Michelin-Approved Osaka Tonkatsu Restaurant Opens In SG—Is It Worth The Hype?

Tonkatsu Daiki opens its first outlet in Singapore

Image credit: Tonkatsu Daiki

A new player has entered Singapore’s tonkatsu scene! Tonkatsu Daiki has arrived at Ngee Ann City, bringing a taste of Osaka to our shores. Inspired by the culinary traditions of Japan’s food capital, the restaurant pairs precise tonkatsu craftsmanship with a distinctive Osaka-inspired ambience. Its hole-in-the-wall entrance is even designed to look like a Japanese train, complete with seats and safety handles you’d see with Japan Railways.

The brand arrives with an impressive pedigree, with its Osaka outlet recognised in the Michelin Guide for four consecutive years. But not all brands succeed in overseas markets, so we decided to drop by the restaurant to see if it lives up to the hype.

Food at Tonkatsu Daiki

Each premium pork cutlet at Tonkatsu Daiki is coated in panko, AKA Japanese white breadcrumbs, and fried slowly at precisely controlled temperatures. This careful process is said to create a light, golden crust that is crisp on the outside, while keeping the interior tender and juicy, with a delicate rosy blush at its centre.

All that was evident in the Classic Hire Tonkatsu Set 120g ($29++), which sported a gorgeous pink centre and a golden exterior. In classic tonkatsu fashion, the set comes with a mountain of shredded cabbage, rice, miso soup, pickles, and three condiments—tonkatsu sauce, mustard, and some pink salt.

Hire tonkatsu is made from lean pork tenderloin, and true to its reputation, the meat here was wonderfully soft and almost silky, with a good amount of succulence in each bite. And of course, the crispy yet airy crust was the cherry on top. The whole katsu was remarkably clean-tasting, with virtually zero grease and porky odour.

Before we talk about the other components of the set, let’s discuss the other item we tried: the Classic Rosu Tonkatsu Set 200g ($33++).

Rosu, or pork loin, is known to be a fattier and richer cut of meat, and that was certainly the case here. You could even see a layer of fat in each slice, and each piece had a stronger, meatier flavour. However, the promised pink centre wasn’t really present here—possibly because the pork was cooked a touch longer than usual. This did make the meat a little less juicy than we’d like, especially for rosu tonkatsu. But perhaps this was an issue with our batch, as other pictures we’ve seen online did not have this issue.

Nevertheless, both cuts were excellent, reminding me of the fine tonkatsu I had during my last visit to Japan. The experience was elevated further with the various sauces, particularly the tonkatsu sauce, whose sweet and tangy notes added depth to the meats.

The rice, miso soup, and pickles were all solid. The miso soup, in particular, stood out for its rich umami—something you don’t always get at Japanese restaurants in Singapore. The cabbage shreds also made for a great palate cleanser after all that tonkatsu.

If you’d like a little extra in the flavour department, you can order the In-House Special Japanese Curry Sauce ($5++) to pair with your rice or tonkatsu. While it’s definitely spicier than your typical Japanese curry, we found it to be a bit diluted and lacking the complexity and savoury-sweet richness that defines a good Japanese curry.

Ambience at Tonkatsu Daiki

Much like a small restaurant in Japan, Tonkatsu Daiki occupies a small and modest space and can seat around 20 people. The few tables and bar counter, not to mention interiors that pay homage to Osaka, give it quite a cosy and nostalgic feel.

Again, the entrance is made to look like the inside of a JR train, and that’s a really cool design quirk that pays homage to the restaurant’s place of origin.

Tonkatsu Daiki is a seven-minute walk from Orchard MRT Station.

Tonkatsu Daiki – Eatbook Review

Tonkatsu Daiki offers delicious tonkatsu that fans of Japanese cuisine will enjoy. While we haven’t had the chance to try the original outlet in Osaka and can’t make a direct comparison, this Singapore outpost nevertheless does the job.

If you’re looking to enjoy other standout tonkatsu in Singapore, check out our Tonshou review for a charcoal-grilled take, or dive into our Katsuya review to discover one of Singapore’s most underrated tonkatsu spots.

Address: 391 Orchard Road, #05-33, Ngee Ann City, Singapore 238873
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 9pm
Website
Tonkatsu Daiki is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Nivian Chiang.
This was a media tasting at Tonkatsu Daiki.