Juicy, tender, and affordable – “Ganko’s” tonkatsu near Nara Station

Text and photos byUnrestrained

When exploring Nara in a day, it’s essential to fill up first to have the energy. For lunch that day, we casually searched the “Higashimuki Shopping Street” near Nara’s Kintetsu Station (transport info at the end of the article), and ultimately chose a tonkatsu shop called “Gankoがんこ的.” It was an absolute hit—truly delicious, and we’d say it was the best tonkatsu rice we’ve ever had!!!

Note: For a one-day trip to Nara, you can refer to:Nara One-Day Walking Map – Adorable Yet Tricky Deer, the World’s Largest Wooden Building That Never Gets Old (Includes Detailed Transport & Map Info)

▲ Higashimuki Shopping Street

Actually, we had originally wanted to try the famous okonomiyaki rice, but after checking reviews, everyone unanimously said the wait was very long, so we decided against it. While walking along this shopping street and looking around, our sharp-eyed friend spotted the mouthwatering “Gankoがんこ的” tonkatsu shop.

We later learned that this shop is somewhat well-known, often referred to as “Stubborn Papa.” It’s part of a restaurant group with many branches across Japan, and this time we just happened to stumble upon Ganko’s tonkatsu.

There were many realistic-looking food models displayed at the entrance.

Inside, there’s a regular dining area with tables and chairs, as well as a counter area near the kitchen. Both seating options are quite comfortable. There weren’t many customers at the time, and we were lucky enough to be seated without waiting.

In front of the seats, there’s also a small transparent window with a garden view outside, which was really a pleasant surprise.

After sitting down, the staff immediately handed us the menu. The variety was extensive—fried food rice bowls, tonkatsu rice, including options like shrimp, oysters, and various cuts of pork cutlet. There were also different preparation styles, such as curry-topped or made into oyakodon.<、酱烧味增等（详细菜单请参见文末）。

Unrestrained and a friend each orderedthe “Curry Tonkatsu Rice” (tax included, 1058 JPY) and the “Tenderloin Tonkatsu Rice” (tax included, 1382 JPY).

The table came with a variety of sauces and seasonings, such as rose salt, spicy and sweet tonkatsu sauces, and shredded cabbage dressing.

After about ten minutes or so, my tenderloin tonkatsu rice set arrived first. It looked quite generous—with the tonkatsu, there were sides of fresh shredded cabbage, pickled vegetables, tofu, and miso soup.

The tofu was incredibly soft and refreshing, really delicious. However, I wasn’t too used to the pickled vegetables. As for the shredded cabbage, when dipped in the sauce on the table, it was equally crisp and refreshing—great for cutting through the richness of the tonkatsu.

As for the tenderloin tonkatsu itself, I can only say it was really, really, really delicious. With each bite, it was incredibly tender, and the juices were sealed inside the crispy coating, so you get both the aroma of frying and the flavor of the pork. The coating was super crispy without being greasy at all.

Picking up a piece of tonkatsu and dipping it in the tonkatsu sauce before eating it, along with a few spoonfuls of the soft and chewy white rice—it was truly satisfying. We’d say it was the best tonkatsu we’ve ever had!!! Eating a full tonkatsu set would likely fill most women up, though hungrier men might need more.

Meanwhile, my friend’s curry tonkatsu, not being a set meal, was a bit simpler—no soup or sides, although it still came with shredded cabbage—but it was still delicious.

The curry sauce was the sweet kind that I like. It wasn’t very thick, and though it wasn’t as mind-blowing as the tonkatsu, it paired wonderfully with the rice and made you want to keep eating. Japanese rice is seriously amazing—each grain is distinct and has a nice bounce. As for the tonkatsu, it was probably just as good as the one mentioned above.

If you’re in Nara and don’t want to spend time queuing for okonomiyaki rice, but still want a tasty and affordable meal, then GANKO’s “Stubborn Papa” tonkatsu rice at Higashimuki Shopping Street is definitely a great option.

Gankoがんこ
Address: 19 Higashimukinaka-cho, Nara City, Nara. (Located in the Higashimuki Shopping Street near Kintetsu Station; the orange-marked area in the map below indicates its location)
Business hours: 11:00 to 22:00 (last orders at 21:30).
Official website:http://www.gankofood.co.jp/shop/detail/ton-nara/index.html
Menu:http://www.gankofood.co.jp/shop/detail/ton-nara/menu.html

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