Three Ways to Use Katsu

By Kyrié the Foodié
Recipes | Traditional Japanese Dishes
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Katsu is very versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes beyond the traditional tonkatsu (note: tonkatsu is just a type of katsu. “Ton” means “pork” in Japanese, while “katsu” means cutlet. So tonkatsu is just “pork cutlet.” You can also make chicken katsu, beef katsu, or even tofu katsu!).

Below are some of my favorite ways to use katsu:

Katsudon (かつ丼)

Katsudon is a comforting Japanese dish featuring a crispy breaded pork cutlet served over a bowl of steamed rice, topped with a savory-sweet mixture of eggs, onions, and dashi broth.

See Recipe

Katsu Curry
(カツカレー)

A comforting Japanese dish that combines a crispy breaded cutlet with a rich, mildly spiced curry sauce served over rice.

See Recipe

Katsu Sando (カツサンド)

Katsu sando is a delightful Japanese sandwich featuring crispy breaded cutlets, usually pork or chicken, nestled between soft slices of shokupan with a layer of tangy tonkatsu sauce.

See Recipe

Classic Tonkatsu (とんかつ)

If you’re wanting to keep it simple, classic tonkatsu is the way to go.

This recipe includes a method for both deep-frying and air-frying.

See Recipe

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4 Comments

  1. Maya Monroe
    Maya Monroe on June 22, 2025 at 12:36 pm

    I grew up eating Katsu almost every weekend and have been trying to make it more again. Love how it’s so versatile!

    Reply
  2. Porter Sinclair
    Porter Sinclair on June 25, 2025 at 5:11 pm

    The donburi version stood out for me. Very rich but still balanced.

    Reply

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Kyrié the Foodié - Asian Recipes

Kyrié is a half-Japanese food content creator and avid home cook who specializes in Asian cuisine, with a focus on Japanese. She loves developing recipes and sharing approachable yet authentic meals. When she’s not in the kitchen, she’s helping her husband Jeff tend to their garden, or on some artistic venture.

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