A restaurant reservation that many food obsessives consider nearly unattainable is headed to Los Angeles — and this time, diners won’t need a flight to Japan or a months-long fight for a seat.
Tonkatsu Narikura, the Tokyo destination often ranked among the world’s finest spots for tonkatsu, is bringing its coveted pork cutlet experience to Brothers Sushi for a limited two-night Los Angeles pop-up this month, according to Eater.
For anyone who has attempted to book Narikura in Tokyo, the hype is easy to understand. The intimate restaurant has become legendary for its scarcity, with successful reservations celebrated by diners almost like winning a culinary lottery.
“My god this place is impossible to book,” one commenter wrote beneath a YouTube review of Narikura. “Alongside ramen ya shima. Sometimes even harder to book than the omakase places.”
The reviewer responded in agreement, writing, “Agree! I felt so lucky when I was able to secure the reservation.”
For two nights only, Chef Seizo Mitani is easing that reservation anxiety by traveling from Japan to cook alongside Brothers Sushi chef-owner Mark Okuda. The exclusive event will take place Sunday, July 19, in Culver City and Monday, July 20, in Santa Monica.
At the center of the collaboration is Narikura’s celebrated “blonde” tonkatsu, a delicately fried pork cutlet known for its pale golden crust. Unlike the darker, faster-fried versions often seen in the U.S., Mitani’s style is cooked low and slow for a lighter, more refined finish. He is also bringing Narikura’s signature breadcrumbs from Japan and will use premium pork sourced from Peads & Barnetts.
Tickets are priced at $150 and include a six-course menu, plus rice, soup and dessert. Reservations for the Culver City and Santa Monica dinners are available through Tock.
For LA diners, this may be the easiest they’ll ever have it when it comes to Narikura. Instead of planning an entire trip to Tokyo and hoping the reservation gods smile upon you, all you have to do is beat everyone else in Los Angeles to the booking page. No pressure.
