Tonkatsu Tazumura Review: Osaka Station Tonkatsu

Tonkatsu Tazumura didn’t start out to be the first restaurant we reviewed. In fact, we didn’t decide to visit until after we arrived in Osaka. We just wanted something hot, hearty and quintessentially Japanese for our first meal.

We landed at Kansai International Airport and took the train into Osaka. Osaka Station has a direct entrance to LUCUA South, a large mall with restaurants, shops and other attractions. Tonkatsu Tazumura is on the 14th floor, just above JR Osaka Station.

The restaurant specializes in tonkatsu, Japanese breaded pork cutlets. Meals include rice, shredded cabbage, soup and pickles. You can find Tonkatsu Tazumura on Google Maps and other websites listed in English as Tonkatsu Tadzumura. Some sites list the name as Tazumura.

Don’t expect Instagram-worthy decor or innovative plating techniques. Tonkatsu Tazumura is known for its solid tonkatsu and incredibly convenient location. And it won’t break the bank, either.

We definitely needed something comforting after arriving late in Japan after a red-eye flight.

Tonkatsu Tazumura at a Glance

The official website for LUCUA South shows this restaurant as located on the 14F with business hours 11:00～22:00, and estimated lunch/dinner cost of ¥1,000～¥1,999. Depending on your cut of pork/pork meal deal and if you order a set meal or not, budgeting around ¥1,500～¥2,500 per person will probably be more realistic.

Finding Tonkatsu Tazumura in Umeda

Umeda can be disorientating, even for frequent travellers to Osaka. Osaka Station connects to several department stores, shopping centres, underground passages and train lines and it can be surprisingly easy to end up coming out of the wrong building.
Fortunately getting to Tonkatsu Tazumura is relatively simple once you know how.

Tonkatsu Tazumura is located on the inside of LUCUA South on the 14th floor, which is inside the Daimaru Umeda side of Osaka Station. Signs are displayed from JR Osaka Station to guide you towards Daimaru Umeda or LUCUA South, take the elevator to the restaurant floor.

Tonkatsu restaurant itself has a direct entrance from JR Osaka Station, and is also a two-minute walk from the nearby subway exits of Umeda and Nishi-Umeda.
Its location is one of Tazumura’s biggest benefits. You never need to walk out into the street, dodge tourists on cramped side-streets or make a special trip across town. Especially if you’ve just landed in Osaka, are laden down with shopping bags, or want to eat before heading to the train station.

First Impressions

You know exactly what you’re walking into as soon as you enter the restaurant.
Immediately inside is this large display case filled with hyper-realistic Japanese food models illustrating the various tonkatsu sets on offer. Thick pork cutlets, deep fried prawns, curry rice and combination dishes are all meticulously arranged with shredded cabbage, rice and soup…

These food models are particularly helpful for foreign tourists. Just by browsing through these displays you can get a good idea of the portion sizes and exactly what’s included in each set meal before even consulting the menu.

The interior of the restaurant has the relaxing vibe of a department store dining hall. It has an effortlessly clean and organised feel without being stuffy. You can bring kids, elderly relatives or groups of friends here without having to worry about formal dress codes or any complicated restaurant etiquette.

Another thing you’ll notice right away is that Tazumura also provides English, Chinese and Korean menus as well as menus with pictures. We hear they also offer kids’ meals and child seating, so this is a great spot if you have family in tow around Osaka Station.

What We Ordered

We ordered two meals so we could experience both the traditional tonkatsu meal as well as one of the bigger combo sets.

One came with a big pork cutlet served separately on a wire stand. It came with Japanese curry rice, shredded cabbage, soup and pickles.

The other was a mixed fry set with tonkatsu and two giant breaded prawns. It came with rice, cabbage, soup, lemon and a creamy sauce.

Both were filling meals. This isn’t the place where you eat and an hour later you’re raiding the snack drawer. These will definitely fill you up for lunch or dinner, considering the rice, cabbage and soup.

The Pork Tonkatsu

Tonkatsu is one of those foods that demands two very different outcomes simultaneously.

