Hidden in a back alley in West Shinjuku, Tonchinkan is a nondescript hole-in-the-wall joint. Nestled on the second floor, it’s easily missed. However, just keep an eye out for the snaking queue that goes up the staircase — Tonchinkan is incredibly popular with locals, and attracts crowds no matter the time of day.

They have quite a varied and value-for-money menu, but all the options all revolve around deep-fried items. Our recommendation is to go with the classic Tonkatsu. Each set comes with cabbage, as well as free refills of rice and tonjiru. If anything, come for the tonjiru, which is a hearty miso soup with chunks of pork and daikon.

Choose from a sweet or spicy sauce, and add a sweet Thai chilli sauce to your cabbage. Interestingly, male diners automatically get a larger bowl of rice as compared to female diners!

Each table has a plastic partition; however, this can be easily rolled up and clipped at the top.

A word of caution: Tonchinkan isn’t the type of establishment where you can linger over your meal for hours. The staff is known to have a brusque no-nonsense attitude, and isn’t afraid to politely usher you out once you’re finished with your meal. This is also probably due to the never-ending queue of eager diners. You’ve been warned!

Nevertheless, the large cutlet and bottomless tonjiru effortlessly won our hearts. We’ll definitely be back!