LTHForum.com

Hi,

I had Japanese for lunch yesterday, where one of the offerings was Tonkatsu, the fried breaded pork cutlet favored by Japanese. The best I have had was Takkatsu in Glencoe, which closed advising it was moving to the Northwest Suburbs. Has it re-opened?

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Cathy2

"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways, Road Food 2012: Podcast

I can't tell you about Takkatsu, but I've always been impressed with the Tonkatsu at Akai Hana in Wilmette (on Lake across from Edens Plaza): crisp, light breading and a quite large serving.

But what I'm most fond of is Katsu Curry, and there's no beating the price (although they're a little leathery) at Mitsuwa, at the food court station with the big griddle.

I believe it is now in winnetka:

Takkatsu LLC
45 Green Bay Rd
Winnetka, IL 60093
(847) 784-9031

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Ed Fisher
my chicago food photos

RIP LTH.

Ed,

I had hit an internet directory before posting, I find it strange if they did indeed move to Winnetka. I will look or call later this morning.

In a post on the other board earlier this year, they very much specified moving to the NW suburbs. Given the high Japanese population in that area, I sounded like a very reasonable move.

Joel-

Thanks for the food court tip. I had friends who called me unexpectedly last week from Mitsuwa's parking lot asking where to go to eat. I directed them back to the food court, but they declined. Ended up at Yanni's at the corner of the Mitsuwa parking lot. Ok, but not the best alternative to that food court.

I love curry, so I will follow your advice next time.

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Cathy2

"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways, Road Food 2012: Podcast

I had Katsu Curry yesterday... Hmm... Must be the weather. I like the one at Cocoro here in River North. Nice quiet restaurant, with waitress that leaves me alone so that I can play my GameBoy at lunch.

Cocoro's katsu curry is a seasonal thing, I think. Nicely fried breaded pork, not dried out at all. The curry sauce is the perfect blend of sweet and spicy. Not sure if it's expensive, but it is a little less than $9.

HI,

I tried the Winnetka phone number for Takkatsu, it is disconnected.

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Cathy2

"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways, Road Food 2012: Podcast

When I drove through downtown Winnetka, the Green Bay location looked deserted. I thought Takkatsu was (re?)opening a location at 161 W. Wing St. in Arlington Heights. I had read something about their application for parking in downtown Arlington Heights. However, I haven't heard any updates in awhile.

You have substantially more information than I do, though I did suspect it was Arlington Heights they moved to.

I hope you or someone else can do a drive by to see if they emerged yet. Of course, the longer they are out of the running the less likely they can make it back. I have another restaurant I am following which is in a similar position.

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Cathy2

"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways, Road Food 2012: Podcast

Takkatsu has not "reopened" in Winnetka. Its original location was on the border of Glencoe and Winnetka in are area called Hubbard Woods, which is thought of as part of Winnetka, although the northnern portion, where the restaurant was (north of Scott) was actually in Glencoe.

As someone who lives a few minutes away, this was quite a loss to a chow-poor area.

Yep, totally my mistake. I remembered seeing it there a year or so ago, and had thought that was after the move.

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Ed Fisher
my chicago food photos

RIP LTH.

We loved Takkatsu, which offered tonkatsu the closest to Tokyo's version we have tasted in America. We'll certainly be delighted if it reopens in Arlington Heights, but I haven't heard of its doing so. SBC has no phone listing.

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LAZ
Dining Chicago
Index to LTHForum Recipes, 2004-2008

akai hana is not good... at all, imo.

please go and try a combination C at renga-tei on touhy and crawford in lincolnwood.

i am japanese and honestly this is the most authentic cuisine in the area. i'd say about 60% of the clientele is japanese which says a lot about the restaurant. i also personally know the owners - a very nice japanese couple.

things to try:

appetizers:

asparagus & enoki mushroom
hirame baiko (very good.... whitefish that is deep fried in tempura batter with umeboshi in a skin of nori served with lemon)

sushi here is very fresh as well... anything is a good selection.

combinations are the best way to go here - get the tempura beef and salmon shioyaki combo (i think C)

awesome traditional japanese food.

I tried Renga-tei for a quick sushi lunch a month or so back-- a nice place, I'd certainly go back to try more elaborate things.

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The best in my opinion and very popular with my former co-workers at Mitsubishi:

Katsuhama
11 E 47th St (between 5th and Madison)
New York, NY 10017
212-758-5909

There's one dish that if you order it they bring out a mortar and pestle for you to grind your own sesame seeds before adding katsu sauce to it. This time of year they make a great Japanese iced tea called mugi-cha or something like that. I wish I remembered, but usually I wasn't the one ordering.

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there's food, and then there's food

Cathy, Your timing on this post is impeccable. I attended a party last weekend with the owners of Takkatsu.

Takkatsu is slated to open on 161 Wing in downtown Arlington Heights this October or November.

They had originally hoped to open last spring. A combination of things happened: funding, city permits, etc.

