I’m in Japan, and there are a lot of sandwiches here that are pork cutlet sandwiches. But when I traveled to Canada, I was surprised to find that there were hardly any pork cutlet sandwiches. Is it the same in the United States—are pork cutlet sandwiches also rare there?
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You can find pork cutlets, but those are somewhat rare and having one as a sandwich is even less common.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a katsu sandwich. My local Japanese restaurant does a pretty good chicken katsu though.
Edit: Pork sandwiches in my area are more likely to be barbeque or a Cuban.
No
Unfortunately no, Katsu sandwiches aren’t popular in the US. That said, you can usually find it in large cities and areas with a high Japanese population.
Katsu don and Katsu bentos are widely available though!
It isn’t Katsu, but fried pork chop sandwiches are a staple in many parts of the Midwest.
No. Katsu itself is available at almost every Japanese restaurant in the US. But not in sandwich form except a few places in NYC SF etc.
I think in Hawaii but I mostly remember chicken katsu
It is relatively easy in Atlanta. We have a few places that I could access if I wanted one. Probably much more than i realize too.
There is a pork tenderloin sandwich that is popular in the Midwest. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_tenderloin_sandwich
Chicken has kind of taken over the sandwich market. However, next time you are in the Western hemisphere, seek out the Cuban sandwich. As a kind of pork sandwich, it is next to perfection. The only other sandwich I know of equal to its greatness is the Reuben (which is beef.)
Theyre popular at Japanese restaurants
No. Usually a Japanese place has them but not popular. The US is BBQ so it’s pulled pork or chicken on a bun.
Only at Japanese restaurants (and a Korean place by me). Though at home we eat breaded pork tenderloin biscuits, idk if this is regional, it was my south Appalachian granny who made it
You got the monstrosity of the pork tenderloin sandwich in the Midwest
I’ve never had one outside japan.
I’ve seen quite a few around this area.
pretty uncommon but ive never seen anyone that say they dont like them if theyve tried them theyre so good
Can probably get it in most moderate size cities
I never had it, but my friend ordered and it basically looked exactly like pork I ate before, maybe different breading
As others have said, katsu is available in most Japanese restaurants, but not really in sandwich form. We have a popular breaded pork tenderloin sandwich, in Indiana, and making it at home (baked not fried) is pretty common. But if you want a katsu sandwich, you are more likely to find chicken than pork in the US. Breaded chicken (fried or baked) are available almost everywhere and from most US fast food places, that is much more popular than breaded pork. Philadelphia has an unbreaded, chunked or shreded with cheese hoagie that’s good, and pulled pork is always delcious (more common in the South).
Fried pork chop sandwiches are also popular in North Carolina! There’s a very famous (locally) one at Snappy’s Lunch in Mount Airy, NC. Although these will not be served with Japanese flavors.
No. Most pork sandwiches are either pulled pork, grilled pork burger, or bacon sandwiches. At least in the mid west. Really most pork is either breakfast or bbq
There’s lots of fried chicken sandwiches though
We do fried Chicken Breast Sandwiches here instead.
American industrial farming produces an insane amount of cheap chicken to the point that we’re in a 70 trade war with just about every other country that doesn’t want it collapsing their farms- read up on the “Chicken Tax” w Germany.
Also every religious group eats Chicken, so it kinda won on the numbers. Pork is typically barbecued and not fried
I made a katsu pork sandwich a month ago, and I thought I invented it. I had no idea it was a regular thing.
Extremely popular where I live in California, both in the suburbs East of LA where I am on the weekays, and the suburbs South of LA where I am on the weekends.
We are far from the big city, but have 5 restaurants within 10 minutes that have katsu-sando, including a chain that focuses on selling katsu-sando called Katsu Bar that has at least 4-5 locations in a larger radius.
They also sell them at two bakeries, two Japanese supermarkets and 2 Taiwanese supermarkets in the same radius.
We have a very small Japanese population here as well, only a few thousand or so. It is plurality Chinese/Taiwanese, with some Koreans
We usually do bbq pork if we’re doing a pork sandwich.
That sandwich style is virtually unknown outside major cities, and even then, it is kind of hard to find. We have many pork sandwiches, but not the Katsu style ones.
