Maruhachi — Blackpig Katsu Don + Blackpig Katsu Curry ($13.80 each)!
Maruhachi Donburi & Curry — Blackpig katsudon (cutlet over egg-soaked rice) and Blackpig katsu curry (cutlet with Japanese curry rice). $13.80 each.
Date lunch with BB at Maruhachi Donburi & Curry — went for the two Blackpig katsu signatures: Katsu Don + Katsu Curry. $13.80 each. Premium pork specialist. 😋
What was on the table ($13.80 + $13.80):
- Blackpig Katsu Don (bottom) — a blue-and-white rim ceramic bowl with panko-fried blackpig (Berkshire pork) cutlet sliced into strips, sitting on a bed of egg-coated rice with the silken scrambled egg still slightly runny coating the cutlet edges. Traditional katsudon plating.
- Blackpig Katsu Curry (top) — similar bowl with the same sliced blackpig katsu but instead of egg, the dish is drowned in a thick, dark Japanese curry sauce pouring down the sides. Pickled red ginger (kizami beni shoga) garnish on the side.
Maruhachi specialises in Kurobuta (Berkshire) pork — a premium black-skin pig breed known for higher marbling and a slightly sweeter pork flavour than standard pork. The katsu coating stays crisp because they use proper panko and double-fry technique.
The katsudon style is more traditional comfort food — egg + onion + dashi creating that silky semi-cooked topping. The katsu curry is the louder, sauce-forward version — Japanese curry has the unmistakable dark sweetness + slow burn spice.
Total: $27.60 for both bowls.
Overall: 4.4 / 5. Katsu crust was properly crispy through both versions, the blackpig pork was the differentiator (juicier than standard). Katsudon was more refined, katsu curry was more indulgent. Pick by mood. Will be back. 😍👍🏼