Their chef is in Japan getting antsy, needless to say.

I think we'll find an improved Takkatsu once it opens (although the original served the best tonkatsu in the midwest. Period.) I say this because the new hostess (the wife of one of the owners), is incredibly nice, professional (all the superlatives). That was the one thing lacking with the original Takkatsu: smooth service.

I, along with so many others, cannot wait for Takkatsu to re-open!

I concur that Renga-Tei is an excellent restaurant, very traditionally Japanese -- they even shout "irasshaimase!" when you come in. Their service is indeed very welcoming.

Everything I've had there has been good, and they offer one of the best versions of goma-ae, cold sesame spinach, that I've had anywhere. Their sushi is fresh and well-made. Their tonkatsu is decent, but it doesn't reach the heights of Takkatsu's.

My favorite tonkatsu came from the branch of Saboten in the basement of Sanno Park Tower in Nagata-cho, Tokyo.

Takkatsu's was a close second. That it is reopening -- and in Arlington Heights, so much nearer to us! -- is wonderful news.

Renga-Tei
3956 W. Touhy Ave.
Lincolnwood
(847) 675-5177

Saboten
Sanno Park Tower, B1
2-11-1, Nagata-cho Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo, Japan
+81 (3) 3502-6811

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LAZ
Dining Chicago
Index to LTHForum Recipes, 2004-2008

LAZ,

Count me in Renga-Tei's corner as well. Excellent prepared dishes, their fried foods are crisp and greaseless, and it's a great place to go with a mixed crowd. By mixed I mean both multi-generational and those not-so familiar with Japanese food.

Both my grandmother and 12-year-old nieces love the tempura and chicken teriyaki bento and another niece was converted to the joy's of sashimi at Renga-Tei.

Efficient service, spotless and fairly priced.

Enjoy,
Gary

Yes!!!!

I am so happy that Takkatsu is re-opening. My family was so sad - we used to go there about once a week for a friday dinner. Great news.

On a complete side note, have any of you tried that french bistro right next door to Takkatsu when it was in Winnetka? It had the most amazing chocolate truffles I've ever tasted - only 1 $ a piece and it is made on premises.

The place your're referring to is Frank and Betsies. I've eaten there a couple of times. The food is mediocre, the service very friendly. The desserts are probably the best thing they have.

Takkatsu opening update: more headaches from the village, etc. The owners are thinking it will be April or May 2005 before they are able to open. Nobody's more anxious than they and the chefs who are in Japan waiting.

HI,

How do they hold financially under these conditions? (I understand there may be no answer)

Last January, RST and I happened upon a Brazilian restaurant in the Humboldt Park area. There were several dinners there where they tested potential menu items on us. Everything was going swimmingly. They needed to remodel and hope to do it in steps while keeping their restaurant open. They decided later to bite the bullet, shut down for a month and get the job done right. They shut down in March, they have never reopened. One evening, Erik, RST and I located one of the owners who provided a tour of what appeared to be a winning redesign. Occasionally, I will drive by to check though nothing seems to be happening.

So I absolutely sympathize with Takkatsu's problems and hope they can survive financially long enough to re-open.

Please do advise them there are people hoping for their success.

_________________
Cathy2

"You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways, Road Food 2012: Podcast

Anyone have an update on this? The proposed site still looks very dead.

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LAZ
Dining Chicago
Index to LTHForum Recipes, 2004-2008

They started the build-out a couple months ago. The last I heard it was slated for a "late Spring" opening. Talk about anticipation!

Attended a party with the owners last night. We're looking at an early June opening (if not a tad sooner). The chefs are back from Japan and chomping at the bit.

Takkatsu to open in August

As of yesterday, the sign is on the door, there's furniture inside and a tacked-up note promises a mid-August opening.

Takkatsu
847/818-1860
161 Wing St., Arlington Heights
Dinner, 5-9 p.m.Tu-Th;
-9:30 p.m. F-Sa; 4-9 p.m. Su
Lunch, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tu-Sa

_________________
LAZ
Dining Chicago
Index to LTHForum Recipes, 2004-2008

We'll all believe it when we see it.

tried to take some out-of-town clients there today. called, someone answered with: August 16

They're doing a private tasting this weekend--getting the dishes back up to speed, etc. It's really happening.

Went for lunch today. The server apologized right off the bat for any delays with service, which was nice, as we did end up waiting a little longer for the simple items we ordered. I had never gone to the Winnetka location, so I can't compare or contrast, but the tonkatsu I had was excellent. On the menu it was called "rosu" pork or something, and it was just really tender and soft and fatty, like a little pork pillow. You could tell it was the first day: managers were constantly going back and forth and wore worried expressions, it seemed there was a little more noise from the kitchen than normal, and our server was still struggling with the pronunciation of the main item. But the food was great and it's only 15 minutes from work. Sweet.

The "rosu" there is excellent--it's kurobuta (black pork). Hmmm, pork fat!