Mr Katsu

This has been in my bookmarks for a long time after my friend told me about it. A few days ago, after going on an eight-​plus mile hike to Black Star Canyon, this was my well-​deserved reward. I debated for a while on which sandwich to get. My friend’s favorites are the American breakfast and the habañero pesto. I ended up getting the katsu curry because I was craving curry that day. I was so dang happy after the food came out. The [huge] sandwich did not disappoint. I love how perfectly crunchy the katsu is, but there’s also flavor inside. That Texas toast-​like brioche bun is looooove. My friend got the habañero pesto (with chicken, instead of the pork), which I was able to taste. It definitely has a kick to it (so good too!). The cole slaw adds even more texture due to its crunch. It all worked well together. The sandwich style is unique (katsu between bread?!), which is what I love about it because I needed something new and different to eat. I also really liked the potato puffs and actually prefer the regular flavor to the curry one, although both are good. That aioli gets two thumbs-​up from me. This place has an awesome beverage selection with both non-​alcoholic beverages (they have my beloved UCC coffee), as well as beer. I can’t wait to come back! Thanks to Evan (and Jason) for the complimentary strawberry ice cream.
PS I really like the music they play, so I had my friend ask. FYI it’s Pandora’s indie pop station. The more you know…

Gosh this place.
I got the katsu curry and potato ball, not excited at all.
When I tried it, wow, it was amazing!
How does this simple sandwich taste so amazing?!
I went back the next day…
Also, they were pretty busy so we waited for 20 mins.
The guy behind the counter gave us free sodas.
Nice service.

Katsu sandwiches So happy to have found this place. We tried the original katsu sandwich and the bacon avocado sandwich. As well as the potato puffs in original and curry. Both sandwiches were delicious and I would definitely recommend this place to my friends. This is the place to go if you are craving for some katsu sandwiches. We will be back to try the other sandwiches.

I’m so glad I came here. It’s a cute, small little store but the food is so good here. I had the Katsu curry sandwich and the potato puffs. The katsu sandwich is huge but so good. The katsu is crispy and the toast is thick to hold the sandwich together. The potato puffs come out steaming hot and are soft and creamy. They’re like mash potato balls but with a crunchy outside and the dipping sauce is delicious. I would definitely recommend this place! It’s so different than your typical curry katsu with rice. The guys who work there are also really chill.

Just tried this place and could not wait to write the review! SO happy this place is down the street from my school. Everything from the food, adorable cat logo & even the samurai cat drawings on the walls has won me over.
Small place in a small plaza but beholds mighty options with huge flavor.
Service: ⁵⁄₅ — Really nice and friendly!
Let me elaborate on what I ordered:
Potato croquettes: ⁴⁄₅
Not no Porto’s but pretty damn tasty. The mini balls have the right amount of crispiness and when you bite in to it you can taste the fluffy potato inside. Dipped in the sauce it comes with, nomz. I will try the Curry ones next time!
Habanero: ⁵⁄₅
Holy smokes this habanero sandwich got me lost for words. Katsu pork cutlet with pesto/​habanero aioli, need I say more? The sandwich is on a simple Texas toast and holds the sandwich together beautifully. If you like a little kick, order this. However, if you have class after make sure you have a gum or mint after cause the aioli will make your breath kick.
Katsu Salad: ⁴⁄₅
Ugh, I was being a basic bic and trying to be healthy; so I opted for a «salad.» Not as good as a sandwich but a nice option to go with if you are trying to reduce your carb intake. The cole slaw is oil based instead of mayo, which I liked a lot. The katsu sauce & salad dressing are served on the side so you can put however much you desire.
I am looking at my school schedule now and planning when I can come back next week. Needless to say, Mr. Katsu makes great food at a reasonable price and I am excited for the find.

