Xin Li Cheng

Could this place be closed???
I could’ve sworn I saw commercials of this restaurant in between Japanese TV programs recently, and today I went to go look for it (craving for the all you can eat cabbage/​rice/​miso soup a la Japanese tonkatsu restaurant style)
But I couldn’t find it… towards the end of the search I saw that on the second floor level of the Peace Plaza building there is what seems to be an Udon restaurant and right next to it was an unlit sign with the acrilic panel flipped inside out. Hence I could only read the name of the restaurant backwards, through the translucent white acrilic, and it said Xin Li Cheng.
I am really bummed… I really wanted to get good tonkatsu and chow down soup, rice and cabbage… if anyone knows what happened to this restaurant or if it happens to have moved elsewhere, please post!

This place reminded me of my favorite katsu place in Japan. Albeit a Chinese knock off. I went there a few months ago but I think I recall they had all you can eat cabbage and miso soup. Of course it’s got a Chinese name so you shouldn’t expect full Japanese authenticity. I went with a couple Japanese friends and they were a bit disappointed. «It’s not like Japan.» Anyway, I’m going there again. If there’s a better place let me know.

Just saw this restaurant in a ad on BaySpo. Had to go to give them a try. Ordered the hire-​katsu. Miso soup comes out (Tasted strange) first which I hate but I guess that’s only a preference. Tonkatsu comes out on a white plate with a nice helping of cabbage.
A katsu specialty restaurant as it said on the ad left the tonkatsu on the plate which was drenched with its own oil and the water that came from the cabbage. That ruined the whole meal. Very disappointing and will never return.

:Tonkatsu:
Well, it’s better than the usual slop that gets called Tonkatsu, but only because A) the portion is bigger and B) the sauce is home made. The frying style would win the heart of the Gordan’s Fisherman… but not of someone who actually enjoys a real Tonkatsu.
:Croquette:
There is a good amount of crab. But, sadly, not so tasty.
:Miso Poop:
The usual for SF. A very poor actual miso, with tiny remnants of tofu, and the occasional green onion. But, it is «all you can stomach» style.
:Pumpkin Flan:
Passing grade.
:Rice:
Rice was actually decent.
:Sauces:
Actually pretty good.
:Cabbage:
Good.
:NAME!!!:
What the hell is this place called? The chopstick wrapper says Xin Li Cheng, which makes sense with the Chinese staff, but when I called they said it was something «Ginza.» ??? Still, a dud by any other name…

High-​End Instant Ramen!
The place uses one of the high-​end instant Ramen for the Ramen menu.
My guess is MyoJo kind.
3 for $ 3.99
This is the 2^nd restaurant uses instant Ramen RIGHT IN THE JAPANTOWN for the menu. I am very sure of it because taste just like the instant Ramen.
Katana-​Ya and Santa’s Ramen are Great Hand made Broth, Nothing like the instant.
The 1^st restaurant that I noticed was Miyako, right next to the Denny’s.
I love high-​end Instant Ramen but not in a restaurant.
I ordered Miso Ramen at the restaurant, cost me $ 7.50.
We had Katu-​Curry also,
Pork loin was TOO TOUGH.
Chicken-​Katu and Hire-​Katu were still OK but I am very afraid that the curry might be… also… Japo high-​end instant curry?
I just couldn’t believe it.
The Ramen was wrong. TOTALLY WRONG!
Suzu is better, a lot better!
What a disappointment!
made me really Mad!
Btw, Lolia S saiid, «You don’t sound that mad in your review. There’s the use of FXXX but also in other reviews you sound much more disappointed and angry.»
OK, How about…
This is SO FXXXED UP SHIT! I am SO FXXXIN’ MAD!
FXXX THE SHIT! FORGET IT!
No, no, no…
I have never get ANGRY because most those crappy restaurants will be gone soon or later, …
so, that’s why WE HAVE TO SPEAK OUT WHAT’S GOIN ‘ON!
That is the great Unilocal SPIRIT!
Btw, 100% Chinese but Japo restaurant. There is an old waitress speaks japo pretty well.

Great to have a Tonkatsu place in J-​town.

The five stars are SPECIFICALLY for the seafood mix.
One hotate scallop, whole and thick and juicy.
One large fish filet (I believe they used red snapper).
2 large prawns.
One cream ball (king crab legs mixed with a creamy savory filling).
DAMN. NEAR. FAINTED. IT. WAS. SO. GOOD.

A tonkatsu specialty store! Dressing for cabbage and homemade tonkatsu sauce on every table.
The crème croquette has big pieces of crab in it.

The new go to place for tonkatsu in Japantown. I fear they won’t survive simply because the Miyako bldg gets neglected relative to Kintetsu. But they deserve to survive because this is a more authentic japanese dining experience than most in the mall.
I recommend the «hire» over the «rosu» when choosing your cut. The tonkatsu curry is my favorite.
It may seem a couple dollars more than it ought to, but keep in mind the miso soup, cabbage, and pickles are tabehoudai (all you can eat). Reminds me of my days eating lunch in the Ginza…
I rather liked the pumpkin pie like dessert, but I like pumpkin pie to begin with.
The service is friendly and attentive. Finally a restaurant in nihonmachi where I don’t feel awkward shouting ‘sumimasen’…

This place opened only a month ago which was in April so it’s still fairly new and not that popular yet. My friend is buddies with the owner so I got a free meal. According to my friend, there’s one of these restaurants in Japan so it should be heard of among the Japanese. This place is well-​known for their deep fried katsu. I can’t explain how it tastes like. I can only say it’s a little crunchy not super oily like a lot of deep fried food usually is. It’s also not as bad for you as tempura and other deep fried foods. I had the assorted katsu which consisted of scallop, fish, prawn, and cream croquette. I liked the scallop and fish the best. I’m not a big fan of prawn and the cream croquette was too creamy. I had a piece from my friend’s dish. I think it was chicken katsu with cheese. It was pretty good as well. There’s a sauce on the table that goes with the deep fried katsu. It looks like barbecue sauce but it’s not. It only has a little flavor which is good because then it doesn’t destroy the flavor of the katsu. The salad was alright. I only ate it because too much deep fried foods is bad for you, so the salad balances it out. The dressing is also on the table. At first I thought it was a bottle of grease but I guess not haha. Be sure to shake it before using. The dressing was kind of tangy. The miso soup was good. I liked how it wasn’t super salty like a lot of Japanese restaurants make it. The pumpkin pudding was alright but I’m not really a big fan of pumpkin. I thought it was a slice of cheesecake at first because it really looks like one haha ! The fried banana was good. The banana is wrapped in deep fried katsu which in my opinion, is better than wrapped in tempura. I liked how the banana was rich in flavor. The deep fried katsu range from $ 10.95 — $ 15.95. The special sushi rolls range from $ 10.00 — $ 14.95. Yes, it’s kind of pricey. I haven’t tried the sushi yet but I’ll be sure to review about it when I do. I had some Sapporo beer for the first time and I thought it was pretty good. it’s like somewhere between a Corona and a Heineken. This is a good place to go if you want to try something new or like deep fried food. It’s also a good place to go if you’re big on privacy because the tables are arranged so other tables can see your table and so your table can’t see other tables. Only bad thing about this place is that they don’t have a bathroom LOL. Btw, if you’re planning to visit. it’s on the second floor of Miyako Mall (the mall that looks deserted) in Japantown. In other words, it’s on the same floor as Ichiban Kan if you know where that is. I forgot what time they open but they close at around 10. And my friend told me they might be changing their soon as well because one the words doesn’t have a Japanese character.