Katsuhon

CONTACT

Lower Shop 3
200 Queen Street
Melbourne, 3000 Victoria
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The Details

Cuisine
  • Japanese
  • Vegetarian / Vegan

THE VERDICT

Crumbed and deep-fried. Need we say more?

Tucked away downstairs in a lower-ground nook off Queen Street, Katsuhon is a new addition to the CBD offering Japanese fare with a focus on katsu—that is, tender meat (typically pork or chicken) coated in panko bread crumbs and fried to crunchy, golden perfection. 

Staying true to its name, Katsuhon rocks six types of katsu: traditional pork loin, cheesy pork, chicken, eel, prawn and even a seafood katsu mix of white fish, prawns and an oyster. If you’re wanting a truly traditional experience though, go for the katsu teishoku sets, where your katsu arrives on a lunch tray alongside rice, miso soup and Japanese pickles. 

The cheesy katsu set is an undeniable highlight, oozing with hot, gooey housemade mozzarella, wrapped in sliced pork and accompanied by a crunchy cabbage salad. Every katsu teishoku also comes with a stack sauces and seasonings. 

This is the fun bit. Dip your katsu (generously) in truffle salt to make those natural flavours pop before spreading it with a dash of wasabi and dijon mustard, and finally, lathering it with tonkatsu sauce fused with ground sesame seeds. The result is a rich, melt-in-your-mouth amalgamation of flavours that’s sure to get you salivating.

Katsu aside, there’s plenty of other sets and snacks to choose from. For a warming dish that complements the cosy interiors, Katsuhon’s nabe (hot pot) sets and udon dishes—like creamy carbonara noodles—are perfect for Melbourne winter. The wagyu sukiyaki nabe comes with an assortment of veggies, tofu and sliced wagyu brisket swimming in a steamy soy soup base. Be sure to dip your wagyu in the dipping sauce and gooey egg yolk on the side. 

An assortment of traditional drinks like green tea, Japanese sodas, beers and sake are also available, in addition to cocktails like the earl grey highball made with bourbon and sweet bergamot tea. 

Head chef and co-owner Charlie wanted to create a warm atmosphere for both locals and visitors to enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine and katsu—and it’s safe to say he’s succeeded in doing just that.

Words: Emily Holgate
Images: Katsushon | Supplied