Kobuta & Ookami Katsu and Sake house

We had a great meal at this Japanese tonkatsu restaurant. Overall, everything we tried was very delicious. One friend ordered the miso tonkatsu—the sauce was quite salty, so be mindful if you prefer something milder. I chose Rosu which is juicy and perfectly balanced between lean and fat—highly recommended, and I’ll definitely be back for it.

Breading is thicker than I expected and very oily that I had to peel it off my cutlet and seafood. The pork is tender but doesn't stand out nor it is flavorful. I think my expectations were high because I had really heavenly and flavorful tonkatsu in Honolulu made by real Japanese chefs. The meal at Kobuta just leaves me disappointed.

After a day of volunteer trail work with WTA, it was worth stopping over at Kobuta & Ookami. The Sake sampler was a nice "appetizer" and had several selections to choose from. I had the Mozzarella Katsu as the main course with the Matcha Tiramisu as the dessert of choice. There was line to wait as should be expected on a friday evening. The hotel was within walking distance as parking options could be somewhat limited during peak times.

A katsu specialty restaurant with 2 locations in Seattle and Redmond. We visited the Redmond location on a weeknight. They don’t take reservations unless you have a group of 6+ so recommend getting here a little earlier if you don’t want to wait. We tried the miso katsu (kurobuta cut) and oroshi katsu (standard cut). The miso glaze had a slightly sweet flavor, my friend said it reminded her of bbq sauce? The oroshi set comes with grated daikon on top of the katsu so it’s more refreshing. Both sets come with rice and miso soup. The Kabocha croquette is really good - think this is a unique item that you don’t see very often at Japanese restaurants. The croquette had a fluffy texture on the inside and the skin had a cripy layer of panko crust. The portion was a good size for 2-3 people. They have some different ways of serving the katsu, would love to come back and try the nabe or curry option.

I went here because I wanted to try Iberico pork katsu. It's kind of pricey, but they make a solid katsu, presentation is really nice, they cut up the cabbage really fine and give you a generous amount (it really helps cut through the grease when paired with the lemon and pickled vegetables they give you). They don't sell takeout and the staff seems to be mostly Thai, so don't go in thinking you can practice your conversational Japanese. I went with my Thai aunt who doesn't speak English and we were pleasantly surprised. For parking, you may have to park across the street and cross over since their parking lot is tiny, and it quickly fills up and is rathet tight to manuever in.

The portion sizes will humble you. The food is so good I want to eat all of it and I end up having to roll back to my car. Presentation so beautiful I find myself eating with my eyes at first. Real dedication to craftsmanship and letting the individual ingredients shine. I also always get their cold genmaicha tea. Perfectly brewed!

Located across the street from Bear Creek Villiage shopping mall and less than a 10 minute drive from the Redmond Town Center, come here for authentic Japanese Donkatsu (pork cutlet). They offer a variety of options, katsu dry, with curry & also in soup. A wide selection of sake is another reason to come after work or in the evening for a casual gathering or fun date night. Parking is very limited and expect a wait during peak hours. Service is attentive and the vibe is casual & energetic. Cash is accepted but they do not offer change. Go figure? I've been here a few times. First time everything was excellent. Second time, I removed 3 hairs from my food. Overall, recommended but watch your food closely.