KURA’S KATSU SANDO
SUNDAY NIGHT POP-UP

In what has been a foodie favorite since launching at the end of 2017, Kura Sushi’s nod to traditional Y?shoku Katsu and its Katsu Sando pop-up is the perfect, chill way to end the weekend.

The Sunday night pop-up, held from 6pm until sold out is home to the beloved Katsu Sando, which means “cutlet sandwich" in Japanese. Katsu sandwiches are a type of y?shoku— a Japanese twist on European cuisine that traditionally consists of panko-breaded and deep-fried chicken, pork, beef, or vegetables served between two slices of fluffy white bread.

At Katsu Sando, their vision is to serve the ultimate katsu sandwich while staying honest with traditional techniques. They use Nama-Panko, premium bread crumbs, freshly ground and never dehydrated, for a light flakey and crispy crust. Sourcing the finest ingredients and baking their very own honey Shokupan (white milk bread), Kura never cuts any corners—except for the crust on their bread.

From Chef Daniel Son of Kura Sushi, the fascination of Katsu Sandos began while he was training at Nihonryori Ryugin in Tokyo, Japan. After long days in the kitchen, he would frequent the local convenient store where Katsu Sandos were his go-to after work snack. Upon returning to the States, he had difficulty finding good-quality Katsu sandwiches and thus, began the quest to create his own.

Chef Daniel, began his culinary career by apprenticing under his father and fellow sushi chef when he was 15 years old at KURA. He moved onto Spago Beverly Hills at age 19 and soon transitioned to NYC, graduating from The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park. Daniel moved to Tokyo shortly thereafter and trained at the three Michelin star Kaiseki Restaurant in Nihonryori Ryugin in Roppongi, Japan.  From there he moved to Denmark and staged at Restaurant Noma—ranked by Restaurant Magazine as the Best Restaurant in the World. Finally, Daniel moved back to California and apprenticed under Chef Akira Yoshizumi at Umami Sushi in San Francisco before moving back to L.A. when he took over as head chef for KURA.

The Katsu Sando menu includes the Tori-Katsu Sando (Jidori Chicken Katsu Sandwich) + Chizu (cheese) for $11; Kurobuta-Katsu Sando (Berkshire Pork Katsu Sandwich) + Chizu (cheese) for $12; Kinoko-Katsu Sando (Portobello Mushroom Katsu Sandwich) + Chizu (cheese) for $9; as well as the A5 Wagyu Beef Tenderloin Katsu Sando for $70.

Let me tell you, these sandwiches are delicious! They’re fresh and clean and so flavorful. The crispiness is to die for. I don’t know if any sandwich is really worth $70 but the A5 Wagyu sando just may be a once-in-a-lifetime treat you will cherish. Otherwise, go to town on the other affordable and delectable delights.

Katsu Sando happens every Sunday night at Kura, located at 8162 W. Sunset Blvd, starting at 6pm.

Story by Jose Martinez