It is raining the entire day and this lazy bed weather is perfect for a nice bowl of Katsudon, piping hot with the perfect doneness of breaded pork, topped with still runny scrambled egg, scallions and whatever magic that goes into this beloved Japanese dish. For me, this is the penultimate comfort food that eating it just comforts my soul.
I can still remember the very first time I got introduced to this dish. I was a freshman at De La Salle University and one of the many dining halls on campus was Aristo, it was a two-level arcade located in St. Lasalle Hall and on the mezzanine floor were many food kiosks. One of those was a kiosk manned by a Japanese selling Katsudon, Gyudon and other Donburi meals. I was curious as the queue was so long. I fell in line and after ordering and consuming my inexpensive rice topping meal, sixty-nine pesos for Katsudon and Iced Tea, I fell in love. To someone far away from family and friends and missing the taste of home, the discovery of this delicious dish is already a great comfort.
Alas, having tasted this authentic Katsudon from the vendor in De La Salle, I became critical of those I’ve tried whose pork is not as fork tender or has overcooked eggs or is not moist at first bite. For me, the rice does not really have to be Japanese rice but the pork should at least make up for it by being perfectly cooked. Here in Bacolod, I am happy to say that hubby and I have found a place where they cook this dish almost to perfection. It is none other than Tokyo Dining Ishin where they serve this dish in cute covered Japanese lacquered bowls. No longer the inexpensive affair I enjoyed as a student but well worth it for an occasional treat, lazy bed weather or when your soul needs comforting.
The Katsudon in this photo is from Shinsaibashi, Dotonbori, Osaka, Japan when my friend Melanie and I took a trip there last time. It was delicious and took me back to my college days when I was a broke and homesick freshman in Aristo who had just discovered something great.