We were in the area and my bf was craving sandwiches. We found this place on Unilocal.At first, we were a bit hesitant because the Unilocal description said Japanese sandwiches and we had never had that. However, the photos and reviews sold us on coming to try them. So we walked in around 12pm on a Sunday. The place was pretty empty. There was about 2 other groups waiting for their food. So we ordered at the register and sat down and waited for someone bring us our food.
We both ordered sandwiches. All the sandwiches come with pork fillet as default. I got the HABANERO PESTO sandwich but substituted my pork fillet for chicken instead. The combination of habanero and pesto is perfect. It wasn’t too spicy and the pesto sauce balanced it out just right. It came topped with cole slaw and sprouts.
My bf had the ALL AMERICAN BREAKFAST sandwich which comes with pork fillet, bacon, fried egg on toasted maple bread. I tried a bit and it was delicious. The mix of sweet and savory was also perfect.
We also ordered a side of the potato puffs (regular and curry). I personally like the regular ones better. I was expecting the curry to be more on the Thai side but it was more on the Indian side with the flavor. (I’m not a fan of Indian food) I used siracha sauce, ketchup and the sauce the potatoes come with for my potatoes and sandwich. I finished everything.
The service was fast and the guys were very nice. They brought our ketchup and siracha to our table. The place was very clean. They also have cool cat drawings on the wall.
We would definitely come back again if we lived closer to Fullerton or if we’re in the area.

Came here randomly after searching for a food place on Unilocal.
Came on a monday evening and it was not crowded out all. I want to say because it isn’t too well known that’s why. Thus lots of seating and no worries! But let’s say it WAS crowded, I would say it is good for a group up to 4.
I ended up getting a pesto habanero chicken katsu sandwich with potato puffs (half original, half curry). The sandwich was DELICIOUS! if you like katsu definitely come here and try. And if you don’t I say MAYBE be wary but still worth a try. I loved the pesto habanero! The pesto was good, and it had a good level of spicy in it. The sandwich comes with a LOT of cole slaw so be wary. It is also a VERY decently big sized sandwich. I realized I could have just split with my friend and been kind of okay. As katsu normally is, it was VERY oily and crispy. Be ready to feel a bit gross, but because of all the cole slaw and bread it doesnt feel as bad until you look at the meet of your sandwich. Additionally, if they had different types of bread that would be GREAT. The potato puffs were good too! I liked the original a LOT better than the curry. But the Curry ones are definitely tasty. I wish the sauce they gave was a bit spicier, I think it would have suited better but maybe that is just my opinion.
The guy working there was SUPER nice. He gave a little more puffs than I expected. Also, he was friendly and greeted us and thanked us for coming!
The place is very clean, but in a mildly sketch looking shopping center that isn’t too well lit? I say more people should go and make it lively!
All in all, will definitely come back again and will bring friends! MMMMmMmm katsu sandwiches!

Mr Katsu has been in my bookmarks for the longest time and I finally came around to trying it a few weeks ago.
My boyfriend and I tried both the original and the habanero pesto sandwiches based on the recommendation of the cashier. I also ordered the habanero pesto sandwich with then coleslaw on the side.
Food breakdown:
The original sandwich was exactly what I was expecting no surprises. The Katsu sauce is really good but also really salty so if you have too much in your sandwich it could be a problem. I like how the bread was toasted on each of the sandwiches. And the coleslaw is not your typical coleslaw it’s not mayo based its very much like salad with dressing.
The habanero pesto was not a good combo. I did not enjoy it as much as the original sandwich. The aioli sauce did not taste good with the cutlet. However we asked for a side of the Katsu sauce and that made the sandwich taste better.

Omg how delicious is this place! I went on a whim for lunch one day expecting to be satisfied, but I ended up licking my fingers clean in awe at how good the sandwich was.
The place itself is really clean and cute, with enough ample seating (probably not enough for a lunch or dinner rush though) and its spacious so you’re not on the lap of the person next to you. The guys that work there are super polite and just have a calmness about them that makes your dining experience relaxing.
Now for the best part: the food. The sandwich I got was called the Habanero Pesto and I tell you it was delicious. A little spicy, had my lips tingling, but so full of delicious flavor. I hate it when food is so overwhelmingly spicy you can’t taste anything else, and this wasn’t it. I would definitely get this sandwich again and have already recommended it to friends.
Try this place out, you won’t be disappointed.

