13 Best Tonkatsu Sandwiches in America: Japanese Pork Katsu Sando Worth Trying

From fluffy Japanese milk bread in New York to thick-cut pork sandwiches in Los Angeles, discover some of America's most interesting Japanese tonkatsu sandwiches.

There's something irresistible about a Japanese katsu sando.

Imagine a thick, juicy pork cutlet coated in golden panko breadcrumbs, tucked between slices of soft Japanese milk bread and finished with a sweet-savoury tonkatsu sauce.

It's simple, satisfying and surprisingly elegant.

Known in Japan as tonkatsu sando (とんかつサンド), this sandwich transforms the classic Japanese fried pork cutlet into a portable meal.

Unlike an ordinary sandwich, a good katsu sando relies on contrasting textures: soft bread, crunchy breadcrumbs, tender pork and just enough sauce to bring everything together.

Across the United States, Japanese restaurants and specialist sandwich shops have developed their own versions.

Some remain faithful to the classic Japanese preparation, while others introduce spicy mustard, curry dipping sauces, cheese or Korean-inspired flavours.

Here are 15 places in America to explore Japanese pork katsu sandwiches and closely related pork-cutlet sandwich variations.

1. Katsu Sando – Los Angeles, California

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Address: 736 N Broadway #105, Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States

Opening Hours: Tuesday - Friday and Sunday, 11 AM–8 PM | Saturday, 1 AM–8 PM | Monday, Closed

Located in Los Angeles Chinatown, Katsu Sando is a Japanese sandwich specialist inspired by Japan's convenience-store food culture.

The restaurant serves sandwiches made with soft, house-baked honey milk bread and a variety of fried fillings.

Its menu includes pork katsu, chicken katsu and more inventive combinations.

What to try: Original Pork Katsu Sando

The Original Katsu Sando can be ordered with pork.

It combines a panko-crusted cutlet with tangy katsu sauce and a creamy slaw.

The soft bread contrasts with the crispy pork, while the sauce adds sweetness and acidity.

For something bolder, the restaurant also offers a Spicy Sansho Pepper Pork sandwich, which introduces a distinctive Japanese peppercorn flavour.

What to order: Original Pork Katsu Sando
Best for: Japanese sandwiches in Los Angeles Chinatown

2. Taku Sando – Brooklyn, New York

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Address: 29 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222, United States

Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday, 11:30 AM–8 PM

Taku Sando is a Japanese sandwich shop in Greenpoint specialising in freshly prepared sandos made with house-made shokupan.

Shokupan is Japanese milk bread known for its soft, fluffy texture and delicate sweetness.

The restaurant's menu focuses on a small selection of fillings, including pork katsu, chicken katsu, potato croquettes and Japanese egg salad.

What to try: Ton-Katsu Sando

The Ton-Katsu Sando combines panko-breaded pork with homemade shokupan, shredded cabbage, house sauce and karashi mustard mayonnaise.

Karashi is a Japanese mustard with a sharper flavour than many Western mustard varieties.

Its pungency helps balance the richness of the fried pork.

For diners who enjoy classic Japanese sandwich combinations, Taku Sando is an appealing choice.

What to order: Ton-Katsu Sando
Best for: House-made Japanese milk bread

3. Katsuya – San Francisco, California

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Address: 132 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94104, United States

Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday, 11 AM–3 PM, 4:30–8:30 PM | Sunday, Closed

Katsuya specialises in Japanese fried cutlets, bento boxes, curry and sandwiches.

Its menu includes pork loin katsu, pork tenderloin, cheese katsu and several sandwich variations.

The restaurant serves its sandos with Japanese shokupan.

What to try: Tonkatsu Sando

The Tonkatsu Sando features a fried pork cutlet between soft slices of Japanese bread.

For something richer, consider the Cheese Katsu Sando, which combines pork with mozzarella.

Katsuya also offers a Tonkatsu Sando Meal with additional accompaniments.

This makes it suitable for diners who want a complete lunch rather than a single sandwich.

What to order: Tonkatsu Sando or Cheese Katsu Sando
Best for: Traditional pork katsu sandwiches in San Francisco

4. Sando Street – Chicago, Illinois

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Address: 1547 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, United States

Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 11 AM–7 PM | Sunday, 11 AM–3 PM | Monday, Closed

Sando Street specialises in Japanese- and Korean-inspired sandwiches made with soft shokupan.

The restaurant was founded by cousins Rich Letheby and Chris Yoo, who wanted to bring familiar Asian comfort-food flavours into a modern sandwich format.

Its menu includes savoury sandos and dessert sandwiches.

What to try: Tonkatsu Sando

The Tonkatsu Sando combines panko-crusted pork with cabbage, chilli aioli and katsu sauce.

