first impression | New on The Loop, Katsuya is thinking inside the box—the bento box to be more specific. The fast casual eatery is focused on katsu, Japanese-style cutlets that are panko-breaded and fried, and sushi. Each sleek black box is filled with a variety of sides, such as rice, salads, pickled veggies and daily specials.
must trys
- Crab Rangoon, $6: Crab Rangoon is a comfort food, and Katsuya’s is no exception. Fried golden brown and with a creamy filling, it’s what you would expect, but that’s certainly not a bad thing. Other appetizer offerings include familiar fried fare like Egg Rolls ($6) and Gyoza ($6). The Takoyaki ($6), a Japanese snack of fried wheat-based batter filled with minced octopus, was intriguing but unavailable during our visit.
- Katsuya Roll, $10: The signature sushi roll is filled with tuna, salmon, crab, tempura shrimp, avocado and scallions. Everything tasted fresh, and there was something that gave the roll a little kick, but it wasn’t overly spicy. It works well as an appetizer to share, or it could be the star of its own bento box if you’re looking for a lighter option than the fried cutlets.
- Shrimp Katsu, $14.50: While not a cutlet, the panko-breaded shrimp were delicious and not overcooked, which can be a common issue with fried shrimp. The bento’s contents included a salad, rice, pickled daikon, tofu, sushi, edamame and more. It also came with a slice of the Menchi Katsu as a side. While we had previously tried it, it was fun to get to sample another protein.
- Menchi Katsu, $13.50: This cutlet features a mixture of ground pork, chicken and onion. There was a lot of the latter packed into the patty, and while it was tasty, it may not be to everyone’s taste as that flavor can dominate. Unlike the Shrimp Katsu box, this one did not come with a piece of another protein, but it did have more sushi pieces and kimchi.
overall
The Loop definitely has no shortage of fast-casual dining options, but Katsuya is a great fit for the area. While the menu may appear limited at first glance, the individual bento boxes offer a lot of variety, and we got at least one different side dish with each one. If you’re looking to try something new, don’t hesitate to check it out.
6301 Delmar Blvd.
314.296.3368
katsuyastl.com
Pictured at top: Katsuya Roll – Tuna, salmon, crab, tempura shrimp, avocado and scallions
Photo: Bill Barrett