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August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Everyday Life • Food & Drink

Tonkatsu

Tonkatsu is a Japanese dish of breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet, usually made from pork loin or fillet and coated in panko breadcrumbs.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Tonkatsu is a Japanese dish of breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet, coated in panko breadcrumbs and served with shredded cabbage, rice, and sauce.

What it is

Tonkatsu is a classic example of yōshoku, Western-influenced Japanese cuisine. It emerged in the late 19th century, adapting European cutlet dishes. The name combines ton (pork) and katsu (cutlet).

Key details

The dish uses pork loin or fillet, seasoned, coated in flour and egg, then panko breadcrumbs, and deep-fried until crisp. It is commonly served with shredded cabbage, rice, and a thick, sweet-savoury tonkatsu sauce.

Why it matters

Tonkatsu is a staple Japanese comfort food, also appearing in dishes like katsu curry and katsu sandwiches. In Canada, it is widely available in Japanese restaurants and familiar to diners through these variations.

In short

  • Breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet with panko
  • Part of yōshoku, Western-influenced Japanese cuisine
  • Served with cabbage, rice, and tonkatsu sauce
  • Also used in katsu curry and sandwiches
Canadian angle

Tonkatsu is widely available in Japanese restaurants across Canada and is familiar to Canadian diners through dishes such as katsu curry and katsu sandwiches.

Quick questions

What meat is used for tonkatsu?
Pork loin or pork fillet.
What does tonkatsu mean?
It combines ton (pork) and katsu (cutlet).
Is tonkatsu Japanese or Western?
It is Japanese, but belongs to yōshoku, a category of Western-influenced dishes.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonkatsu
    Supports: Definition, ingredients, cuisine category, and origin context.
  2. Dictionary.com — https://www.dictionary.com/browse/tonkatsu
    Supports: Basic definition and common serving style.
  3. Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonkatsu
    Supports: Preparation, origin, and common accompaniments.
  4. byFood — https://www.byfood.com/blog/culture/all-about-tonkatsu
    Supports: Meaning of the name and historical development in Japan.
  5. SAVOR JAPAN — https://www.savorjapan.com/contents/discover-oishii-japan/a-guide-to-tonkatsu-japanese-pork-cutlets
    Supports: Origin in Japan around the turn of the 20th century and yōshoku context.
  6. Just One Cookbook — https://www.justonecookbook.com/tonkatsu/
    Supports: Ingredients, preparation, and historical context.