What to do with a WWII era community public bathhouse no longer in use in an upmarket Tokyo neighbourhood? Turn it into one of Tokyo’s best tonkatsu restaurants of course! That’s just what the Maisen Tonkatsu restaurant chain has done with its flagship venue in Aoyama.
Established in the 1960’s, Maisen Tonkatsu is known for serving up a variety of juicy, crumbed and deep-fried pork, with rice and shredded cabbage on the side, topped off with Maisen’s own special sauces.
The interiors of the cavernous old bathhouse, with its retro, wooded feel, seem to have been left relatively untouched when the restaurant moved in. The only thing missing is the bath. The dated uniforms worn by the service staff don’t seem to have been updated since opening either, which only adds to the charm of the place.
English menus are available, a selection of set meals are on offer at a variety of price points and there’s seafood on the menu if you’re not a fan of pork. The cabbage is bottomless too, so take advantage of a top up when the staff come around with it.
You might need to queue at Maisen Tonkatsu at peak lunch and dinner times, but know its worth the wait.
Address: 4 Chome-8-5 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo
Getting there: 3-minute walk from Omotesando Station Exit A2 on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda, Ginza and Hanzomon Lines
Nearby: Cafe Kitsune, Cat Street, Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo, Flying Tiger, Kiddyland, Omotesando Hills, Spiral, SunnyHills, Watari Museum of Contemporary Art
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