Tonkatsu rice is a popular dish in Japanese cuisine, characterized by the combination of crispy deep-fried breaded pork cutlet and fragrant, sticky white rice. The pork is fried to a golden brown, retaining its tender and sweet inside, creating a delightful contrast with the crunchy coating. Refer to the article below to learn how to make delicious, authentic Japanese Tonkatsu rice!
⛩ This article belongs to the JAPANESE FOOD CULTURE series
This is a series of articles sharing interesting knowledge about the culture, dishes, and authentic recipes of the Land of the Rising Sun.
Ingredients for Japanese Tonkatsu Rice
- Pork tenderloin or pork leg: 1 piece
- Chicken egg: 1
- White cabbage: 1 head
- Panko breadcrumbs: 150g
- All-purpose flour: 300g
- Soy sauce: 2 tablespoons
- Black vinegar: 1 tablespoon
- Cornstarch: 1 teaspoon
- Cooking oil: a little
- Black sesame seeds: a little
- Common seasonings: a little (sugar/ seasoning powder/ pepper)

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CP Frozen Skinless Pork Ham 1kg
99,500đ/PACK
114,500đ/PACK
GFoods Chicken Egg 55g 10 Eggs/ Box
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CP Chicken Egg 68g 10 Eggs/ Box
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Cabbage Da Lat
13,000đ/KILOGRAM
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Cabbage North
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Panko Bread Crumbs 1kg
55,000đ/PACK
Takoky Bread Crumbs 1kg
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Nisshin Soft Pan-ko Flour 200g
0đ/PACK
Bakers' Choice All Purpose Flour 1kg (No. 11)
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Meizan Premium Flour 1kg
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Huong Viet Soy Sauce 500ml
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Kobe Bussan Soy Sauce 1.8L
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How to Make Tonkatsu (Deep-Fried Pork Cutlet) Rice
To complete this appealing Tonkatsu rice dish, you can refer to these 4 main steps:
Marinating the Pork
- After buying pork tenderloin or pork leg, wash the meat thoroughly, then use a meat tenderizer or knife to gently pound the meat to make it thinner and more tender.
- Next, marinate the meat with 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder and a little ground pepper. Remember to marinate both sides of the meat evenly and let it sit for about 5 minutes for the flavors to absorb.

Coating the Pork
- Once the meat has absorbed the seasoning, start coating it with flour.
- Prepare three plates: all-purpose flour, beaten egg, and panko breadcrumbs.
- Dip the pork piece into the all-purpose flour, then dip it into the beaten egg.
- Next, dip the pork piece back into the all-purpose flour once more, then dip it into the egg again.
- Finally, dip the pork piece into the panko breadcrumbs.
- After coating, put the pork in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes to allow the breadcrumbs to adhere firmly to the meat.

Cutting Cabbage and Mixing Sauce
- Wash the cabbage thoroughly, then cut or shred it into thin strips. Usually, to make the cabbage crispier and tastier, you should soak it in ice water.
- Mix the sauce: Combine 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of black vinegar, 4 teaspoons of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of cornstarch diluted with a little water.
- Heat a pan, add 1 teaspoon of cooking oil. When the oil is hot, add the sauce mixture and stir well until the sauce thickens.

Frying Pork and Garnishing
- Pour a sufficient amount of cooking oil into a pan, wait until the oil is hot, then add the pork and deep-fry. Note to deep-fry the pork so that it cooks evenly and has a beautiful golden color.
- Fry the pork for about 5 minutes until it is evenly golden brown, then remove it, drain the excess oil, and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
- Finally, arrange the pork on a plate, drizzle the sauce over it, sprinkle with a little black sesame seeds, and serve with hot rice.

Choosing Quality Ingredients for Tonkatsu Rice
To ensure the appealing flavor of Tonkatsu rice, the ingredients need to be carefully selected, ensuring safety, freshness, and quality:
Tips for Choosing Pork Leg
To choose a fresh and delicious piece of pork leg, you can refer to the following tips:
- Color: You should choose meat that is pink or light red. The fat of fresh meat is usually translucent white with a slightly ivory hue.
- Smell: Fresh pork leg will have a characteristic pleasant smell. Therefore, you should avoid buying meat that has a fishy, foul, or unpleasant pungent odor.
- Elasticity: To check the elasticity, you can gently press on the meat. Fresh meat will quickly return to its original state after pressing. Conversely, you should not buy it if the meat is soft or feels slimy.
- Fat and Skin Layer: Prioritize choosing pieces of meat where the lean meat and fat are clearly separated but still firmly attached to each other.

