Tonshou has Korea-famous tonkatsu at Suntec City
I am a sucker for tonkatsu, and hearing about Tonshou had always piqued my interest due to it’s Korean background. Said to be the world’s first charcoal-grilled tonkatsu, they had their first Singapore landing in December 2024 at Tras Street, then opening their second outlet at Suntec City in September. I finally got to try it with a friend, and here’s how it went!
I went straight for their signature Special Rosu Katsu Set ($31++), with a limited daily quantity of specialty premium cuts of pork loin. It was served with the usual suspects of rice, cabbage, and miso soup, but also came with the new faces of chilled corn soup and kimchi.
Each slice of tonkatsu was buttery and tender, with the lean meat juicy and moist. There was also a faint charred tinge in the background thanks to the charcoal grilling, and while masked by the strong flavours, I thought it complemented them well. The rosu pieces use fattier cuts than the hire, which is much appreciated for its richer flavours. The breading of the tonkatsu was extremely enjoyable as well, crisp and light without being too thick.
I loved that Tonshou provides many ways for you to enjoy each bite of tonkatsu, from dipping in the Mandon salt while squeezing on some lemon juice, to spreading the lemon kosho or mustard on the side. The tonkatsu sauce here is also much more tangier than usual, thanks to the stronger use of tomatoes and oysters.
While the rosu katsu was certainly memorable, I would laud the Chilled Corn Soup here highly as well. It was so creamy and flavourful with a touch of sweetness, and its chill served as a great tangent to the decadent katsu. It comes as a refillable side, which meant I was lapping up multiple servings of this.
The Hire Katsu Set ($28++) uses pork tenderloin, which has a higher lean meat ratio to the rosu. Nevertheless, each piece was juicy and rich, while still sporting that golden, crisp exterior.
Tonshou sports a rather open-concept design, with low walls and windows for diners to peer into the inner workings of the kitchen, with chefs hard at work. While almost half the seats are counter seats, I felt rather relaxed in the warm atmosphere, though the counter seats might have a bit less space to be fully comfortable.
Tonshou – 8.5/10
The tonkatsu here is definitely exceptional, but it truly stands out when paired with the satisfying chilled corn soup. Despite hailing from Korea, it whips up some of the most compelling tonkatsu around, and I would not be surprised if they are a large contender for the best tonkatsu in town.
Address: 3 Temasek Boulevard, #02-473, Suntec City, Singapore 038983
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9pm
Website
This was an independent review by Mordecai.
