Getting your katsu fix is only a Katsuya away: Japan’s top katsu restaurant chain

Whether you like it served with a rich curry roux, on a heaping bowl of rice, drizzled with a Worcestershire-based sauce, or just on a plate as is with a side of shredded cabbage, Japan's favorite breaded and fried meat dish かつ katsu (pork, chicken, beef or otherwise) continues to gain fans worldwide.

Combining juicy, tender meat and a crispy golden panko breading, it's not hard to understand why some people just can't get enough of it.

Happy tonkatsu customers in a promotional image from Japanese katsu restaurant chain Katsuya. | © PR Times, Inc.

If you're a katsu-lover and you really want to get your katsu fix when you're in Japan, there's one restaurant you're most likely to find, and that's かつや Katsuya.

With one branch shy of 500 worldwide and 435 in Japan, they're the top presence among katsu specialty restaurant chains.

They also have a strong presence in Thailand with 49 branches, they have 7 branches each in Taiwan and Hong Kong and one branch in mainland China (as of December 2021, according to their corporate website).

You'll find a wide selection of tasty and reasonably priced pork katsu dishes at Katsuya, both available to eat in the store or as a takeout / bento lunch option.

Here are some of their most popular menu items:

120g pork loin katsu meal with rice and tonjiru pork soup (s)

Japanese name: ロースカツ定食　120gロース/ご飯/とん汁(小), Price: 720 JPY plus tax.

The takeout version also costs 720 JPY plus tax and doesn't come with soup.

120g pork loin katsu curry

Japanese name: カツカレー(竹)　120gロース, Price: 830 JPY plus tax.

The takeout version also costs 830 JPY plus tax and doesn't come with soup.

120g pork loin katsudon

Japanese name: カツ丼(竹)　120gロース, Price: 690 JPY plus tax.

The takeout version also costs 690 JPY plus tax and doesn't come with soup.

120g pork loin sauce katsu

Japanese name: ソースカツ丼(竹)　120gロース, Price: 690 JPY plus tax.

The takeout version also costs 690 JPY plus tax and doesn't come with soup.

These are only some of the tasty dishes available at Katsuya. For the complete menu, which is not always limited to pork, be sure to dine in the store.

Katsuya regularly has special campaigns and discounts, so if you're lucky, you may be able to enjoy your favorite dishes at a discount.