Katsu Jin

The inspiration

Kevin Piyarat fell for katsu on a Shinkansen ride to Osaka, where a friend packed him a cold katsu bento that impressed him even at that temperature, and he went on to refine his own technique at home¹ . He opened Katsu Jin in South Pasadena partly because he saw few places in LA serving quality katsu as a full meal rather than a sandwich¹ .

Who's behind it

Kevin Piyarat, who has run the next-door Patakan Thai restaurant for a decade, took the space when it became available to pursue his passion for katsu¹ . He has no formal culinary training, built the menus from his own recipes, and during the opening phase he oversaw the preparation of nearly every dish himself¹ .

What to order

• Cheese katsu: a crispy cutlet with a melted layer of cheese inside¹
• Corn ribs: grilled corn off the cob, buttered and seasoned with furikake for a sweet-salty start

What people are saying

The sesame ritual earns repeated mention: you grind seeds in a small bowl at your seat, and the katsu sauce is poured over them, a traditional touch reviewers appreciate . Many also note the small, cozy room and phone-based QR ordering, with the kitchen turning food out quickly even when every table is full .

Why you should try it

Katsu Jin is a dedicated tonkatsu specialist in a stretch of the San Gabriel Valley short on them, with sauces, dressings, and miso base all made in-house¹ . For a visitor staying nearby, the full set format, from the ground sesame to the chilled tofu, is a sit-down experience rather than a quick sandwich¹ .