Sunday Dip
Menchi Katsu (Minced Meat Cutlet) (メンチカツ) - Japanese konbini foodAI

Menchi Katsu (Minced Meat Cutlet)

メンチカツ

A juicy meat patty in a crispy panko tuxedo.

A seasoned ground meat patty — usually beef, pork, or a mix — coated in crispy panko breadcrumbs and deep-fried until golden. Like a hamburger that got dressed up, skipped the bun, and went straight into the fryer. Juicy, meaty, and deeply satisfying.

  • Panko Crusted
  • Ground Meat
  • Hearty
Sweetness
0 out of 5
Spiciness
0 out of 5
Richness
5 out of 5
Adventure
3 out of 5
The Inside Scoop

Did you know?

The name started as 'minced meat cutlet,' which over time became the much easier-to-say 'menchi katsu.' It first appeared on a military mess hall menu in 1887, and it's been winning hearts (and appetites) ever since.

How to eat

  • 1The outside is crispy panko, the inside is a juicy meat patty — bite firmly to get through both layers cleanly.
  • 2If tonkatsu sauce is available, use it. It's a thick, sweet-savory sauce that was basically invented for moments like this.