Uncategorized

Tonkatsu vs Tonkotsu

I have no issue calling pho “pho,” yet there are those who would call it “pha” based on the number of people who cannot get tonkotsu and tonkatsu right.

In a number of languages, having one letter off can have a tremendous impact on the meaning of the word (my girlfriend asked how she looked, and I said she was looking very fit/fat, which also has the same repercussions as tonkatsu vs. tonkotsu).

Tonkotsu vs. Tonkatsu

You say potato, I say po-tot-oh, you say tonKOTSU, I say tonKATSU. Tonkatsu, tonkotsu, tonkatsu, tonkotsu….

Photo Description: an image depicting tonkatsu vs. tonkotsu. The top shows deep-fried pork cutlet and the bottom shot of pork ramen broth.
Is it piss or pass, or maybe fort over fart (don’t blame TikTok).

Ton-KATSU

No, no, and no, you’re killing my inner happy self. It’s not just a difference of opinion on the pronunciation because it’s actually two different things. “You people,” come on, if it is:

Pork (ton) cutlet, it is “tonkatsu,” chicken (chikin), it is “chikinkatsu,” minced beef/pork (menchi), it is “menchikatsu“.

All three are deep-fried after being dredged in flour, egg, and breaded in “panko” which is Japanese bread crumbs.

Photo Description: pictured is a tonkatsu spread which is deep-fried pork cutlet.
I would not want to be the dishwasher with all these plates, but tonkatsu (deep-fried breaded pork cutlet) in Japan is over the top.

Ton-KOTSU

Yes, “they’re,” “they are”, “there,” “their,” might be confusing for some, but at least when you get those wrong, you won’t end up with the wrong order.

Kotsu means roughly “bone stock”.

Photo Description: pork bone based ramen broth.
Pork bone broth based ramen (tonkotsu) at Ichiran when I was in Fukuoka.

Why are people getting this wrong? The bad influence of “influencers” who are oblivious and just care about the clout and likes over knowing what they are talking about.

#tonkatsuramen

Spelling Matters, “Yes Honey, You are Fit/Fat”

Hopefully, by this point, you might be starting to realize that this isn’t ramen (don’t be asking where’s the noodles), and if it is sinking in, pat yourself on the back although don’t get too cocky because we still need to discuss macaroon and macaron (not the same either).

1 comment

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

%d