The pork provides crunch, while the bread offers a soft contrast.

For an extra layer of richness, consider pairing the sandwich with the restaurant's curry dip.

Sando Street is particularly appealing for diners who enjoy Japanese sandwiches with creative sauces.

What to order: Tonkatsu Sando
Best for: Japanese-Korean fusion sandwiches

5. Daruma Sando – Seattle, Washington

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Address: 1651 N 34th St, Seattle, WA 98103, United States

Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday, 11 am–8 pm

Daruma Sando is a Japanese sandwich and curry shop near Seattle's Gas Works Park.

Its menu features traditional pork katsu sandwiches, chicken katsu, minced-meat cutlets and Japanese curry.

The restaurant offers both conventional and spicy versions of its sandwiches.

What to try: Pork Katsu Sando

The Pork Katsu Sando combines breaded pork, shredded cabbage, Kewpie mayonnaise and Daruma's katsu sauce between slices of Japanese bread.

The restaurant also offers a Spicy Pork Katsu Sando, featuring spicy mayonnaise.

For diners who enjoy Japanese curry, Daruma serves pork katsu curry rice as well.

What to order: Pork Katsu Sando
Best for: Casual Japanese sandwiches in Seattle

6. Katsu-Shack – Chicago, Illinois

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Address: 3109 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60657, United States

Opening Hours: Sunday - Wednesday 11:30 AM–7 PM | Friday - Saturday, 11:30 AM–8 PM | Thursday, Closed

Katsu-Shack is a Japanese comfort-food restaurant specialising in fried cutlets, Japanese curry and katsu sandwiches.

Its menu includes pork and chicken katsu, bento meals and curry-based preparations.

What to try: Pork Katsu Sando

Choose the pork version of the restaurant's katsu sandwich.

The breaded pork is served in a Japanese-style sandwich with cabbage and sauce.

For something more indulgent, the restaurant also offers a Katsu Sando Dipper concept featuring a curry-and-cheese dipping sauce.

This transforms the sandwich into a richer comfort-food experience.

What to order: Pork Katsu Sando or Pork Katsu Sando Dipper
Best for: Thick-cut pork sandwiches and Japanese curry

7. Tonkatsu Marushichi – Torrance, California

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Address: 21605 S Western Ave Unit c, Torrance, CA 90501, United States

Opening Hours: Monday - Wednesday and Sunday, 11 AM–3 PM | Thursday, - Saturday 11 AM–3 PM, 5–8 PM

Tonkatsu Marushichi is a Japanese tonkatsu specialist known for exceptionally thick pork cutlets.

The brand originated in Japan and is particularly associated with thick-cut yaki katsudon.

Its Torrance restaurant also offers katsu sandwiches.

What to try: Katsu Sando

The Katsu Sando is particularly interesting because of the restaurant's emphasis on substantial pork cutlets.

Unlike thinner sandwiches where the bread dominates, Marushichi's preparation places greater emphasis on the meat.

The restaurant also serves yaki katsudon and katsu curry.

What to order: Katsu Sando
Best for: Thick-cut Japanese pork sandwiches

8. Kagura Gardena – Gardena, California

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Address: 1740 Artesia Blvd, Gardena, CA 90248, United States

Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday, 10:30 AM–7 PM

Kagura is a Japanese tonkatsu specialist with several locations in Southern California.

Its Gardena counter is located inside Tokyo Central's food court.

The menu includes traditional loin katsu, fillet katsu, layered mille-feuille katsu and sandwiches.

What to try: Katsu Sand

The Katsu Sand offers a more portable alternative to Kagura's traditional tonkatsu sets.

It's an appealing option for diners who want Japanese pork cutlets without ordering a complete meal.

Kagura also offers katsudon and curry preparations.

What to order: Katsu Sand — confirm the pork filling when ordering
Best for: Casual Japanese supermarket food-court dining

9. Ginza Bairin – Honolulu, Hawaii

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Address: 255 Beach Walk, Honolulu, HI 96815, United States

Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday, 11 am–2:30 pm, 4 pm–12 am

Ginza Bairin is one of Japan's historic tonkatsu specialists, founded in Tokyo in 1927.

Its Waikiki restaurant is known for premium pork loin and tenderloin preparations.

The menu also includes a pork katsu sandwich.

What to try: Original Bairin Pork Tenderloin Katsu Sandwich

The Original Bairin Pork Tenderloin Katsu Sandwich features pork tenderloin, a leaner cut prized for its tenderness.

Unlike pork loin, which contains more fat, tenderloin offers a lighter meat texture.

The sandwich provides a convenient way to experience Ginza Bairin's pork-cutlet tradition.

