Chikuma, Nagano, Japan｜Oguro Restaurant

Quaint little mom and pop lunch spot in lovely Chikuma City. They make easily one of the best tonkatsu in all of Japan. For 1100¥ you get a perfectly cooked fried pork cutlet that is tender, juicy, and flavorful. You also get a delicious side of soup, pickled veggies, cabbage salad, and a generous portion of rice. Instead of the standard katsu sauce, they give you a house made sauce that is salty and rich with umami. Also, they have a cute illustration of Japanese pro-wrestling legend, Mitsuharu Misawa. When I told the woman I recognized the wrestler drawing she was appreciative. This is a must visit restaurant in Chikuma City, Nagano. I plan on taking another trip to this area someday just to try the other amazing looking dishes at this place.

My friends and I stumbled into this restaurant almost by accident on an overnight trip to Nagano in 2018, and to this day it is still one of the best meals I have ever had in my life. I go to sleep and DREAM of that katsudon. We bring it up in conversation at least once a month. We're planning a trip back to Japan almost entirely to experience that food again. Seriously, you owe it to yourself to make your way to this restaurant if you are going to be in the area. ごちそうさまでした！

Best tonkatsu I’ve ever had. And I’ve been to many loved and pricier places. So good! The garlic’s soaked in soy sauce so the flavor is really strong. It’s served separately so you can control how much you wana eat it with your tonkatsu. The place is small but with a few big tables so people share tables together. If you see people standing on the opposite side of the road to the shop, that’s a line. Many people also had the ramen so I reckon it’s pretty good too. Totally recommend if you’re in town.