The breadcrumb coating should be light and crisp. The pork inside should be tender and juicy. Cook your pork in oil that’s too cool and the breadcrumbs absorb grease. Cook it too long and the meat turns dry and chewy.

Tazumura managed both nicely.

The crust had a deep golden colour and crunchy sound, without being oily. It had enough texture from coarse breadcrumbs without letting the crust overpower the meat.

The pork itself was thick, juicy, and evenly cooked throughout. There was ample fat along the edge of the meat that added flavour without being overly indulgent. Each bite stayed together neatly when picked up with chopsticks instead of falling away from the coating.

You could tell Tazumura used coarse breadcrumbs just by looking at the exterior of their tonkatsu. They advertise that they serve tonkatsu made with Kirishima black pork from Miyazaki, and they take care in their Japanese rice and seasonal veggies as well.

Tonkatsu here is no radical reinterpretation of the dish. There are no fancy sauces or towering vegetable garnishes. It’s just a classic cutlet done right. And there’s beauty in that.

Tonkatsu with Japanese Curry

The curry set was welcome comfort after a long journey.

Japanese curry tends to be thicker, sweeter, and milder than many curries from Southeast Asia. Instead of overpowering the flavour of the pork, the sauce complemented it by adding richness and moisture to the rice.

Tonkatsu was served on the side instead of resting on top of the curry. This allows you to maintain maximum crispness of the breadcrumb coating. You can cut off a bite, dip it in the curry sauce if desired, and enjoy that crunch.

The generous portion of rice also helped to make this one of the most filling meals on the menu. The shredded cabbage was a nice contrast to have between bites, especially as the curry and fried pork began to feel heavy.

For travelers tasting Japanese curry for the first time, this would be a very welcoming introduction. Mild, warming and familiar enough for kids or those who don’t like spice.

Mixed Tonkatsu and Fried Prawn Set

Meal sets shine when every single item has been carefully considered. Visually speaking this combination set was the showstopper among our group.

Lined up alongside the pork cutlet were two finger sized breaded prawns. Placed over a tiny metal rack, they shared the same beautiful golden crisp batter and had juicy, slightly sweet meat.

If you ever find yourself wondering between tonkatsu or ebi fry, this set is your solution.

The pork is still the star, but the addition of prawns adds variety and elevates the meal to feel just a little more special. Squeezing lemon over the whole plate brightens up the fried coating and the creamy sauce really compliments the prawns.

Don’t forget to pile your pork cutlet high with the mountain of finely shredded cabbage that comes with the plate. It’s not just there for show! Eat a bite of the fresh, crunchy cabbage between bites of fried foods and it makes the whole set seem healthier.

We finished our meal switching back and forth between pork, prawn, cabbage and rice and still had deliciousness with our last bite.

Rice, Soup and Side Dishes

One way Japanese set meals are able to fill you up so nicely is because they’re comprised of multiple small parts, not just one dish.

At Tazumura, their main cutlet came with rice, soup, shredded cabbage and a little dish of pickles on the side. Separately they’re all unimpressive. Together they make tonkatsu a satisfying meal.

The rice was soft and slightly sticky, allowing you to grab it easily with your chopsticks. It tasted great with both tonkatsu sauce and Japanese curry.

The soup was light enough to not overpower the fried food. And the pickles provided a salty, slightly sour palate cleanser between bites. The cabbage was fresh and thinly sliced, instead of coarse and watery.

None of these sides tried to overpower the pork. They simply did their job well.

Is Tonkatsu Tazumura Expensive?

Tonkatsu Tazumura was remarkably inexpensive for its location. For restaurants on the upper levels around Osaka Station, dining out can easily get pricey, especially if you’re looking at high-end beef, sushi, or kaiseki ryori Japanese seasonal fare. Tazumura will set you back much less and won’t feel like eating out of a box either.

Most customers will pay between ¥1,500 and ¥2,500 per person depending on the cutlet choice. Pork loin sets will run cheaper, while the fatty pork and seafood combinations will be at the higher end of the price range. That price includes a large portion as your main dish, along with a complete array of sides. You won’t feel hungry after and likely won’t need to grab anything else. It’s even more of a deal if you’re traveling in the Umeda area where everything tends to cost a bit extra just for the convenience.

