Japanese Pork Cutlet Sandwich – Katsu Sando

katsu sando on a metal plate with tonkatsu sauce in a bowl and cabbage.

5 from 1 vote

Japanese Pork Cutlet Sandwich – Katsu Sando

Katsu Sando is a crispy Japanese pork cutlet sandwich made with golden panko breaded pork, shredded cabbage, and tangy tonkatsu sauce tucked into soft white bread. It’s crunchy, juicy, and surprisingly simple to make at home in about 25 minutes.

Prep Time15

Cook Time10

Total Time25

Course: Brunch, Lunch, Sandwich

Cuisine: Japanese

Keyword: japanese pork cutlet sandwich, katsu sando, tonkatsu sauce

Servings:

Calories: 722kcal

Author: Joanna Cismaru

Ingredients

For the Tonkatsu

4 pork chops boneless, about ½-1 inch thick
salt and pepper to taste
¾ cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs beaten
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
vegetable oil for frying

For the Sandwich

8 slices bread thick sliced
½ cup tonkatsu sauce or your favorite BBQ Sauce
½ cup mayonnaise preferably Japanese mayo if you have it
2 cups cabbage finely shredded

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Tenderize the pork chops to about ½ inch thickness with a meat mallet. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Dredge each chop in flour, dip into the beaten egg, and then coat evenly with panko breadcrumbs, pressing the breadcrumbs onto the chop to ensure a good coating.
Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat (you’ll want it to be about ½ inch deep). Once hot, fry the breaded pork chops until they’re golden brown and cooked through, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove the tonkatsu from the oil and let it drain on a wire rack.
Spread each slice of bread with a thin layer of mayonnaise. Now generally drizzle Tonkatsu sauce over half the slices of bread right over the mayonnaise. Top with an even layer of shredded cabbage and then place a pork cutlet on top. Press down gently. Now generally drizzle more Tonkatsu sauce over the 4 remaining bread slices and then place on top of the cutlet, sauce side down.
Gently press down on the sandwiches to flatten them a bit. Trim the crusts off the sandwiches if desired for a more authentic look. Cut the sandwiches in half and enjoy with a side of extra tonkatsu sauce for dipping.

Notes

Chicken works too. Just pound it to the same thickness and follow the same steps.
Air fry or bake it. If you want less oil, both options still give you a crispy result.
Use the good bread. Soft, thick sliced white bread is the move here. Bonus points if it’s milk bread.
Don’t overdo the cabbage. Keep the balance right so the pork still gets the spotlight.
Make-ahead tip: Fry the pork ahead, but wait to assemble until just before serving.

Nutrition