Love it love it love it! Essentially curry entrees that have been compacted into portable sandwich form. I played it safe and went with the chicken katsu sandwich. It seemed a little weird eating curry without rice at first, but the humungous slabs of Texas-​like toast made for a surprisingly good (and interesting) substitute. The curry itself wasn’t necessarily spicy, but it was flavorful enough to stand on its own. Even more amazing were the potato puffs. They’re essentially gourmet tater tots – fluffy potato balls surrounded in a crispy shell that goes awesome with the provided dipping sauce. If you get the combo with your sandwich, the potato balls are thrown in along with a drink but if you don’t, you gotta order them separately.
Mr Katsu is a bit of a hole-​in-​the-​wall located in a random strip mall, but I liked the mom and pop vibe it gave off. The layout is a bit small, with a simple order counter and a dozen or so seats to wait at. It also took a while for the sandwiches to arrive after I ordered, but it certainly came out piping hot and fresh. Judging on how great the food tasted, I hope Mr. Katsu can add onto his family tree and expand into LA with a few more sibling restaurants.

Never would I have thought of eating Pork Cutlet with toast. Well… maybe if I was drunk and all I had in the fridge was toast and Pork Cutlet but holy hell how can something so simple be so delicious?!
The Potato Puffs came out hot from the fryer and not only were these little potato croquettes flawlessly crispy on the outside and fluffy in the inside, the guys in the back gave us 10 insatead of 5! And whatever that dipping sauce is… OMG THAT DIPPING SAUCE! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN MY WHOLE LIFE!!!
The Original Pork Cutlet sandwich, simply put, is in a league of its own. Think of it as the Steph Curry of sandwiches. I’ll let the great Steve Nash’s words explain «He’s the evolution of the game. We’re seeing someone… I hate to put myself in this statement, but he’s taken what I did to another level.». You don’t need a sandwich with fancy bread, fancy toppings, fancy proteins, or any fancy sauces to literally leave a smile on someones face from start to finish. The approach that Mr. Katsu took with the Original Sandwich by just using three ingredients in between toast proves that less is more. By focusing on creating the tastiest Cole Slaw, perfecting the timing on how long the pork cutlet stays in the fryer to give you the crispy exterior yet juicier interior, as well as crafting a delicious Katsu Sauce paid off in spades. It’s an absolute game changer, a slam dunk, a clutch shot that keeps me begging for more. Who needs a sloppy gourmet $ 12 burger when you can get a piece of heaven for $ 7.50. Better yet, this is just one out of the ten sandwiches they offer.
Topping my list for the most pleasant surprise of 2015, I can honestly tell you I wasn’t ready for this kind of experience when I saw the 5 star reviews. If the smile I can’t wipe off my face while writing this review is any indication, you need to stop what you’re doing and head over to Mr. Katsu right now.

When you tell me butter-​toasted bread, coleslaw, pork katsu, and habanero pesto, I say let’s get this work IN. I was pretty excited to check out this place that seemed to have great Unilocal reviews. It’s a nice place in a small strip mall.
The habanero pesto sandwich is the most popular so I went for that. Sadly, this seemingly wonderful combination of flavors didn’t mesh. I felt like all the ingredients were just there and nothing fit that well together to make the sandwich anything special. The sandwich was pretty dry and actually kind of bland? The large pieces of toast were inherently dry and needed to be balanced with extra juiciness and sauce which were not really there. The coleslaw could’ve been more wet, the cutlet more juicy, and the habanero pesto (yet tasty) is overpowered by the bread. I had to ask for extra katsu sauce to enjoy the meal.
This place has a great concept and maybe some of the other items are better. I wish I had a better meal there, but it was just okay.

This place is a gem !!
What is katsu? In case you were wondering, katsu comes to us from across the Pacific Ocean. In Japan, the delicious dish is most commonly seen in the form of a breaded and fried pork cutlet, or tonkatsu. It’s definitely popular in Japan for a reason. Yum! There’s also a breaded and fried chicken cutlet version, called tori katsu. Lucky for you, this restaurant has both to offer, and also grilled chicken if that’s more of your thing.
I opted for the Chipotle Asiago sandwich with pork cutlet. While ordering, the down-​to-​earth guy behind the corner said «it’s a bit spicy, is that okay?» I appreciate the warning but, heck yea! Bring it on!
The picture perfect sandwich arrived and man I was excited to dive in. First bite — I had to stretch my jaw all the way open to get a bite of all of the ingredients. Off to a great start!
The pork cutlet was cooked perfectly and tasted great! Everything on the sandwich had such nice flavor. Near the end of the first half of the sandwich the heat from the spice was getting to me. My eyes were watering, but it tasted so good I just couldn’t stop eating!
I can’t say enough good things about this place. I left with a very full and very happy belly.
If I could give this place more than 5 stars I would.

