Kurobuta Tonkatsu Kagoshima Pride on a Plate

When people think of Kagoshima ingredients, black pork comes to mind first. Among the many ways to enjoy it, the deep fried cutlet may be the most honest. Long standing specialty shops line the alleys of Tenmonkan, greeting travelers with the aroma of freshly fried pork.

Highlights

Kagoshima black pork has a natural sweetness in its fat and grows tender and clean tasting the more you chew. A thick slice fried quickly at high heat gives you a crisp coating outside and a juicy center within. Paired with local miso sauce and a mound of shredded cabbage, the strength of the ingredient speaks for itself.

Enjoying the Seasons

Tonkatsu is a year round pleasure, yet many shops serve a warm pork soup alongside it in the colder months, warming you to the core. In summer a light grated radish and citrus sauce feels refreshing, while a richer sauce suits winter. Changing the pairing by season is a local way to enjoy it.

Access and Basic Information

Specialty shops cluster around Tenmonkan, the liveliest district in Kagoshima City. It is a short walk from the Tenmonkandori tram stop, and many places serve both lunch and dinner, which is convenient for visitors. There are also shops serving black pork dishes around Kagoshima Chuo Station and within the Amu Plaza complex, so you can drop in while waiting for a train.

Practical Travel Notes

Black pork tonkatsu menus are often split by cut, such as loin, fillet, or an assortment of both, with set meals running around two thousand yen as a rough guide. Beyond tonkatsu, some shops let you enjoy black pork in many ways, including shabu shabu and pork bone stew. Popular shops tend to fill up right after opening at lunch and in the early evening, so shift your timing or reserve if you can. Many places offer lunch only sets that are relatively affordable. Souvenir shops selling easy to carry processed black pork products are also scattered through the city.

A Quick Tip

Popular shops draw lines at lunchtime. Arriving a little off peak lets you savor the meal at ease, and tasting the loin and fillet cuts side by side is well worth trying. First, before adding sauce, try it with salt or close to plain to confirm the natural sweetness of the black pork.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• What counts as "Kagoshima Kurobuta": The Kagoshima Prefecture Kurobuta Producers' Council requires the pigs to be purebred Berkshire and to be fed for at least 60 days in the final fattening stage on feed containing 10 to 20 percent sweet potato. They are shipped at roughly 230 to 270 days old, a fattening period 1.2 to 1.5 times that of ordinary pigs.
• How to find a restaurant: The council's official website offers a search for "designated retailers and specially selected restaurants" as well as a "Kagoshima Food Walking MAP" (PDF).
• A public facility where you can try it: Michi-no-Eki Osumi Yagoro Densetsu no Sato (6134-1 Iwagawa, Osumi-cho, Soo) / products hall 9:00-18:00, restaurant 11:00-15:00 (closed on Tuesdays and the second and fourth Thursday). Closed on January 1 and 2. Telephone 099-482-5666. Kurobuta sukiyaki-style and shabu-shabu set meals are the recommended dishes, and there is also a counter selling fresh and processed pork.

* Opening hours and prices vary from shop to shop.

(Sources: Kagoshima Prefecture Kurobuta Producers' Council official website; Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Kyushu Regional Development Bureau, "Roadside Stations of Kyushu," Michi-no-Eki Osumi Yagoro Densetsu no Sato)

Information Sources

This article is compiled from tourism information for Kagoshima Prefecture together with information published by each shop. Prices, menus and seasons are subject to change, so please check the official information of each shop for details.

Sightseeing Checklist

• Budget guide: A tonkatsu set meal from around 1,000 yen and up
• Where to eat it: Specialist restaurants in Tenmonkan in Kagoshima city and elsewhere in the prefecture
• Best time of day: Both lunch and dinner. Popular restaurants get busy at lunchtime
• Avoiding the crowds: Long-established shops can have queues. Go right after opening or shift your timing
• Enjoy it with: Kurobuta shabu-shabu, eating your way around Tenmonkan, and Kagoshima shochu