauce. If you’re on the hunt for the …

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Sekai no Yamachan: Nagoya’s Famous Tebasaki Chicken Wings

Maboroshi no Tebasaki (Chicken Wings), Sekai No Yamachan, Nagoya, Japan

During my recent trip to Japan, I had the opportunity to visit Nagoya for the first time. Despite reading and hearing that Nagoya was less impressive than Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto, I was excited to explore a new city. Whenever I travel somewhere new, one of the first things I do is research what to do and what to eat. And, through my research, I discovered Sekai no Yamachan. Sekai no Yamachan is a chain of popular izakaya restaurants that …

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Doña Eutimia: Paladar in Havana, Cuba

Masas de cerdo Doña Eutimia, Havana, Cuba

Doña Eutimia is a paladar, or small restaurant, situated in a tranquil alleyway near Cathedral Square (Plaza de la Catedral) in Havana, Cuba. Despite being situated in the center of Old Havana (Habana Vieja), a bustling and touristy area, the restaurant’s location seemed calm and peaceful. Paladar is a term used in Cuba to describe a small, family-owned restaurant that serves local cuisine. Although they were once illegal until the 1990s, today these privately owned establishments are a popular dining …

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Katsukura: Pork Tonkatsu at Kyoto Station

Joshu Pork Loin Cutlet Zen Set, Katsukura, Kyoto, Japan

When I read that Katsukura served the best tonkatsu in Kyoto, I knew I had to try it out for myself. The chain, which originated in Kyoto, now has locations all across Japan. Katsukura specializes in tonkatsu, a breaded and deep fried pork cutlet. I take tonkatsu very seriously as a foodie. It’s one of my favorite Japanese foods along with sushi, yakitori, and ramen. While I was planning on visiting their main location near Sanjo Station, after a long …

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Tian Tian Li: Lu Rou Fan in Ximending neighborhood of Taipei, Taiwan

Lu Rou Fan, Taiwanese braised minced pork over a bowl of rice, Tian Tian Li, Taipei, Taiwan

If you’re visiting Taipei, you can’t leave without trying one of the most simple yet delicious Taiwanese comfort dishes, Lu Rou Fan (滷肉飯). This beloved dish is simply braised pork over rice. You can find lu rou fan at restaurants and street food stalls all across Taipei and Taiwan. One of my favorite places to sample the dish is at Tian Tian Li (天天利美食坊) in the Ximending neighborhood of Taipei, Taiwan. Tian Tian Li was located off Hanzhong Street, the …

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Tonki: For 80 years, serving the best tonkatsu in Tokyo, Japan

Rohsu-Katsu Teishoku. 160g of perfectly fried loin cutlet at Tonki Tonkatsu in Tokyo, Japan

Out of all the tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet) restaurants in Tokyo, numbering in the thousands, nowhere seems to do it as well as Tonki near Meguro Station. For almost 80 years, Tonki has been serving tonkatsu, a type of pork cutlet which is breaded in Japanese-style panko breadcrumbs and deep-fried until crispy. It may be old-fashioned, but Tonki is an institution of Tokyo. Many will debate which is better: Tonki or Maisen. I tend to side with Tonki and I’m …

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