I went to Zuicho (かつどん屋 瑞兆) in Shibuya, a restaurant known as one of the originators of “open Katsudon”. I arrived around 1 PM on a Saturday and was surprised by the unexpectedly long queue. I waited for about an hour. Interestingly, around 70% of the customers were foreigners.
Zuicho, which opened in 2013, offers a simple menu: Katsudon (1,500 yen) only. The price remains the same regardless of the rice size (small, medium, or large). You can also add extra egg for an additional 100 yen.
It’s about a 10-minute walk from JR Shibuya Station, but closer to Shinsen Station. On the second floor of the same building, there’s a restaurant called “Pork Vindaloo wo taberu Daitouryou (=The Vice President Who Eats Pork Vindaloo)”.
The interior of Zuicho is quite narrow, with only about eight counter seats, reminiscent of an “eel’s bed” style space.
However, it’s bright and neat, so it doesn’t feel cramped.
As the restaurant only serves Katsudon, they ask about your preferred egg and rice portions while you’re waiting in line. Once seated, it took about two minutes for my Katsudon to be served, accompanied by a small bowl of soup.
This Katsudon is different from the typical “Katsudon.” Zuicho’s katsudon is “Open katsudon”. “Open Katsudon” is a unique style of katsudon where the egg is not cooked over the pork cutlet. Instead, the egg is spread over the rice like a layer or “bed,” and the crispy pork cutlet is placed on top.
The cutlet’s breading absorbs the sauce perfectly, creating a balanced flavor. The egg acts as a mattress, so to speak!
At first glance, it looks heavy, but the pork is relatively thin, making it easy for someone like me with a small appetite to finish it. The meat is lean and light, with a flavor similar to Niigata-style sauce Katsudon. The egg truly shines as the star of the dish, creating a wonderfully balanced meal.
While eating, I searched for shichimi pepper, and a staff member kindly brought it over. The sweet-savory sauce paired excellently with the spice from the shichimi, making it even more delicious. I thought mustard might also pair well, but they didn’t seem to have any.
Oh, and I almost forgot—I added extra egg (+100 yen). This 100 yen is paid upfront, while the 1,500 yen for the Katsudon is settled after the meal.
About
Name Zuicho (かつどん屋 瑞兆)
Open Daytime (Saturdays until night)
Reservation Unavailable
Credit card Unavailable
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