Katsuten - Calgary

L celebrated his birthday on Saturday, and when asked where he wanted to go for lunch, he preferred somewhere close by and cozy. I suggested Katsuten, just a five-minute walk from our house. Let's set the mood with Ed Sheeran's Shape of You, accompanied by a dance choreographed by Kyle Hanagami as we recount our experience at the restaurant.

This Calgary restaurant is hands down one of my favorites. I find myself craving it weekly and wish I lived closer so I could visit more often. The cutlets are crispy and a good size, and the lemon salad is refreshing and delicious. I wish I could have their sauce at home. The potato croquettes are also a highlight for me. I have yet to try something I don't like here. The only downside is that the restaurant is very small, with less than 8 tables. The waitresses are friendly and attentive, especially when packing up leftovers. They use paper to separate the food so nothing gets soggy.

If you ever have a hankering for meat and rice, this is the spot to go! The pork cutlets are perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The service is also fantastic. I would have liked the dishes to be a little less saucy personally.

Katsuten is certainly a hidden gem, tucked away in a strip mall and serving some of the best katsu I've had. I arrived on a Friday evening and the restaurant was already packed, with a line quickly forming. We were quickly seated by the incredibly friendly staff. Inside, the small restaurant is very welcoming and pretty adorable), with sunny walls and big windows. After pouring over the menu for awhile, I decided to order the Okonomi Katsu $15.90), and my friends got the Katsu Don $13.90) and Chicken Katsu $15.90). The miso soups that came with each of our orders arrived quickly, and they were definitely some of the best I've had in Calgary restaurants: umami rich while not being overly salty, and served with just the right amount of tofu and spring onion. Our main courses soon arrived, and portions are very generous. The two katsu courses came with a delicious shredded cabbage salad: crisp, refreshing, and served with an addictively creamy and tangy dressing. The Okonomi Katsu came heaped with fish flakes, curling from the steam of the katsu, and was drizzled with japanese mayo and okonomi sauce. And I have to say, the katsu here is pretty incredible. The breading is so impossibly light and crisp, it's almost like eating air albeit golden, perfectly seasoned air), and the meat inside is tender, moist, and full of flavour. The dipping sauce that comes with the katsu is also delicious I unashamedly ate it just with rice). I also tried the Katsu Don a marriage of crispy batter and creamy egg all bathed in a scrumptious sauce that had just a hint of sweetness. One of the best meals I've had in a long time, I will undoubtedly be back to try everything on the menu.

Food has improved since opening day and everything was super tasty during my most recent visit. I've tried a few different dishes so far, food has been definitely improving. Cute little joint, it's more of a place to hang out with a few friends as it is small.