Niigata prefecture is full of fascinating food. Have you heard of "Tare Katsudon", a dish that is immovably popular in this region? When you hear "katsudon", you might think of a rice bowl dish with eggs, but Niigata's tarekatsudon has a slightly different characteristic. This time, we will introduce you to this local Niigata gourmet dish, tarekatsudon.

What is Niigata's sauce cutlet bowl?

Tarekatsudon, which originated in Niigata Prefecture, is a rice bowl dish of freshly fried pork cutlet topped with a sweet and spicy soy sauce sauce. It is characterized by the use of thinner pork cutlets than regular katsudon. The meat used is carefully pounded, so you can enjoy its soft and juicy taste.

You can also enjoy the crispy batter and the natural flavor of the meat. Depending on the restaurant, it may be coated with thin breadcrumbs or use carefully selected meat or cuts, making it a dish packed with deliciousness.

One of its features is the simple presentation, with nothing on top other than the cutlet. The simplicity of not including the egg, a staple of cutlet bowls, nor shredded cabbage or chopped seaweed is a major characteristic that symbolizes Niigata's sauce cutlet bowl.

The history and origin of Niigata sauce cutlet bowl

Tarekatsudon was first created in Niigata in the early Showa period.
At the time, the city and surrounding areas were thriving as a port town, and the restaurant is known to have originated from one of the Western food stalls that was located in Nishibori in the city center.

At the time, the restaurant was treating cutlets as a modern dish, but they were boldly served dipped in soy sauce and placed on top of rice, and it quickly became a popular dish.

Since then, chefs who trained at the original restaurant have gone on to open new restaurants, and the deliciousness of tarekatsudon has become widely known.

How to make Niigata sauce cutlet bowl

The recipe for tarekatsudon is quite simple: pork is pounded with a rolling pin, dipped in flour and egg, then coated with breadcrumbs and deep-fried.

The pork is purposely spread thinly to allow the meat to juicy and tender. The crispy deep-fried cutlet is then dipped in a sweet soy sauce with dashi stock and served on top of rice. The typical sauce is made with a soy sauce base and is finished by adding dashi such as mirin, sake, sugar, and kelp.

The light, deep soy sauce flavor goes perfectly with hot rice. It's so delicious you'll find yourself eating it over and over again.

By the way, the restaurant where tarekatsudon originated uses highly pure lard for frying and serves it dipped in a secret sauce that has been added to since 1955. Please try the unique taste of this long-established restaurant, which is different from the tarekatsudon you eat at home.

The deliciousness and appeal of tarekatsudon

Niigata's sauce cutlet bowl, which towers over rice, may look very filling at first glance, but once you start eating, you'll be surprised at how easily you'll finish it all.

You can enjoy tarekatsudon at many restaurants in the prefecture, but the ingredients used in the sauce, the type of cutlet, and the seasonings vary greatly.

Depending on the restaurant, you can choose the number of cutlets you get, so you can order smaller portions for women and children, or larger portions if you want a more substantial meal; this can all be adjusted to suit the situation.

Also, since the bowl contains several large cutlets, if you move the cutlets to the lid of the bowl, you can enjoy a balanced mix of both cutlet and rice.

Koshihikari rice from Niigata Prefecture is often used for the rice, and the combination of the two is what enhances the deliciousness of the tarekatsudon.

Recommended sightseeing spots in Niigata City

From here, we will introduce some tourist spots in Niigata City.

Hakusan Park, one of Japan's first urban parks

Hakusan Park, located in the city center, was built in 1873 as one of Japan's first urban parks.

Within the garden, you can see many historical buildings dating back to the Meiji period, as well as a pond filled with lotus flowers, artificial hills, and plum trees, and it is also known as a Dutch-style strolling garden.

There are six hanging gardens and aerial corridors surrounding the city's cultural center, making it a great place to enjoy a leisurely stroll.

The park was designated a national place of scenic beauty in 2018 as it remains largely unchanged from when it first opened, with modern architecture such as the former Niigata Prefectural Assembly building and Eikikan, making it a great spot for an after-dinner stroll.

Enjoy an extraordinary experience at "Cave'd'Occhi Winery"

CAVE D'OCCI Winery, located in Kakutahama, Niigata City, is also known as the "winery where you can stay," and is located at the foot of Mount Kakuta, in an area surrounded by vast vineyards.

This facility offers wine made only from grapes grown locally, hot spring baths, and lodging. You can relax in a luxurious lounge or sip on a wine that matches the atmosphere of each room, creating a luxurious and extraordinary experience.

From the window you can see the vineyards and Mount Tsunoda, and the natural scenery is soothing. For lunch and dinner, you can enjoy cuisine unique to a winery. A popular dish is one that uses ingredients such as grape leaves and branches, and ingredients left over from pressing the wine.
If you want to spend some relaxing time in Niigata, be sure to visit.

Access to Niigata City

From here, we will introduce how to access Niigata City.

Niigata City, located in the middle of the Japan Sea coast, has land, sea, and air routes that extend throughout the country, and is easily accessible from major cities throughout the country.

It takes about two hours by Shinkansen from Tokyo to Niigata. From Nagoya to Niigata, take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Tokyo, then the Joetsu Shinkansen for a journey of about three hours and 40 minutes.

We recommend flying from Osaka. It takes 1 hour and 5 minutes to fly from Itami Airport to Niigata Airport.

It takes about an hour and a half to get from Fukuoka Airport to Niigata Airport. There is a direct limousine bus from Niigata Airport to Niigata Station, so travel is smooth. It takes about 25 minutes to get there, so please make use of it.

Location of Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture

summary

This time we introduced Niigata's local gourmet dish, "Tarekatsudon."

The tarekatsudon is a bowl of rice topped with crispy, tender pork cutlets and a sweet sauce with a hint of dashi stock, which goes perfectly together. At local restaurants, you can choose the number of cutlets you want, and you can taste the deliciousness of the meat directly, making it a bowl full of appeal.

The seasoning is to Japanese tastes and is so delicious that it will make you want to eat more rice, so be sure to give it a try.

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