Tabelog ratingMeiji Tei Komagane honten (明治亭 駒ヶ根本店) is a local institution in Nagano, celebrated for one thing above all: its gargantuan sauce katsudon. This dish features a thick, deep-fried pork cutlet drenched in a signature sweet and fruity sauce, served over a bed of shredded cabbage and rice. The portion is so generous that the lid of the bowl famously cannot close over the meat, a sight that delights hungry travellers.
Guests consistently praise the quality of the pork, whether choosing the tender loin (ロース, roast) or the leaner fillet (ヒレ, hire). The batter is noted for being thin and crisp, perfectly complementing the meat and the well-balanced house sauce. While katsudon is the star, the menu also offers variety, including an 'ebi-hire don' with both shrimp and pork cutlet, as well as local specialities like horse sashimi (馬刺し, basashi). The value for money is widely considered excellent given the portion sizes.
The restaurant's popularity means long queues are common, with waits of one to two hours reported during peak times like weekends and holidays. However, it operates an efficient system where guests take a ticket and can be notified via the LINE app when their table is ready. While overwhelmingly positive, a few reviewers have mentioned receiving a tough or fatty piece of meat, and some found the soba noodles unremarkable.
Lunch and dinner prices typically fall between ¥1,000 and ¥1,999. Reviewers in recent years paid around ¥1,860 for a loin sauce katsudon and ¥1,960 for the fillet version. The shrimp and fillet bowl was approximately ¥2,190.
- Booking: Reservations are not accepted; the restaurant operates on a walk-in basis only. Arrive early or be prepared to queue, especially on weekends. A ticket machine is used to manage the line.
- Getting There: The restaurant is conveniently located just a 1-minute drive from the Komagane IC on the Chuo Expressway. By public transport, it's a 10-minute bus ride from Komagane Station.
- Payment: Credit cards (Visa, Master, JCB), electronic money (including transport IC cards like Suica), and QR code payments (PayPay, Alipay, WeChat Pay) are all accepted.
- Parking: A free private car park with 40 spaces is available.
- Family: Children of all ages are welcome, and a kids' menu is available.
- Smoking: The dining area is non-smoking, but a designated smoking area is provided at the entrance.