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Review: Romankan Yokohama
By estar | October 3, 2008
I’ve been a loyal patron of Romankan Yokohama for the last 3 years but I’m beginning to feel a little guilty keeping this delicious secret to myself. This unpretentious joint sitting in an open area on the basement of Takashimaya is THE place I go to satisfy my cravings for deep-fried food. The 25-odd seater serves only one thing - katsu - pork, chicken or prawn.
On our last trip, I ordered the chicken katsu bento ($15) which came with rice, pickles, miso soup and a shredded cabbage salad. Daniel’s curry tonkatsu bento set ($16.50) included rice, a choice of miso soup or salad and a sauce bowl full of Japanese curry.
Juicy meat surrounded by a crispy breading of Japanese panko crumbs and doused with a thick Worcestershire or curry sauce, Romankan’s katsu is a dieter’s ultimate nightmare. But despite the obviously deep-fried nature of the katsu, it didn’t have the greasiness you would ordinarily find in similar fried foods ala Old Chang Kee.
If I really have to pick something to criticise about this place though, it’s the fact that they expect you to pay the bill on the spot as soon as they deliver your food to the table - not exactly fine-dining protocol. But don’t worry - they don’t forget you after collecting your money. The attentive staff frequently topped up my iced water and never rushed us to leave even after we were done with our dinner.
Weight watchers be warned though - everything on the menu is deep-fried. But no matter how health-conscious I am, Romankan’s katsu will always have a place in my diet.
Romankan Yokohama can be found at Takashimaya Ngee Ann City B2-04.