likebyregina Saku in Vancouver is packed every night, and people can line up up to one hour to get a bite of the tonkatsu. In Toronto, Mr. Tonkatsu is the popular option for tonkatsu. There are various locations in Toronto, and we visited the one on Yonge Street in North York. I also heard that they also open one in Surrey. It features a variety of katsu sets, donburi, and soba. They also offer different proteins, such as pork, chicken, and fish. Similar to many similar stores, they provide free refills for rice, cabbage, and miso soup for all tonkatsu sets.
We ended up both ordering the same item, Pork Tenderloin Katsu set. Katsu is coated with house made fresh panko, and it is served with rice, shredded cabbage, miso soup, and homemade tonkatsu sauce. The tonkatsu is made fresh to order, so please be patient when waiting for the order to arrive. The price is also less expensive compared to Saku, and the portion is slightly bigger. The most important thing is that there was no line up.
Don’t forget to grind the white sesame and add them to the tonkatsu sauce! It adds an aromatic, toasty flavor to the sauce. It was actually quite fun, and it is another way to burn time while waiting for the order.
The Pork Tenderloin Katsu Set finally arrived, and each piece has an even panko coating, and they are fresh and crispy. The tenderloin, on the other hand, is tender and juicy. I love to enjoy them on its own, as the tonkatsu sauce is too acidic to my liking. But it is still a great sauce to pair with the rice. Shredded cabbage is plain, which I definitely enjoyed the the cabbage salad in Saku more.
Overall Impression
I enjoyed my meal at Mr. Tonkatsu. Though the sauce and the shredded cabbage wasn’t great, I enjoyed the star of the night, Pork Tenderloin Katsu. The light, crispy panko coating allows me to enjoy the pork tenderloin at its fullest. The meat is tender and juicy, and the portion is generous. Without the time spending on the lineup, the experience is great and totally worth a visit. I am curious about the tonkatsu soba, which I think it would be a great option during summer.
Taste : 4/5 • Service: 4/5 • Ambiance: 4/5 • Quality-Price: 4.5/5
