Tonkatsu ENbiton Review: DIY Hot Stone Gyukatsu, Kagoshima Yuzu Pork, Black Charcoal Japanese Curry & More

From soufflé pancakes to individual DIY yakiniku sets, Japanese food trends have always taken Singaporeans by storm, and the latest one that we’re adding to the list is DIY hot stone gyukatsu. Thanks to the opening of Tonkatsu ENbiton, we no longer have to wait for a vacation to Japan order to savour these grilled panko-coated steak strips - along with other unique dishes like Kagoshima yuzu pork and black charcoal curry.

Read on for our review on Tonkatsu ENbiton to find out if it’s worth your dollar!

Tonkatsu ENbiton yuzu pork katsu review

Photo from Tonkatsu ENbiton

Tonkatsu ENbiton is under the EN Group, which includes Monster Curry, Tamago-En, Tempura Makino, and other popular Japanese eateries in Singapore.

Now, to clear up any misconceptions: Unlike what you might assume, yuzu pork is not tonkatsu dipped in yuzu sauce. Instead, it’s a special type of pork from Japan’s Kagoshima prefecture, bred on a special feed that has yuzu mixed in. The result? Juicy meat with a higher nutrition value, along with a higher fat melting point which results in better retention of that umami flavour even when deep fried.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

This specialty dish of theirs comes in set meals, with their Yuzu Rosu Katsu Set going at $22. Wanting an extra kick of flavour, we opted for the Miso Yuzu Rosu Katsu Set ($24) and the Oroshi Yuzu Rosu Katsu Set ($24), topped with a generous heap of daikon radish.

Across the board, the meat was tender and juicy - if a little fatty, as naturally expected  - with its breaded crust fried to crispy perfection. I’m not typically a huge fan of daikon, but was surprised to find that I actually preferred the Oroshi version out of the two. The finely grated radish paired perfectly with the yuzu ponzu sauce that was served on the side, thus balancing out the generous chunks of meat to make them feel less heavy on the palate.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Each set came with miso soup and pickles, as well as free-flow rice and free-flow cabbage and arugula. We’ve got high praises for the miso soup, which had a comforting, homemade quality and was full of ingredients like carrots and actual pieces of pork. While other Japanese eateries in Singapore take the easy way out by relying on miso pre-mixes, we could tell that the one here was prepared with pride and care.

If, like me, you’re used to leaner meat, you can go for the Yuzu Hire Katsu Set ($23), which uses pork fillet instead of pork loin. There are no Miso or Oroshi versions for this cut, but you can always add tonkatsu sauce and roasted sesame seeds to taste.

Tonkatsu ENbiton gyukatsu review

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

While Tonkatsu ENbiton specialises in yuzu pork, their Miyazaki Gyukatsu ($39) was an unanimous favourite at the table. At present, it doesn’t seem like any other restaurants in Singapore have DIY hot stone gyukatsu on their menus yet, so if you’re restricting yourself to just one item during your visit here, let it be this.

I’m someone who’s pretty sensitive to gaminess but didn’t detect any of that here - and that’s probably owed to the fact that the gyukatsu is made of top-quality A4/A5 beef from Miyazaki, Japan. Though it could have been just a tad sweeter, the beef was tender with a good bite, and like the tonkatsu, was coated in an addictively crispy panko crust. As an added bonus, the DIY hot stone element gives you full control over your desired doneness, without any smoke billowing in your face.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Do note that this doesn’t come with rice, but there’s refillable cabbage and arugula - perfect for those who are watching their carb intake but still crave something filling and satisfying.

For slightly over 40 bucks after GST, this is neither affordable nor exorbitant considering the quality of the wagyu, and for what it’s worth, it’s a nice treat if you’re craving gyukatsu and don’t have any trips to Japan lined up.

Other dishes at Tonkatsu ENbiton

Photo from Tonkatsu ENbiton

Another unique offering by Tonkatsu ENbiton are their various seafood Kuro Kare Sets, aka Seafood Charcoal Black Curry Sets topped with cheese from $22. It’s available in Ebi Fry ($22), Kaki Fry ($24), and Salmon Fry ($24) options, but go straight for the Kaisen Mix Fry Kuro Kare Set ($27) for the best of everything.

There’s also the Rosu Katsu Tonkotsu Ramen (from $22), as well as savoury Japanese-style sandwiches including the Chicken Katsu Sando ($11) and indulgent Miyazaki Wagyu Katsu Sando ($37).

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

For sides, we enjoyed the Edamame ($3.50) and Ume Shiso Hiyayakko ($5) - refreshing cold tofu topped with pickles. Wash all of that down with various alcoholic beverages like Highballs, shochu, and Choya Umeshu from $9, or their zesty Yuzu Tea (from $3.90).

Tonkatsu ENbiton has one outlet at VivoCity at time of writing, but based on the restaurant group’s portfolio, you can probably expect more outlets popping up in other areas in time to come. Check out Tonkatsu ENbiton’s full menu here.

Tonkatsu ENbiton
Address: 1 HarbourFront Walk, B2-27/27A VivoCity, Singapore 098585
Opening hours: 11am - 10pm daily
Telephone: 6264 8633
Website

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