Northern Kyushu Trip | Fukuoka Food | Kurokatsutei | Above Hankyu Fukuoka | Delicious Kagoshima Tonkatsu

Kurobuta (black pork) is probably Kagoshima's most famous delicacy, and Kurokatsutei (黒かつ亭) specializes in Satsuma black pork shipped directly from the source — at prices that aren't too steep either. I actually stumbled upon this tonkatsu restaurant a year ago in the underground mall at Tokyo Station: the place I originally wanted to eat at had a huge line, so I just picked a shop next door at random, and it turned out to be the best tonkatsu I'd ever tasted.

On this trip to Fukuoka I discovered that Kurokatsutei has a branch here too, and once I found out, I was determined to squeeze one evening into the itinerary no matter what — just to see whether that amazing flavor was real, or whether I was simply starving that day 😂

Kurokatsutei has four locations in Japan, with an average Tabelog score of about 3.5 across them (Kurokatsutei @ Tabelog), which is actually a pretty good rating by Tabelog standards. On Google Maps, both Kagoshima branches score above 4, while the Fukuoka and Tokyo branches I happened to visit fare worse, at around 3.5.

📜 Information

• Address: 〒812-0012 Fukuoka, Hakata Ward, Hakataekichuogai, 1−1番1号 Kuten (くうてん) 9F
• Opening hours: 11:00 ~ 20:00
• Phone: +81 92-260-1177
• Payment: Credit cards accepted
• Official website：http://www.kurokatutei.net/

The branch we visited, JR Hakata Hankyu, is located in the food court on the 9th floor of the Hankyu department store above JR Hakata Station. When we arrived on the 9th floor, no other restaurant had a line — only Kurokatsutei had two or three groups waiting outside. Unexpectedly popular.

Tea and a small appetizer are served as soon as you sit down

After waiting a little over 15 minutes it was our turn. The interior isn't very large, with plenty of four-person tables plus counter-style seats facing outward.

The set meals aren't too expensive by Japanese standards, roughly 1,500 ~ 2,000 yen. We each ordered one: the Kurokatsutei Set & the Premium Loin Cutlet Set.

A set meal with a decent portion size

The pork miso soup was really tasty

The set comes with a bowl of miso soup packed with ingredients — not just pork, but plenty of daikon, carrot and onion, and it's seasoned and simmered beautifully. I was already impressed by it at the Tokyo branch last time.

Standard shredded cabbage

A small rice pot that keeps the rice warm

One nice touch: the rice in the set comes in a small pot that keeps it warm, so you open it and scoop out hot rice whenever you're ready to eat. As I recall, at the Tokyo branch it was served in an ordinary bowl.

Kurokatsutei Set

Premium Loin Cutlet Set

The tonkatsu itself was just as delicious, though I can't remember which cut I had at the Tokyo branch — that one practically melted in the mouth and blew me away. The two cuts this time had some leaner meat; the coating was very crisp and the pork still held its juices, so overall the balance was still excellent!

If you're in Fukuoka in the future and feel like tonkatsu, do give Kurokatsutei a try.

2019 Northern Kyushu Independent Trip:

2019 Northern Kyushu Independent Trip: Full Itinerary Overview

Day 1 Kokura

• Northern Kyushu Trip | JR Pass Ticketing & Seat Reservations | How to Book the Yufuin no Mori | Where to Collect Tickets at Hakata Station
• Northern Kyushu Trip | Getting from Fukuoka to Kokura | Fukuoka Airport Shuttle Bus | JR Limited Express Sonic
• Northern Kyushu Trip | Kokura City Accommodation | ARK BLUE HOTEL (OYO 462 ARK BLUE)
• Northern Kyushu Trip | Kokura City Attractions | One Day in Kokura | Tanga Market | Tokiwa Bridge | Kokura Castle
• Northern Kyushu Trip | Kokura City Food | Kokura Tetsunabe Iron-Pan Gyoza

Day 2 Mojiko & Shimonoseki

• Northern Kyushu Trip | Mojiko Attractions | Getting from Kokura to Mojiko | Mojiko Retro District | Kaikyo Plaza
• Northern Kyushu Trip | Mojiko Food | BEAR FRUIT Baked Curry | Mojiko Specialty | A Must-Eat in Mojiko
• Northern Kyushu Trip | Shimonoseki Attractions | Getting from Mojiko to Shimonoseki | Karato Market | Japan-Qing Peace Treaty Memorial Hall | Akama Shrine

Day 3 Yufuin

• Northern Kyushu Trip | Getting to Yufuin | Northern Kyushu Sightseeing Train | Yufuin no Mori (ゆふいんの森) YUFUIN NO MORI
• Northern Kyushu Trip | Yufuin Accommodation | YUFUIN LAMP NO YADO | A Hot Spring Ryokan with Cats
• Northern Kyushu Trip | Yufuin Attractions | Yufuin | Yunotsubo Street | Matcha Specialty Shop télato | B-Speak | Milch | Yufuin Floral Village | Lake Kinrin
• Northern Kyushu Trip | Yufuin Food | Yakiniku Manyoken | A Cozy Family Restaurant | Great-Value Kuroge Wagyu Yakiniku | Menu

Day 4~5 Fukuoka

• Northern Kyushu Trip | Fukuoka Accommodation | The Lively Hakata Fukuoka | Convenient, Modern and Affordable | Happy Hour with Free-Flow Beer & Sangria
• Northern Kyushu Trip | Fukuoka Food | Tenjin-Exclusive Ichiran Ramen | The Square-Box Ichiran | Ichiran Ramen
• Northern Kyushu Trip | Fukuoka Food | Kurokatsutei | Above Hankyu Fukuoka | Delicious Kagoshima Tonkatsu
• Northern Kyushu Trip | Fukuoka Food | Ivorish Fukuoka Main Store | French Toast Specialty Shop | Delicious French Toast Recommendation
• Northern Kyushu Trip | Fukuoka Food | Torimabushi Mizutaki Hot Pot | Free-Range Chicken Specialty | Delicious Chicken Four Ways
• Northern Kyushu Trip | Fukuoka City Attractions | Tenjin Underground Mall | Ohori Park | Canal City Hakata | One-Day Transit Pass

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