A lot of good of chicken Katsu places in LA, but haven’t seen pork
They aren’t super common, but in the Midwest you can find pork cutlet sandwiches, although they are usually seasoned and breaded differently from pork katsu.
My family is from Poland and we have our own version of pork cutlets. We always made sandwiches with the leftover cutlets at home. People of German descent have their own version. I assume, probably most people of Central European origin have something similar.
Not specifically katsu no but different kinds of pork sandwiches are very popular throughout the country. I will demolish a pulled pork sandwich on a brioche bun in seconds
Not really, even at Japanese restaurants (Americans tend to lean quite heavily to Sushi, Ramen, Udon and donburri when they think Japanese food). You can find them, but definitely not all over the place. The Midwest has the pork tenderloin sandwich, and there’s places you can find schnitzel sandwiches, which are similar, but not broadly popular or anything.
Which is a shame, I think they’d be popular if they were more widely available
I have never heard of pork katsu sandwiches or pork cutlet sandwiches.
I have seen them, but only really in areas with a larger Japanese population. In North NJ you can find them all over Edgewater. Butttttt I wouldn’t say they’re popular across the country
Pork cutlet sandwiches are popular in the US Midwest, especially in predominantly German areas. There is a fast food chain called Culvers that sells yummy pork tenderloin sandwiches. The oversized pork cutlet sandwich is a thing, but many of us just cut the pork into pieces to stack or make multiple sandwiches. Aldi in the US sells frozen pork schnitzel which is the same preparation as pork katsu. I’ll fry up a box (6 pieces) and eat my sandwiches, my kids break out the rice and katsu sauce.
No. Most towns don’t have Japanese food of any kind. Cities do typically have one or more though. I’d guess half of Americans have a Japanese restaurant within an hour drive.
Every year at the Brown county fair in Georgetown Ohio the pork producers food stand sells thousands of deep fried tenderloin sandwiches. https://thelittlestatefair.com/
Not common in general. You’ll see “breaded pork tenderloin” sandwiches in parts of the Midwest that are pork pounded out thin, breaded and fried. Like a schnitzel sandwich. Most commonly found in Indiana, central Illinois, Iowa.
I’ve never seen a pork katsu sandwich in my area. Pork katsu on the menu at many Japanese restaurants, but I’ve never seen it offered in sandwich form. Maybe they’re more common on lunch menus.
No, they are not popular in the US. I have never heard of this. I do love catsu curry and other related foods, but I’ve never heard of such a sandwich.
Outside of Indiana it is pretty rare which is a shame because having lived in Indianapolis for a few years i can attest that the pro tenderloin is a tasty sammich
More likely to be called a torta milanesa.
Indiana and Iowa are known for these. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_tenderloin_sandwich
Its fairly rare unless you have a Hawaiian restaurant near you. I love em!
Nope. I’ve only seen them at Japanese and Hawaiian BBQ restaurants.
It’s nowhere near as popular as it is in Japan.
I make tonkatsu every so often but I usually have it with rice and tonkatsu sauce or curry. Sometimes I make too much and have the leftovers in sandwiches.
I don’t know anyone else who makes tonkatsu
Most pork sandwiches over here are of the Pulled Pork variety. There’s a few places you can find a good pork cutlet sandwich, but you have to look for them. If I want one I hammer flat a nice pork chop, bread it and fry it up.
I have seen katsu; and a few katsu sandwiches, but I’ve only seen chicken katsu, not pork.
Never heard of it I’m in the US
The phrase you ate looking for is “chicken fried pork chop”. Totally served in di erst in the Midwest. Occasionally turned into sandwiches
I ate a lot of fried pork chop sandwiches growing up. Basically this but with the bone in. Never had it from a restaurant, just homemade.
Pork katsu or similar sandwiches are not common at all in the U.S., outside of Japanese markets and restaurants. Sandwiches here are hamburgers or sliced meats, for the most part.
State sandwich of Iowa
I’ve never seen this before but I’d definitely try it. Sounds delicious.
In an area with a decent Mexican population, a milanesa torta, which is conceptually similar, is pretty easy to find.
I’ve never seen a sandwich.
Katsu dishes aren’t particularly common outside of certain kinds of restaurants like Asian fast food types.
Every sub shop in the Boston area (and there are a lot) is going to have a chicken cutlet sub. It’s not like Japanese katsu, but it’s a breaded, fried thin meat cutlet in bread.
