Intro
Hello, I’m GOK, the editor of Shinjuku local media “Daily Shinjuku.” This time, I visited Tonkatsu Benkei, a reasonably priced tonkatsu restaurant in Nishi-Shinjuku, and I’d like to share what it was like—especially their katsu curry and hire katsu set meal.
Tonkatsu Benkei Near Nishi-Shinjuku Station
Tonkatsu Benkei is located about a three-minute walk from Nishi-Shinjuku Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line. The restaurant sits down a small side street after turning the corner near the McDonald’s along Ome-Kaido.
Although it is surrounded by office buildings in Nishi-Shinjuku’s skyscraper district, Tonkatsu Benkei is known for its affordable prices. Their lunch tonkatsu set meal is offered for 790 yen, making it a popular spot with long lines during weekday lunch hours. For this visit, I stopped by on a Saturday when it tends to be less crowded.
Inside the Restaurant
The restaurant is compact, with a total of 21 seats: seven counter seats and fourteen table seats. On this Saturday, the space felt relatively relaxed, and I was guided to a comfortable seating area on the right side after entering.
Inside, the sound of cutlets frying fills the room, creating an atmosphere that naturally builds anticipation for the meal.
Menu Overview and Prices (Selected Items)
Here are some selected items from the menu (tax included):
- Lunch tonkatsu set meal: 790 yen (Large lunch set: 870 yen)
- Hire katsu set meal: 980 yen
- Upper hire katsu set meal: 1,280 yen
- Special hire katsu set meal: 1,580 yen
- Upper loin katsu set meal: 1,150 yen
- Three-item mixed fry set (ebi fry, hire katsu, aji fry): 1,200 yen
- Seafood fry set (ebi fry, aji fry, kaki fry): 1,240 yen
- Ebi fry set meal: 980 yen
- Menchi katsu set meal: 920 yen
- Chicken katsu set meal: 880 yen
- Jumbo chicken katsu set meal: 1,200 yen
- Katsu curry: 950 yen
- Katsudon: 890 yen
They also offer side dishes that pair well with drinks, such as edamame, kimchi, chilled tomatoes, and assorted fried items.
What We Ordered: Katsu Curry
I first ordered the katsu curry, priced at 950 yen. The set came with miso soup, salad, and pickles.
The potato salad was simple and comforting, making it suitable as a light snack alongside a drink. The shredded cabbage, though cut a bit unevenly, was crisp and fresh, and tasted great with the house dressing available at the table.
The curry sauce covered the plate generously, almost hiding the pork loin cutlet underneath, giving the dish a satisfying volume. The flavor was classic and familiar—what many would recognize as a traditional Japanese curry rice with a nostalgic, reassuring taste. The loin cutlet itself was thin but very tender, with softer breading that blended well with the curry.
What We Ordered: Hire Katsu Set Meal
Next, I tried the hire katsu set meal, priced at 980 yen. The set included three pieces of hire katsu and was equally filling.
The breading was thin and crispy, and because the cutlets were served immediately after frying, they arrived piping hot. The hire katsu was easy to bite through and not heavy, making it possible to finish the meal quickly.
The white rice was cooked on the firmer side, and the miso soup—made simply with tofu, wakame, and fried tofu—was also very satisfying.
Final Thoughts
That concludes this visit to Tonkatsu Benkei in Nishi-Shinjuku.
Enjoying an affordable and tasty tonkatsu set meal or katsu curry in the restaurant’s homey atmosphere leaves you feeling pleasantly satisfied. Other fried items like menchi katsu and ebi fry also looked appealing, as did the dinner-only menu items such as the “Tonkatsu Paradise Set Meal,” topped with cheese or demi-glace sauce.
If you’re looking for a reasonably priced tonkatsu restaurant in Nishi-Shinjuku, this is a spot worth visiting.
Shop Information
Shop Name: Tonkatsu Benkei
Address: 6-2-3 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023
Access: About 3 minutes on foot from Nishi-Shinjuku Station (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line)
Hours:
Mon–Fri 11:00–14:30 / 17:00–21:00
Sat 11:00–14:00
Closed: Sundays and public holidays
Power outlets: No
Wi-Fi: No
Smoking: △
Notes: 21 seats, credit cards and e-money not accepted
Tabelog score: 3.48
Looking for the original article in Japanese?
Click here to view the Japanese version on Daily Shinjuku. (https://daily-shinjuku.tokyo/2021/10/03/tonkatsu-benkei/)
