Tonkatsu By Wa Kitchen

Pavilion's sixth floor has seen recent rumblings of a gastronomic renaissance. The latest entry, Tonkatsu, takes over the location that housed Italian on Sixth and Caffe Vivo.

As this modest outlet's moniker indicates, deep-fried pork cutlets are the reason to head here. Succulent slices of beautifully breaded meat, free from oil stains. Customers can order both pork fillet (hire katsu) & loin (rosu katsu).

Ebi furai is available too (as well as fried chicken cutlets & oysters). Irreproachably crisp prawns, served with their heads intact for merry munching.

Pan-sauteed pork belly with ginger sauce. Tonkatsu keeps its menu fairly focused, so there's no sushi, ramen, yakitori or many of the recipes that other Japanese outlets offer.

Double-boiled pork belly soup. Tasty, but costs RM16++ for a small bowl.

Set meals for the tonkatsu cost around RM30 (inclusive of tax and service charge), with traditional side dishes of miso soup, rice, tofu & pickled veggies to stuff us silly.

Complimentary lavender ice cream. An ethereal, floral-scented dessert that tastes healthy! Deceptively so, we fear (since eating here is certainly not for the calorie-conscious).

Ozeki Kinkan (RM18++ for 140ml), on a short list of sake and Japanese beers.

Chilean wines: Vina Cono Sur Tocornal Merlot & Chardonnay (RM26++).

Hot tea is free. Wheeeee! (Or maybe they forgot to charge us)

Tonkatsu By Wa Kitchen

Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-2144-2992