Tender and juicy panko-crusted Japanese-style apricot pork cutlet from Ginza, crispy on the outside — no need to fly to Japan to enjoy it

Text and photos byOld Man & Little Wife
The charm of casual fare is that you’ll start craving it if you go without it for just a few days. Especially the authentically Japanese-flavored ‘Ginza Apricot Japanese Pork Cutlet’ — a juicy cutlet wearing a golden crust that makes you want to dig in with gusto.

The Ginza Apricot Japanese Pork Cutlet has opened a new branch at Taipei’s Beijing Station Fashion Plaza, with decor that retains its classic Japanese flair.

The entrance features a curtain reminiscent of a traditional Japanese restaurant, maintaining a sense of space, privacy, and air circulation (you can smell the aroma of the cutlets right at the door). This semi-hidden charm gives you that feeling of anticipation and surprise when you lift the curtain (like lifting a wedding veil?).

The earthen walls and simple, classic wooden windows have been faithfully brought up to the fourth floor of Beijing Station.

Lift the curtain, and true to its reputation as Taipei’s most famous Japanese-style pork cutlet spot, it’s packed.
Staff: “Please wait a moment.” (Are they making me drool outside?)

Fortunately, we didn’t have to wait too long. Upon sitting down, we were served hot tea to help guests relax and prepare to enjoy the delicious cutlets.

When the server pours the tea, they also replace any cooled tea with a fresh, warm cup — how thoughtful. Settling into clean and comfortable new seats, let’s take our time ordering. (The tea)

The Ginza Apricot Japanese Pork Cutlet uses premium black pork that has been chilled and aged to reach optimal flavor. ‘Chilled aging’ means vacuum-sealing the meat and refrigerating it; during transport, natural enzymes in the meat work within the bag to enhance tenderness, juiciness, and flavor.

For fried pork cutlets, you can choose between lean loin meat or tenderloin. Loin meat has some marbling, is springy in texture, and is suitable for blood type B. Tenderloin has less fat and a delicate texture, ideal for blood types O and A. Blood type AB folks can enjoy both (blood type preferences are purely personal opinions).

One of the signature features of the Ginza Apricot Japanese Pork Cutlet is the accompanying golden sesame seeds — diners grind them themselves and pour the cutlet sauce over the freshly crushed sesame for an aromatic boost that elevates the flavor and adds to the irresistible urge to eat more (and maybe gain a little weight).

The shredded cabbage salad – in Japanese cutlet shops back home, it’s usually just a pile of cabbage with a bit of tangy sauce. But in Taiwan, they mix in some romaine lettuce and offer dressings like sweet-sour yuzu dressing or shiso salad dressing, so Taiwanese-style Japanese pork cutlets actually feel more upscale.

Ginza Apricot Japanese Pork Cutlet official site: We carefully select fresh, crisp shredded cabbage that pairs perfectly with the cutlet. There are two types of salad dressings to go with the lettuce and cabbage — the refreshing shiso-flavored shiso dressing, and the sweet-sour yuzu dressing full of citrus aroma. Personally, I prefer the shiso dressing because the lettuce tastes crisper and complements fried foods beautifully.

Two types of miso cutlet sauces are available: spicy miso cutlet sauce and sweet miso cutlet sauce, both made with imported Japanese miso to maintain 100% authentic flavor. Usually the table version is savory, but you can ask the staff for the sweet version. Also, some Japanese pork cutlet shops offer spicy miso — at Ginza Apricot, you can ask for a mix of seven-spice chili instead.

Ginza Apricot Japanese Pork Cutlet official site: The miso cutlet sauce is made from Japanese rye, barley, and soybeans. Its mellow taste, combined with a traditional refining process, results in an exceptionally delicious flavor — it’s among the best miso in Taiwan.