My friends randomly took me to this place when I visited them at Cal State Fullerton. It was a 10 minutes drive from campus, which was perfect for those who want to grab a quick bite between classes. I ordered myself the Original sandwich and the pork was soft and delicious. The best part of the sandwich had to be the cole slaw. At some places, the coleslaw is watery, making the sandwich soggy and hard to eat.
My friends and I arrived just before the lunch rush so there were still open tables. This place gets packed during lunch hours. The staffs were really friendly and helpful. Since it was my first time there, I did not know what to order so one of the staffs actually took the time and explained the menu to me. This place locates in a plaza right next to a small supermarket. It took us a while to find the location, but it was totally worth it.

Legit.
Had bookmarked Mr. Katsu for a while now and finally got a chance to try their sammies. The place is what I would consider one of those Unilocal jewels tucked away in a nondescript strip mall many would easily overlook.
The food, however, is another story.
Since this was my first visit and I didn’t really have a lot of time, I called in for pick-​up. Opted for the the habanero pesto sandwich. It comes with pork Katsu (breaded and fried pork cutlet), coleslaw, a spicy pesto, all expertly held together between two pieces of toasted bread.
Delicious!
The sammy is a perfect combination of spicy and savory with just the right amount of crispy and crunchy textures. The coleslaw also helps cool the pallet as you dig into a sandwich that to me was substantial enough for leftovers.
So glad I got a copy of their menu cause I can’t wait to try the next thing on the list!

The concept of a katsu sandwich is so simple, yet Mr. Katsu is the only place I’ve seen it. The prices are very reasonable and you get a pretty big sandwich. The owner, John, is super chill and loves to talk to his customers.
Habanero Pesto: Good, but not as spicy as I’d expected. LOTS of slaw inside. I liked it, but next time I want to try something else.
Potato Puff: Crispy and yummy! Smaller in size than the curry puffs, though. Reminds me of the potato balls from Portos except bite-​sized and with no meat.
Curry Puff: Not overwhelmingly curry-​tasting which is great. Oblong-​shaped and slightly bigger than the regular potato puff. The first couple were good, but I was kind of sick of them after about 4.
Mango Creamy Soda: AWESOME! I recommend getting this if you’re thinking about getting a fizzy drink.
The small restaurant is very clean. There weren’t that many people inside when we arrived around 6pm on a Wednesday. They’re planning on expanding to a second location and I told the owner that he should open one in the Packing District or 4^th Street Market.

YES! Now this was a fantastic lunch!
Loved the service here, the décor is simple, but clean, not much seating but it wasn’t too full when we were there.
It did take awhile for our food to come out, but it was more than worth it.
I had the salad with pork katsu and it was AMAZING!
I also got a bowl of curry on the side and loved every bite, I could come back just for a big tub of that next time, such great flavors going on!
The guys had the grilled cheese and breakfast katsu with chicken, both also very tasty, though I did prefer the pork.
Loved the curry as well as the regular potato puffs, good bread, good sauces.
Prices are more than fair as the sandwiches are very filling and great quality, I’m so glad we stopped in!

I love katsu.
I love sandwiches.
I love the two together.
I love it even more when there’s a way to make it breakfast like with an egg…
This is going to be a dangerous relationship… I can already tell. Thank goodness it’s a couple of exits off the 57 freeway for me, so that will deter me… sometimes.
Kidding aside, I really loved my sandwich from Mr. Katsu. I ordered the American breakfast version that came with a crispy cutlet of pork, an over easy egg, bacon and maple syrup. This was unlike any other breakfast sandwich I had every had, and I might have been able to eat two if my stomach wasn’t already begging me to stop before I finished the first. The yolkiness from the egg gets soaked up in their thick bread with every bite and that maple syrup finish just gives the sandwich the perfect ending. Gah.
Our table also ordered a 10-​piece of the potato croquettes with curry flavoring and those did not disappoint. I’m glad I had people helping me eat them, because I was crazy full at this point. I did muster up the strength to eat about three and had to call it quits. That sauce they provide for dipping is quite nice, too.
There are quite a few tables inside and I heard the place is pretty packed during lunch. We came after the dinner rush, so it wasn’t too bad giving us our choice of seating.
I’m counting the days until I can go back to Mr. Katsu. There’s just so much more I need to try!

