Japanese Cuisine
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tonkatsu

Tonkatsu is a Japanese dish consisting of a breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet. It is characterized by its crispy panko coating and tender, juicy interior, often served with shredded cabbage and a thick, savory sauce. Tonkatsu has become a beloved comfort food in Japan, reflecting a fusion of Western frying techniques with Japanese ingredients and tastes.

7 ingredients
savorycrispyumamirichslightly sweet
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Where this dish lives in the atlas

Dishes can belong to more than one culinary culture. These claims show origin, variation, diaspora, influence, or contested relationships when the atlas has source-backed context.

  • OriginPrimary displayUncited · medium confidence

    Japanese

    Backfilled from legacy dishes.culture_id during Phase 0B research-ingest foundation.

Last updated 4/1/2026

Tonkatsu originated in Japan in the late 19th to early 20th century during the Meiji era, inspired by European breaded cutlet dishes such as the French côtelette or German schnitzel, adapted to Japanese palate and ingredients.

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ingredients+techniques
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ingredient_origin and frying technique
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