Shiokoji Tonkatsu Keisuke Review: Tonkatsu Restaurant With Free-Flow Salad Bar & Sauces At Paya Lebar

Besides the impressive Charcoal-grill & Salad Bar Keisuke that threw open its doors earlier this year, there are 13 different unique concepts that make up the rest of his Japanese food empire in Singapore. Adding on to this list is Shiokoji Tonkatsu Keisuke , a new tonkatsu joint in Paya Lebar that offers a slight twist on the well-loved Japanese breaded pork cutlets. Those who are familiar with Keisuke concepts will know that the Hiroshima native tends to add a little creative spin to Japanese classics.

Comprising mainly of rice koji, a strain of rice mould rich in enzymes, this natural seasoning is commonly used in Japanese cooking to tenderise and enhance the umami flavours of food. The restaurant opens on 13 November 2019 , but we managed to get a first-hand preview of what this exciting hole-in-the-wall eatery has to offer.

Food at Shiokoji Tonkatsu Keisuke Similar to other Keisuke restaurants, the menu here is kept relatively lean with a total of nine items to choose form. Each order in addition comes with a bowl of steamed rice, whole fried egg, miso soup, and access to the restaurant’s all-you-can-eat salad bar.

We started off with the signature Shiokoji Pork Loin Katsu Set 200g ($19.90++) , which comes in both 120g and 200g portions. The restaurant’s deep fryer uses a special water molecule control technology that results in 50% less oil being absorbed into the meat.

There are a total of 12 sauces to choose from and you’ll get popular favourites such as curry and ponzu, alongside interesting variants like samurai and ginger. Just like your favourite hotpot restaurants , there are condiments that you can use to mix and match with the sauces. A wide range of salad dressings can in addition be found, and there ought to be enough for you to come up with multiple creative combinations.

The restaurant also dishes up seafood that are coated in panko and deep-fried using the same process as its pork counterpart. This can be easily solved with the wide assortment of sauces available here. The salmon came with a nice pink centre, and I liked how its rich and fatty flavours went well with the crispy batter.

Per to I was, restaurant’s representative that they’re best enjoyed by mixing them directly into the rice and adding a dash of soy sauce. Ambience at Shiokoji Tonkatsu Keisuke All of Keisuke’s restaurants seem to follow the same template of offering a small but cosy setting, and Shiokoji Tonkatsu Keisuke is no different.

There are a total of 23 seats here, with both bar and table seats to choose from. Just like in Keisuke’s Tendon Ginza Itsuki, the smell of oil tends to waft throughout the restaurant and imprint its odour on our clothes.

The verdict While Shiokoji Tonkatsu Keisuke offers a refreshing alternative to the relatively quiet tonkatsu scene in Singapore, I found difficulty picking it over reigning favourites, such as Ma Maison Tonkatsu and Imakatsu, that prepare tonkatsu the classic way. There are still a couple more days before the restaurant officially opens, and I have absolute faith that the quality of its food will improve.