One of the shop’s popular menu items:

Grass shrimp tenderloin pork cutlet set meal. The fried grass shrimp are plump, and the tenderloin is delicate, with no dry or over-fried texture. Ginza Apricot Japanese Pork Cutlet claims to use a special fryer to keep the meat tender — and it lives up to the reputation. With golden sesame and imported Japanese miso sauce, it’s almost like dining in Tokyo.

It’s basically like getting an international trip without the plane ticket.

The set includes: main dish / salad / rice / miso soup / Japanese pickles. Both the rice and shredded cabbage can be refilled for free.

The set offers a choice between white rice and purple rice. The grains are glossy, plump, and excellent in texture and elasticity. In the upper right corner of the photo, there’s also an appetizer — shredded dried radish. Not too salty, not overly sweet — it could even be a tasty snack on its own.

Ginza Apricot Japanese Pork Cutlet official site: We use carefully selected Koshihikari rice. The shredded dried radish is made with a specially blended sauce by our Japanese head chef, offering a crisp and sweet taste. With recent food safety concerns, let’s also look into the type of oil used here. The frying oil is a blend of corn oil and canola oil. Corn oil is rich in Vitamin E, while canola oil has a high smoke point, preventing spoilage during frying. The corn oil + canola oil combo ensures healthy, low-smoke frying that’s also durable.

Other highlights of the Ginza Apricot Japanese Pork Cutlet include: carefully selected high-quality Japanese bread crumbs that create a refreshing, crispy texture when used with the cutlets. An automated fryer cooks the breaded pork at low temperatures, sealing in the juices and ensuring premium meat quality.

Another option is the 250g Toro lean loin meat set — a generous portion for those who truly want to savor the umami of pork. It’s smooth-textured and juicy. If you’re not afraid of a bit more fat, this is a must-try. Friends wary of fatty pork can look up an article online: Pork fat — not as bad as you think. Really, anything in excess is harmful, so don’t turn everything into a monster and scare yourself.

Ginza Apricot Japanese Pork Cutlet official site:

All cutlets are made from whole chilled loin or tenderloin cuts, sliced and fried on-site to ensure top-notch quality. What the Ginza Apricot Pork Cutlet is most praised for is the quality of its ingredients — hence the meticulous care taken in selecting the meat, controlling oil temperature, judging the thickness of the batter, and timing the cooking.

Add NT$60 to your set meal for a dessert and drink — a silky almond tofu and matcha Calpis, a rare and delicious flavor combo in Taiwan.

Ginza Anko Japanese Pork Cutlet has grandly opened at Taipei’s Beijing Station Fashion Plaza, targeting the high-spending clientele of Beijing Station. Unlike typical Japanese pork cutlet restaurants,

it exclusively and innovatively offers a daily limited edition of 10 sets of American Black Angus Sirloin Steak worth NT$1,500. What makes Ginza Anko Pork Cutlet most commendable is the quality of its ingredients, hence the careful selection of meat; during cooking, it adheres to its consistent emphasis on precise heat control, using just the right temperature to lock in the sirloin steak’s most perfect flavor and sweet essence, delivering a melt-in-your-mouth texture that allows diners to enjoy the uniquely delicious taste of the American Black Angus Sirloin Steak set.

Leave a comment now and you could also win 2 free Japanese Pork Cutlet vouchers to enjoy this golden-crusted juice pork cutlet with your family and friends.

How to join the event:
Leave a comment in the article: "Ginza Anko Japanese Pork Cutlet is so delicious!! I’m so satisfied after eating it!"
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Ginza Anko Japanese Pork Cutlet

Fan page link:https://www.facebook.com/Ginzaanzu

Ginza Anko Japanese Pork Cutlet official website:http://www.ikingza.com/index.php

Ginza Anko Japanese Pork Cutlet Taipei Beijing Station Branch

Address: 4F, No. 1, Section 1, Chengde Road, Datong District, Taipei City
TEL: 02-2558-6878 (appointments not accepted)

Business hours:
(Sun)~(Thu) 11:00~21:30
(Fri)~(Sat) 11:00~22:00