Marugo

Marugo (丸五)

⭐⭐⭐

🐷 Tonkatsu / 📍 Akihabara

📓 Visits: 1

As one of the top-10 tonkatsu-ya in Tokyo it had been on my list for years but there was always a long queue whenever I went past.  I timed my visit for a late dinner after a typhoon had passed and found myself behind just one person.  Result!

The restaurant seats six at a counter and four over two tables downstairs, while upstairs there are several larger tables.  Happily, no shoes off and after about 10 mins outside I was given a table for four all to myself on the second floor.

Toku hire katsu arrives just shy of 25 minutes wait.  First impressions, it's small.  But the pork is soft and has good, rich flavour.  The panko has a little soggy area underneath but it stays crispy on top.  It's pretty salty and doesn't need any other seasoning.  I can't believe I'm told it's cooked in just salad oil rather than lard when I enquire.  The rice is good.  Cabbage flecked with shiso is okay, the crappy lettuce is not.  The tonkatsu sauce is too piquant for me and the vegetable-base dressing is awful.  Akadashi is at least as good as I've ever had.  I neck it, only to be half disappointed and half not surprised when they tell me refills are 350 yen.  The tonkatsu is 2,600 JPY but rice, miso soup and pickles are charged separately at 700 yen.  For reference, the Tabelog page still has a pre-Covid menu.  This same meal back then would have cost you JPY 1,950 + 450.

I don't regret my visit but there's better value that will more than scratch my tonkatsu itch so given that and the waiting time, I'm very unlikely to be back.

📌 https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1310/A131001/13000379/

❓ My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ 3.75

📱 Booking: No bookings.  English picture menu available.

📍 Location: 

1-8-14 Soto-Kanda.  4 mins West from Akihabara Station, Atre 1 Exit.
Map data ©2026 Google

📅 Visit June 2026

Toku hire 2,600
Rice set 700

💴 Damage: 3,300 (cash only)

⏱️ Time taken: 55m (37m waiting, 18m eating)