Ponta Honke

Just a three minute walk from Okachimachi Station, Ponta Honke is one of Tokyo’s most beloved and time honored yoshoku restaurants. With decades of history behind it, this family run spot continues to charm generations of diners.

The signature dish here is the original katsuretsu, created by the founding chef who once cooked for the Imperial Household. A carefully selected pork loin is gently fried in oil enriched with lard made from its own fat. The tonkatsu is cooked slowly at low temperature until it turns a perfect golden brown. The result is lightly crisp on the outside, rich yet elegant in aroma, and satisfyingly light in texture. It is a dish that wins hearts across all ages.

Another must try is the tan stew, made with premium wagyu beef tongue cut into generous slices and simmered until meltingly tender. The deep black demi glace, with a touch of soy sauce for added complexity, pairs beautifully with a bowl of plain white rice.

The menu is packed with other tempting dishes as well, from ebi fry and anago fry to grilled hamaguri with butter, abalone sautéed in butter, kisu fry, ika fry, ebi croquettes, and pork sauté.

Visiting with a group and sharing a variety of these nostalgic favorites is part of the fun. It is the kind of place that reminds you why classic yoshoku continues to hold a special place in the hearts of Tokyo diners.