Kagoshima Black Pork Cutlet Set Meal – Tender, sweet meat with light and crispy coating

Photos & Text /Xiaohu’s Dream Food Blog

Friends familiar with Xiaohu or those who follow his fan page probably know that he’s currently enjoying a rare six-day, five-night trip around Kyushu in Japan. To avoid overwhelming everyone with potentially over forty food and travel posts over the next five days, he decided to post an early “food review” on the third night in Japan to tide you all over. First up is this highly renowned black pork cutlet specialty shop in Kagoshima – “Kurokatsu-tei.”


The two things (so far) – or rather, two figures – that Xiaohu has seen the most during this trip to Japan are, firstly, Saigō Takamori, one of the Three Great Nobles of the Meiji Restoration, and secondly, the wildly popular Kyushu mascot “Kumamon.” Who is Saigō Takamori? Just ask Google or check Wikipedia for the answer. As for Kumamon, dear readers, don’t worry – Xiaohu will dedicate a separate post to how it invaded Kyushu, spread across all of Japan, and even went on international trips… poisoning Taiwan’s kind and lovely people, especially the female ones XD.


The dining space at the shop is fairly spacious, but because the owner asked not to photograph other customers, Xiaohu could only take photos on the side where no one was sitting. In any case, it’s basically no different from a Japanese restaurant in Taiwan.
 

Black pork from Kagoshima in Kyushu is famous both near and far, causing a sensation in Japan and stunning Taiwan. If you haven’t heard of Kagoshima black pork, you might be more familiar with the term “six-white pig.” That’s right, the trendy six-white pig in Taiwan actually originated in Kagoshima.


Besides the black pork cutlet, Kurokatsu-tei also serves other Japanese dishes, such as shrimp tempura, skewers, and some regional special appetizers and meals. But coming here and not ordering the black pork cutlet? Readers might forgive you, but I definitely can’t forgive myself (laughs).

Then there’s this black pork-headed mascot, which also seems to be a representative figure of Kagoshima, though not as wildly popular as Kumamon. But these three-piece black pork chocolates are still pretty tempting, XD.


The Kurokatsu-tei set meal (980 yen?) includes one pork cutlet, shredded cabbage, a bowl of white rice, two dipping sauces (sesame sauce and tonkatsu sauce), plus a bowl of authentic “tonjiru” (pork soup). At first glance, it doesn’t look much different from a pork cutlet shop back in Taiwan. First off, the coating on the cutlet is fried so light and crispy—it’s absolutely delicious. When you bite into it, it crackles loudly, the sound echoing from your mouth straight to your brain. I think this is definitely the crispiest pork cutlet I’ve ever had. No wonder it’s Japan =)


As for the black pork meat itself, it’s definitely tender and sweet when you bite into it. But perhaps it’s not overly fatty, so the melt-in-your-mouth texture I was eagerly expecting never quite came. So yes, it’s definitely tasty, but even after finishing it, I felt the level of wow was less than I had hoped. Not sure if my expectations were just too high...


Like in Taiwan, they provide tools for customers to grind their own white sesame seeds.


For the dipping sauces, there’s a rich, fragrant, slightly sticky sesame sauce, and a tonkatsu sauce that tastes almost identical to the version in Taiwan. The latter becomes significantly tastier once you mix in ground sesame seeds. When dipping the pork cutlet, the sesame flavor is aromatic but slightly overpowering, while the tonkatsu sauce is more ordinary yet allows the natural sweetness of the black pork to come through better.


The shredded cabbage isn’t anything special—you can imagine the taste. But that bottle of sour citrus juice at the back is a different story. It has a very pleasant citrus tang, paired with a likable garlic aroma and a hint of radish-like sweetness with a slightly gritty texture, making it super refreshing and delicious. Of course, just like in Taiwan, you can get unlimited refills on the shredded cabbage and white rice.


Speaking of white rice—this is where I really admire Japan. It seems like the rice at any random restaurant looks crystal clear and glistening, and it tastes especially fragrant and delicious. This place is no exception.

And then there’s this bowl of tonjiru, which is probably the best I’ve ever had. It’s not overly salty or heavy with miso flavor. Instead, it has a touch of sweet freshness from the vegetables and pork, making it incredibly smooth and tasty. That’s when I finally understood why Japanese people always have “tonjiru” with their meals.


After eating, a light rain started to fall. While taking shelter from the rain at the entrance, I noticed two empty bowls in the corner by the door. At first, I thought it was some kind of local custom, but I asked and found out it’s for people who get takeout nearby and leave their used bowls there for the shop to collect. Seriously, if you’ve come all the way here, why not just bring them inside?


But after checking out their official website, I regret not ordering the “pork cutlet sandwich”...

[Kurokatsu-tei]Official website of the black pork cutlet specialty shophttp://r.gnavi.co.jp/f189600/

Xiaohu’s Dream Food Blog
If eating is just about filling your stomach, then “food” would be far too boring~~~