Options besides sashimi? The tender "pork cutlet sandwich" at Tsukiji Market

Text and photos byGirl at a 45-degree angle from the upper right

Who says you can only eat sashimi or nigiri sushi at Tsukiji? That’s probably what the headline should’ve been. But based on my two visits to Tsukiji this year, this pork cutlet sandwich turned out to be my biggest highlight. So I’m using it as the first review of my Tsukiji series, though maybe that’s just an “unexpected” sense of comparison talking? (tilts head)

That day was my first time ever visiting Tsukiji. Seeing the famously long lines for Daiwa Sushi and even longer ones for Sushi Dai, and although we arrived around seven in the evening, we ended up settling for a place with a shorter queue — “Nakaya.” To be honest, it wasn’t bad, but I felt that the quality was something I could easily find back in Taiwan, so it really wasn’t worth the trip all the way to Tsukiji, Tokyo, nor the early morning queue.

We found this place because while waiting in line at Nakaya, it visually stood out a bit, and it seemed like most of the people going in and out were market workers. Out of curiosity and also dissatisfaction with Nakaya, we decided to check it out. Most of the shops in these one or two rows in Tsukiji are long and narrow, with front and back doors. Before squeezing in, remember to take off your backpack to avoid bumping into other customers XD

If it’s not too crowded, Xiao Hu recommends sitting on the high stools in the narrow aisle. First, you can watch the old man grill the sandwiches and pork cutlets, and second, if you know a few words of Japanese, you can chat a bit and experience the local life of the fish market.

Interestingly, there’s MSG sitting openly on the table... I wonder what would happen if that were in Taiwan? (laughs)

Many Western-style diners like this are often called “XX-ken... OO-ken,” though I’m not sure who decided that. Senri-ken’s signature is the pork cutlet sandwich, and I later found out that quite a few Taiwanese bloggers have written about it.

There’s also a set meal like this, and you can swap the butter toast for other flavors or change it to a sandwich for an additional charge.

A slightly more detailed menu, though I think I took the photo a bit too small.

The old man makes coffee on the spot — it’s a bit bitter but has a strong aroma, and it’s actually pretty good =)

This is the kind of salad you’d often see at Western restaurants in Taiwan back in the day, served with a tangier Thousand Island dressing. The whole cucumber is fun to bite into.

This bowl is a Western-style creamy soup that was introduced to Japan when it first opened up to the world. The texture is very similar to the Japanese-style cream soup mixes you can buy in Taiwan, but it’s even thicker and richer. However, it doesn’t feel heavy or have that unpleasantly gummy texture of many instant mixes. It’s an oddly smooth and velvety consistency.

And the best part of this bowl is the addition of a half-boiled egg. Break the yolk and let it flow out, but be careful not to stir it too much or it’ll turn the whole soup runny and you’ll miss out on the silky texture and sweetness of the yolk. It’s recommended to enjoy it semi-runny, mixing it with a spoon along with the potatoes and carrots. It’s warming and comforting, especially in the slightly chilly winter.


This is toast that’s been spread with margarine and grilled on both sides until golden and crispy — super tempting. Just before serving, a slice of slightly salty butter is placed on top, and by the time it arrives, the butter is half-melted into the toast. Visually, it’s insanely enticing, and taste-wise, it’s just overwhelmingly satisfying — super delicious!! Highly, highly recommended, and they even kindly cut it into four slices. I personally think it’s even better than the pork cutlet sandwich!!

The star of the show: the pork cutlet sandwich. Just looking at the thickness of the pork cutlet in the middle was half the joy. When I bit into it, the tenderness was surprisingly delicious, though I do prefer pork with a bit more fat. The sauce has a slightly salty miso flavor that might be a tad strong on its own, but once it coats the fried breadcrumbs and the bread, it becomes just perfect. With one bite of the bread and pork together, you get a quartet of textures: crispy, soft, crispy, tender — it’s pure deliciousness.

The final dessert is vanilla ice cream pudding. I’m not sure if the ice cream is homemade, but the vanilla and creaminess are satisfying, and the sweetness is just right. The pudding is of the old-school style that I love, with a stronger egg flavor. Even though the caramel on top is a bit sweet, it’s balanced by the subtle bitterness that comes through — really tasty. I recommend having this after the toast and coffee as a perfect ending.

TABELOG rating: 3.52 (anything over 3.5 is considered high, see [Useful Japanese Travel Websites] Tabelog (食べログ): Essential for Food Hunting)http://serene1102.pixnet.net/blog/post/30705268)

【Senri-ken (千里軒)】
Address: 5-2-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Tsukiji Unloading Wholesale Market Building
Phone: 03-3541-2240
Business Hours: 4:00–12:30, Closed on Sundays

The Japanese Food Travel Diary of the Girl at a 45-Degree Angle from the Upper Right
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