More About Japan 
I recently visited Nagoya, and since I was there, I couldn’t miss trying one of Nagoya’s specialties—Miso Katsu!
When it comes to Miso Katsu, the most famous place is definitely “Yabaton.”
I decided to visit their main store in Yabacho!
“Yabaton Yabacho Main Store” – Marked by Its Iconic Pig Character
Using my iPhone map to navigate, I made my way to “Yabaton Yabacho Main Store,” and soon enough, I spotted it. That sumo-wrestler-style pig logo is unmistakable.
By the way, this pig character is called “Boo-chan.”
The entrance is hard to miss with its large sign.
Once inside, I took a seat at the counter, where two chefs were busily preparing Miso Katsu.
Above the counter, there was a menu.
Above that, there was a plaque explaining the origins of Miso Katsu. Interestingly, it turns out that Miso Katsu actually originated in Mie Prefecture, not Nagoya!
Here’s the menu.
The two most popular dishes at Yabaton seem to be “Waraji Tonkatsu” and “Teppan Tonkatsu.”
They also offer other dishes like Katsu-don and Hire Tonkatsu.
I decided to go with the Waraji Tonkatsu half-and-half version (half with Miso sauce and half with regular Tonkatsu sauce).
Enjoying a 1.5x-Sized Waraji Tonkatsu with Nagoya-Style Miso Sauce
After a short wait, my Waraji Tonkatsu arrived!
It comes with rice and miso soup.
Look at this glistening Miso sauce-covered Tonkatsu!
The front half is Tonkatsu with a simple sauce, which is also great.
You can also enhance the flavor by adding mustard and other condiments available at the table.
The Tonkatsu is rich and fatty—time to dig in!
The pork itself is delicious, and the well-balanced Miso sauce enhances its flavor beautifully.
When I think of Nagoya-style Miso sauce, I usually picture a thick, rich sauce, but the one here is surprisingly smooth. It pairs perfectly with the fatty Tonkatsu.
If You Visit Nagoya, You Have to Try Yabaton’s Miso Katsu
I always associated “Nagoya’s specialty” with Yabaton, and after visiting, I can confidently say that its reputation is well deserved.
However, for those with smaller appetites, be aware that the Waraji Tonkatsu is quite large!
By the way, right across the street is a CoCo Ichibanya (Coco Ichi) location that I visited previously. This particular branch offers a unique “Aka Miso Curry,” exclusive to this store.
You can go for the classic choice at “Yabaton” or try something different at Yabacho’s Coco Ichi. The choice is yours!