Service and Dining

The service style was efficient-yet-polite typical of Japanese department-store restaurants.

Ordering was easy, our table was organised and food was delivered on neatly arranged plates. Even when all our dishes arrived, it didn’t feel crowded because our cutlets, rice and soup were served on separate trays.

Everything about the meal felt paced and family-friendly, instead of hurried. Despite being in a major transport/shopping district the restaurant didn’t feel like we were eating in a train station.

Tonkatsu Tazumura works for several kinds of diners. Solo visitors can get a filling meal without feeling silly eating alone and families have enough staple options to please both kids and adults.

What Could Be Better?

Tonkatsu Tazumura doesn’t really have any major downsides. But there are a couple things to know before visiting in order to avoid disappointed expectations.

Tonkatsu Tazumura isn’t an intimate counter tucked away in an Osaka neighbourhood. It’s an extension of a department store, so it has the feel you would expect. Guests in search of obscure pork breeds, super precise low temperature cooking or a specialty tasting-menu experience should check out one of Osaka’s destination restaurants.

In addition, the meal will be fairly heavy. Thick pork cutlet, rice and curry isn’t difficult to eat, but it can be overwhelming if you’re not very hungry. Consider getting a regular set instead of a combination plate if you want a smaller meal.

Finally, since Tazumura is so convenient it has the potential to get more crowded around lunch, dinner and on weekends. Try arriving just before peak dining times if you prefer a quieter experience.

Who Will Enjoy Tonkatsu Tazumura?

Tonkatsu Tazumura is ideal for travellers that want a consistent Japanese meal near Osaka Station.

Whether you’re making it your first meal after arriving in Osaka, stopping for lunch during shopping or grabbing an early dinner before your train, Tazumura has you covered. Families will enjoy the visual menus and simple dishes while budget travelers can fill up without breaking the bank.

Tonkatsu Tazumura is also great for introducing foreigners to tonkatsu. The pork is cooked properly, the sets come with traditional side dishes and the menu is extensive enough to offer curry and seafood options.

Tonkatsu Tazumura Review: Our Conclusion

Tonkatsu Tazumura was actually our very first meal in Japan. From start to finish, it met our expectations.

The tonkatsu had a crunchy exterior, was tender on the inside and served in decently sized portions to satiate our hunger from traveling. We both enjoyed the variety of our combination set, and the curry rice meal was decadent, comforting and a great value.

Ultimately, we just found the restaurant to be reliable.

Sure there are more famous tonkatsu joints in Osaka. If you’re after a rare cut of meat or upscale dining experience you will have to look elsewhere. But for delicious food, large servings, affordable prices and an ultra-accessible location Tazumura does it all.

If you find yourself looking for tonkatsu restaurants near Osaka Station, Tazumura is an easy recommendation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Tonkatsu Tazumura?

Tonkatsu Tazumura is located on the 14F of LUCUA South, in the Osaka Station / Daimaru Umeda complex. It is directly connected to JR Osaka Station.

Tonkatsu Tazumura or Tonkatsu Tadzumura?

Tonkatsu Ta*zumura is the correct name of the restaurant. However, the restaurant’s official LUCUA English webpage spells it “Tonkatsu Tadzumura.” You will also see “Tazumura” used frequently on English language travel sites.

How expensive are meals?

The typical meal will range from ¥1,500 – ¥2,500 per person. Sets that include only the basic tonkatsu are cheaper. Premium pork options and combination meals will be slightly more expensive.

Is it kids friendly?

Yes. Tonkatsu Tazumura has a casual environment with photo menus, kids’ meals, and child seats.

Is Tonkatsu Tazumura worth it?

Yes. If you are staying around Osaka Station or doing lots of shopping in Umeda, Tazumura is worth checking out. You get a crispy, filling plate of tonkatsu at a great price in one of the most convenient locations in Kansai.