Description
Looking for an easy dinner with crispy texture and bold flavor? Japanese Katsu Bowls with Tonkatsu Sauce are the perfect solution. These delicious rice bowls feature golden panko-crusted pork cutlets sliced over fluffy rice and drizzled with a homemade sweet-savory tonkatsu sauce. Ideal for anyone craving comfort food, this dish also works great for quick lunch ideas, meal prep, or fun weeknight dinners. Add your favorite toppings like Japanese mayo, sesame seeds, or shredded cabbage to build a restaurant-worthy meal at home.
Ingredients
2 boneless pork loin chops
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 large egg
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
Salt and pepper to taste
Vegetable oil for frying
2 cups cooked Japanese short-grain rice
1 tablespoon rice vinegar (optional)
3 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
Optional toppings: Japanese mayo, green onion, sesame seeds, pickled ginger, shredded cabbage
Instructions
1. Pat pork chops dry and pound to ¼-inch thickness; season with salt and pepper.
2. Set up breading station with separate bowls for flour, beaten egg, and panko.
3. Coat pork in flour, dip in egg, then press into panko until fully coated.
4. Heat vegetable oil in skillet to 340–350°F (170–175°C).
5. Fry pork cutlets for 2–3 minutes per side until golden and crispy; drain on a wire rack.
6. Cook Japanese rice and season with rice vinegar and salt if desired.
7. Combine ketchup, Worcestershire, oyster sauce, soy sauce, and sugar in saucepan; warm gently.
8. Slice pork and place over rice in bowls; drizzle with warm tonkatsu sauce and desired toppings.
Notes
Use panko breadcrumbs for maximum crunch—regular ones won’t give the same effect.
Let the fried katsu rest on a wire rack to keep the crust from getting soggy.
You can make the tonkatsu sauce up to a week in advance and store it in the fridge.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 630
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
Keywords: katsu bowl, pork katsu, tonkatsu, crispy cutlet rice bowl, Japanese comfort food, quick dinner