I’m not sure why I didn’t try this place sooner when it’s so close to me. I love this place! Who would’ve thought of CHICKEN KATSU SANDWICHES?!
I got the HABANERO PESTO, which is the by far the most popular (what the dude said). It has a kick to it, but it ain’t super hot. I must say that the sandwiches are HUGE! Two big fat pieces of bread, hella cole slaw, and the piece of warm chicken katsu with sauces. I’m not a cole slaw person so I kinda wish they put less. I was surprised the chicken katsu was a thin piece but it was pretty filling. I can definitely taste all the flavors in this sandwich.
This sandwiches was definitely worth the $ 9-​$ 11. You get what you pay for. I didn’t even finish it! Half of one will make you pretty full so it’ll be good to share.
POTATO BALLS are also a must! (If you want to spend an extra few bucks). They’re pretty good; I got the mix of regular and curry balls dipped in their sauce. But honestly, they were a lot smaller than I expected. 4 little balls for $ 2. Ehhh but they are forsure something you have to try on the menu!

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ESSENTIAL TIPS & EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
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# How do you say «Hello, give me food in exchange for money, Mr. Katsu»? By driving up the single driveway entrance with your Nissan Pathfinder, parking as close as you can to the store, and walking in. The only driveway into the strip mall is where you see Vendome Wine & Spirits.
# Credit cards = yes, but only Visa and Mastercard
# For your first time, I’d recommend getting the original, katsu curry, habanero pesto, or teriyaki chicken. Choose a sandwich on the simpler side without all the bacon, cheese, extra oil, butter, and other waist-​expanding toppings. The other menu items like the umeboshi goat cheese or American breakfast may be way too heavy for a first trip. The pork cutlet and bread are respectively deep-​fried and toasted and there’s dressing oil on the cole slaw. Take it easy big boy (or girl). Don’t be so eager to get so big.
# Katsu between bread packages start from $ 7.50 for the original to $ 10 maximum for the loaded sandwiches like the American breakfast except for the $ 20 Sandwich 5000. That one is for the days you want to gamble with your life.
# I got the habanero pesto and I enjoyed sinking my teeth into that fat boy. Mr. Katsu is a master chef of the deep-​fried pork cutlet. I’ve had many pork cutlets that were hard and required your teeth to chomp, shred, chomp, and shred. Mr. Katsu’s cutlet did not require such endeavor. The meat was soft and moist completed with a thin layer of fresh cooking oil covering the natural ridges of the former pig’s new skin, panko bread crumbs.
# The sandwich is big, not humongous that your brain may lead you to believe as it reads the Unilocal reviews. Since it’s a good size and has a lot of oil (can’t avoid it because it’s katsu!), I recommend you eat only half your sandwich if it’s enough to get you 70−80% full. Get your sauces on the side as well so you can control how much to put on.
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MY EXPERIENCE:
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The name Mr. Katsu makes me think he’s an animated character in a Hayao Miyazaki film. He could be literally be like a giant katsu with legs like the giant radish at the bathhouse in Spirited Away or he can be a sandwich shop owner in Kiki’s Delivery Service. Or he can be the name of a katsu sandwich shop in Fullerton… oh wait he is! Back to reality.
When I judged from the pictures prior to ordering, because I like to judge, the sandwiches looked clean, but not that amazing. At first glance, the sandwiches look like a typical sandwich that you order at your typical business park deli. Upon closer glance, the coleslaw is freshly tossed and the katsu meat is soft and tender, and the sandwich is not dripping in grease that’s days old. The one component that could be improved is the bread because it’s a plain, toasted brioche. I feel like if they researched some breads, they could find a loaf that can truly marry itself with the other ingredients.
Everything else is good and as it improves, Mr. Katsu has the potential to turn into a legendary shop. It’s not there yet if it has those aspirations since they will need to continuously refine their toppings and flavors plus their bread. For all I see, their pork cutlet is essentially mastered unless they want to be Mr. Katsu dreams of Katsu and work on creating God’s or Buddha’s perfect cutlet for the next 80 years. In its current state, Mr. Katsu is a solid 4. Maybe when they create Buddha’s enlightenment delight sandwich, it’ll become a 5. Nirvana pesto sandwich would be good too. The sky’s the limit, Mr. Katsu. Arigato, Mr. Robo… Katsu-​yo.