Restaurant
Narisawa
Chef Yoshihiro Narisawa's acclaimed Aoyama restaurant, serving a seasonal tasting menu built around Japanese ingredients, forests and the farming landscape.
Tonkatsu Maisen Aoyama Honten
The original branch of Maisen, a Tokyo tonkatsu specialist founded in 1965, frying breaded pork cutlets famously tender enough to cut with chopsticks.
At a glance
- Type
- Tonkatsu
- Area
- Omotesando, Tokyo, Japan
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Opening
- Open daily · 11:00–22:00
- Official site
- mai-sen.com
Good to know
- Counter seats
- Private rooms
- Takeaway sandwiches
Why we recommend it
Maisen has been frying tonkatsu, breaded and deep-fried pork cutlets, since 1965, and its Aoyama main branch on a quiet street behind Omotesando is the place to try it. The kitchen's calling card is pork so tender the company describes it as cutting with chopsticks, served with shredded cabbage, rice, miso soup and pickles. Choose between leaner hire (fillet) and richer rosu (loin), and look out for the black pork options.
The restaurant is open 11:00 to 22:00, with last orders at 21:00, and closes only on 1 and 2 January. Expect a queue at lunchtime, particularly at weekends, when reservations are limited to banquet courses. If you are short of time, the takeaway counter sells Maisen's well-known fillet katsu sandwiches. It is a few minutes' walk from Omotesando Station.
Tonkatsu Maisen Aoyama Honten FAQs
What are the opening hours?
11:00 to 22:00 daily (last order 21:00); closed only on 1 and 2 January.
Can I book at the weekend?
Weekend and holiday reservations are for banquet courses only; otherwise it is first come, first served.