Not sure why you’d expect a specific Japanese food to be common outside of Japan?
Depends on where. Heavily Asian areas they are a thing but not as popular as you would hope for.
In the northeast chicken cutlet sandwiches are common, but usually italian style from a deli or diner. I hardly see pork cutlets in general. Pork sandwiches come in many forms but not really cutlets
Chicken katsu is common for lunch via Japanese bento box but rarely, if ever, see it in sandwich form from a Japanese place. I don’t think any serve pork katsu
I had one at Epcot during a festival once. It was excellent and I wouldn’t mind finding one closer to home.
You’d be most likely to find pork katsu at Japanese restaurants, but I’ve never seen it in sandwich form anywhere here in the US. Barbeque pork (with and without sauces and usually pulled/shredded) Cuban sandwiches, and pork chops, all of which are nothing alike, are more what you will find.
Pulled pork is a popular sandwich.
Pork chop biscuits in the south are probably as close as you’ll get.
I grew up in an oddly worldly city in the south and there was a Japanese restaurant that was brought in for the Saturn executives and they had Katsudon and after the chef went back to Japan and the restaurant closed, I’ve been chasing that dragon 🤣
I’ve not ever seen a pork cutlet sandwich. Chicken is more common as a fried sandwich. If you see pork on a menu for a sandwich, it’s usually cold cut ham or pulled pork.
But you will sometimes see fried pork chop biscuits in the Deep South.
There’s something called pork roll ( or Taylor ham) which is a popular breakfast sandwich is NJ and some other areas.
No, we have the McRib
Puerto Rican and Cuban restaurants will make a Cuban sandwich or pork pernil (roasted pork shoulder) sandwich. They are the closest things I can think of that I get at local restaurants now and then. When made right, they are extremely flavorful and tender. I wouldn’t say they’re common everywhere or something most people in the US get though, but they are available. Pork katsu sandwiches not common at all sadly. Breaded/fried pork is just not commonly used in sandwiches in the US. Some local delis could probably make it for you though with pork cutlets.
You really only find them at places that have Asian/Japanese food.
Americans order ham sandwiches, which are different.
Pork sandwiches will usually have Barbecue or some kind like pulled pork or will use cured pork like ham
in my city there is an amazing food truck that serves japanese katsu sandwiches. there was a place in my old city too but i think it went out of business. in major cities you can definitely find them
I’ve only ever seen them in Hawaii.
No.
The breaded pork tenderloin sandwich is the semi-official sandwich of Iowa, the nation’s tip pork producer. There’s also the loose meat sandwich. But the competition for best pork tenderloin sandwich is more interesting because the variations of breading, which can be floured, cracker crumbs, smashed corn flakes, or panko among other things and how thinly you tenderize the cutlet and how much it overhangs the bun.
Iowa’s Tenderloin Trail | Travel Iowa https://share.google/OIOypJVWlN9PiL2b8
Black folks been eating pork chop sandwiches as long as I can remember
Here, it’s called a pork tenderloin sandwich. Yes, they are fairly popular depending on where you live.
They tend to be more popular in the Midwest from my experience.
In Butte, Montana, there was a place that sold breaded pork chops by the case, and also prepared pork chop sandwiches.
https://porkchopjohns.com/
Seattle has Katau burger – https://www.katsuburger.com/
It’s amazing. The rest of you are missing out.
Never heard of such a thing. We eat pulled pork sandwiches here
In my area, John’s Roast Pork is a popular place for pork sandwiches. But it’s more sliced than a cutlet.
Nah, we only deep fry chicken for sandwiches.
This country has a weird relationship with pork, tbh.
I think it’s very rare except in big cities or cities with a heavy Asian presence. You need to realize that most of our international food is very Americanized so much that they’re distinct cuisines (which is no different then how American foods in Japan is distinctly different from what we actually eat)
Pulled pork is most common type of pork sandwich in US
I’d see it when I lived in Seattle and in Hawaii, so places with higher Asian populations with more authentic food. But never in the Midwest.
No. Most Western food in Japan has no real analong in the west. This is because the Meiji government believed that Western diets were part of what contributed to Westerners being tall and relatively small Western armies being so disciplined and dangerous. Its very similar to the way Japan’s public school system was designed to create competent Naval crews.
