Matsunoya 101: The King of Cost-Performance Tonkatsu

2025年12月25日2025年12月27日

What is Matsunoya?

If you want to eat authentic, crispy Tonkatsu (pork cutlet) in Tokyo without breaking the bank, Matsunoya (松のや) is your answer. Operated by Matsuya Foods (the same parent company as the beef bowl giant Matsuya), this chain brings the “fast, cheap, and delicious” philosophy to the world of deep-fried pork.

While a standard Tonkatsu set meal in Japan usually costs between ¥1,000 and ¥1,500, Matsunoya offers a Loin Tonkatsu Set (Roast Katsu Teishoku) for just ¥690 (tax included).

💰 Budget & Operating Hours

Budget Range

¥400 – ¥1,000
- Breakfast sets start as low as ¥380. Even the most expensive double-cutlet sets rarely exceed ¥1,100.

Operating Hours

Open 24 Hours, 365 Days a Year.
- Important Exception: Some stores may close for 2-3 hours in the early morning (e.g., 3:00 AM – 5:00 AM) for professional cleaning services.
The Morning Advantage: Standard Tonkatsu restaurants typically open at 11:00 AM. If you crave freshly fried Tonkatsu for breakfast, Matsunoya is virtually your only option besides cold convenience store bentos.

🏆 Why Matsunoya is the “Cost-Performance King”

1. Unbeatable Price Comparison (As of Dec 2025) Let’s compare the standard Loin Tonkatsu Set:

Matsunoya: ¥690 (Includes: Pork cutlet, cabbage, miso soup, unlimited rice).
Katsuya (Rival Chain): ¥913 (Rice is not unlimited).
Wako (Premium Chain): ¥1,050 (Lunch) / ¥1,530 (Dinner).

Verdict: While Matsunoya’s cutlet is slightly smaller than premium competitors, the satisfaction level is incredibly high. For big eaters, a Double Loin Katsu Set is available for around ¥1,050.

2. The “Morning Special” (4:00 AM – 11:00 AM) Matsunoya offers arguably the best value breakfast in Japan.

Morning Loin Tonkatsu Set (¥590): This is the star. It includes the full Tonkatsu set PLUS a side of Potato Salad, Nori (seaweed), and a “Choice Side Dish” (Croquette, Pickles, Natto, or Cold Tofu). It is ¥100 cheaper than the lunch price but includes more items.

**Morning Loin Tonkatsu Set with Natto choice (¥590)**and extra salada (+100en)

Egg-over-Rice Set (¥380): Raw egg, Nori, Miso soup, Unlimited Rice, + Choice Side Dish.
Special Sausage & Egg Set (¥530): 2 Fried eggs, Sausage, Cabbage, Nori, Miso soup, Unlimited Rice, + Choice Side Dish. (Comparison: Sukiya’s sausage set has only 1 egg and rice refills aren’t free).

**Image courtesy of Matsuya Food Co., Ltd**

3. Cheap Sides & Toppings At regular Tonkatsu places, sides cost ¥200+. At Matsunoya, most are under ¥100:

Raw Egg: ¥80
Potato Salad: ¥90
Cold Tofu / Natto: ¥100
Unlimited Shredded Pickled Ginger (Beni Shoga): Free on the table.

4. Sauces & Dressings Don’t worry about running out of dressing for your cabbage pile.

Dressings: Carrot/French dressing and Sesame dressing (Unlimited use at the table).
Sauces: 3 types of Tonkatsu sauce (Regular places usually offer only one).

🍵 Service & System

Freshly Fried, Not Pre-made Because it is a fast-food style chain, service is quick. However, the pork is fried after you order to ensure freshness, so expect a wait of about 5 to 6 minutes.

Free Drinks Self-service water station includes:

Cold Water
Hot Roasted Green Tea (Houjicha)
Cold Roasted Green Tea (Houjicha)
Note: Free tea is rare in budget chains; usually, it’s just water.

How to Order (The Challenge) The ticket machines can be complicated and often lack full English support.

Pro Tip: If you struggle with the machine, show the “Top 10 Ranking” below to a staff member and ask for help.
Rice Size: When staff serve your rice (or when ordering), you may need to choose a size: Normal (Futsu), Small (Sho), Large (Dai), or Extra Large (Tokumori). Refills are free!

Flow:

Buy ticket at machine.
Sit down (Check the number on your ticket).
Wait for your number to appear on the monitor and the chime to ring.
Pick up your food at the counter.
Self-Return: After eating, return your tray to the return shelf.

Preview

Matsunoya Bowl Size Guide

Size Options (サイズの表記)

How to Order:
• If you don’t specify a size, the staff will assume you want Regular (Namimori / 並盛).
• To order a different size, simply point to your desired size in the table below when ordering.
• For set meals (定食), rice refills are unlimited. When you want more rice, say “Rice Okawari” (ライスおかわり) and point to the size you want from this table.