Tarekatsu Don Cutlet Bowl in Sweet Savory Sauce

Tarekatsu don is a signature rice bowl of Niigata City, made by dipping thinly fried cutlets in a sweet savory soy sauce and laying them over rice. Unlike the common cutlet bowl bound with egg, its light flavor puts the fragrant sauce and crisp coating at center stage. It is said to have been born at a shop in the Furumachi district of Niigata City in the early Showa era, and today katsudon in Niigata means this style.

Highlights

Dipping each piece quickly in the sauce lets the sweet savory flavor soak nicely into the coating, pairing well with rice. The thin cutlets are never too heavy, and servings stacked two or three high are still satisfying. Comparing the sauces handed down at old tonkatsu shops, Western restaurants, and diners is one of the pleasures. The number of cutlets, thickness of coating, and sweetness of the sauce differ a little from shop to shop.

Enjoying the Seasons

It is a year round staple, but in the outing season it is also popular as a boxed lunch. Gathering around takeaway tarekatsu don during local events or cherry blossom viewing is a scene typical of Niigata. Because the sauce keeps its flavor even when cool, it suits takeaway well.

Access and Basic Information

Around Niigata Station and the Furumachi district, many shops serve tarekatsu don. Starting with the long established Furumachi shop said to be its birthplace, stroll through the city and drop into a place that catches your eye. Popular shops can form queues at midday.

Practical Travel Notes

A bowl generally costs around a thousand yen, and some shops adjust the price by the number of cutlets. Besides a single dish, it is often served as a set with miso soup and small sides, making it easy to adjust the volume. To avoid lines, aim for right after opening or outside the midday peak. Where takeaway is offered, enjoying it at a park or event venue is also pleasant.

A Quick Tip

It is best to fully savor the rice that has soaked up the sauce too. Lift one cutlet and eat it together with the rice beneath for an especially fine taste. When several are stacked, try the first plain, then the next with rice, varying your approach to stay delighted to the last bite.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• The restaurant where it began: Tonkatsu Taro Furumachi Main Shop (6-973 Furumachi-dori, Chuo Ward, Niigata City, TEL 025-222-0097). According to its official website it is open from 11:30 to 14:30, closing as soon as the ingredients run out, and is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
• Price guide: The Niigata City official tourism guide lists (as of April 2024) katsudon at 1,400 yen and the special katsudon with seven cutlets at 1,910 yen. The sauce has been carried on by replenishing the same batch since the Showa 30s.
• If you want to try it at the station: Tonkatsu Taro CoCoLo Niigata (inside JR Niigata Station, 1-1-1 Hanazono, Chuo Ward, Niigata City, TEL 025-288-1577) is open from 11:00 to 20:30 (L.O. 20:00), so it stays open into the evening.
• Points to note: The Furumachi main shop has switched to lunchtime service only, so in the evening the shop inside the station is the sure bet.

* Opening hours and prices vary from restaurant to restaurant.

(Sources: Tonkatsu Taro official website, Niigata City official tourism guide "Tonkatsu Taro, the originator of tare katsudon")

Information Sources

This article is compiled from tourism information for Niigata Prefecture together with information published by each restaurant. Prices, menus and seasonal availability are subject to change, so please check each restaurant's official information for details.

Sightseeing Checklist

• Budget guide: From around 1,000 yen a bowl
• Where to eat it: Specialist restaurants and diners in Niigata City
• Best time of day: Mainly at lunchtime, when you want a hearty meal
• Avoiding the crowds: Popular places are busy at lunchtime, so shift your timing
• Combine it with: The sweet-savory sauce, Niigata's Koshihikari rice, and a stroll around Furumachi