Can’t think of any places in Richmond that specializes in tonkatsu which is why we decided to check out Katsu San. Seems to be Korean run. They also had a 20% off deal when we went! It’s next door to Snowbear Bakery.
Hours.
We dropped in on a Saturday afternoon (around 1:30pm) and it was busy. We put our name on the wait list and were quoted 20 minutes (luckily, it was less then 10).
Service is friendly and attentive; they came by several times to refill waters (hot and cold).
The menu is concise with 6 katsu, three ramen options and add ons.
Katsu San assorted tonkatsu set ($17.50)
1/2 pork loin katsu, 2 pieces of cheese katsu and 1 piece of ebi katsu. All their sets come with shredded cabbage, rice, tonjiru, tsukemono, Himalayan salt and wasabi.
Breading is light but was missing a touch in the satisfaction department.
Favourite pieces from the meats were the pork loin katsu. Cheese katsu was okay but lacked richness (still don’t understand the hype on cheese). Ebi was standard.
We thoroughly enjoyed the apple onion sauce.
The tonjiru was homey with a mix of onion, carrot, daikon and ground pork.
Three types of pickled vegetables were a nice contrast.
Not sure what the point of the wasabi was.
Nagasaki champon ramen ($12.50)
Tonkatsu soup with pork belly, seafood, bean sprouts, cabbage, carrots, green onion and tamago. Not your usual ramen but overall decent. Pork belly bits were more fatty than meat. You get one mussel and half a dozen small clams. Broth was slightly creamy but wasn’t very rich. Tamago was soft but not too much flavour.
Overall, good execution but not as satisfying of a tonkatsu experience compared to Saku.
Katsu San
https://www.katsusan.ca/
#10, 6011 No 1 Road
Richmond, BC
(604) 370-4420
CHERRY BOB-OMBS 