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Thursday, August 27, 2026

Hamakatsu Lunch Special: Affordable Tonkatsu Experience in Fukuoka

Hamakatsu Restaurant

As I mentioned in my previous entries, my husband and I visited Japan in March this year. One place I really wanted to return to was Hamakatsu (浜かつ), a well‑known tonkatsu chain from Kyushu. It’s especially popular in Fukuoka, and it had been many years since our last visit.

This time, we aimed to arrive before 5 p.m. because Hamakatsu offers an affordable weekday lunch menu from opening until 5 p.m. I love their long lunch hours, so we made sure to get there around 4 p.m. Even though we came for the “lunch menu,” it was basically our early dinner. The restaurant was quiet at that time, with only a few groups inside, so it felt relaxed and not crowded at all.

We sat at a table and ordered our meal using the tablet provided. In Japan, most franchise restaurants now use tablet menus, which makes ordering very convenient for customers. It’s especially helpful for international travelers, since many of these tablets offer multiple language options. That way, even if you don’t speak Japanese fluently, you can browse the menu and place your order with ease.

Lunch Menu

As you can see from the menu, the lunch specials are very affordable compared to the regular sets. For example, the pork loin cutlet combo on the lunch menu is 1,000 yen, while the same combo at regular price is 1,560 yen. Every combo includes rice, miso soup, shredded cabbage, and pickles, all with free refills, which makes the meal feel generous and satisfying.

On the table, there was a small pot filled with sesame seeds. One of the reasons Hamakatsu is so popular is that you can grind your own sesame while waiting for your order. Each table has a sesame grinding bowl (すり鉢) and a wooden pestle (すり棒), so you can add as many seeds as you like and grind them to your preferred texture. I really enjoyed the rich aroma that filled the air as I crushed the sesame — it made the meal feel even more special.

After grinding the sesame, you pour tonkatsu sauce into the bowl and mix it together. The freshly ground sesame blends with the sauce, creating a nutty aroma and richer flavor. This custom sauce is then used to dip the crispy cutlet, making each bite even more delicious.

Hamakatsu also offers two types of delicious salad dressings: Japanese‑style dressing (和風ドレッシング) and fresh vegetable dressing (生ドレッシング). Both pair perfectly with the shredded cabbage, giving you a choice between a light, refreshing flavor or a richer, more savory taste. Having these options makes the unlimited cabbage refills even more enjoyable.

Daily Lunch Special Combo (日替わりランチ)

We both ordered the Daily Lunch Special Combo (日替わりランチ) for 990 yen, which was only about $6.50 at that time. Instead of plain white rice, we chose barley rice (麦飯) for a heartier flavor. My husband selected white miso soup (白味噌), while I went with red miso soup (赤味噌). It was fun to customize our set meals with these small choices, and the variety made the lunch feel even more satisfying.

Daily Lunch Special Combo (日替わりランチ)

The Daily Lunch Special Combo (日替わりランチ) included a variety of items: crispy chicken cutlets, cheese‑filled pork cutlets, and deep‑fried sweet potato. It was a fun mix of flavors and textures — the chicken was light and crunchy, the pork cutlet rich with melted cheese, and the sweet potato added a touch of natural sweetness. Having all three together made the set feel balanced and satisfying.

We dipped the cutlets into the freshly ground sesame tonkatsu sauce, and it was absolutely delicious. Before heading back to my parents‑in‑law’s home, we also ordered chicken cutlets from the take‑out menu to bring to them. It felt nice to share a taste of Hamakatsu with family after enjoying our own meal.

Our visit to Hamakatsu was both nostalgic and satisfying, with the lunch special offering great value and flavor even late in the afternoon. If you love Japanese tonkatsu, you should definitely try Hamakatsu — it’s a must‑visit for a hearty and authentic meal.

There are my entries related to Fukuoka.