Restaurant
Kikunoi Honten
A family-run kaiseki ryotei founded in 1912 in the Higashiyama hills, led by chef Yoshihiro Murata and holding three Michelin stars.
Katsukura Sanjo Honten
The main branch of Katsukura, a tonkatsu specialist founded in Kyoto, serving breaded pork cutlets made from selected pork on Sanjo-dori.
At a glance
- Type
- Tonkatsu
- Area
- Kawaramachi, Kyoto, Japan
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Opening
- Open daily · 11:00–21:00
- Official site
- katsukura.jp
Good to know
- No reservations
- Open daily
- Seasonal menus
Why we recommend it
Katsukura is a tonkatsu specialist that started in Kyoto and now has branches across the Kansai region, the Tokyo area, Kyushu and overseas. The Sanjo Honten, its main Kyoto restaurant, is on Sanjo-dori just east of the Teramachi shopping arcade, in the heart of the downtown shopping district, and it is a reliable choice for a filling, good-value meal in central Kyoto.
Tonkatsu is pork cutlet coated in breadcrumbs and deep-fried until crisp, served sliced with shredded cabbage, rice, miso soup and pickles. The company describes its care over every element, from the oil and breadcrumbs to the sauce and side dishes. This branch offers a choice of premium pork, including Kinka pork from Hirata Farm in limited quantities and Yonezawa Sangen pork from Miyagi, with aged Kyoto pork available on weekends in limited numbers. Fillet and loin cutlets, prawn cutlets and fillet katsu rice bowls are all on the menu, and seasonal set menus rotate through the year, including an autumn menu with Kyoto-style side dishes.
Sets are usually served with sesame seeds to grind yourself and mix into the thick sauce, a ritual that is part of the fun. Loin is juicier and richer, while fillet is leaner and softer, so ordering one of each and sharing is a good way to compare. The premium pork choices are offered in limited quantities, so if you have your heart set on one of them, go earlier in the day. The seasonal set is a good way to try a few Kyoto-style side dishes alongside the cutlet.
The restaurant is open every day from 11:00 to 21:00, with last orders at 20:30, and has no regular closing day. It does not take reservations, so expect a queue at peak lunch and dinner times, especially at weekends; arriving at opening or in the mid-afternoon shortens the wait. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming to families and solo diners, and a meal takes under an hour. Takeaway bento and delivery are also offered.
The restaurant is about three minutes' walk from Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station on the Tozai subway line and around seven minutes from Keihan Sanjo Station. It sits among the covered shopping streets of Teramachi and Shinkyogoku, and Nishiki Market, Pontocho and the Kamo River are all within ten minutes on foot.
Katsukura Sanjo Honten FAQs
What are the opening hours?
Every day from 11:00 to 21:00, with last orders at 20:30.
Can you book a table?
No. Reservations are not accepted.
What pork does this branch use?
Choices include Kinka pork from Hirata Farm and Yonezawa Sangen pork, with aged Kyoto pork on weekends.
What should you order?
A loin or fillet tonkatsu set; sharing one of each shows the difference.
Is it suitable for families?
Yes. It is a relaxed, casual restaurant.
How do you get there?
About three minutes on foot from Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station on the Tozai line.
Is there takeaway?
Yes. The restaurant offers bento and delivery.
What is nearby?
The Teramachi and Shinkyogoku arcades, Nishiki Market and Pontocho.