Wagyu katsu sando (beef cutlet sandwiches) have been around for a long time, but under the able hands of Hisato Hamada, the dish is hip and cool. The sleek, Instagram-friendly, stand-and-eat shop is in the trendy Nakameguro area along the Meguro River. Diners select a cut of marbled beef, ranging in price from 2,000 to 20,000 yen ($19–$190), which is then breaded, deep-fried, and served as a sandwich. Truffle fries and salads round out the menu. Drinks include an impressive selection of craft beers, wine, and champagne.
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Tokyo Station restaurant row
When you’re in Tokyo Station and don’t need to rush to catch a train, cruise through the new row of sit-down restaurants called GranRoof. There’s tonkatsu, sushi, izakaya food, nikuman, Italian and a few other options. My favorite is a tempura place about midway down the row. Their small and large tendon combos (tempura on top of rice bowls) are works of fried food art. A chef that you can watch from the bar fries the vegetables, seafood and egg yolks only after you order them. Despite the GranRoof name, it’s actually underground. Exit Tokyo Station from the basement level Yaesu central exit, then continue straight toward Daimaru department store and turn right into GranRoof across from Daimaru’s depachika.