Never heard of it, so in my area, I’d have to say, “no.”
No they are not. I only know one food truck that does them and I assume they do them well. So good!
Hawaii-Katsu plates of every variety are a staple here but sandwiches not so much.
I live in Southern California. Pork sandwiches I see are usually Cuban sandwiches, pulled pork bbq sandwiches, or pork tortas which are mexican.
There aren’t many cutlet sandwiches, and where there are we’re much more likely to have chicken cutlet than pork.
yeah, i don’t think so. german restaurants will have pork cutlets. if anything, pork chops are more common.
I’ve seen schnitzel sandwiches, but never katsu.
Exceedingly hard to find even in big cities
There are several places around here that sell tonkatsu sandwiches. One of them did it in really fine layers of pork.
The only pork sandwiches I’ve seen in my area are pulled pork barbecue or some form of sausage like Italian hot sausage or kielbassa.
It was wildly popular when I was in grade school. Pork cutlets were in a heavy rotation in school lunch programs
I’ll never understand why a pork cutlet sandwich isn’t a popular blank slate base the way burgers and chicken sandwiches are
I live in Indiana, and we have a sandwich we call a tenderloin. It’s a cut of pork pounded thin then dredged in egg and bread crumbs or cracker crumbs. It extends from the bum very far. It seems similar.
They’re not very popular overall but you can find them in some cities that tend to have more authentic international food available. They’re relatively common in Hawaii which has a lot of people of Japanese ancestry.
It should be.
Around here all the pork sandwiches are pulled (smoked) pork sandwiches and they are delicious
Their are pork sandwiches that are popular throughout the US. If you want pork katsu sandwiches specifically, you’ll want to go somewhere with a high population of Japanese immigrants, large cities, or make it yourself. You maybe able to find some katsu and make your own sandwich with it though
No, but I think it’s becoming more popular. For a long time I think the average American viewed Japanese food as strictly sushi and ramen, but I think it’s beginning to shift/broaden.
No. I’m a foodie and only recently even heard of Katsu. I’ve had it like once. Not something well known here. If you’re lucky it’s buried on the sushi and ramen shop menu somewhere underneath the Yakisoba and tempura.
We’ve got pork katsu and chicken katsu (even more popular) in the big cities at least, but it’s more often served with rice rather than as a sandwich.
I wouldn’t say it’s popular in the states. I live in NYC and there are a few places in my neighborhood that have them. Evil Katsu is pretty good
More chicken katsu than pork, and i haven’t seen either on a sandwich. But i don’t see any sandwiches at places that serve katsu. I’ve seen pork tenderloin sandwiches, but not katsu.
I wish they were more common. I had a really good one from a food truck. I’ve been chasing that high for a few years now.
Indiana here. Tenderloin sandwiches are a religion. In fact just got back from having one for lunch.
In Portland, they’re popular. Tokyo Sando and Tanaka are very popular as specialty katsu sando places.
It really depends on the area. You will most likely find them in the bigger cities, especially on the west coast. Asian Markets will usually have them. There are also Asian bakeries that will carry them.
Katsu is primarily a Hawai’i thing; you can get anything katsu, & of course pork is our big land meat here. It’s not very prevalent on mainland.
No, I know what katsu is and have eaten it many times (I used to work next to a relatively cheap Japanese place, lol) but I’ve never heard of anyone making a sandwich of it. FYI, I think katsu means pork by default, and they also make it with other meats and call it chicken katsu, etc.
They’re delicious and you can definitely find them at restaurants here (at least on the west coast), but they’re not ubiquitous—only Japanese places will have them.
I’ve had it in Seattle, so good!
Tonkatsu is relatively rare, but there are lots of Japanese markets and stores that sell it in cities, especially on the coasts.
You’re much more likely to find fried chicken sandwiches anywhere in the US. Regions have different styles – for example, Nashville is known for its hot chicken and you’ll find Buffalo chicken quite often.
I live in Texas and beef is generally more popular than pork, but there’s a few restaurants in my area where you can get both pork or beef katsu sandwiches but it’s easier and more cost efficient for me to make them at home myself. Now I know what we’re having for lunch tomorrow.
In California, yes, but that’s probably an outlier.