Tips for Choosing Clean, Delicious Chicken Eggs
To choose fresh and hygienic chicken eggs, you can apply some simple tips:
- Observe the Eggshell: Fresh chicken eggs usually have a dark brown, evenly colored shell without any black spots. Avoid choosing eggs with pale shells or cracks, as these may indicate that the eggs have been stored for a long time.
- Candling the Egg: When candling the egg under a light or the sun to check its quality, a fresh egg will have a small air cell, clear egg white, and a round yolk that is balanced in the center of the egg.
- Check by Gently Shaking: Hold the egg close to your ear and shake it gently to listen for any sound. Normally, fresh eggs will not make any noise, while old or spoiled eggs will make a loud sound.

Tips for Buying Cabbage
When choosing cabbage, to ensure fresh quality, you can refer to the following tips:
- Shape: You should choose cabbage that is round and even in shape, avoiding those that are oval or misshapen.
- Color:
- Green Cabbage: Choose leaves that are dark green.
- White Cabbage: Choose leaves that are pale greenish-white.
- Purple Cabbage: Choose a deep purple color.
- Firmness: You can gently press on the cabbage. If the cabbage is firm, it is likely crisp and delicious. Conversely, if it is soft, it may have few leaves or be wilting.
- Weight: Cabbage that feels heavy and firm when held is usually fresher, more watery, dense, and has more leaves.

Delicious Tonkatsu Rice Dining Locations
Below is information about famous Tonkatsu rice dining locations:
Katsuya
Contact Information:
- Address: S29-1 Pham Van Nghi Street, Tan Phong Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City
- Phone: 0356 519 639
- Operating Hours: 10:30 – 14:00 and 17:00 – 21:00

Katsuya is a famous Japanese restaurant chain, especially known for its Tonkatsu (deep-fried pork cutlet). The restaurant’s highlights are its unique sauce recipe, crispy breadcrumbs, and fresh ingredients prepared daily. Katsuya’s food quality has been affirmed over many years, consistently appearing on the list of top-rated restaurants in Canada.
Osaka – Japanese Claypot Rice
Contact Information:
- Address: 53 Nguyen Thoi Trung Street, Ward 5, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City
- Phone: 028 7307 2188
- Operating Hours: 11:00 – 22:00

Osaka – Japanese Claypot Rice Restaurant offers a culinary space that blends traditional Vietnamese flavors with the essence of Japanese cuisine. The diverse menu includes fried rice, chicken rice, char siu rice, etc., prepared according to a special recipe, creating an irresistible rich flavor. The affordable prices and wide range of choices have made Osaka an ideal destination for those who love Japanese cuisine.
CoCo Ichibanya Vietnam
Contact Information:
- Address: 13 Ly Tu Trong Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
- Phone: 028 7309 9926
- Operating Hours: 10:00 – 21:30

CoCo Ichibanya Vietnam is located in the heart of District 1, on the 1st floor of the Washoku Garden building, CoCo Ichibanya – 13 Ly Tu Trong. The restaurant’s special features include not only its convenient location and cozy atmosphere but also its renowned tonkatsu. Tonkatsu at CoCo Ichibanya is made from selected pork, coated with panko breadcrumbs according to a special recipe, retaining the tenderness and sweetness of the meat inside and the crispy crust outside.
Buy Standard Japanese Tonkatsu Ingredients at Kamereo
Kamereo is a strategic partner of Gyomu Japan – a Japanese domestic supermarket chain, providing Tonkatsu ingredients and many other Japanese foods for Vietnamese F&B businesses. Our mission is to simplify the food supply chain in Vietnam by pioneering the application of technology to optimize the procurement process for F&B businesses.
Kamereo offers more than 3000 diverse products, from fresh and frozen foods to beverage ingredients and kitchen utensils, meeting the comprehensive needs of restaurants and providing optimal convenience by integrating everything on one platform.

To ensure food quality, we also focus on investing in a modern storage system that meets hygiene and safety standards, including specialized cold and frozen storage rooms, along with a 3-layer quality control process. Kamereo always provides food that meets the most stringent standards of the F&B industry.
The smart electronic invoice system on the Kamereo application also creates a difference compared to traditional suppliers. Here, businesses can easily control purchase invoices. VAT invoices are sent immediately after payment, helping businesses minimize document loss and speed up the transparent financial reporting process. In particular, Kamereo also supports ordering until 12:00 AM and commits to fast delivery support before 6:00 AM the next day.
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Conclusion
Hopefully, the above information will help you make authentic Tonkatsu rice at home or find a satisfactory dining location. To ensure fresh and quality ingredients, making your dish even more perfect, don’t forget to visit Kamereo. In addition, our Food and Lifestyle section has many other great recipes and tips waiting for you to discover.
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