What to order: Original Bairin Pork Tenderloin Katsu Sandwich
Best for: Japanese tonkatsu heritage in Waikiki

10. Hi-Collar – New York City, New York

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Address: 231 E 9th St, New York, NY 10003, United States

Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday, 11:30 am–3:30 pm, 5:30–10 pm

Hi-Collar is a Japanese kissaten-inspired café in Manhattan's East Village.

The restaurant is known for Japanese coffee, omurice and comfort-food sandwiches.

Its menu includes a pork katsu sandwich.

What to try: Katsu Sandwich

The Katsu Sandwich combines pork cutlet, cabbage and egg salad with Japanese milk bread.

The addition of egg salad makes this sandwich particularly interesting.

Rather than relying solely on tonkatsu sauce, the creamy egg introduces another layer of texture.

Hi-Collar is also a good choice for diners interested in Japanese café culture.

What to order: Katsu Sandwich
Best for: Japanese café-style pork katsu sandwiches

11. Katsu Plate – Bogota, New Jersey

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Address: 352 Palisade Ave, Bogota, NJ 07603, United States

Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday, 11:30 am–8 pm

Katsu Plate is a small Japanese katsu restaurant in Bergen County, New Jersey.

The restaurant focuses on thick-cut pork tonkatsu, katsudon and katsu sandwiches.

Its relatively compact menu makes it an interesting choice for diners who appreciate specialist restaurants.

What to try: Katsu Sando

The Katsu Sando combines breaded pork with cabbage and a tangy sauce.

The contrast between crispy pork and soft bread creates the familiar Japanese sandwich experience.

For a more traditional meal, the restaurant also offers tonkatsu plates and katsudon.

What to order: Katsu Sando
Best for: Japanese pork katsu near New York City

12. J's Kitchen New York – Manhattan, New York

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Address: 261 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003, United States

Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday, 11:30 am–9 pm

J's Kitchen New York serves Japanese comfort food, including curry rice, fried cutlets and sandwiches.

Its menu includes pork loin cutlet sandwich combinations alongside chicken and beef versions.

What to try: Pork Loin Cutlet Sandwich

The pork loin cutlet sandwich is the relevant choice for tonkatsu enthusiasts.

Pork loin offers a richer flavour than tenderloin because of its fat content.

The restaurant's sandwich menu also includes potato salad combinations.

J's Kitchen is particularly appealing for diners looking for Japanese comfort food in a casual Manhattan setting.

What to order: Pork Loin Cutlet Sandwich
Best for: Japanese pork-cutlet sandwiches in Manhattan

13. Sando Cafe – Japanese Sandwich Specialist

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Address: 340 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042, United States

Opening Hours: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11 am–10 pm | Friday - Saturday, 11 am–10:30 pm | Tuesday, Closed

Sando Cafe offers a menu built around Japanese-style sandwiches, including egg salad, chicken, fish, tofu and pork katsu.

Its pork sandwich incorporates more fillings than a conventional tonkatsu sando.

What to try: Pork Katsu Sando

The Pork Katsu Sando combines breaded pork, shredded cabbage, tamagoyaki, katsu sauce and mayonnaise.

Tamagoyaki is a Japanese rolled omelette.

The egg adds a soft, slightly sweet element that contrasts with the crispy pork.

For diners who enjoy sandwiches with multiple textures, this is an interesting option.

What to order: Pork Katsu Sando
Best for: Pork katsu with Japanese rolled omelette

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What Makes a Great Japanese Katsu Sando?

A great tonkatsu sandwich relies on a few important elements.

1. Tender, Juicy Pork

The pork should remain tender after frying.

Pork loin offers a richer flavour because of its fat content, while tenderloin is leaner.

The cutlet should be thick enough to provide a satisfying bite without overwhelming the bread.

2. Crispy Panko Breadcrumbs

Panko breadcrumbs are particularly important to Japanese katsu.

Their airy texture creates a light, crunchy coating.

A good sandwich balances the crispness of the coating with the tenderness of the pork.

3. Soft Japanese Milk Bread

Traditional katsu sandos use shokupan.

This Japanese milk bread is known for its fluffy texture, fine crumb and gentle sweetness.

The softness of the bread contrasts with the fried pork.

4. Balanced Tonkatsu Sauce

Tonkatsu sauce typically combines sweet, tangy and savoury flavours.

It helps balance the richness of the pork.

Some restaurants introduce mustard, mayonnaise or curry sauces for additional complexity.

5. Fresh Accompaniments

Shredded cabbage is a common addition.

Its freshness and crunch help balance the fried pork.

Other restaurants add pickles, egg salad, cheese or slaw.

