Butagumi

Butagumi in Tokyo's Nishi-Azabu neighborhood has earned a devoted following as one of the city's premier tonkatsu restaurants, specializing in premium pork cutlets sourced from heritage breeds across Japan. The restaurant occupies a converted traditional wooden house, lending an intimate, almost residential atmosphere to the dining experience. Each visit presents a choice between several pork breeds such as Berkshire, Duroc, and seasonal varieties, each with distinct flavor profiles and fat marbling that the kitchen prepares to bring out their individual character. The thick-cut fillets are coated in fine panko breadcrumbs and fried to a deep golden crust while keeping the interior juicy and tender, served alongside freshly shredded cabbage, house-made pickles, and rich tonkatsu sauce.