Katsuo Shokudo - Classic Japanese breakfast

August 31, 2023

Katsuo Shokudo is a restaurant run by one lady entirely focused on katsuo (Skipjack tuna). Small restaurants that specialize in one thing like this are our favorite! We struggled finding it because it’s in the basement of a nondescript building, but there was no wait when we went on a random Thursday.

The menu there is simple: shaved katsuobushi flakes, rice, and an optional raw egg (there’s definitely a raw egg trend on this trip). Dried katsuo fillets are shaved by hand. After maybe 10 strokes there were enough curls to top the rice.

The bonito flakes are savory and complex, but for me the deep fried bonito belly side dish stole the show - crispy and drizzled with a sweet, umami-heavy (probably katsuobushi-infused) soy sauce. Katsuo Shokudo was a bit out of the way by Japan standards (15 minute walk) but got us off to a great start for the rest of the day.