Tonkatsu Sando vs Chicken Katsu Sando

Although both sandwiches use breaded cutlets, the meat creates a different experience.

Tonkatsu sando uses pork, typically loin or tenderloin.

Chicken katsu sando uses chicken, usually breast or thigh.

Pork loin tends to offer a richer flavour, while chicken can provide a lighter alternative depending on the cut.

For a traditional Japanese pork-cutlet experience, tonkatsu sando is the more relevant choice.

Pork Loin vs Pork Tenderloin Katsu Sandwiches

Pork loin and tenderloin are two common cuts used in Japanese tonkatsu.

Pork loin contains more fat and generally offers a richer flavour.

Pork tenderloin is leaner and prized for tenderness.

If you enjoy marbling, pork loin may be more appealing.

If you prefer lean meat, tenderloin is worth trying.

Katsu Sando vs Traditional Tonkatsu

Traditional tonkatsu is served as a fried pork cutlet with cabbage, rice and sauce.

A katsu sando takes the same concept and places the pork between slices of bread.

The sandwich is easier to eat on the go and places greater emphasis on the balance between bread, meat and sauce.

Both preparations highlight the same Japanese frying technique.

Where to Find the Best Tonkatsu Sandwiches in America

New York and New Jersey

Taku Sando offers house-made shokupan and traditional pork katsu.

Hi-Collar introduces a Japanese café experience, while J's Kitchen serves casual pork-cutlet sandwiches.

Across the Hudson River, Katsu Plate offers another specialist option.

California

Los Angeles is particularly interesting for pork katsu sandwiches.

Katsu Sando focuses on Japanese convenience-store-inspired sandwiches, while Tonkatsu Marushichi emphasises thick-cut pork.

Kagura Gardena offers a casual food-court option.

In San Francisco, Katsuya serves traditional pork and cheese katsu sandos.

Chicago

Sando Street combines Japanese and Korean-inspired flavours, while Katsu-Shack specialises in fried pork cutlets and curry-based variations.

Seattle

Daruma Sando offers traditional and spicy pork katsu sandwiches alongside Japanese curry.

Hawaii

Ginza Bairin in Waikiki offers a pork tenderloin sandwich drawing on the brand's long tonkatsu heritage.

Florida

Katsu & Co has featured pork tenderloin sandos in Miami, although its current operating status needs confirmation.

Which Katsu Sando Should You Try First?

For a traditional Japanese milk-bread sandwich, start with Taku Sando in Brooklyn.

For a substantial pork sandwich, consider Katsu Sando in Los Angeles or Tonkatsu Marushichi in Torrance.

For a classic San Francisco option, Katsuya offers pork and cheese variations.

For Japanese-Korean fusion, Sando Street in Chicago is particularly interesting.

For curry dipping sauces, explore Katsu-Shack.

For a premium pork tenderloin sandwich in Hawaii, consider Ginza Bairin.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a tonkatsu sando?

A tonkatsu sando is a Japanese sandwich made with breaded fried pork cutlet, usually served between slices of soft white bread with tonkatsu sauce.

What bread is used for Japanese katsu sandwiches?

Traditional Japanese katsu sandwiches commonly use shokupan, a soft Japanese milk bread.

Is tonkatsu sando the same as chicken katsu sando?

No. Tonkatsu uses pork, while chicken katsu uses chicken.

What sauce goes with a katsu sando?

Tonkatsu sauce is the traditional choice. Some restaurants also use Japanese mustard, mayonnaise, curry or other house-made sauces.

Are Japanese katsu sandwiches served hot or cold?

They can be served freshly prepared or at room temperature, depending on the restaurant and style.

For the best crispy texture, freshly fried pork is particularly appealing.

Final Thoughts: Discovering America's Best Tonkatsu Sandwiches

Japanese katsu sandos prove that a great sandwich doesn't need complicated ingredients.

At their best, they combine tender pork, crispy panko, fluffy bread and a balanced sauce.

Across America, restaurants have developed different approaches to this Japanese classic.

Taku Sando focuses on house-made milk bread, while Katsu Sando in Los Angeles offers a more indulgent sandwich experience.

Katsuya brings traditional pork-cutlet sandwiches to San Francisco, while Sando Street and Katsu-Shack offer creative interpretations in Chicago.

Daruma Sando introduces another option in Seattle, while Ginza Bairin brings Japanese tonkatsu heritage to Waikiki.

Whether you prefer a traditional pork loin sandwich, a tenderloin variation or something with curry and cheese, these restaurants show how versatile the Japanese katsu sando can be.

Next in the series: Article #16 — Rosu Katsu vs Hire Katsu: What's the Difference?