In my area of Northern California katsu sandwiches are nearly unheard of, most Japanese restaurants are sushi focused or otherwise fine dining. I suspect if I headed down into the SF Bay Area I would start finding them, Berkeley sounds like a good place to look, and Fremont will definitely have plenty.
Other breaded pork cutlet sandwiches just don’t seem to be “classic American food” in this area, pulled pork and other barbecue pork sandwiches are popular, and breaded pork cutlets don’t seem to be very popular, but I’ve generally seen them served on a plate with a side, often potatoes and veggies, like this
There is one major exception, which is torta milanesa. That’s not the best picture, but it clearly shows the ingredients. Torta bread (which is unique and really good), a base of refried beans, some lettuce, a milanesa, which is basically a Mexican interpretation of a schnitzel, so it’s a kind of cutlet, can be made of any meat but pork seems to be typical (I think that might be a relic of that one time they briefly had an emperor, he introduced a number of things, like he brought brewers and supposedly negra modelo comes from that.) Anyways, next tomatoes and onions and things (possible cucumber), avocado, and then spicy pickles, often made fresh and a blend of jalapeños and spicy carrots. There is often cheese, sometimes cotija, sometimes a melty cheese, ingredients can vary a lot. Mine usually look more like this, with the bread grilled and pressed, though annoyingly the sandwich on the right isn’t a milanesa, I’m having trouble finding good photos.
Most taco trucks in my area do milanesa if they do tortas, and it is my typical order. One of my absolute favorite sandwiches. Tortas are wonderful. Not exactly a katsu though.
It’s definitely regional in the US. I grew up in Ohio and don’t remember seeing it. My husband grew up in Indiana and I have seen it in lots of places when visiting the inLaws.
I can’t even find a pork katsu at the Japanese restaurants here
I’ve never heard of a pork katsu sandwich. I live in the South. BBQ pork sandwiches are popular here.
We put pork on sandwiches in many different ways. Bacon, ham, BBQ, fried tenderloin, pork burger, sausage, etc.
There is a place here in KC called Kitty’s Cafe that serves a tempura pork tenderloin sandwich that routinely makes top 10 lists nationwide. The family that opened it was Japanese-American. It should be the gold standard for all pork sandwiches.
Pork sandwiches here are usually BBQ, which is made usually sliced or shredded pork shoulder or maybe the butt (hind quarters). I have made tonkatsu (pork cutlets) and served it on top of rice, which is delicious, but if I have any leftovers I’d eat it as a sandwich… I don’t think I’ve seen it as a sandwich in restaurants.
I prefer katsudon to a sandwich. But I’ve seen them in the prepared food section with the tamago sando in the Japanese market.
You’ll normally find porkchop sandwiches at places like diners, soul food/country cooking places and BBQ places, im not big on porkchops so don’t look often so those are jus the few places I know sells em
The only pork sandwiches I tend to see are the McRib and things like Pulled Pork Sliders. Unless Ham sandwiches count. BLT is technically a pork sandwich too, now that I think about it.
Side note, is Katsu supposed to taste like applesauce? I bought a bottle thinking it was going to be great like in all the animes but when I tried it it just tasted like angry applesauce. Maybe I got a bad bottle? I put it on chicken.
I almost made ton katsu today! We just eat it with Worcestershire or Bull Dog tonkatsu sauce.
The US certainly has pork cutlets, but almost never on a sandwich. Tonkatsu at a Japanese restaurant in the US will almost always come pre-sliced so that it can be easily eaten with chopsticks.
Tangentially related, my grocery store stopped carrying Kikkoman brand katsu sauce, which makes me sad because I really like it. After several years of no katsu sauce options at all, they finally started stocking Bull Dog brand tonkatsu sauce, but it’s just not the same. 🙁
Americans eat more chicken than pork.
Chicken cutlet sandwich is usually the choice. Chicken tenders are basically chicken cutlets.
I can’t think of any example of a pork cutlet being used in anything.
I’ve never had a Japanese pork katsu sandwich, but it sounds amazing!!
We have pork a lot of ways, I don’t usually have it on a sandwich unless it’s BBQ, but I also usually won’t pick a sandwich over other preparations.
You will find it in California but that’s about it
Depends. A “breaded pork sandwich” is what you’ll usually find. Similar to katsu, and they’re popular in the Midwest.