Tatsumiken

Set along a local shopping lane in Shakujiicho, Nerima Ward, Tatsumiken operates as a classic diner where Japanese Western-style yoshoku fare and everyday Chinese-style chuka plates share the same tables. For many patrons, the immediate draw is the signature ham katsu, crafted by wrapping a scoop of potato salad inside thin slices of ham, coating it in breadcrumbs, and deep-frying it until crisp. Drizzled with sauce and brightened with a squeeze of fresh lemon, the interplay of tangy potato, savory ham, and crunch pairs just as neatly with a cold bottle of beer as it does with a bowl of steamed white rice.

Wok-fried staples and dumplings have maintained their own enduring following over the years. The gomoku fried rice arrives scattered with finely shredded egg omelet over grains coated in savory soy aroma, studded with bits of char siu pork, shrimp, shiitake mushroom, and bamboo shoot. Meanwhile, the pan-fried gyoza—tightly stuffed with minced cabbage and aromatics—offer a crisp skin and a light bite that keeps chopsticks moving.

For a broader spread, combination platters provide dependable comfort. The A Set gathers bite-sized pork cutlets, fried chicken, roast pork, loin ham, and a fried egg onto a single generous plate, while the hearty katsu curry blankets a fried cutlet entirely in thick roux. Seating is composed of casual tables where solo diners and families eat side by side, and payment is cash only.